The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1914, Page 39

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The Lutheran Pioneer. 89

from Africa again and again: Come over and help
us. And when that time comes, may not a few
of our Colored Lutherans be found ready to carry
the message of Jesus to their African brethren.

THe Cati or Arrica. — A man well acquainted
with the needs of Africa, Dr. S. Zwemer, says:
“None of the unoccupied fields of Asia can com-
pare in strategic urgency to-day with the unoccu-
pied fields of Africa, where the forces are now
assembling for the great conflict between the Cross
and the Crescent. The situation is critical, and
the testimony, as regards the urgency of this part
of the missionary problem, is unanimous in its
character, and comes from every part of the mission
field.” ‘There is, indeed, every reason to believe
that the next twenty-five years will settle the ques-
tion whether North, West, and East Africa will
be Christian or Mohammedan. The Mohammedans
are making most determined efforts to replace the
idol groves of Africa with mosques. It now rests
with the Christian Church to rise to the emergen-
cies of the case and win for Christ the masses who
are turning away from heathenism. Heathenism
seems to be doomed. May the opportunities of the
present time be seized and the present wide-spread
movement toward Christianity not he deflected
towards Islam because of a lack of interest on the
part of Christians!

Crarrs or Missions. — The great importance
of missions is being more and more recognized, as
may be gathered from the establishment of “Chairs
of Missions” in various universities and theological
seminaries in this and other countries. Thus also
Dreer Theological Seminary has recently established
a chair of missions, and the Teachers’ College of
Columbia University will in future give special
preparation to young persons who intend to be-
come teachers 'in foreign mission fields. The time
is probably not far distant when most theological
seminaries will have special mission study courses.

Divisions oF BuppHism.— There are no less
than 57 sects of Buddhism in Japan. Buddhism
has 71,769 temples, over 53,000 priests, and a

teaching force of almost 75,000 in that country. —

No less than 10,000-students are studying for the
Buddhistie priesthood.

A University Proressor as MeEprcst Mis-
SIONARY IN West Arrica.—Prof. Dr. Albert
‘Schweitzer, a former member of the theological
faculty of Strassburg University, has taken up the
work of medical missionary at Lambarene on the

River Ogowe in the French colony of Gabun, north
of the Kongo River. He has loosely connected him-
self with the Paris Mission, by which a house and
hospital have been furnished him. Dr. Schweitzer
is a brilliant man. Before he had attained the age
of thirty-five years, various literary publications of
his had directed people’s attention to him. Strass-
burg also highly appreciated his great musical
ability. Now he has given all this up to go to the
wilds of Africa as a missionary.

A FRIEND oF Missions Gons. — Samuel Bil-
lings Capen died at Shanghai, January 29, 1914.
Up to five years ago, Mr. Capen was engaged in
business in Boston, when he retired to devote all
his time to religious and philanthropic work. He
held many important offices in his denomination,
among them that of President of the American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Last
fall he started for Asia to inspect the extensive
mission work of the American Board. The cause
of his death was pneumonia. ‘Though not a rich
man, as riches go to-day, Mr. Capen was a liberal
giver to the cause of religion and charity. A friend
of his writes that he might have died a millionaire,
had his benefactions not run into the thousands
of dollars every year.

A Lar@r Evancenican Iranian CHurcH IN
New Yorx.—A large Italian Protestant church
was recently dedicated in New York. A huge white
cross crowns the high spire and can be seen far
away. School-rooms and other quarters are also
to be found in the commodious building. The pas-
tor of this new church is a Waldensian minister.
From year to year mission work among the Ital-
ians is growing more important. The Presbyterian

‘Church is particularly active in the work.

LuTHEeRAN Mission IN JAPAN. — The United
Synod and the General Council Lutherans are con-
ducting a flourishing mission in the island of
Kyushu, Japan. They have six stations in as many

cities of the island and a number of outstations. -

On these stations they have ten missionaries and
ten native workers. At Kumamota, a city of
80,000 inhabitants, they conduct a large mission-
school attended by 300 students. The buildings

‘and equipment of this school cost $54,000.

InprA. — Mass movements toward Christianity
of the outcast peoples of India are still reported.

. In some districts the applicants for baptism are

numbered by hundreds and even thousands. Cries

for teachers from numberless villages must be left