CHINA - Bro. Simmons, Canton, tells of a pleasant trip to KuTuing, where he found many willing hearers, with some opponents. Two were baptized. To a business letter he adds: “We have recently had five baptisms at Shin Hing. Our work is opening up with better promises and hopes this year than for many years past.” April 21, he reports one baptism at Taung Fa, and one at Canton, and says: “Dr. Graves is better than he was two or three months ago, though he is far from being strong. He is in a bad condition to try another summer hear.” One of the best preachers in the mission has been called to Portland, Oregon.He was formerly pastor there, and now returns. Bro. Herring, Shanghai, writes that the return of Dr. Yates' old trouble, of which mention was made in a late Journal, has been checked, and that he is improving in health, though far from well. A brief reunion of the missionaries from Shanghai and Chinkiang filled all hearts with joy. Would that these reunions could take place oftener.
Our missionaries have no such blessed opportunities for social and Christian enjoyment as many of us have recently had in Louisville. And how sadly they miss such privileges. Miss Lottie Moon, Tungehow, says that changes are rapidly taking place in the Chinese people, in their feeling towards missionaries. Access to the to the confidence and even the affections of the people can now be had, where formerly all was distrust, suspicion and hatred.
These changes indicate the time of China’s redemption is beginning to dawn, and give force to the strong appeals that come from our missionaries for more men and women to prosecute the work. Bro. Pruit appeals for help for the soul-starving people about him. How long will such appeals go unheeded? Bro. Joiner, of Hwang Hien, gives an interesting account of three inquirers, who, pretended to be seekers after truth, turned out to be seekers after American medical knowledge. Bro. Davault is still in Cheefoo, working, and at the same time recuperating.
BRAZIL - Rev. W. H. Bagby and family are now in Richmond on their way to Brazil. They expect to sail on the twenty-fifth instant from Newport News, Va. Miss Maggie Rice of St. Joseph, Mo., has been accepted by the Board as missionary to Brazil, and will probably sail with Bro. Bagby. She has been assigned to the mission at Rio de Janeiro. The ladies of Walnut Street [Baptist] church, Louisville, will provide part of her support, the balance being provided by the ladies of Missouri. She has the strongest endorsement of the Missouri brethren, and gives promise of being a most efficient worker. Pray for her.
From Bro. Daniel, Bahia, comes the sad news of the death of Sr. Teixeira, our native pastor at Macelo - a great loss to our Brazillian mission. Bro. Bagby will give a brief sketch of this earnest, faithful and successful evangelist in the June number of the Foreign Mission Journal. Mrs. Daniel writes that serious threats have been made against the life Bro. Daniel and his whole family, unless he stops publishing the paper Echo of Truth, and baptizing in the sea. Congregations are large, and the people give earnest heed to things that are spoken. Seven baptisms have taken place. Mrs. Taylor of this mission, now at home on account of Bro. Taylor’s health, says: “How thankful I shall be when with renewed health and energies, we shall again be at work in Bahaia. I feel more home-sick for Brazil than I ever did for America.”
ITALY - Dr. George B. Taylor bade the brethren of the Convention good-bye, as he hopes soon to return to his beloved work in Italy, and when he goes he never expects to see his native land again. Bro. Eager has been visiting some of the mission stations in Italy. At Barletta he says many believe that the Baptists are teaching the truth, but the fear of men restrains them from any expression of that belief. In private, they commend the work of our evangelist – in public they will not recognize him at all. There are many large towns of from ten to forty thousand inhabitants, where the gospel has not been preached. No wonder the cry is for men and means. May God’s people hear the cry and answer it!
MEXICO - Rev. D. A. Wilson is much pleased with his new field at Guadalajara. He thinks it full of promise. He and his family have received many kindnesses from missionaries of other denominations. The people are curious to know who and what Baptists are. Bro. Wilson proposes to answer these questions, yet in such a way as to preserve the pleasant relations now existing between him and other missionaries. Bro. Powell wants a first-class man to take charge of the general interests of the Saltillo mission, so that he may prosecute the great work which opens up among the ranches of the north and east of the city.
============== [Tennessee Baptist, May 28, 1887, p. 3. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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