Morning Calm v.1 no.6(1890 Dec.)

THE MORNING CALM. No. 6, VOL. I.] DECEMBER 1890. [PRICE 1d. The Bishop's Letter. No. XVII. Nagasaki, Japan, September 25, 1890.

DEAR FRIENDS,

Having just concluded three voyages amounting to about 7,000 miles in all, I have had but few opportunities of seeing the Morning Calm. But the compass, with which you are by this time, I hope, very familiar, has guided me through one hemisphere into another, and has at last brought me almost within sight of the land of the Morning Calm, whose spiritual interests are being cared for by you in your daily prayers. I hope, too, that you have now learnt how to box the compass. The first thing our young seamen are taught in the training ship is to box the compass. The instructor puts his pupil in the middle of the large compass and teaches him the meaning of those letters as he goes from N. to NE. and E., from E. to SE. and S., from S. to W., and from W. back again to N. Nor is he satisfied until the youngster, without looking at the compass, can repeat all the 32 points. And if this accurate knowledge of the mariner's compass is necessary for the seaman in his voyages to and fro, how much more necessary is a knowledge of the Missionary compass for the Christian? Filled with the Holy Spirit himself he yearns for the time when the same Spirit of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. You cannot have a better companion in your Missionary meeting than this beautiful cover of the Morning Calm, which the skill and kindness of Mr. Carter have provided for us. And when you kneel down at night or morning to intercede for Foreign Missions, when you go to church to join in the prayers of the congregation for Foreign Missions, you can have no better manual to assist your devotions and to make them cover the whole ground than this compass. It need never take you more than five minutes to offer up a hearty "Lord help" on behalf of every one of these 32 countries which surround your compass. How greatly will the work of God be quickened, be deepened, be extended by means of those short, fervent prayers! How closely the various Missions will be brought together! How surely prejudices will disappear! How truly will union amongst Christians be promoted! How compact the front which the Church of God will be able to present to the forces of the Prince of Darkness! What an impetus will be given to all the Church's work – at home, in the parish, in the ship, in the family, in the individual heart!

Of the voyage from Vancouver I have very little to record. On Saturday, September 6, we went to bed, and, crossing the 180° meridian a few hours later, awoke to find that it was Monday morning. But this loss of a day did nothing to shorten the voyage. It is a long drag from Vancouver to Yokohama, and for the greater part of it we had head winds and a rough sea. Most of us, I think, were glad when we sighted Fuji Yama, the beautiful snow-capped mountain of Japan, and soon after – on September 14 – reached Yokohama.

A kind invitation from Bishop Bickersteth took me by an early train to Tokyo – the capital – and in a little more than an hour I was at home in St. Andrew's Mission House, with the Bishop and the five clergy who are living with him. My visit to Tokyo was very short, but very pleasant. Over and above the delight of finding myself amongst real Missionaries and seeing them at their work, there were old acquaintances to be looked up and old associations to be revived. The Tsuruga Maru, which was to take us to Korea, did not leave Kobé until September 23. Dr. Landis, preferring to wait for it there rather than in Tokyo, went on by sea, and was hospitably entertained by Mr. Foss, of S.P.G., whom I had known when I was in Kobé twelve years ago. The thanks of all friends of the Mission are due to the Bishop, Mr. Foss, and the rest of the clergy in Japan, who have so kindly helped us on our way. The Bishop took me to St. Hilda's School for Japanese girls and to the little dispensary and hospital close by, where Nurse Grace was in great request and looking forward to the time – not far distant – when the large hospital now being built will enable her to meet more adequately the many demands made by the poor Japanese on her time and skill. I examined this dispensary carefully and received much useful information, which I shall communicate to Dr. Wiles (who, by the way, has arrived safely in Korea). This dispensary is just what I want to establish by the help of my naval friends in each of the four treaty ports of Korea. On Thursday, September 18, I was allowed to address some 30 or 40 of the European and American residents in Tokyo and Yokohama, who, at the invitation of the Bishop, came to hear what I had to say about my plans and prospects. This meeting was rich in Bishops. Besides our two selves there were Bishop Williams, of the American Church, and Bishop Nikolai, of the Eastern Church – an old friend of mine, who is not only doing a good work amongst the Japanese but is always ready to enter into sympathetic relations with the Churches of England and America. In the evening of the same day I addressed the students of a night school in St. Andrew's House. There were between 40 and 50 present, all very attentive and intelligent-looking fellows. Two things made this a meeting which I am likely to remember. I had to speak for the first time through an interpreter, and for the first time I found myself addressing heathen; for, though some of the students are Christians, the majority, I believe, are heathens. One of my hearers that night wants to come to Korea with me as a catechist. It is the first offer I have had from Japan, and you must pray for him that after a time of probation he may be found faithful and fit. It was with very mixed feelings that I took my leave of the Bishop and his good clergy the next morning. Anxious as I am to get to Korea I was yet reluctant to leave a house where I had been made so welcome. A long but very beautiful railway journey of 17 hours brought me to Kyoto, the old capital of Japan, whence I reached Kobé in time for evensong last Sunday, September 21. For the two days I had to be in Kobé I stayed with an old Oxford friend, who, with his wife and family, showed me great, very great, kindness. Here Dr. Landis and I resumed our journey together, and sailed for this place viâ the beautiful inland Sea of Japan. Beautiful as it was, however, we did not escape what was very like a typhoon, though the high protecting land around saved us from the full force of it. To-morrow we leave for Fusan, which is only some 150 miles from Nagasaki, and a place which has already a familiar sound to you who study your map of Korea month by month. My next letter, therefore, ought to give you the news of my first landing in Korea. That letter will, I hope, appear in the January number of the magazine – a good beginning for the new year's series.

