REHOBOTH

[s. 638] : A town in German Southwest Africa, situated in the Herero country, about 170miles E. S. E. of Swakopmund. It is celebrated for its hot springs. Station of the Rhenish Mi ion Society, with (1903) 2 mi ionaries, one of them with his wife 6 native workers, 1 Sunday school, 2 day schools, and 1,209 profe ed Christians, of whom 484 are communicants.; WORK RELIEF OF MISSIONS in Public Calamities: In the limits prescribed, it wUl be impo ible to give any history or statistics of mi ionary relief work. This article will treat only the nece ity, principles and wider results of such effect. Nece ity: The object of Christian Mi ions, to extend the spirit and teaching of Christ. He taught by act as much as by word. He went about doing good. When John the Baptist, in prison, sent for proofs of Jesus’ Me iahship, he was referred to the acts of mercy which the Christ was doing. Jesus said that He would recognize His followers at the day of judgment by their treatment of the hungry, naked, sick and homele . Works of mercy, considered meritorious even under Mohammedan and heathen systems, are of the e ence of Christianity. It is the wiser and deeper, tho often unconscious, working of the spirit of Jesus that has differentiated Christen dom, through sentiments, institutions and laws for the care of the orphan, the blind, the deaf and dumb, the sick, insane, and poor, and for the humane treatment of eveir the lower animals. No one who is callous to suffering or slack in its relief is a fit representative of civilization, still le a worthy herald of the Good News. The nece ity, therefore, of mi ionaries engaging in relief work in times of great public calamity does not admit of argument. They are under even greater obligation to such service than are ministers and churches in the homeland. For the mi ionary is often the only one on the ground with knowledge, ability and character enough to cope with the situation. The /. is wealth and sympathy of Christen dom would have been powerle to ameliorate the sufferings of the survivors of the Armenian ma acres but for the American mi ionaries who stood at their posts during those awful years, and with wisdom, courage and fidelity acted as the almoners of $2,000,000 of relief funds from Referring to this service, at the time when all the powers of Europe have failed to fulfil their treaty obligations to protect the Christian subjects of Turlcey, Sir Philip Currie, British Amba ador at Constantinople, Europe and America. declared: “The American Mi ion, through its mi ionaries, furnishes the only oasis in the great desert of calamity that marks this land.” Another ground of the nece ity for mi ionaries doing relief work is revealed in the modest remark of Mr. W. W. Peet of Constantinople, Treasurer of the Turkish Mi ions of the American Board. He says “One good result of the work at least was that it made life endurable for our mi ionaries during those awful years. I tell you we could not have lived there if we had not been engaged in that sort of work.” It may, therefore, be concluded that there is on: relief 621 the part of mi ionaries, officers of boards, and the Christian public, a firm and glad acceptance of the proposition that philanthropy is always a legitimate feature of mi ions, and that in seasons of acute and wide-spread distre , through famine, flood or earthquake, through pestilence or war, relief work may rightly, for the time, absorb the strength of an individual or even of a whole mi ion, to the apparent detriment of the regular literary, educational or even evangelistic forms of service. Governing Mi ion Relief. 1. //. Principles Fidelity: It goes without saying that funds placed in the hands of mi ionaries for relief should be not only sacredly guarded, but also applied in accordance with the exact wishes of It is a great tribute to the integrity the donors. of mi ionaries the world over that, so far as the writer’s knowledge goes, no questions are raised as to their fidelity in handling the vast sums of money that from time to time are thrust into This is the more striking in view their hands. of the fact that relief work is with them a self imposed task, that they are almost invariably people with no support except a small living salary paid them for other le arduous services, and that they are under no bonds, nor any supervision in the management of the trust committed to them. Because of the confidence reposed in them, and as a justification of its continuance, mi ionaries should always, from the outset of any relief effort, keep exact accounts of all moneys received and expended, and render these accounts, duly audited, to the boards, com periodicals, or individuals through mittees, whom the funds have been transmitted. Many such reports are remarkable for detail and accuracy, especially when we consider the many and pre ing cares resting on those who prepared them. 2. Selection of Beneficiaries: The first and, in general, the principal consideration should be that of need. In questions of life or death no tests Help should be of race or creed should hold. Kurd or Armenian, and to the starving given the plague-stricken Christian or Hindu or Chinaman on the same principle that the Father “maketh his sun rise on the evil and the good.” Such impartiality is