I^ I B R.Ji. R.

Reformed Presbyterian Seminary,

Of AUeglieiiy City. M C/ass,. . j ^ ^ . No.

A, Y

;f C/Vfd I WILL ^ OUVE TREES ^ . ZECH.A-. W - ^

R.M.SOMMERVILLE EDITOR e PROPRIETOR NEWYORK.

~..^f[riT.^-,^ES ETC '^SrcvV ' ' ^.^

1910

CONTENTS.
Questions of the Hour: A Worldwide Eecognition of the Kingly Claims of Christ as Mediator, the Aim or End of Foreign Missions 245, Eev. J. M. Poster, Boston, Mass. Climate and Diseases of the Tropics J. M. Wright, M.D., Tak Hing, China. Dangers that Threaten the Gospel Minister Eev. T. H. Acheson, D.D., Pittsburg, Pa. Intercession for the Missions Eev, J. C. McFeeters, D.D., Philadelphia, Pa. Missions in Turkey Eev. J. Boggs Dodds, Sterling, Kansas. The Demands of the Hour Eev. George A. Edgar, Wyman, Iowa. The Evangelization of the World in This Generation Eev. S. Turner Poster, Hopkinton, Iowa. The Kingly Presence of the Mediator the Inspiration in Missionary Work.... Eev. M. M. Pearce, St. Louis, Mo. The Nation's Eesponse to the National Missionary Campaign Colonel Elija W . Halford. The Sovereignty of the .Mediator Our Authority for Foreign Missions.... Rev. S. J. Johnson, N e w Castle, Pa. Young Men and the Gospel Ministry. Eev. E. C. Wylie, D.D., LL.D., Allegheny, Pa. News of the Churches: Abeoad. Cyprus 150 Asia Minor, Adana 9 China 154 Asia Minor, Mersina. .10, 11, 31, 58, 77, Eeport of Committee on Foreign 102, 165, 201, 225, 250, 274 Missions 129 China, Tak Hing Chau.. .13, 15, 33, 59 Eeport of Poreign Mission Board... 130 61, 78, 103, 176, 204, 225, 253, 277 Syria, Latakia.. .8, 30, 56, 77, 101, 163, Cyprus, Lamaea 11, l2, 251 175, 249, 273 Field Eeports to the Board At Home. Syria ' 138 Colorado, Greeley 187 Asia Minor 140 Iowa, Hopkinton 81

269 145 121 ' ' ' 3 25 49 1 221 97 197 173

Iowa, Morning Sun 35, 187 Kansas, Hebron 82 Kansas, Olathe 81, 204 Kansas, Sterling 228 Massachusetts, Boston 279 Minnesota, Glenwood 256 N e w York, Syracuse 35 N e w York, York 204 Ohio, Cincinnati 228 Pennsylvania, N e w Alexandria .... 256 Pennsylvania, Parnassus 82 Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 65 Eeport of Committee on H o m e Missions 182 Report of Central Board of Missions 182 Report of Jewish Mission Board.... 186 Monographs: A Call to Prayer 17 A Citizen of N o Mean CityRev. S. McNaugher, S. T. B 88 A Gambler's WifeD^. Kate McBurney 170 Alexander Mackay 193 A Modern H o m e D r . Wilbur Chapman 233 A n Old Church Gone 83 Arrangements for World Missionary Conference 41 A Tribute to the Memory of J. W . SproullRev. T. C. Sproull.... 36 A Trip to the CountryDr. Jean McBurney 167 China's Stupendous Task 115 Civil Govemment and Missions Dr. T. H. Aeheson 229 For the Crown of Our Lord 280 Fulness of GraceEev. G. W . Benri 43, 67 Hanna ShaiEev. C. A. Dodds. .' . 86 .James Chalmers 117 Keeping the Sabbath FreeCharles E. Jefferson, D.D 70 Mission ChartRev. J. A. Kempf. 158 Missionary ConferenceMessages to the Church in Christian and NonChristian Lands . . 209 Obeying Our Lord's C o m m a n d Rev. R. A. Blair 107

On the W a y D r . Kate McBurney.. ' 84 Onward in Our Missions 66 Our Gospel DebtsRev. J. M. Foster . ' 91, 110 Our Indian MissionEev. J. S. McGaw 211 Pictures from the New Hebrides Eev. D. Crombie, D.D 189 President's AddressMrs. S. W . Hays 230 Sacrificial GivingDr. J. H. Jowett 259 Settlement of the Eeligious Difficulty in the Protestant College, Beirut, SyriaDr. Howard S. Bliss 37 South America as a Mission Field.. 117 The Adult Bible Class and Missions. 232 The Bible Eule for GivingPresbyterian Tract 260 The Essential in Preaching 70 The Million Movement in Kore^. .. 114 The Program of the World's Missionary Conference 17 The Eevival of Eeligion, 113 The World Missionary Conference Eev. Louis Meyer 205 Union i j i Medical Educa.tion 236 Winning SoulsEev. E. C. Eeed.. 19 World's Christian Citizenship Conference 257 Women's Department: A Letter to the Societies of the Pittsburg PresbyteryMrs. J. E. Copeland 217 Coming to Us for the GospelDell Walker 264 Five Hundred New Subscribers Mrs. T. H. Acheson 215 In Behalf of Olive Trees 286 Mission StudyMrs. F. M. Wilson, 238, 262, 283 News Items 285 Our New DepartmentMrs. R. A. M. Steele 214 Report of Building FundMrs. J. R. Copeland 217, 241, 265, 284 The W o m e n for W h o m W e Are PrayingMrs. R. A. Blair 263