But if that is to be a new year's letter I must not forget that although I am writing in September this letter will reach you in time for Christmas. The errand of "peace, goodwill towards men" is the errand on which you know we are bound, we who have come or are coming to make our home in this heathen land. May that peace and goodwill find a large place in your Christian hearts, so that both to you and to ourselves this Christmas may bring a heartier desire than ever to bring those "near" who are now “afar off," and to make others share in the reconciliation with God which we and our children enjoy through the Prince of Peace.

I shall not forget you on Christmas day, nor them on the Feast of Holy Innocents. God bless you. Your affectionate, C. J. CORFE.

To the Editor of MORNING CALM. SIR, – May I beg leave to make use of your columns in order to ask for Mission news for the “Spirit of Missions"? I want especially news from the West Indies, China, Burmah, New Guinea and Borneo, and Polynesia – in each case of a kind that does not appear in the ordinary journals, such as details of ordinary work or special incidents of work. If any of your readers have the means of obtaining such I shall be grateful if they will send them to me from time to time. – I am, &c., W. E. COLLINS. All Hallows Barking, London, E.C.

The Spirit of Missions. "DEAR friends, you must help the Church in Canada with your prayers. Look at your compass and don't think too much about Korea." These words of our Bishop are sufficient justification, were any needed, for an appeal on behalf of the township of Miniota, in the diocese of Rupert's Land. It is a growing town, and even the present wants of the place are only very scantily supplied. The parish priest, who is stationed at Burtle, twelve miles away, comes over once a month and holds services in a building used by all denominations; and during the summer months a student from Winnipeg Theological College officiates under his directions. The need of a church – and indeed of another priest – is a very evident one; and it is hoped that the circular sent out with this number of the Morning Calm may be widely responded to. We are too apt to think that donations must be large to be of value; and too often the few large donations of the rich take the place of the self-denying offerings of our thousands.

On Monday, November 3, a farewell service was held at S. John's, Red Lion Square, previous to the departure of Bishop Smythies for Central Africa. He is accompanied by a priest, two newly ordained deacons, and two ladies, bringing up the number of his English staff to 69. The Bishop, in the course of his sermon, announced with deep feeling the death of the Rev. M. Ellis-Vines, a priest of the Mission, who has been in South Africa for some time, and was just returning to his work at Lake Nyasa. In other ways the Bishop seemed very hopeful; he said that his interviews with General von Caprivi and the German Emperor – who had remarked that Christians would do well to unite in the face of the unity existing among the Mohammedans – had been very satisfactory. And he again repudiated the thought of withdrawing from the mission stations in what is now German territory. "We should be," he said, in words which thrilled every hearer, "the basest of traitors if we deserted our converts and those who have put their trust in us . . . . The Catholic Church never retires. Her missions are never defeated. They may be exterminated, but extermination is not defeat: it is a step on the road to a new victory."