especially imperative where relief funds have been raised by appeals to the general public on purely humanitarian grounds, to which people of all cla es have responded. The mi ionary should resist any temptation to use funds so given in such a way as to directly favor the institutions or the spiritual results which he may have at heart. He must be content to scatter the bread on the waters with impartial hand. In so doing he will discharge his plain duty and may in the end find that he has given to blind and prejudiced hearts the most impelling I would not proof of the truth of his me age. modify the above principle in spite of a conviction, based on an experience of several years in raising popular funds for sufferers by the Armenian ma acres and by the famines of India, that at least nine-tenths of the moneys contributed, even through purely secular committees, came from Protestant people of a positively religious character. Jews and Catholics maintain splendid charities of their own, but do not, as far as I have been able to ascertain, contribute largely to But general relief funds of the above character. while trying to do good to all men, the mi ionary and his constituency at home will also, natur- Regions Beyond Relief Work ally, make special provision for “them who are of the household of faith”; and after the crisis of a calamity is over, and the relief problem ceases to be that of saving life, the mi ionary will be freer to continue the relief on more limited lines, both as to its nature and recipients. Popular funds will then dwindle, and the money that continues to come will be from people who are in full sympathy with the aims of the mi ion and who will approve of orphanages, industrial schools, etc., which shade into the regular work of the mi ionary. 3. Methods of Relief: In order to know who are most in need, some sifting proce is nece ary. This may be done either by actually going to the homes of the people, finding out their exact circumstances, and giving them money and provisions, or, on the other hand, by providing remunerative labor under such conditions that only those most in need will apply for it. The In the first latter method has much in its favor. expense. place, it will save much time and Secondly, by a proce of natural selection it Thirdly, it avoids will eliminate impostors. pauperizing, an evil second only to the calamity Fourthly, it can make relief funds go For further by being used over and over. instance, raw cotton or wool spun into thread by one set of poor people can be woven into cloth by another, made up into garments by a itself. third, and finally sold at reduced prices or given Fifthly, the relief to the absolutely helple . work may be so planned as, in a measure, to fore This end may stall such disasters in the future. be attained by setting the people to work digging wells, reservoirs and canals, to insure a better water supply; or making roads for better transportation; or by erecting buildings for orphanages and hospitals; or by teaching new and improved arts and trades, by which the people can earn more and not be so largely dependent on agriculThe large and excellent results ture for a living. that have often been achieved by mi ionaries efforts is a splendid proof of their ability and practical wisdom. The first method of seeking out the needy in For their homes must also often be followed. with such administrative there are some too ignorant, others too young or feeble to come of themselves, and there are others prohibited by social station, caste, or sex from public and promiscuous labor. It is just these cla es, often most destitute and beyond the scope of government aid, for whom wise and sympathetic special provision should be made by the mi ionary. 4. Spirit: But the fidelity, impartiality and wisdom emphasized above need to be exercised in a spirit as sympathetic as it is wise, and as patient as it is masterful, if the work is to bear Even in spiritual as well as material fruits. the conduct of well-organized_ charities and asylums in Christian lands it is nece ary to guard against a hard, sordid, and demoralizing tendency among the employes. The poor, faint, and distracted victims of disaster will appreciate what is done for them all the more if done in a gentle and kind way. Wider Results of Mi ionary Relief Work. Mi ionary: The first and most the apparent result may be the exhaustion and po ible breakdown of some of the mi ionaries under the great strain, physical, mental, and moral. This should be foreseen by the Boards and needed rest provided at the earliest moment. ///. 