Call for More Laborers.. 23, 171,195, 220 Missionaries on Furlough 94 Return of Rev. and Mrs. W . M . Robb 71, 94, 119 Marriages^ Editorial Notes: Rev.. Julius A. Kempf. . .196, 219, 243 Dr. John Peoples 267 Appointments and Departures of N e w Missionaries Rev. J. D. Edgar 202 Book Notices 24, 47, 95, 120, 288 Miss Rose Huston, Miss Annie J. Robinson and Rev. and Mrs. D. R. General Notes. .23, 46, 71, 94, 119, 144, 195, 219, 242, 266, 287 Taggart to China 219, 266, 267 23, 46, 72, 95 Miss A. Louisa Crockett to Syria.. 218 Special Contributions Mr. Charles Stewart to Cyprus.. . 242 What This Department MeansMrs. J. S. Martin.. 216 Women's Jubilee Year of Missions Mrs. R. M. Pearce 240

l i v e

X L v c c B
JOURNAL

A M O N T H L Y MISSIONARY

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A Monthly Journal devoted to Missionary W o r k in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. No. JANUARY, 1910.

Q U E S T I O N S

O F

T H E

H O U R .

"THE EVANGELIZATION OF TEE WORLD IN THIS GENERATION."

KEV. S. TURNER FOSTER, HOPKINTON, IA. This is the motto for the Student Volunteer Movement for foreign missions, for the larger part of the student federation of the world, for certain laymen's missionary movements, etc. It is a motto worthy of every believer and of every evangelical church in Christendom. A n d it is well that w e turn our thought to this great motto, in view of the increasing missionary interest of the day, witnessed by the m a n y laymen's 'missionary conferences, the Quadrennial Student Volunteer convention, held in Rochester, N . Y., the last of December, and the approaching World's Missionary Conference, to be held in Edinburgh,, June, 1910. W e rejoice in the work of the great missionary movements of to-da.y. True, they are not all perfect in all their methods, but what is ? All have their faults of one kind or another. M a y "the good Lord pardon" any mistakes and m a y the effort to have Jesus Christ and Hina crucified preached the world over prosper with His blessing. That is the main issue in all this missionary interest and activity. T h e Student Volunteer Movement had its origin in a conference of American and Canadian students in 1886, and today has assumed organized form in all Protestant countries, has spread into the

missionfields,so that n o w Christian stu, dents the world over are united in the sublime purpose of preaching Jesus Christ and H i m crucified to a perishing world. Under the respective church boards, about four thousand students during this time have gone out as foreign missionaries. T h e above watchword has been a force in the lives of these missionaries, and in addition, is exerting a molding influence in the lives of m e n and w o m e n everywhere. Would that all Christians might accept it! W h a t is meant by this watchword ? Its intent is to "give all m e n an adequate opportunity to know Jesus Christ as their Saviour and to become His real disciples." It involves the proper distribution of missionary agencies in order that the knowledge which precedes acceptance might be spread broadcast and the foundation be laid for ponversion and regeneration. Christ taught this in M k . 16, 15; Matt. 28, 19-20; Luke 24, 4 7 ; Acts, 1, 8. . I t involves the preaching of the apostolic gospel, I. Cor. 15, 3-4. T h e Acts and Epistles m a k e plain what the substance of the message is to be: Jesus Christ, His life, teachings, death for sin, resurrection, intercession, sending the Holy Spirit to enable, guide, energize; Christ as the Prophet, Priest, and King. A n d this message is to be procla.imed, testified to, witnessed for, taught, shown in conversation, circulated in Christian literature and to be illustrated by the life. It

