Welsh Journals

12 THE WELSH WEEKLY. May 20, 1892. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. LADIES' MEETING. The great awakening of missionary enthusiasm which has marked the year now closed has made itself markedly felt in the annual meetings of the London Society. The week's programme began with a devotional service at the Mission House on Monday morning. The Ladies' Meeting on Tuesday afternoon was a distinct success. The Lower Exeter Hall was crowded with a sympathetic audience, and the speeches were all that could be desired. After singing and prayer- Mrs. Jesse Haworth, the Chairwoman, opened the meeting with a brief, well-chosen speech. She spe¬ cially urged the need of medical missions. The women of India and China were almost exclusively dependent upon the female medical missionaries for skilled aid in sickness. The command we had received was not merely to " preach," but also to " heal the sick," and we could not expect to do much good by our preaching if we neglected the suffering bodies. The Society could not as yet afford the funds needful to defray the cost of a four years' medical training. Was it not, therefore, laid as a solemn obligation upon the women of our churches to undertake the pecuniary responsi¬ bility of training suitable candidates for this work ? Mrs. Sibree (of Madagascar) spoke very touchingly of the work done by a missionary's wife in her home life and training of children, and she told of many instances of spiritual influence thus exerted on the native women and children. There were, moreover, girls' schools, women's classes to be taught, taking up two or three hours of each day. When Mr. Sibree became a tutor in the L.M.S. College in the capital she had to undertake also the teaching and training of the students' wives. In frequent tours round their district it was a great joy to find these old pupils busily at work with their schools and classes. _ _ Miss Smith (of Pekin) gave a concise and vivid account of her special work. The brightness and vivacity of her manner added greatly to the interest of a clever speech. The condition of Chinese women was described as on the whole better than that of Indian women, but in sore need of improvement. There were no schools except the missionary ones for girls, for the Chinese father said, " Why should I spend my money to educate another man's daughter- in-law 9 »*' The girls' boarding-schools begun by Mrs. Edge are flourishing. Through the Medical Mission the ladies came in contact with from four to five thousand female out-patients annually. The brief religious services held with these patients was indeed casting bread upon the waters, that sometimes they did find it after many days. An instance was given of a servant, who had been helped by the mission, carrying the report of what she had heard to her mistress, a lady of very high rank. The lady's curiosity being roused, she sent for Miss Smith, who gladly embraced this and other opportunities of telling the .Gospel story in the aristocratic but heathen home. Mrs. Armitage (of Bradford), speaking as represen¬ tative of the Ladies' Committee, made a most inspiring speech. Though no formal report was given, we were put in possession of many interesting facts. We learnt that the fund specially devoted to female missions has increased in the past year by about £1000, but a still greater increase is needed. Of candidates for mission work there have been more women than men, and many of them singularly well qualified. Truly the ivomen of our churches have not been disobedient to the heavenly vision. Nine or ten additional female missionaries are expected to go out this autumn. Miss Harris, who is going to Hankow, has defrayed the cost of her own medical training. She will be accompanied by her sister as a self- supporting missionary. The present staff of ladies in the field is 45. Of these, five have been sent direct from Australia. Through the change of constitution, women are now admitted to the directorate, and so the Missionary Parliament has the advantage of the votes of women as well as men. An impressive and eloquent speech was brought to a close by an earnest presentation of the claims of mission work upon the churches, ministers, and members. More prayer, united and fervent, will result in greater efficiency in mission work, and will also return in double blessing to our own souls. ; Miss Hewlett (of Mirzapore) made one feel simply appalled by the scarcity of labourers in the wide fields of India. She and Miss Waite are the only English missionaries in a district as large as Wales, containing about 1,000,000 inhabitants. In Mirzapore itself there are 80,000 inhabitants, and what can two do amongst so many ? In the three years that they have been at work there have only been four converts bap¬ tized. Yet there has been a great work done which cannot be tested by figures. About 250 women and children are brought within sound of the Gospel daily; and quietly, almost imperceptibly, yet very surely, this influence is leavening society. It is a thing impossible to prove or reduce to statistics, yet it is a sure fact. The meeting was followed by a conference of county secretaries and treasurers. INTERNATIONAL LESSON. NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM. Dan. ii. 36-49 (May 29). Golden Text.—All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom tve have to do.—Heb. iv. 13. Time.