1. On Relief TVorli Religions Tract with a complete change of scene if po ible. Barring a breakdown, the mi ionary will find himself better equipped than ever. The closer intimacy with the people should give him a better understanding of their conditions of life, sentiments, and moral qualities. Mi ionaries have frequently developed greater efficiency through the calling out of latent faculties under the stre The need of thorof enlarged responsibility. oughly practical and common-sense methods is and the le ons they brought out by these crises, teach should be fruitful in correcting defects of Industrial schools and the mi ionary system. manual training, now widely maintained with enthusiasm and succe , are in many cases the The product direct outgrowth of relief work. of these schools cannot fail to be a more manly and competent type of convert, who will help to solve the problem of self-support. There is every 2. On the Native Christians: reason to believe that the above influences affecting the mi ionary for good are felt also by A the native Christians. the churches in connection with the relief work This may be cases. some has been reported in true to some degree, especially when, as in Armenia, the relief work nece itated by the ma acres was not only so great as very seriously to interfere with the regular work of the churches and schools, but also had to be continued so long as to lose something of the sacred tenderne Jealousies sometimes felt by all at the outset. arise among church members over the selection of distributers of relief, and the handling of large sums of money proves a temptation to some, as it does in every land. Another unfortunate result is said to be an impre ion that the mi ionaries have unlimited means at their command, and hence that they should be le urgent about native contributions. Results: The eifect on the 3. Evangelistic unevangelized is generally reported to be highly beneficial. This is the case in proportion as the people understand that mi ionary relief funds are not supplied by any government treasury, but are free gifts from the people of Christian lands, made and dispersed without any proselytizing, but in the spirit of loving service personified by Christ. So conducted, relief work will not encourage “rice Christians.” That no money the fingers of the mi ionaries is an sticks to object le on not lost in lands where official corruption is the rule. 4. Reflex Influence: The effect on the constituencies of the boards is helpful, first, by stimulating sympathy and overcoming the selfishne which is chiefly responsible for the niggardly gifts of many to mi ions. There is abundant evidence that relief funds are not disadvantageous to the treasuries of the boards. The gifts of regular con tributers are not le ened by these special appeals, while many whose first gift is for relief become interested in the mi ionaries and the support of their regular work. Secondly, these crises are of great educational value through the popular interest aroused in the conditions of life and characteristics of races who are the objects of mi ionary effort. Thirdly, the dark background of a great calamity often serves to show, in strong relief, if only for a moment, the noble and truly great personality of mi ionaries who by the nature of their calling must labor in spheres so remote and humble as to escape the recognition they richly deserve. despiritualization of The effect on the general public is also most salutary, resulting as it does in the exercise and consequent strengthening of the noblest sentiments. Every relief effort is a practical a ertion of the brotherhood of man. There is no doubt that relief from one or many lands to another in distre is productive of international good feeling: and hastens the day when the nations shall not learn war any more. “We hate those whom we have injured,” said a philosopher of heathen Rome. It is equally true that we love those whom we have befriended. Every wisely conducted relief effort may therefore be encouraged both as a cause and an effect of the coming of the Kingdom. Ecumenical Mi ionary Conference Repmt, Vol. 2, pp. 230-250, New York, 1901. RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY (1799): During the outbreak of mi ionary enthusiasm that marked the close of the 18th century, a group of practical Christian men, among whom were Rowland Hill and the Rev. G. Burder, met at St. Paul’s churchyard and founded a society for the di emination of Christian literature, which became known as the Religious Tract Society. From the beginning it has been unsectarian in always selecting its committee from and nonconformists equally. It through its agents and colporteurs, and by works means of special grants to mi ionary and tract societies throughout the world. It was not till 1818 that the Society made its first grant for foreign work, to aid the French Protestants, which led to the founding of the Paris Tract Society (1820), and of the Toulouse Book Society (1835). In the beginning of its work most of the foreign publications were prepared at the central office in London, but at an principle, churchmen early date the greater part of the work for France was transferred to Paris and Toulouse, while the decision as to what should be published still rested with the London committee. A isted by the mi ionaries of the various evangelical denominations, the Society has printed books and tracts in 250 languages, dialects, and characters; the circulation of this literature being carried on as far as po ible without the expense of agents. The sale of publications has been made to cover all expenses of manufacture, and the whole amount of contributions has been applied to the circulation of publications. The Society aids the various organizations engaged in philanthropic and mi ionary work in the home field, and makes grants to parochial, congregational, and individual workers throughout the country, and especially to Sunday and day school libraries. Work is d,one also in connection with hospitals, infirmaries, and other institutions, and for soldiers, sailors, fishermen, hop-pickers and navvies. Depots are maintained by the Society upon the Continent of Europe, at Lisbon, Madrid, Buda Publication pest, Vienna, Gratz, and Warsaw. work at large centers, such as Paris, Toulouse, Baden-Baden, Florence, Rome, Berlin, and Constantinople, has been aided by liberal grants. In the mi ion fields of the world, where the help given takes the form of large grants of money, printing paper and of publications, wherever po ible, such grants are made only to auxiliary book and tract societies, under the control of committees representing the evangelical denominations. Where there is no such organization, the Society aids individual workers. 