The following extract from the Bishop's speech at the Church Congress admirably illustrates the true method of working:– "In considering what is the best way of approaching the Africans, I think that we ought to dismiss altogether from our minds that rather fascinating idea of a Christian village situated in a healthy situation, and drawing people from all parts to live under the presiding genius of the missionary. I am convinced myself that such a system is an utterly false one. It presents a very fair outside picture, but what does it mean? It means that all the 'ne'er-do-wells,' all the people who are discontented with their own chiefs and with their own political conditions, would assemble together under the presidency of the missionary, who is at once elevated into the position of a chief himself, and becomes responsible for the well-being of the people under his care. In these circumstances he will inevitably come into collision with the natural rulers in his neighbourhood. Such a system must strike at one of the first principles of missionary work, viz., that the missionary should not assume civil power more than is possible, or in any way acquire the position of a chief in the country.

“We have already tried having a freed-slave village in the middle of Africa, and everybody thought at first that it was a very promising experiment, but we have had to give it up because of this very thing. The missionary found himself looked upon as a chief, and held responsible for the good conduct of his people, without any police or army at his back to support his position and uphold his jurisdiction. Nothing could be a greater hindrance to his proper spiritual work. I am quite sure the true way is to go to the tribes where we find them, to uphold the authority of the chief, to try to instil into his mind Christian principles, and to remind him continually that he holds his power from God, and is bound to give an account to Him for the way in which he uses it." According to the latest news from Bishop Tucker's party, all had gone well up to September 14, and the Bishop expected to reach Uganda on All Saints' Day. The caravan had been fiercely attacked by the Ugogo, and owed its safety mainly to the marked gallantry of Lieutenant Siegel and the escort of twenty Germans, three of whom were killed. It is not easy to realise the immensity of the work which our Church has to do in the colonies. Take for example a single diocese – that of New Westminster. It consists of the southern half of British Columbia, and the area of the diocese is 179,400 miles, or nearly that of the whole of France. Of course the population at present is small, but it is daily increasing, and this only adds another element of difficulty. And the number of Churchmen in the diocese is smaller still – so small, in fact, that many an English parish is more populous. They are scattered in small centres over the whole country, and each priest has a number of these communities under his charge, to be reached and ministered to as best he can. The missionary district of Kamloops, with three clergy, is more than three-fourths as large as England. The missions in the chief centres of population in the diocese are self-supporting; and the Bishop claims that, in proportion with their means, the Churchpeople raise larger funds than those at home do. The diocesan statistics show that last year the average contribution to the funds from Church members – counting Indians and whites, young and old – was 2.95 dollars (just over 10s.). So that work in this "California of the future” is eminently encouraging. And in the meantime the Bishop's staff of clergy, “of untiring energy and devotion, and of an exceptionally high spiritual tone," are working for stipends which, to quote Lord Lorne, would be scorned by a commercial traveller. It will be readily understood that work like this offers many novel features. The thought of a parish priest having to journey some 350 miles – more than half on horseback or on foot – to go to the annual Synod may not strike us particularly. But the following extract from a private letter recently received will throw some interesting light on the routine work of the parish of Barkerville:–

