LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 86, 4 January 1908, Page 6

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

—4 VISITORS FROM ENGLAND.; ? A WIDE 'MISSION FIELD. Two representatives of the London Mission-ary-Society arrived in Wellington yesterday. Mr.. Edward Smith, J.P., of Worcestershire, England, is a director of the Homo Board of the Society, and tho Rev. A. N. Johnson, M.A., of London, ,is its Home Secretary. They are making a tour, of Australasia in tho interests of their Socioty, and have visited all tho State capitals of tho Commonwealth. They como here from Auckland, and will go on in a' few days-to Christchurch, Timaru, and' Duncdin. They will then cross to Tasmania, and, after visiting Hobart and Laun'ceston, will join tho missionary steamer . ■John Williams-at Sydney for a seven weeks' trip to "New Guinea and back. After that they will leave on tho return voyage to England. The Rev. Joseph ting, of Melbourno, who is tho goneral representative of the London Missionary Socioty in Australasia, is accompanying tho deputation on their series of visits. . Ho arrived liero oil Thursday uight! The Object of the Visit. " Oiir object in coming out-;hero," said Mr. Johnson, "is to seo in what way tho organisation of our Society in these countries can be improved. We shall make recommendations on the subject to tho Home Board, and we aro therelore visiting all tile auxiliaries. At present the London Missionary Society receives about £6000 a year from Australia an<,l Now Zealand, but a movement has been started amongst our Australasian supporters to increase that amount to £10,000 a year. Judging by what wo have seen on our tour, and by the interest which is being taken in mission work, I think that object will bo attained. "The mission fields of tho Society are in India, China, ; South and Central -Africa, Madagascar, the South Seas, and. New Guinea, and one missionary in Demerara. Our iield .in tho-South Seas includes New Zealand's dependency, tho Cook Islands, and wo havo missionaries'there". Altogether wo havo over 270 missionaries on active service. The Society's Unsectarian Basis. "The London Missionary Society was originally founded- by tho Church of, England, and tho Presbyterian and Congregational Churches acting together, but the Church of England now has its own . missionary j Societies, and tho Presbyterians. are separately engaged in foreign mission work.' Tho London Missionary Society to-day is, mainly supported by C'ongregationalists, yet wo receive from tho Presbyterians a. good deal of help in tho form 'of money, and also men and women volunteering for the mission field. This is the caso in Otago, and wo have always had strong support from the Presbyterian. Churches in Scotland., This has largely been kept up because wo work-in fields' where the Presbyterian missions arc not working. The 'largest donation 1 at our centenary, amounting to £3000, camo from a Presbyterian. " Tho fundamental principle of/the Society is still undenominational. It does riot exist to send out preachers of Episcopacy or Presbyterianistn, or Congregationalism, but men who 'will preach (as our Articles say in' Scriptural phrase) : the glorious; gospel' of t-ha Blessed God.' Tho Articles of the Society also direct that it shall bo left to the natives to decide their own form. of church government as they may bo led by the spirit of God. Of course, tho converts are influenced in their .decisions by the viows of; those who have brought thein tho Gospel. Tho Native churches are usually Congregational in form, and' sometimes partly gregational and partly Presbyterian. A Passionary Revival, , "There is a distinct advanco at Homo in tho support of the Society,-and the year 1908. is going to be a great missionary year among 1 tho Congregational Churches. Our Senior Foroign Secretary, Dr. Wardlaw Thompson, is now Chairman of tlio Congregational Union of England and Wales, and a' missionary campaign is to ho conducted by a number of leading ministers,suclv as' Dr. Horton, tho R-ev. Silvester Home, the Rev. J. H. Jowett (who is Dr. Dale's successor at Birmingham), Dr. Campbell Morgan,' tho Rev. J. D. Jones, and the Rev. Arnold Thomas. Abroad, there are great openings for, extended work in China,. ; and there aro growing demands from' India. Tho total expenditure of the Society last _ year was' £190,000 for all purposes. Tho incomo was about £10,000 less, and we aro trying to make good that deficiency. Over £30,000 of. the annual income comes from-tho natives in tho field, which, I think, is an excellent sign." Tho members of th» deputation and tho Rev. J. King will occupv certain local pulpits to-morrow, and will address a public meeting next week.