623 In France the Society makes grants in aid of D6p6t Central, the Paris Tract Society, the McAll Mi ion and smaller grants to individual Christian workers. The Geneva Evangelical Society of Switzerland and the Belgian Evangelical Society of Belgium both receive small grants. In Italy the depot at Rome and the Italian Evangelical Publication Society, Florence, have received annual grants. Since 1870 the work of the Society in Spain has been carried on from Madrid as a center, with subdepots at Barcelona, Sarago a, Seville, and Gibraltar. In 1902 those at Sarago a and Seville were closed. Colporteurs are employed to visit the villages with Bibles and Christian literature. In Portugal a depot is maintained at Lisbon, and a subdepot at Oporto, but in 1902 it was decided to discontinue the latter. Colporteurs are employed, and the publications of the Society are scattered through the country. At St. Miguel (Azores), and S. Vicente (Capo Verde), depots are maintained without expense to the Society. In Germany grants are made to the German Evangelical Book and Tract Society; the Baden Christian Colportage Union, the Society for the the Free Distribution of Holy Scriptures and Religious Tracts, Dresden, and several individuals are aided in Christian worlv. In 1902 the committee of the Society became convinced that the time had come to place upon the Protestants of Germany the task of carrying on their evangelical work, and decided to reduce the annual grants to German organizations. Individual grants are made to Christian worlcers in Holland and Denmark, chiefly for distribution among sailors. In Sweden the Society has made an annual subsidy to the National Evangelical Society of Sweden, one of the most active centers of religious publications in Europe, but in 1903 it was decided to discontinue tliis grant. In Norway the Society has a isted the Chris tiania Home Mi ion. In Ru ia every opportunity for di eminating Christian literature has been seized, and the committee are ever on the lookout for new openings. A depot is maintained in Poland at Warsaw, and grants are made to individual workers; a istance has also been given the Bible-Bag Mi ion of Finland. In Greece the only regular work of the Society for some time has been tract publication work under the superintendence of Dr. Kalopothakes, of Athens. In Austria work is carried on in Vienna in conjunction with the British and Foreign Bible Society, and at Gratz and Budapest. Subdepots were for many years established at Lemberg, Trieste, Bucharest, and Belgrade, but were discontinued in 1902. Aid has been given an active evangelical pastor in Prague, Bohemia. For over 35 years the Society has had a depot in Hungary, but not until 1902 was it granted a legal existence by the government, and able to work openly without hindrance. In Turkey the Society has made grants to the publication work in Constantinople under the American Board, to the Mi ion Institute in Samokov, Bulgaria, and to individual mi ionaries in Turkey in Asia, especially at Aintab and Marash. Since 1871 the Society has sustained an important publication work through the American Pre at Beirut in Syria, and special grants have been made to individual workers in Syria and Palestine. Since 1813 the Society has made grants for the preparation of a vernacular Christian literature India, and many large auxiliary tract societies m Relief ‘WorU Rellgloas Tract have been formed in various parts of the empire, all of which have been aided by tiie Society. Perhaps the most important of these organizations is the Christian Literature Society for India, which cooperates with the RTS. The Calcutta Book and Tract Society has been aided annually since 1831. The North India Christian Tract and Book Society, AUaliabad, has received grants of money and printing paper. The Bombay Book and Tract Society, founded in 1827, has received yearly grants from the Society since its formation. The Gujarat Tract and Book Society and the Ori a Tract Society receive annual grants of printing paper. The Madras Religious Tract^ and Book Society, the oldest existing organization of this kind in India, has received grants since its formation in 1818. Other societies in India receiving regular aids of money or printing paper from the RTS are the Bangalore Tract and Boolv Society, the Malayalam Religious Tract Society, the South Travancore Tract Society, the Ceylon Christian Literature and Religious Tract Society, while grants of stock have been made bo the depots in