The Elbert County Tribune

The Missionary Methodist Convention to Forward His Work.

Grand Meeting in Denver

Bishops Warren and Foss—Preside at First Day's Sessions—Interesting Exhibits From India, China, Japan and Korea.

Denver—Eight hundred delegates are in Denver attending the Rocky Mountain Missionary convention, which opened a three-days' session Tuesday morning at Trinity church. Bishop H. W. Warren of Denver presided at the day sessions and Bishop C. D. Foss presided over the evening session. Beside the delegates there are at least 200 visitors in attendance, running the total attendance up to 1,000.

Bishop Foss opened the day's session with an address on "Forward, or Spiritual Message for the Convention." Dr. Matt S. Hughes, pastor of the Independence Avenue Methodist Church of Kansas City, spoke on "The Spirit of Missions and Christian World Conquest." Dr. F. D. Fowles, formerly a missionary to Porto Rico and Singapore, Malaysia, now of New York City, discussed the excellent missionary exhibit being held in the basement of the church.

The North Indian quartette, with special missionary songs, was a feature of the evening. Bishop W. F. Oldham talked on missionary results in southern Asia, and Dr. A. B. Leonard had for a topic, "The Way of the Lord Prepared." An exceptionally interesting program has been arranged for to-day and to-morrow, the closing day.

The church auditorium was crowded at both the day and evening sessions. Admission is being charged to the addresses, but the exhibit in the basement is free. The exhibit is made up of work done in missionary schools by children of 760,000,000 natives of India, China, Japan and Korea, with specimens of weaving, basket work, needle work and tools of these countries. The exhibit is out of the ordinary, a feature with much educational value.

The appropriations of the missionary society of the Methodist Church amounts to only 15 cents for each member and probationer of the Methodist Church. A strenuous effort is being made to stimulate the interest of the younger members of the church in the work of the missionary society.

Said one delegate: "Thirty dollars will support a native preacher, unmarried, in India, Africa and South China for a year. Forty dollars will support a native preacher, unmarried, in central, north or west China for a year. Fifty dollars will support a native preacher, unmarried, in Japan for a year. Sixty dollars will support a native preacher, unmarried, in Korea for a year. Twenty-five dollars will support an unmarried and $35 a married student in our academic and theological schools a year. Fifteen dollars will support an orphan in India, Africa or Hinghua, China, for a year. Forty dollars will maintain a primary day school in Foochow mission, China for a year."

Said another: "There are 3,051 Protestant missionaries working with the 157,772,000 population of Africa. They have 15,732 native helpers. There are 274,600 communicants. In schools we have 205,047 pupils. Over half of the missionaries are Methodist. In India, ministering to the population of 294,361,056 are 4,105 Protestant missionaries, with 25,727 native helpers. Communicants number 438,076 and scholars in the schools 394,264. Of these 278 are Methodists. In China, with its 432,000,000 men, women and children, there are only 3,107 Protestant missionaries. There are 8,313 native helpers. There are 131,404 communicants. In the schools there are 50,558 pupils. One hundred and ninety-six of the missionaries are Methodists.

"Laboring among the non-Christian population of the world to-day there are 17,749 Protestant missionaries, with 89,335 native helpers. The number of communicants is 1,736,076. The number of pupils in Christian schools is 1,196,127. The income from the field is $3,516,015. Sent from America each year is $19,175,885."

The convention includes Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, but among the delegates and visitors are men known the world over in missionary and church circles.