NETHERLANDS MISSIONARY SOCIETIES

[s. 549] : first mi ionary work by the Dutch was connected with their colonial extension, and dates back as far as the beginning of the 17th century, when the Dutch East India Company was formed (1602). This commercial society was bound by its charter to care for the church interests of the colonists, and also to endeavor There were no special to teach the heathen. mi ionaries, but the colonial clergy were relied upon for work, and in order to the provision of the right cla of men, there was organized at Leyden (1622) a seminary for the training of candidates. The seminary was not long continued, and, tho some earnest and faithful workers were sent out, for the most part the colonial clergy were very perfunctory in the performance of their work. Some fairly good work appears to have been done in the way of Bible translation and education of native clergy, but work for natives, for the most part, was very superficial. This was due partly to the The short service of the preachers, partly to their small number, and chiefly to lack of interest on the part of the Government. The influence of the Roman Catholic Mi ions, e. g., in the Moluccas, was disadvantageous. Baptisms were made by wholesale, and on such easy_ terms that at the close of the 17th century it was reported that there were 300,000 Christians in Ceylon, 100,000 in Java, and 40,000 in Amboina. The West India Company, formed in 1621, made some attempts in the same line in Brazil, Netherlands Ne-w Kngland tho with no practical result, but laid the foundation for the Dutch Church in the American Colonies. During the 18th century all these undertakings gradually fell into decay, and at the revival of mi ionary interest in the last decade of the century, there was almost no mi ionary An appeal spirit in the churches of Holland. from the LMS soon after its organization stirred laymen and the hearts of some clergymen and resulted in the formation of the Netherlands Mi ionary Society in 1797. For some time they worked through the LMS, but later estabFor half a century lished mi ions of their own. this remained the only Dutch society, but beginning with 1847 a number of societies were formed by those who felt unable to accept the somewhat rationalistic and formal management of the old society. These included: The Men Christian Reformed nonite Union (1847), The Mi ionary Society (1854), the Java Comiti (1855), the Ermelo A ociation (1856), Netherlands Mi ion Union (1858), Utrecht Mi ion Union Reformed Of these, the Christian (1859). Mi ionary Society and the Netherlands Reformed Mi ion united in 1892 to form the Mi ion of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands. There also a society auxiliary to the Moravian Mi ions (formed in 1793), and there are several is aid societies. 1. Netherlands Mi ionary Society, 1797: Nederlandsch Zendehnggenootschap) The oldest of the Dutch societies owes its origin to the influence of Dr. Van der Kemp, who went to South Africa in the service of the LMS. It represents chiefly the Established Church, tho from the beginning it has had relations with the Reformed Church, and the General Synod has no immediate control over its conduct. The first mi ionaries of the Society under its own direction, Vos, Erhardt, and Palm, were sent to Ceylon, but they were unable to accomplish very much in that field, owing perhaps to the hostility of the Dutch Consistory of the island. In 1812 three mi ionaries, Kam, Supper, and Bruckner, were sent to Java. Mr. Kam established himself at Amboina, in the Molucca Islands, Mr. Bruckner at Samarang, and Mr. Supper at Batavia. Two years later, Holland, having regained its independence from France, the Society reorganized the seminary, and sent out five mi ionaries to work with Mr. Kam. These established themselves at Celebes, Ceram, Ternati, Banda, and Timor, and found abundant opportunities for labor. In 1833 Mr. Kam, who had endured much exposure in his efforts (: from island to island, and had been often employed, even by the government, as a peace-maker among the tribes, died from the effects of overwork. In 1826 the same Society sent out Mr. Gutzlaff to China. A mi ion was also established at the Dutch colony of Surinam in Guiana, and Alphonse F. Lacroix was sent to the Dutch territory in India. When in 1825 the Dutch settlements on the continent of India were ceded to the British Government, their four mi ionaries connected themselves with the different English societies, thinking it better not to render their time and labor and knowledge of the languages of the people of no avail. The fields at present (1901) occupied are Java, Celebes, Sumatra, and Savu, near Timor. In 1900 it had 24 mi ionaries, 62 native helpers in 11 stations and 49 outstations, 1,722 com to travel 632 municants, 42 schools with 2,707 pupils, 1 physician, and 1 hospital, with 4,000 patients. 2. Men no nite Mi ionary Union, 1847 {Doopsgezinde Vereeniging) The Anabaptists of Holland had worked through the BMS of England, but in 1847 formed their own organization as above, and commenced work in Java and Sumatra.: The report (1900) shows 11 mi ionaries, 26 native workers, occupying 4 stations and 8 outwith 458 communicants, 9 schools, with 366 pupils, 1 hospital treating 2,280 patients. 3. Java Committee (1855), (Java Comite te Amsterdam): The first of the societies organized in protest against the Netherlands Society in 1855. It carries on work in Java, and has (1900) 6 mi ionaries, 11 native workers in 6 stations and 8 outstations; 500 communicants, 8 schools, 225 pupils. 4. Mi ion of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, 1892 ( Z ending van de Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland) The Dutch Reformed Mi ionary Society was founded at Amsterdam in 1859 by the Rev. Dr. Schwartz, mi ionary of the Free Church of Scotland to the Jews in that city. The original intention was to form a society for the propagation of the Gospel among the Jews living among the heathen and Mohammedans in the Dutch (Indian) colonies, and through them to reach the heathen and Mohammedans. The government, however, out of deference to the Jews in Holland, refused to recognize the proposed society, and it was resolved to commence work among the heathen and Mohammedans in the island of Java. Additional cause for this resolve lay in di atisfaction with the old Netherlands Mi ionary Already Society, on account of its rationalism. there had been formed the “Utrecht Mi ion Society” and the “Netherlands Mi ion Union,” neither of which, however, tho founded on orthodox principles, accepted the confe ion of the Dutch Reformed churches, and the new Society was therefore formed to act in conformity with the recognized standards of these churches, in genera] following the Presbyterian polity. In 1892 this Society united with the Christian Reformed Union, under the title as above. The work is in Java, and the report (1900) shows 16 mi ionaries, 12 native workers, 6 stations, 9 outstations, and 718 communicants. 5. Netherlands Mi ion Union, 1858 (NederThis Society, Z ending svereeniging) landsche organized in 1858, began its work in Western It had (1900) Java among the Sundanese. 11 mi ionaries, 32 native helpers, 9 stations and 19 outstations, 871 communicants, 24 schools with 851 pupils. The Utrecht Mi ionary Society, 1859 {UtrechtIt employs (1900) sche Z ending svereeniging: 14 mi ionaries, 41 native workers in 7 stations and 43 outstations, with 246 communicants, 41 schools with 1,070 pupils. The Committee for the Mi ion to the Sangir and Talaut Islands (1886): This Committee collects aid for various needs of the work of the 13 mi ionaries and 210 native workers. Their salaries are a umed by the Dutch Government. stations,:: The number of communicants reported in the is 10,459, a very much larger number than is shown by any other Dutch Society working islands in that region. 4,184 pupils. There are also 26 schools with NEU BETHEL. Africa. See Bethel, German East 633 NEITENDETTELSAU MISSIONARY SOCIETY. See Germany; Mi ionary Societies in. 551