Burma, at Rangoon, Maul main, and Mandalay. Publications connected with the various mi ions in India have been aided and grants have been made to individuals working in the empire. The Decennial Conference of Indian Mi ionaries convened at Madras in 1902 sent to the Society an aclcnowledgment of the services it had rendered in India: “Without the books, tracts, and leaflets published with the aid of this and kindred societies, mi ion workers would be seriously crippled.” In China the Society cooperates with the Society for the Diffusion of Christian and Gem eral Knowledge among the Chinese, and works through the various auxiliary organizations of the empire. The Chinese Tract Society of Shanghai receives grants in aid of the vernacular publication work, and in 1899, with the support and encouragement of the London Committee of the RTS, published an annotated Bible for the Chinese one of the greatest works ever undertaken by the mi ionary body in China.” For twenty-six years the Central China Religious Tract Society has been at work, with centers at — Hankow, Wuchang and Hanyang. It is managed by a committee representing four nationalities and six mi ions, but its mainstay has been the RTS, of London, yearly grants having been made for its work ever since its formation. Annual grants are made to the Hong kong Religious Tract Society, and to the Bible, Book, and Tract Depot in that city; to the Religious Tract Society of Canton, Amoy, and West China; to the North China Tract Society, and the Manohurian Tract Society. Special grants have been made for the colportage work of the National Bible Society of Scotland, the China Inland Mi ion, and individual mi ionaries of other denominaIn Japan the Society makes tions in China. large grants to the Japan Book and Tract Society, located in Osaka, and made a special grant in 1903 to be expended on Christian literature for the visitors of the Osaka exhibition. Few organizations have such a far-reaching scope as the Religious Tract Society. Besides its work in the larger countries of Europe and Asia, it makes grants to workers in the Straits Settlements, in Persia, in North Africa, Algiers and Tunis; Eastern and Central Africa, through the CMS workers. In South Africa the Port Elizabeth Railway Mi ion is supplied with literature Tlelieions Tract Itibeirao Prelo at reduced rates, the South African Auxiliary of the Bible Society received grants of tracts for hospital use; books were granted at half price for the Dutch Girls’ Home, at Cape Town, and for Sunday school libraries in six or more denominations, as well as grants of pictures, tracts, etc., for individual workers. In West Africa grants of books, tracts, pictures, electrotypes, etc., have been made to mi ionaries of various creeds and nationalities. In Madagascar a grant of paper aids the LMS Mi ion Pre ; tracts and pictures have been sent to Mauritius, and a single grant has been made to a worker on Ascension Island In Canada grants are made in the South Pacific. in aid of the Montreal Auxiliary Religious Tract Society, the Bible Society Auxiliary of Quebec and to individual workers. In Nova Scotia the British American Book and Tract Society of Halifax receives annual grants of tracts and favorable terms on books for Sunday school libraries, and for colportage work on the coasts Special grants of Newfoundland and Labrador. have been made to individual workers in Newfoundland. A single grant of tracts was made in British Columbia, and to the American Seaman’s Friend Society, at New York, applied for by the Secretary. In Mexico the United Tract Committee of Mexico City received aid for Spanish tract printing, and workers have been aided in British and Spanish Honduras and in Costa Rica. In South America at British Guiana, Brazil, Argentine Republic, Chile, and Colombia, to individual workers. In the West Indies grants of books for colportage work have been made, for Sunday school and day school libraries, and tracts for general distribution at Jamaica, Antigua, Bahamas, and Bermudas. In Australia the same grants have been made to New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. In New Zealand grants have been made of publications at reduced rates to the Scripture Gift A ociation of Auckland; the New Zealand Bible Tract and Book Society at Dunedin and Woodville for use in the Bush country. The LMS Mi ion Pre of New Guinea receives grants of printing paper. In Samoa a like grant is made. In Fiji the Wesley an Mi ionary Society has been aided with literature, and in Tahiti a mi ionary of the Paris Evangelical Society has received grants of French and English publications. During 1903 the total circulation from the Home Depot, including books, tracts, periodicals, cards, and miscellaneous i ues, was 29,481,210, The total of which 14,034,350 were tracts. i ues from the foreign depots have been estimated at 20.000,000, making about 49,481,210 i ues for the year, a grand total of 3,540,196,440 since the formation of the Society. The receipts of the Society from all mi ionary sources amounted to £19,501 to the General Fund, and £1,474 to the Centenary Fund. Grants of money, paper, electrotypes, books, tracts, and other publications in Great Britain and Ireland, £11,175; similar foreign grants, £7,084; a total of £18,259. 642