Questions of ihe Hour. involves in addition the doing of this work good. T h e little good of Buddhism is by m e n and w o m e n w h o are now living. mixed with the horrid, hideous, bestial, W e are held accountable for our work, sinful. Islam knows nothing of faith and and our work is to this present genera- self-sacrifice. At best all these religions tion. It involves a fair consideration of are man-made, and their spiritual insufthe various methods of missionary work, ficiency fills the heathen world with educational, literary, medicinal, evangelis- pathos and death. A n d when w e think tic, it being understood of course that of the awful wrongs perpetrated in the the preaching of the simple gospel must n a m e of religion, our pity becomes inhold first place. It involves considera- dignation. Think of the superficial contion of the work of building up converts tent, the suffering, unresisting endurance, in faith and knowledge, developing the the treatment of w o m e n , infant marriage new life in order that they might in and murder, etc., and behind all, moral reality be Christians, whether in individ- and spiritual death. Four hundred milual or in fainily, social, political or eccle- lion of China, 300,000,000 of India, 140,000,000 M o h a m m e d a n s outside of India, siastical life. and the millions of others in equal darkThe World Needs This Work. The Church must feel the world's need ness ! In view of all this, Christ says go as Christ felt it, see it with His eyes, with the gospel into all lands. Saints, hunger for it with His hunger, long to martyrs, heroes, have given their lives to help it as H e longed and was willing to this proclamation of the gospel^what has lay down His life for it. It is no easy the Church done ? thing to place before you the world's If the Church Imows that only in need. W h a t would our life, our civiliza- Christ is life, and that Christ included tion, our country be without Christ? W e the whole world in His love and sacrifice, shudder to think. If Christ means little the world then is the field. to us, of course w e consider His work is Let the Church remember these facts: of little value to others and the world's CONSIDER THAT ONLY A COMPARATIVELY ignorance of H i m is of little importance. SMALL NUMBER OF THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD But Christ means much, in fact, mean? ARE PROFESSING CHRISTIANS. everything. His very life was given as a There is m u c h to encourage us in work ransom, and it is for this ransom that a already accomplished. " W h o can read thousand million bf m e n , sinning, suf- the records of Hilo and Puna, Sierra fering, struggling, are looking. It is not Leone, Zululand, Madagascar, the Nile a question of speculation as to destiny, Valley, Uganda, Livingstonia; of Tinnebut of fact. Dea,th is taking thousands velly, the Telugu country, Kolapoor, every minute into the presence of the Bombay and Calcutta; of missions in great Judge, and there is none other n a m e China, Japan and Korea; Persia and given among m e n whereby we must be B u r m a , Siam and the Laos country; of saved. the Fiji Islands, N e w Hebrides, MicroW e look on the world's struggle for nesia ; of the churches along the Euphrates God, and w e behold thousands of religions and the missions of the K o n g o ; of Syria and cults, all evidence of man's need. W e and Lebanon; of Greenland and Labrawant to think the best for them and rec- dorwherever in these hundred years ognize m a n y good things in them, but past the gospel has been faithfully borne there is no atoning power, no power for ,^without confessing that new Pentecosts

Questions of the Hour. have in everyfieldfollowed the proclama- worship, the caste system, etc.! In additioii of the living Christ ?" W h e n w e com- tion, think of infidelity, agnosticism and pare the number of converts of three or skepticism, whieh are fast destroying all four generations ago or even one genera- these cults. Ceaseless activity, tireless tion ago with those of to-day, we have energy, awful hatred and cruelty, all these hope. W h e n w e think of the revival going are strongly fortifying themselves in on in India, Egypt, Equador, the growth lieathenism. of the native Church in China, Japan, CONSIDER THE SUBTLE SPIRIT OF CRITICISM Korea, there is. cause for rejoicing. W h e n AND UNBELIEF. w e compare the number of converts on the W e regret this spirit in Christian counforeignfieldwith those on the h o m e field,- tries and churches, but abroad w e see it w e see advance. But yet when w e think everywhere. In our country we are hearof the "vast multitudes still unreached, w e ing of the new theology, new religion, see then how great is the task before us. new gospel, the methods of the apostles are obsolete. But here this spirit of critAGAIN CONSIDER THE VAST NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAN BE REACHED TO-DAY. icism and unbelief is dealing with the There is scarcely a country where the Truth of God. This Truth has faced and missionary has not free access. In addi- overcome these storms of attack in each tion, the willingness to hear the gospel and every preceding age. The Rock of characterizes so many. The old faiths are Ages stands unbroken and unmoved. The shaken and n o w is the psychological m o - gospel is the power of God. But in ment for the Church to step in and heathen eountries this spirit of criticism and unbelief is having grand success, for evangelize the world. Think of the millions being helped by it is dealing with material that can be schools, hospitals. Christian literature, by destroyed. In the destmction of the old faiths, the means of which the way is being prepared for the preaching of the gospel. Think worst forms of unbelief ensue. Havoc is of the preaching stations, each one of wrought in the h u m a n soul, and faith in which is a center of a group of disciples, the true religion is rendered more difficult. some confessed, some almost, some secret. H o w urgent is this task beeause of the W e must take advantage of all these op- need? Christians of to-day must reach portunities and harvest these multitudes non-Christians of to-day if they are ever already "almost persuaded," as well as. to be reached. Past or future Christians eannot do it. The great evil forces of all others within reach. the world are not delaying operation. In CONSIDER THE FEARFUL ONSLAUGHTS OF THE FORCES OF EVIL. fact their ability challenges admiration. Evil unrestrained will grow and flour- Lust wants Turkey, rationalism wants ish. T h e devil is at work in the cities and India, materialism wants Japan. W e towns of the United States, and sometimes must work the work of H i m that sent ns, w e think conditions are pretty bad, but while it is day, for the night cometh when his work here is but a blemish compared no m a n can work. This world of to-day, with the fearful ravages being wrought God's o w n creation and heritage, must be in heathen lands. Impurity, intemper- brought back to God by us. Hence the ance, the opium curse, gambling, all these evangelization of the world in this genand more are leading on to lp,wlessness eration. and hell., Think of the evils in ancestor The Church Can D o This Work.