"I received your letter at 'the 150,' which means the 150-mile house, reckoning from Lilloit, the old beginning of the waggon road. There are four white households at ‘the 150' and many Chinamen; and within a few miles there are two ranches, from which people come to our services. I endeavour to get there once a month. This time I went viâ Keighley and 'the Forks' – a long round – and on foot, except 20 miles. I set out on a Tuesday, and reached Snowshoe Creek the first night – 27 miles, part of the trail very wet. A very lonely walk; thought I was off the right trail; reached a cabin just at nightfall; it was Little Snowshoe, and there I lodged. It stands quite by itself, the next cabin miles away. Next day down Keighley Creek to ‘the Ranche at Keighley ' – 9 miles; the blazing sun and the roadside berries the cause of delay. ‘The Ranche at Keighley' stands on a low plain between two lakes, which is very thickly wooded (as I experienced next morning) except about the Ranche itself, which is cleared and shows lovely grass. They got me a horse at Keighley; but I found that the fates were against me and that horse, so I left him. This is how: Thursday morning sailed out of Ranche, when I at once got lost among the timber. Then began climbing over many thousand fallen trees, wading through unnumbered streams, breaking through a great variety of undergrowth, with no result. At last having frequently heard of the wondrous instinct of the horse, I dismounted, resolved to follow him through thick and thin. After pausing for thought, the horse went through thick and thin back to the Ranche. So I started again, 20 miles on foot, chiefly along North Fork to 'the Forks,' i.e., the confluence of the two branches of the Quesnelle, a tributary of the Fraser. Where they meet there is a settlement, one white family, a white man, and several Chinamen; I lodged with the family. "Going out from ‘the Forks' on to Beaver Lake one has to climb an immense series of ascending ridges. It was a very tiring walk, but the wild raspberries were an alleviation. At Beaver Lake there is one Ranche kept by a Canadian-Frenchman, who kindly lent me his horse for the last piece into 'the 150' – 35 miles. At 3 P.M. I lighted on a pack train encamping; I gave up my horse for them to take back to Beaver Lake, and walked the last 12 miles in the moonlight." Some particulars of the work among the Indians lately carried on by the Rev. R. Small, who is going to Korea, may prove interesting. Everything is going on in the most encouraging way. They themselves build a little log church in each village, and the stone churches in the larger centres are the work of the Indians themselves. Mr. Edwardes, who was formerly engaged in the same work, tells of their efforts on behalf of the church at Lytton, several years ago: "At N'chacup, the old chief, Jacob, a handsome old man, called his children together and told them about the church building at Lytton, urging them to do their best. When the offertory was taken in church, the old man brought out his miner's scales, and Indian after Indian who had no money handed in his little packet of gold dust to be weighed and placed in the offertory plate. It would have taught many an English congregation a valuable lesson." An obvious difficulty is caused by faults of Europeans whom they see around them. This sometimes takes a comical form. An Indian Churchwarden rose to make a speech (which by the way deserves to be recorded as a model of pointed brevity) in the Diocesan Synod. “I, Churchwarden," he began in slow and solemn tones; “white man keep store open Sunday; Indian come buy goods on Sunday. What I do to Indian?” The Bishop explained that moral and not physical force was the remedy – a remedy hardly satisfactory to our Indian friend. In the evening he supped with us, and gave us a real Indian story, ending with the words, “Rest of story long; take three days." So we went to bed! It is satisfactory to know that Mr. McMahon has found a colleague to help him in his pioneer work among the Betsiriry of western Madagascar. This is the Rev. G. Herbert Smith, M.A., who worked in Madagascar from 1879 to 1887, and since then has been the Organising Secretary of the S.P.G. for the Dioceses of Lichfield and Chester, All success to them in their noble mission!   Association of Prayer and Work for Korea. TORQUAY BRANCH QUARTERLY REPORT. A small meeting of friends and supporters of the Korean Mission was held at Elm Cottage on St. Luke's Day. Fourteen persons were present, and several others were kept away by illness or previous engagements. The Rev. G. Statham, rector of St. Mark's and Rural Dean, said that he supposed the thought in the minds of most of those present would be the difficulty of reconciling the support of a new Mission with ties and duties already established, which no one would wish to desert. He was himself a priest-associate of Bloemfontein, where he had strong interests, and the parish was connected with the Mission to Madagascar. The object of the present meeting, however, was to talk over in an informal manner the best way of overcoming this difficulty. There were two special points to be remembered: I. Intercession. – The Bishop took a very broad basis here, and did not confine us to any particular form of words. Probably all present were in the habit of using some daily intercession for Foreign Missions at family prayer or otherwise; and it would be sufficient to comply with the rule of the Association if they would add a clause for Korea, or even carry their thoughts mentally to the Bishop and his work. All priests who were members of the Association were requested to remember the Mission once a month at the Holy Eucharist, and to celebrate especially for it once a year. He wished to say that at St. Mark's the celebration at eight o'clock on the Thursday morning nearest to December 6 would be for the Korean Mission, while he hoped all present would join in that special intention. Intercession services had never been discontinued since the Torquay Mission, and the work in Korea would now be among the subjects at the monthly intercession service at St. Mark's. II. Work. – All could see the wisdom of the broad ground which the Bishop had taken in making the Magazine an organ for all foreign Missions, as indicated by the frontispiece. It would be found interesting to all, to whatever Mission they were specially attached. It was evident (he said) that though the Bishop scarcely asked for money at all, Missions could not be carried on without it, and it was thought that an annual subscription of one shilling (apart from the Magazine) would come within the means of all. As to actual needlework, it was a lady's subject, and he must leave it to the local secretary.   The Local Secretary said that much success had been obtained at Stoke Newington by interesting working women in the Mission. She had thought of a sewing party for them, and she proposed to devote one-half of any offerings that might be made that day to the purchase of material. She thought also that if ladies would undertake to contribute one or more garments each during the winter enough might be collected to hold a sale of cheap and useful clothing in some of the poorer districts of Torquay, and the proceeds given to Korea. It was thought, however, upon discussion, that the ground of sewing parties was already fully occupied, and a proposal was substituted that mothers' meetings should be asked to work for Missions one afternoon in every month. The results were:– Seven new subscribers to Morning Calm making a total of ten; six new members of the Association for prayer and work; two annual subscriptions paid and others promised; offerings at the meeting, 17s. 41/2d., of which 8s. 6d. is sent to the general secretary, the remainder being retained for the purchase of working material. (Signed) E. C. EYTON, Local Secretary.

