History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

scholars, 63; ordained native preachers, 3; unordained native preachers, 4; other native teachers and
helpers, 10; theological students, 5; missionaries, 4; contributions for self-support $207.89; value
of mission property, $35,000. These statistics, however, do not include the missionaries, students
in the several schools, and value of property under control of the Woman's Foreign Missionary
Society. This society owns property in Yokohama valued at $10,000 and has two or three
missionaries engaged in teaching in Yokohama and Nagoya. Two more missionaries, Miss Lawrence
and Miss Kuhns, have been sent out recently. The society is planning to erect a building for a girls'
school in Nagoya, nearly enough money for which has been collected.
Including the wives of missionaries, the representatives of the Woman's Society and a Japanese
teacher (Miss Hirati), educated by the Board, there have been sent out by the Church twenty-six
missionaries since the first mission was opened in Yokohama in October, 1880. For nearly four
years, though, Mr. Klein was the only male missionary in the field. At no time has the number of
workers been fully adequate to the demands of the work undertaken, much less to take advantage
of favorable opportunities that have been frequently offered for entering new territory. For more than
a year the Board has been making repeated and earnest efforts to enlist five more men, which now,
from applications received recently, appear about to yield the desired result. Instructions have been
sent to President Morgan to purchase a suitable site in Nagoya for a church, to cost about 5000, most
of which amount is already in hand. This church will probably be erected in a few months. As soon
as suitable plans are secured, a building to be used for educational and evangelistic purposes, to cost
at least 10,000, will be erected in Yokohama. Sufficient funds for this object (the proceeds of the sale
of certain property in Yokohama effected over a year ago) are now in bank to the credit of the Board.
It has doubtless been sufficiently indicated that the plan of work has been to centralize educational
work, to train native Japanese workers, and through a conference broaden out by circuits and
missions in evangelistic labors, and in all departments to be supplemented by the Bible readers, girls'
school, etc., under the control of the Woman's Society. If the results of the operation of this plan have
not fully satisfied the Church, it is not because the plan is faulty, or that the missionaries have been
deficient in zeal or piety, but because there has never been a sufficient force in the field to properly
man the work.
On the 11th of March, 1896, the corresponding secretary, in zealous pursuit of his duties, after
a few days' illness, died at Pittston, Pa., leaving the legacy of a triumphant death to the Church and
his family. Rev. A. D. Melvin of Maryland was chosen to fill out his unexpired term, and he at once
entered upon his duties.
The committee of the General Conference of May, 1896, at Kansas City, Kan., on Foreign
Missions reported, and the report was adopted for the new Board of Foreign Missions: T. B. Graham,
G. B. McElroy, W. L. Wells, T. H. Lewis, F. T. Tagg, C. J. Yingling, U. S. Fleming, H. J. Heinz, F.
F. Brierly. Bequests to the Board from Anna Stephenson of Maryland, and E. J. Hill of Washington,
D. C., are acknowledged. Rev. T. J. Ogburn was elected Corresponding Secretary, and within a few
months entered diligently upon his duties and has continued to acceptably fill the position to this date
of June, 1897. The office of Treasurer of all the general boards having been abolished by the General
Conference, and the Secretaries invested with it under bond of $5000, the change was accordingly
made by the Board of Missions. The report of the late Treasurer for the quadrennium shows: receipts,