Questions of ihe Hour. nothing was k n o w n of the interior of China, Japan, Central Asia, Tibet and Afghanistan. In 1880 Central Africa was a blank. To-day practically the whole surface of the earth is known. A n d coextensive with geographical Imowledge is knowledge of social and moral conditions. The m o d e m study of comparative religions evidences that clearly. Once more the improved means of communication dem a n d attention. There are over 500,000 miles of railway in the world, and one oan travel by rail in Japan, China, India, Africa, South America, Siberia, just the same as in America. One-third of the total mileage of the world's railway is in heathen lands. London and Calcutta are ten days apart. Steamship service to-day connects all the world, regular lines plying between all the continents. Bombay and London to-day are twenty days apart. It took Carey in 1793 five months to go from Dover to Calcutta. In addition, we have wonderful cable and telegraph service, of immense help in mission work. There are over 170,000 miles of submarine cable, linking together all the continents and larger islands of the globe. T h e news agencies of the world are so well developed that the happenings of the world are placed before us the next day in the newspapers. Tho Universal Postal Union has about 100,000 employees, and covers over 1,700,000 miles of regular postal route. T h e printing press disseminates quickly, neatly FACILITIES AT THE DISPOSAL OF THE CHURCH OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERED BRIEFLY. and cheaply Christian literature, and esThere is at the disposal of the Church .pecially Bibles. The power of the press to-day accurate geographical knowledge is wonderful in speed and influence. Once impossible a few years ago. There are more the protection guaranteed by Chrisabout eighty-three geographical societies tian governments renders missionary with a membership of about fifty thou- work to-day comparatively safe as comsand. There are one hundred and fifty- pared with former conditions. One-third three geographical journals. O n e hun- of the unevangelized world is under the dred years ago over one-third of the sur- control- of Christiah powers, and the reface of the earth was unknown. In 1837 mainder is subject to the same influence. Speaking from the standpoint of ability and opportunity, it wpuld seem that there is no sufficient reason for doubting the ability of the Church to-day to give the whole world the opportunity to know and accept Jesus Christ. Because no generation has ever done it is no standard of measurement for to-day. W e are not living in the past. T h e Church can do this work both because of her natural and spiritual resources and facilities. NATURAL RESOURCES AND FACILITIES. The whole world is open. Marvelous have been the workings of Providence during the Christian dispensation, and especially during the last one hundred years. The open door for which the Church has been praying stands before her. There is no country in the world where the Church m a y not send.the.missionary, and what better could we desire. The barriers of the past have been removed, the Church has the right of way. Again, the intelligence of the heathen is of such a character that l a l l can understand at least the message of the cross, Even among the lowest types of men, the Spirit of God seems to have moved sufficiently, so that the essentials of the offer of salvation can be appreciated. Differences of social standing, moral purity, even c o m m o n intelligence constitute no bar to the gospel. This is not saying that all will believe and accept the gospel, but it is saying that all can understand.

Questions of the Hour. A n d again, the Imowledge of tO-day in arts and sciences, trades and professions, enables m e n to know how. These and m a n y other things constitute the natural resources and facilities of the Church. THE CHURCH'S SPECIAL EQUIPMENT. T o begin on the lowest plane, she has money enough to do the work of evangelizing the world in this generation. Let us take the four Christian countries of the world to-day, Germany, Great Britain, Canada and the United States, which are doing nine-tenths of the world's missionary work. T h e total indebtedness of these four countries is seven billion dollars. If all Christians gave as m u c h per day for a year as they n o w give per year, yet they would not equal this national indebtedness. T h e exports of these four countries are one-half of those of the world; in 1901 they were $4,130,000,000; revenues were $1,774,000,000; the bank deposits $9,032,000,000. T h e missionary gifts of the Protestant Church in all the world would take two centuries to equal the exports, one century to equal the revenues and four and one-half centuries to equal the bank deposits. The United States during the last half century has spent for war $9,500,000,000, which would have sustained 9,500 missionaries for 100- years. The yearly profits of the United States Steel Corporation are six times larger than the entire yearly foreign missionary offering of these four countries. But let us consider the resources of m e n and w o m e n the Chureh possesses. T h e population of these four countries is 178,000,000, with an army of 1,148,000, which is one out of every 150. If w e oan spare that m a n y to kill, can w e not do the same to save the world? If the Church had as m a n y missionaries in proportion to her membership as the nations have soldiers in proportion to iheir population, our missionary force would be enlarged twenty times. The United States had 77,000 soldiers in. the Philippines, a n u m ber of m e n large enough to evangelize the world. There are over 161,000 students in the colleges of these four countries. I'onr per cent, of the students of Great Britain are in the Student Volunteer Movement. If four per cent, were in it in all the colleges of all these four Ghristian countries there would be enough to evangelize the world in this generation. Again, notice the equipment of the Church. There are over 558 missionary societies, 7,319 mission stations. O n the foreign field w e have a native Church of 1,300,000 communicants and 4,400,000 adherents. Besides the Church possesses colleges, universities, hospitals, Bible societies, that can furnish the Bible printed in overfivehundred languages, the Y o u n g People's Missionary Movement, student associations. Y o u n g Women's and Y o u n g Men's Christian Associations, Y o u n g People's societies. Sabbath schools and other organizations. But, best of all, are the distinctly spiritual resources of the Church. This world belongs to God, and while we are glad to have the resources of wealth, m e n , equipment, etc., w e have the power of God resident in His truth. W e have God with us and His will is that the world be evangelized. T o save the world H e sent His o w n Son, and gave His promises. Sometimes the outlook seems dark, but behind all is the Eternal and in line with His will the future is safe. W e have also the Scriptures, a. revelation of His will. This book tells us h o w the sinner can be saved. With a knowledge of the true way of salvation, we can proclaim the message to struggling and dying humanity. Knowledge is the measure of responsibility, and when w e know h o w to save our brother and don't do it, his blood is upon our head. W e have the power of the Holy