—b.c. 603-602. The second year of Nebuchad¬ nezzar's reign as sole king (Dan. ii. 1). Daniel was taken captive 606-605 b.c, in the third year of Jehoiakim (Dan. i. 1), before Nebuchadnezzar became king, which was in the fourth year of Jehoiakim (Jer. xxv. 1), when his father, Nabopolassar, died. Thus the third year of Daniel's captivity (Dan. i. 5) would be the second year of Nebuchad¬ nezzar.—Peloubet. Ver. 36. And we will tell the interpretation. Daniel associates his friends with him in this interpretation, for it was by their prayers with his that the revelation came to him. He was the speaker for all. Daniel sought no honour at the expense of his friends. Ver. 37. Thou, 0 king, art a king of kings. The Babylonian empire counted its vassal kings by scores.— Professor Toy. For the God of heaven hath given thee. "Daniel is careful to remind Nebuchadnezzar that great as his kingdom might be, his power came only from God. This was the great truth, his forgetfulness of which brought upon him the judgment of God.—Rawlinson. Compare God's gifts to Nebuchadnezzar with what he gave to Daniel (ver. 23).—H. J. Rose. Power . . . and glory. Modern research has shown that Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest monarch that Babylon, or perhaps the East generally, ever produced. He must have possessed an enormous command of human labour. Nine-tenths of Babylon, and nineteen-twentieths of all the other ruin s that in almost countless profusion cover the land, are composed of bricks stamped with his name.—Rawlinson. Ver. 38. Wheresoever men dwell. Not over the whole eaith, but perhaps over the whole civilised world of Asia, over all the historical nations of his time.—Keil. Beasts . . . and the fowls. Meaning to enforce the idea that he reigned over the known world and all that was upon it. Thou art this head of gold. The golden head, as the connection shows, represents the Babylonian world- kingdom or universal monarchy, but is interpreted of Nebuchadnezzar, because it was he who raised this king¬ dom to its greatest height of power and' glory, and he might fitly be called " the kingdom."—Professor Toy. Ver. 39. And after thee. Following the kingdom you represent. Another kingdom inferior to thee. This could not well be the kingdom of the Medes, which alone never was a world-kingdom. The world-empire that followed the Babylonian, was the Medo-Petsian, which began with Cyrus, who captured Babylon in 538, and ended with the battle of Issus in 333, when the Persian forces were defeated by the army of Alexander the Great. Inferior to thee. Just as the silver is inferior to the gold; of great territorial dimensions, but of le-s national splendour and magnificence.— Gummings. It had no Nineveh or Babylon.—Rawlins n. Another third Kingdom of Brass. All admit that the third empire is the Macedonian, "which rose to pre¬ eminence in the days of Alexander the Great, and which latterly assumed the form of two separate monarchies, the one in Svria under the descendants of Seleucuidte, and the other in Egypt under the Ptolemies. The kingdom is not inaptly symbolized by brass (or bronze) inasmuch as the Greeks were famous for their brazen armour.". . . . " After careful examination," says Dr. Wm. M. Taylor, " we regard the belly and thighs of brass as symbolizing the Macedonian empire ; first, one under Alexander ; and then ultimately branching into two main divisions under the Seleucidaa in the north, and the Ptolemies in the south." " The two kingdoms are hf.re viewed as con¬ stituting a continuation of the Macedonian empire, for, as Dr. Pusey has remarked, ' These two dynasties, ever at variance with one another, had no unity ; they were in no sense a kingdom except as they were connected with the great empire-plan of Alexander.' "—Dr. Wm. M. Taylor. Ver. 43. They shall mingle themselves with the seed of men. By alliances and marriages and mixtures with other nations.—Professor Toy. But even this failed to make a real union. Ver. 44. And in the days of these kings. Of the kings of the fourth monarchy, or before the last of these great kingdoms should disappear. Shall the God of heaven set up a Kingdom. By sending Jesus Christ, His Son, into the world. Which shall never be destroyed. That Kingdom has been growing ever since, and was never so large or so strong as to-day. It is the standing evincible proof of the divine inspiration of the Bible. Shall not be left to other people. The dominion shall never pass away from its rightful possession. The government shall never change hands.—Barnes. But it shall break in pieces and consume all these king¬ doms. Not by physical force, but by a mightier power, the power of truth, the power of the Holy Spirit, the power of character wrought in the hearts of men. The principles of the new kingdom shall destroy the principles on which the world-kingdoms were based. The people of those same countries shall acknowledge Jesus Christ as their king.—Pelouhet. Ver. 45. The stone was cut out of the mountain. From its native bed, wherever that might be. From the great universal principles of the universe ; it was a part of the divine nature and therefore indestructible. Without hands. That it is " cut from the mountain without hands" indicates that the Messiah was born and brought forth before the world as king of nations, by divine, rather than human, agencies.