Hmerican Baptist fIMsstonarp Xaraon EIGHTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT W ITH T H E P r o c e e d in g s o f t h e A n n u a l M e e t i n g HELD AT DETROIT, MICH. MAY 38 AND 39, 1900. BOSTON MISSIONARY ROOMS, TREMONT TEMPLE 1900 CONTENTS PAGE E ig h t y -six th A n n u a l M e e t in g o f t h e A m e r ic a n B a p t ist M is s io n a r y U nio n . 3 E ig h t y - six th A n n u a l M e e t in g o f t h e B o ard o f M a n a g e r s .............................................15 E ig h t y -six t h A n n u a l R epo rt o f t h e E x e c u t iv e C o m m i t t e e ............................................. 17 Ch a n g es in t h e M issio n a r y F o r c e ..........................................................................................27 Ob i t u a r i e s .................................................................................................................................................29 R eports o f t h e D ist r ic t S e c r e t a r i e s ........................................................ 34 B u r m a ........................................................................................._ .......................................................43 A s s a m ............................................................................................................................................................91 S outh I n d ia —T h e T elu gu M ission .......................................................................................... 103 C h in e s e M issio n s . - ................................................................................................................139 J a p a n ............................................................................................................................................................ 164 A f r ic a —T h e C ongo M i s s i o n .....................................................................................................183 F r a n c e ............................................................................................................................................................195 G erm an M i s s i o n ...................................................................................................................................... 203 S p a i n ............................................................................................................................................................ 209 S w e d e n ............................................................................................................................................................ 210 R u ssia ............... 213 F in l a n j' . ................................................................................................................213 D e n m a r k .................................................................................................... 5 215 N o rw ay ............... 216 G e n e r a l St a t ist ic a l T a b l e s ...........................................................................................................................217 R epo r t o f t h e T r e a s u r e r ...........................................................................................................................218 Of f ic e r s of t h e A m e r ic a n B a p t ist M issio n a r y U n i o n ........................................................234 T r ie n n ia l a n d A n n u a l M e e t i n g s ................................................................................................................235 H o n o rary M e m b e r s fo r L if e constituted d u r in g t h e y e a k ..... 236 C onstitution of t h e A m eric a n B a p t ist M issio n a r y U n i o n .............................................237 I n d e x to t h e M in u t e s ok th e A n n u a l M e e t in g a n d to t h e A n n u a l R epo r t . 239 ANNUAL MEETINGS EIGHTY-SIXTH ANNUAL HEETING OF THE AflERICAN BAPTIST niSSIO NARY UNION Detroit, Mich., May 28, 1900. MONDAY FORENOON The eighty-sixth annual meeting of the American Baptist Missionary Union was held in the Woodward Avenue Bajptist Church at 10 o’clock, A. M., the President of the Union, Hon. Robert O. Fuller of Massachusetts, in the chair. After the singing of the hymn, “The Morning Light is Breaking,” the Scriptures were read, Acts i. 6-11, and prayer was offered by Rev. E. A. Woods, D. D., of California. President Fuller then addressed the Union: The word “ welcome,” which we see as we enter this elegant house, was a happy thought. We have been cordially welcomed by all. Then the word “ anniversaries” car­ ries us back to the fathers that founded this Missionary Union eighty-six years ago. They were broad-minded men. At the first Triennial Convention held in Philadelphia in 1817 the report of the Board sajrs, “ They are of the opinion that the powers of this con­ vention be extended so as to embrace home missions and plans for the encouragement of education.” And amendments to the Constitution were adopted May 12. 1817, “ That the Board shall have power at their discretion to appropriate a portion of their funds to domestic missionary purposes;” “ That when competent and distinct funds shall have been received the Board shall proceed to institute a Classical and Theological Seminary for the purposie of aiding pious young men to the Gospel ministry.” May 15, “ Resolved, unanimously. That James E. Welch and John M. Peck be accepted as missionaries of this Board; that they be instructed to proceed to the westward to com­ mence their labors at St. Louis, in the Missouri Territory. That $1,000 be placed in their hands to assist them in going with their families to St. Louis, and to support them in the commencement of their missionary exertions; that they be instructed also to make in­ 4 Eighty-sixth Annual Meeting quiries, after arriving in the missionary field, relative to the native tribes in that quarter.” “ Resolved, unanimously, That the Rev. Mr. Ranaldson be employed as a missionary of this Board in New Orleans and that he be requested to visit the Indian tribes in that quarter, and that $500 be forwarded to his assistance.” By the report of the Treasurer, it appears they had paid “$10,051, and had $11,100 invested in United States six per cent stock and three shares of the Bank of America of New York, $300.” The women of 1817 took an interest in aiding the Union. There were fifty-one Female Mite and Cent Societies. If I have any interest in missions it comes from my mother and my wife. Wives, if you encourage your husbands to give freely for missions, they will be more liberal with you when you need money. They will respect you more than if you take the other course. Men learn very easily to be close-fisted. Advise your husbands to give the largest sum they propose. It was a hard struggle for us to get the right of way for missions. We are indebted to Adoniram Judson for it. Judson was a remarkable man. He did not stop to think who would pay his salary when in mid-ocean he decided to be a Baptist and resigned from the American Board and wrote to our fathers asking if the3r would accept him. It would have been very unwise to have refused. The Baptist denomination is a great body. Is it probable we would be what we are to-day had they declined? How did Judson get the right of way? Let me remind you. His first voyage was one hundred and eighteen days in a cramped cabin in a little brig to Calcutta, 14,000 miles. Ordered away by the East India officials, going 3,000 miles to the Isle of France, then back to Madras, 2,000 miles, afraid to remain, he sailed for Rangoon, making four voyages of nearly 20,000 miles in about one and a half years. What did Mr. Judson find in Rangoon? Let me give an extract from a letter written by him dated Rangoon, August 3, 1816: “ Rangoon is a most filthy, wretched place. Missionaries must not calculate on the least comfort but what they find in one another and their work. However, if a ship was lying in the river ready to convey me to any part of the world I should choose, and that, too, with the entire approbation of all my Christian friends, I would prefer dying to em­ barking. This is an immense field; it is wholly thrown on the hands of the American Baptists. If we desert it, the blood of the Burmans will be required of us.” In Burma, suffering terrible torture for nearly two years in prison, at last he had a hearing and we have the right of way. In 1814 our Missionary Union was formed in Philadelphia. Although the Baptists were few in number and poor, they did not hesitate. The Baptists in the North are 1,000,000 in round numbers, and we gave only thirty-five cents each for missions last year. I know some pastors think it so hard to get money for current expenses that their people are unable to give to missions. Don’t be afraid of your people giving too much. The real danger is on the other side. I knew a pastor of a large church who invited a missionary to speak. He travelled sixty miles; there was a large audience. At the close of the meeting the pastor asked for a liberal contribution to pay the church debt; nothing was said about the need of missions. The pastor made a mistake; he helped his people to be close. If he had said, let us give a generous amount for missions, they would be more ready to pay the church bills. This morning there was an eclipse of the sun; let us eclipse all former gifts to the Missionary Union next year. A standard gauge railroad costs $75,000 per mile equipped. Eight miles of railroad would pay all the missionary bills and give $50,000 for expansion.