Questions of the Hour. for sin or His uplifting power for himianity. The battle is on! T h e result of missionary work upon the life of the Church should be an incentive. "The army which remains in its intrenchments is beaten." A non-missionary Church sins agiainst its o w n interests and is courting defeat. See the wrecks of Churches all through the past, simply because they did nothing. "Faith without works is dead." Christ's promise, "Lo, I a m with you," is conditioned on "Go ye." The Churches that have lived and flourished, that have enjoyed strong, vigorous and fruitful life, are those that have gone forth. In the whole economy of grace, strength, vigor, and prosperity have come to the workers^those w h o did things. A n d the same thing is true of our individual lives. Indifference and inactivity cannot bring growth. The satisfaction this work brings should be an incentive. W h e n w e have truly learned Christ, there comes a joy into the life that nothing earthly can impart, greater than the joy of possession, discovery, achievement. Then this joy of saving knowledge should m a k e us break the bonds of isolation ahd selfishness and publish everywhere what great things Christ can do and is doing. God's plan, the redemption of the world, should be an incentive. T h e consummation of the Church's work will be the universality of the knowledge of Jesus Christ. The Church ought to consider what the will of the Father is concerning those w h o know H i m not. T h e whole scheme of redemption is the revelation of God's love for the world. T h e Church needs to break away from provincialism, localism, particularism, and grasp the grand missionary universalism in the thought of God. All are under obligation to sympathize and harmonize with the will of the Pather.

Spirit, which is the enabling power of God. Here is the great dynamic of the Christian Church, and through willing instruments H e can convince and convert the world of sin,righteousnessand judgment. W e have the power of prayer. "If ye shall ask anything in M y n a m e I will do it." "If ye have faith^ye shall say." D o w e believe this? Prayer is a great force in life and can move m e n to God. W e have the power of consecration and self-sacrifice. W h e n life is free from self and sin, when everything is given to God, what a power the individual becomes. After all, God is the great power of the world. H e is the desire of all nations. W h e n w e are consecrated and are willing to sacrifice for His sake and for others in proportion as Christ sacrificed for us, w e would need to make no missionary appeal. If the spirit of those who have laid d o w n their lives in this grand work lived now, what would the Church be doing? T o say nothing of past generations, the names of Pitkin, Simcox and other martyrs of our o w n day, answer us. If that N a m e which is above every n a m e only hadfirstplace in our lives, w e would simply hear Christ saying, "I a m the Son o ' f God. I go forth to war. W h o follows in M y train?" A n d we would hasten to evangelize the world in this generation. The Church Ought To D o This Work. Our brothers' need is a great incentive. Christians can no longer remain in ignorance in these days. There used to be excuse, as there were few books, little travel and rarely the opportunity to meet a retumed missionary. But to-day information is adequate, and every Christian, who has not been guilty of criminal negligence, is acquainted with the missionaryfieldsand knows something of the tremendous needs. Think that at least 750,000,000 people have never yet heard of Christ, have not experienced cleansing

Questions of the Hour. The great commission of Christ should be an incentive. His commands should bear directly on the life of every believer. O n some points there is an opportunity for differences of interpretation, but not on this. His c o m m a n d specifies no part or class, but says, "Go ye." This was the interpretation of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost when universal Christianity was prophesied. Christ, our sovereign Head, has authority from the Father. T o escape from responsibility for His marching orders to the Church is to cease membership in the Church. W h e n w e think that Christ's great purpose was that all m e n should know H i m , when the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover. the sea, we realize that every Christian must come into line with Christ's plan and serve his day and generation. The heartfilledwith true love will gladly do the will of Christ. "The Evangelization of the World in This Generation." Here is a watchword, short, striking, heroic and Scriptural. It gives us a true conceptip'n of the Church's work. I. Tim. 2, 4; II. Peter 3, 9; Mat. 28, 19-20. T o it has been given the best blood of the ages. It gives us something feasible and possible. The opportunity before the Church, temporal and spiritual resources of the Chureh and the c o m m a n d of Christ, all make this clear. In the very nature of the case, here is a statement of our supreine duty. W h y did Christ die? T o save us and through us the world. H o w dare w e stand before the world, before the Church, beneath the Cross, and say that this is not our supreme duty? God wills that w e bring the perishing world back to Himself. "Saved by Thy blood through grace divine, Inspire our hearts with love like Thine; A love from heaven cannot rest, Until all laiids in Thee are blest Thy Kingdom come. Lord, hear usas Thy prayer we pray. A n d hasten on the glorious day W h e n God, our God, no more unknown. In every heart shall find a throne Thy Kingdom Come."