Secretaries and members are asked to remember this month one clause in the rules of the Association, in which they, if priests, are desired “if possible to celebrate for the Mission annually on December 6, or the Sunday next following." It is earnestly hoped that on or about St. Nicholas Day the Mission to Korea and its great needs will be specially remembered in many churches and by all that ever-increasing number of friends and helpers of whom the Bishop says that "those who work hardest are those who pray." It is interesting to notice that the Secretaries of the Association now number over 100, and its members already nearly 800. We have received the following short report from the Portsmouth Orphanage Branch:– "Our branch has little to say for itself as yet, but to thank warmly the kind friends, young and old, who have so readily joined us at starting. We hope to make our work more useful as time goes on and welcome heartily any new members. Inquiries from heads of institutions, whose little ones have not a special Mission to work for, will be gladly answered by the Secretary." It is hoped that many Orphan Homes will in time share the work and the privileges of the Branch with that Portsmouth Orphanage from which it takes its name. (Signed) M. M. CHAMBERS HODGETTS, General Secretary.   Missionary Intercessions and Thanksgivings. St. John iii. 17, – "God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." MISSIONARIES ENTERING ON THEIR WORK. PRAY that God will be with Missionaries at the outset: (1) directing their path, (2) sanctifying their journey, (3) sustaining them in separation from their friends, (4) giving courage to begin with energy, (5) prudence to act with discretion. MISSIONARIES IN SUFFERING. PRAY that they may be sustained in suffering from (1) heat, (2) cold, (3) hunger, (4) thirst, (5) weariness, (6) sickness, (7) loneliness, (8) amid the wicked, (9) in persecution, (10) in death. MISSIONARY ZEAL AT HOME. PRAY for (1) increasing zeal amongst (a) Bishops, (b) other clergy, (c) laity; (2) increasing liberality on the part of the rich and the poor; (3) due observance of the Day of Intercession; (4) that many priests, laymen, and women may offer themselves. SPECIAL MISSIONS. Assyrian Mission. – Thanksgiving for past blessings. Pray for the Priests, the Sisters, the Students, the Revival of Learning, the complete restoration of the Church to its past glory. Korea. – Thanksgiving for blessings on (1) the Bishop, (2) the Association, (3) the Magazine. Special blessing on the foundation of the Mission. Safety, wisdom, guidance, health to Bishop Corfe. Prayer for the Priests, the Deacons, the Doctors in their respective works. Grace to the Koreans to receive the Gospel. Central Africa. – Pray for (1) safe journey for Bishop Smythies and his companions, (2) political events may further the cause of the Gospel, (3) steadfastness to the Converts. South Africa. – Pray for (1) establishment and progress of the Church in Mashonaland, (2) faithful Bishop for Zululand.