Mathematics of Missions

About to be published is the World Missionary Atlas, stupendous compilation of data on Protestant missionary enterprise.

In 1860, the total annual income of all missionary societies was $4,000,000 in 1900, $20,000,000; in 1923, $70 000,000.

Approximate figures for money:

1860 1923

U.S. $1,000,000 $45,000,000

Great Britain 2,800,000 13,300,000

Canada ... 3,300,000

Continental Countries 200,000 3,600,000

Before the War, Germany gave to missions as much as all other continental countries combined. But, in 1923, Germany's share of the $3,600,000 was only $30,000--most of the balance having come from Scandinavia. Approximate figures for white man and woman power : 1900 1923

Asia 8,800 16,500

Africa 3,300 6,300

Latin American and West

Indies 1,400 3,200

Pacific Islands, etc 800 1,800

Total 15,000 . 29,000

There are always many more women missionaries than men, for the reason that men usually go out married or acquire wives after they have gone, and all wives are counted as missionaries. Women going out single are apt to remain so.

Approximate figures for native assistants to missionaries:

1900

Asia 39,000

Africa 22,000

Latin America and West

Indies 6,000

Pacific Islands 5,000

1923 89,000 43,000

-L-,000 13,000

151,000

Total 72,000

Approximate figures for converts-- i. e. the immediate net results. Africa 340,000 1,000,000

India 375,000 810,000

Pacific Islands, etc. ... 117,000 650,000

China 110,000 400,000

Latin America and

West Indies 132,000 370,000

Korea 8,000 275,000

Japan 43,000 135,000

Total 1,235,000 3,640,000

The astounding development in Korea, which is approximately contemporaneous with the invasion and conquest of that country by Japan, has been well known to those interested in missions.

The most amazing item in this balance sheet is that of the Pacific (commonly called ''South Sea") Islands. Most of this comparatively unknown development has occurred in the Dutch East Indies. Unfortunately, the aboriginal character of these populations render the value of a "conversion" doubtful; and most leaders of missionary enterprise are frank to say in effect: "Better one Chinaman or Jap than fifty Islanders." And working-over the figures as a whole, missionary generals reflect that their banners wave more brightly over dusky people with a low order of indigenous culture than they do in the ancient sunlight of ancient civilizations.

But they face in China for example, a problem quite different from that in the South Sea Islands or Africa. In China, the objective is to raise up native Christian leaders so that China may be converted by Chinese. For this reason, the emphasis is on Christian education. Their success in this attempt cannot be shown in the figures.