A n aged gentleman at a watering place said to a lady, a stranger to him, as she came up to take her usual draught of the water, "Have you ever drunk at the Great Fountain?" The lady colored and turned away without replying. The following winter, in another place, he was asked to visit a lady who was dying. As he entered the room, she said with a smile, "Do you not know m e ? D o you not recollect asking a w o m a n at the spring last year, 'Have you ever drunk at the Great Fountain ?'" "Yes," said he, "I do remember." "Well, sir, I a m that person. I thought at the time you were very rude; but your words kept ringing in m y ears. I was without peace or rest till I found Christ. I n o w expect shortly to die, and you, under God, have been the means of m y salvation. Be as faithful to others as you have been to me. Never be afraid to talk to strangers on the subject of religion."The Ch'ristian. "It cannot be that I was made so that m y thirst should run to the river, and m y curiosity to the book, and m y friendship to m y friend, and yet that m y soul should hold back and hesitate when it is offered the chance to go to God."Phillips Brooks.

N e w s of ^ the Ohurches.

NEWS OF THE CHURCHES. A B R O A D .

Syria, Latakia. r In a letter to the Board, dated Nov. 16, 1909, Rev. A. J. McFarland has this to say about the .work: :Am thankful to be able to report that we are all,in a fair degree of health, and the work goes on without any unusual discouragements or hindrances. Perhaps the boarding schools are not quite as large as last, year, but this is chiefiy, if not altogether, because of a, little more firmness in demanding some help in meeting the expenses for board and books from those w h o are able to give it. Free board and, free tuition and free books and even free clothes were the rule, so long, that it is hard to get even a little money for any of these things. But it is coming, and will come still more in the future. Each year notes some progress, and w e think this year will be far the best yet. Dr. Balph is fast winding, up his part in the relief business, so he will be more and more free to apply himself to his regular work, which has been kept up all the time, however,' to very near the average, if not altogether. The presence of Miss Elsey, the efficient head nurse of the hospital, made this possible. Miss Wylie is planning, for a needed respite next spring and summer and early autumn in the h o m e land, and w e all hope the Board will be able to approve of these plans. Mr. Edgar made a trip to Bizak and got the new teaeher introduced to his work there. I retumed last week from Suadia and found the work progressing as usual there. There has been a temporary decrease in the attendance of the Nusairia, but this is not unusual. Passing through Kessab on this trip I found the people in m u c h better spirits owing to the actual arrival and distribution of about nine thousand Turkish pounds from the govemment for the repair of the burned houses^about $40,000. T h e new governor in their district is pushing things vigorously in their behalf with good results. The,help came two months late, but it is nevertheless very welcome. Brother Kennedy reports the relief work in his region in good shape also. H e has been holding communion for us this last Sabbath. Brother Edgar preached in English Priday evening, and I took the exercises after the action sermon up until the elements were served, and Brother. Kennedy did all the rest, and did it well. W e have two accessions; one m y teacher's servant, the other M r . Edgar's servant. Both are manifestly sincere. M r . Edgar's m a n began to show a special interest the first summer they were at Guzne, when Miss Sterrett's servant began teaching him to read, using the N e w Testament as a text book, and found opportunity thus to bring the truth h o m e to him. T h e influence of the Edgar h o m e was a strong factor. All his family and friends opposed him and threatened m a n y things if he should become Protestant, but he was given the courage to overcome all and taie his stand, and w e hope he wUl be able to hold out until the end. Our Mission meeting this month was taken up for the most part with the consideration of the memorial from Mersina, and our action has doubtless been communicated to you officially. It would seem high time that something was being done toward providing at least one more residence in the Mission here, as there is plenty of land already in your

News'of the Ch'Urches': m a n y cases the wardrobe consisted solely of the rags on their backs, and their bedding was composed of ragged pieces of sacking laid on the ground, with little more than a similar piece to cover them. At that time the days were quite hot and the nights cool. With such conditions it is needless to say that the number of sick, A personal letter from Mr. Samuel not counting the wounded, was very great. Edgar also furnishes an item of general It was impossible to get statistics as to the interest: number of sick. One would start out in W e have placed a teacher at Biza.k. I the m o m i n g and treat as m a n y patients went there with him a week ago. The as possible by evening. The efficient medBishop of Latakia, that is, of the Greek ical help was pitifully inadequate. T h e Church, had evidently heard of our plans, temporary hospitals for thefirstweeks had as two weeks before w e arrived there he more than they could handle with the had sent a teacher, but he remained only surgical cases, so that the sick were left two or three days. There can easily be in the camps. It was not till August that sixty or seventy pupils in this village if I was able to keep a record of the disw e meet with no opposition. The request pensary cases in the hospitals, of which I came to us. from the people, and a most had charge. In twenty-four days at the urgent one, that w e give them a teacher. morning clinics there were 6065 patients. W e do hope that the door is the beginning The largest single m o m i n g it numbered of better days for that place. W e have 415. Besides this, I had an emergency not heard since I came h o m e h o w things hospital with one or more operations have been running. I shall let you know almost daily. I wish I could impress on the friends at home the great need as it as the news comes. still exists and as it will exist for some time to come. T h e winter coming on with Asia Minor, Adana.All our readers will be glad to have the following mes- its cold and rain; the people with insufsage from Dr. John Peoples, dated Nov. ficient clothing and bedding and with no proper shelter from the elements. The 5, 1909: I arrived at Mersina from Constanti- food small in amount and probably of a nople on Maty 6. .My last week at Con- kind not suited to the constitutions weakstantinople was full of excitement, both ened by shock and exposure. There must politically and personally, for I was suc- as a consequence be a great deal of sickcessful in taking and passing m y examin- ness in the district this winter. With ation. A s I was telegraphed for by the such a -call it would seem that Adana American Vice-Consul and the Americans claims m y services this winter more than of this region to come at once, I was un- Mersina, As I a m the only foreign docable to wait at Constantinople for m y tor in this region I can come in contact permit, and I have not yet received it. I with more people by being in Adana than left Mersina the same day (May 6) for if I stayed in Mersina. It would seem Adana. T h e distress and need was appall- like a special dispensation of Providence ing. There were (between '30,000 land that with so m a n y favorable conditions 25,000 people in the "Refugee Camps." In for it there was no serious epidemic. possession here and materials are continually increasing in price. A s a Mission and as individuals w e join heartily in extending to you collectively and individually loving greetings and salaams with the compliments of the season, in which this is likely to reach you.