—Gowles. The great God hath made known . . . what shall come to pass here after. After that which is at present ; and it embraces the future denoted in the dream, from the time of Nebu¬ chadnezzar till the setting up of the kingdom of God in the time of the Me-siah.—Keil. Ver. 46. King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face. The usual posture of deepest worship. And worshipped Daniel. As the ambassador and interpreter of the true God. He was full of awe and reverence for the courage, the wisdom, the character of one who was so visibly the friend of God, and so far above all the other wise men. This worship was not so strange, since the Babylonians worshipped gods not so very much above themselves, and were accustomed to deify their heroes (see Geo. Smith's Assyrian Discoveries, pp. 394, 395). Oblation. Of food, or of wine, such as was offered to their gods. Sweet odours. Incense. Ver. 47. Your God is a God of gods. Nebuchadnezzar seems to have been convinced intellectually of the true God. How far he believed in his heart, and changed his conduct, we do not know. But he again and again attacked Jerusalem, at last destroying it, and carrying to Babylon the temple treasures. The fact that Daniel could reveal this secret proved him to be the prophet of the true God. The same argument holds good now. Ver. 48. The king made Daniela great man, Acaording to his promise (ver. xvi.), elevated him to high offices of state.—Keil. Perhaps like the Grand Vizier of the Turkish government.—Barnes. He made bim rich with many great gifts. He set him at the head of the wise men, as their president. Ver. 49. Daniel requested of the king. In behalf of his three friends who had joined him in devotion to God's service, and in prayer, for the revelation of which Daniel had been the mouth-piece. This was right and generous and wise. A truly good man could not do differently. The men were eminently fitted for their places. Over the affairs of the province. Over various branches of the government; perhaps in different parts of the country. But Daniel sat in the gate of the king. He remained in the city, at the court of the king. The gate of a city in the East, being a chief place of concourse, was the place where courts were held, and public business was usually transacted. I. B. R. A. (International Bible Reading Association.) Daily portions for week ending May 22, 1892. May 23. M. Daniel ii. 36-49. " Nebuchadnezzar's Dream." „ 24. Tu. Daniel ii. 1-13. " The King's Demand." ,, 25. W. Daniel ii. 14-23. " Daniel's appeal." „ 26. Th. Daniel ii. 24-35. " The vision." ,, 27. F. Genesis xli. 14-24. " Pharaoh's dream." ,, 28. S. Genesis xli. 25-36. " Joseph's interpre¬ tation." „ 29. Sun. Proverbs ii. 1-9. " Wisdom from God." CHURCH NEWS. CHURCH OF ENGLAND. The Bev. A. Henderson, senior curate of St. Andrew's, Cardiff, has been presented by Earl Cawdor, on the recommendation of the Bishop of Llandaff, to the rectory of Burton, Haverfordwest, in succession of the late Pre¬ bendary Tombs. On Wednesday week, Lord Tredegar opened a bazaar in the new Iron Mission Church, Newtown, in the parish of St. John's, Beaufort, in aid of the Church Extension Fund. The room was tastefully decorated with flags, &c. Six stalls were well filled with useful and ornamental articles. Amongst those present were Lord Tredegar, C. B. Holland, J.P., W. H. Meredyth, Alderman W. H. Powell, &c. His Lordship, in a brief speech, declared the bazaar opened. The Vicar (Rev. D. J. Llewelyn)proposed a vote of thanks to Lord Tredegar, which was seconded by Mr. W. H. Meredyth. The stallholders were Mrs. C. B. Holland, Miss Mary Powell, Miss Esther Powell, Mrs. T. Morgan, Mrs. D. B. Evans, Mrs. D. J. Llewelyn, vicarage. Secretaries, Mr. Thomas Morgan and Mr. George Parry. PRESBYTERIAN. The Welsh Church, Charing Cross, London, has just called to its pastorate the Bev. Ellis James Jones, of Newington. We notice the change of address of the Rev. Moses Williams, from Langstone Court, near Newport, to Newton House, Etloe Road, Westbury Park, Bristol. Professor Llewelyn John Evans, D.D., has arrived in this country from America. He will shortly commence his duties as Hebrew Professor at Bala College. The anniversary services of the Vron, Eyssgllte Church, were held on Satuaday and Sunday, the preachers being Rev. R. O. Morris, Wrexham (late London), and Edwards, Frongoch, Bala. Spellow Lane Church, Liverpool, was opened on Sun¬ day, the preacher being Rev. P. M. Kirkland, of West Kirby. The Mayor of Bootle (Mr. J. Vicars) attended the morning service. The new Welsh Chrrch, erected at Warrington, was opened on Sunday, Revs. J. R. Evans (preaching in Welsh) and J. Davies (in English) preaching special sermons. The building has cost between £850 and £900, and will seat 406 persons. Three years £go a new chapel was built at Cilfywydd, Pontypridd, and a new church formed, composed entirely of colliers and those dependent upon them. The total cost of the building was £2000, which has been raised within three years. The prize of £10 offered by the committee of the Step¬ ney Literary Meeting for the best elegy in memoriam of the late Principal D. Charles Davies, M.A., Trevecca College, has just been won by Mr. J. T. Job, a student at Trevecca College. The church at Plasnewydd, Cardiff, has presented its pastor, Rev. B. T. Jones, on the occasion of his marriage, with a handsome timepiece, an armchair for the study, which were presented by the church, and a set of ornaments were also presented by the Sunday school.