10

N e w s of the Churches.

The past months have been very trying ou the missionaries. The nervous strain of those anxious days, followed by the weary days and nights used in the effort to relieve, as far as possible, the awful suffering and destitution of the survivors of the diabolical plot, added to the depressing heat of the plain, have m a d e their mark on all the workers. T h e few weeks in the mountains have not been sufficient to restore some of them to a measure of health that will permit them to enter the fall work with comfort. Only with the good hand of the Lord being upon them will they be able to go through the year. Turkey has not yet opened her arms for the reception of the gospel, and the immediate outlook is far from bright. It would seem as though the time was not yet, but that does not lessen her need or our responsibility toward her. M a y the Church accept her responsibility and discharge her obligations in a way honoring to her Lord and for her o w n strength and upbuilding.

phia to Liverpool and from w h o m I was loth to part. After sailing from Marseilles, I m a d e the acquaintance of an English clergyman and his wife and a lady connected with the Scotch Mission to the Jews in Smyrna. A t Naples w e were joined by four other missionaries, three of w h o m I have known for some years. The ship was crowded all of the time until w e reached Beirut. W e went ashore at Smyrna and at Constantinople and had nice visits with old friends at both places. B y means of the energetic efforts of a new Greek priest in Mersina, a school was started, and n o w this year three of our former pupils are employed as teachers, and because of threatened anathemas, our schools are so depleted that w e have very few besides the boarders except children of Protestants and adherents, I do not imagine that the zeal will continue more than a few years, if that long. There are so m a n y poor to be helped that the tuitions are not going to amount to very m u c h in our schools this year. In a personal letter. Miss Sterrett, A s to the political conditions, I have writing Nov. 8, 1909, reports her arrival only found one missionary w h o is at all at Mersina, her experiences on the way, hopeful for better days in Turkey under and other items of interest: a M o h a m m e d a n rule. I have heard the It was two weeks last Friday since I opinion of many, and most of them agree arrived at Mersina, and this is the first that things are in a most unsatisfactory letter I have written for America. I had state. Moslems are impudent and boastsome postals ready to mail upon m y ar- ful, and say "The Christians have not one rival because I knew how the time would God only but three, and not one of them be occupied the first days after coming. saved them." Of all the warships, they The heavy downpour of rain which greet- say "They came like lions and went away ed m e , had not dampened the zeal of like dogs." W e have no assurance of those w h o had arranged to come out in lit- safety to life or property. tle boa,ts to meet me. It was nice to reSaturday, Nov. 20.I a m sorry I did not ceive such a w a r m welcome. finish this letter Nov. 8, and I a m quite I sent post cards along the way, so I do ashamed that I have not even written to not remember what I told you. If I re- m y h o m e or to any one in America. It is peat, you will excuse me. I know I told not because the school is so large, but you about the large pa.rty of missionaries other matters havefilledthe time. I conw h o were on the steamer from Philadel- fess to be spending some odd times in

N e w s of the Churches. listening to experiences of the friends here, and from them of that of others elsewhere during the days of terror. They were indeed days of suspense and anxiety, and I had very little idea of how terrible the reign was. There was no time for writing, and events followed in such quick succession that no one felt able to select the most important ones to write.

11

The following letter from Rev. C. A. Dodds, dated Dec. 6, 1909, will be read with special interest: Adana, as you m a y have heard, has once more been strickenthis time by floods, and such floods as they say the city has never known in all its history. A large part of the city was inundated as a result of the river overflowing its banks, and houses estimated in number from five hundred to one thousand destroyed. These are the houses of the poorer people, mainly in the outskirts of the town and m a d e of adobe, sun-dried brick. Houses of this structure were undermined by the water, which melted or dissolved the lower strata of brick and let the whole structure flop down. M a n y of the houses are simply piles of m u d , with' window frames, doors and cupboards sticking out here and there. Of about 350 houses that, having been burnt during the massacres, had been repaired by the International Red Cross Committee for the b u m e d out Armenians, about 300 were destroyed by the floods. Moslems and Christians have alike suffered from the floods. Only three or four lives were lost directly as a result of the floods, but a vast amount of suffering has resulted, and of course sickness and death will in m a n y cases follow. A large part of the plain was overflowed, and m a n y cattle and sheep lost. I was told that one m a n Cyprus, Larnaca.A letter from Rev. lost 400,000 head of sheep, but I could Walter McCarroll to the Board, dated hardly credit the story. Nov. 25,1909, reports the following items:

T h e remnant that still exists of .Mallim Hanna's congregation, is mostly w o m e n , judging from -the audience the Sabbath I was in Adana, for though only one family of our o w n members was lost in the massacres, a number w h o formerly attended the serviees more or less regularly were killed, and there have been a few defections. O n this occasion, besides Dr. Peoples, there was an audience of three m e n , while the women^mostly w i d o w s n u m bered twenty-three. In Tarsus Mallim Mikhail reports a larger attendance at meetings than ever before. H e also reports a day school of 54, 34 of w h o m are Fellahin. Here in Mersina the schools are small ^would be very small but for the boarding departments, as the day pupils are very few, owing to the activity of the Arab Orthodox priest in providing for the education of his o w n people's children. Our communications with Alexandretta are severed just now, two deaths from the .plague having been reported there. Steamers are not stopping there at present. It is to be hoped the report of plague may prove to be the result of a mistaken diagnosis, or at least that there m a y be no spread of the disease. S o m e cases have been reported from Beirut also. All in the Mission here are in fair health at this writing. Miss French has improved greatly since the opening of school, or, perhaps I should say, since the coming of Miss Sterrett. P. S . W e are having delightful aut u m n weather, M^hich is good for those who have- little shelter and little clothing. To-day the themiometer stands at 66 degrees in the house, and outdoors it is m u c h warmernot a cloud in the sky.

12

N e w s of ihe Churches.

Since last writing you I have conducted the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper twice, once in Larnaca and once in Nicosia. T w o persons were received into membership, one in each place. The Church both in Larnaca and Nicosia has been well-filled at Sabbath services by Armenian refugees during the past months. The school is flourishing with fully seventy boys^ in' regular attendance. Classes are carried on under great disadvantages because of the crowded, or, rather, cramped conditions under which they work. The rapid growth of the schoo] necessitates additional teachers, so for the next financial year we will require the full amount that you promised for field expenses for the year ending Sept. 30, 1911. As you know, M r . Peponiades died on Oct. 23 and was buried in our cemetery here in Larnaca. His property has been inventoried byorderof the court and found to amount to about 3700, or m a y possibly realize now about 4000. According. to the will, two-thirds of all his property comes to the Mission. W e have taken the necessary steps to have the will probated. The heirs, however, have employed advocates to contest the will, so we have put the case into the hands of the King's Advocate. H e is a capable m a n , and in his judgment the will is perfectly good, with one possible exception, which does not at all invalidate the will, but affects only the amount that the Mission will receive, viz., twothirds of the whole, or two-thirds of twothirds. W e hope to settle if possible outside of court and avoid long and vexatious and expensive litigation. I thank you for so willingly granting the asked for furlough. According to our present ideas on the matter, m y brother will probably leave in March, or at latest byfirstof April, and I some time in June.

With this letter from Rev. W . McCarroU w e publish a communication from Rev. J. D. Edgar, written Dec. 2, 1909, that is full of encouraging items in regard to the work: W e are all in very good health and enjoying the work very much. W e have a very great m a n y opportunities of sowing the seed here. W e are coming in contact with boys and young m e n that w e would not be able to approach if it were not for the school. A n d nearly all the boys seem interested in the Bible. Some, w e have noticed, at times, were reading their Bibles in the school when the hour, according to the schedule, showed that they might have been studying something else. It seems that the Turkish boys are especially interested in the Bible. In m y advanced class in Bible study I have five boys, of w h o m two are Moslems. They are showing a great interest in the teachings of Christ and endorse them almost altogether, and have shown several times that the words spoken had taken quite a strong hold on their lives. I have an opportunity of preaching a sermon every day to them. If it were not for the school w e would never get to say one word to these boys about religion. Besides the two, we have enrolled sixteen others, maldng a total of eighteen Moslem boys enrolled this year. All under the sound of the gospel through the school. One of these Moslem boys is the son of one of the most influential business m e n in Larnaca. W h e n his father brought him he requested that the boy be not required to take the n a m e of Jesus on his lips. H e said, "Let him go to the Bible class and listen, but not recite." W e would m a k e no reservation, of course, of this kind. T h e boy is still in. school and recites in the Bible class with the other boys. The other day I saw him in his seat reading his Bible in a

N e w s pf the Churches. very interested manner instead of studying some other lessons that he might have been studying. H e takes his Bible home with him, and I doubt not but that before the year is over his father will be looking inside its covers for himself. W e have two other boys in the school w h o are the sons of the Turkish judge here. H e is said to be the best educated Turk in the city. H e seems not only willing, but anxious to have his boys learn about the W o r d of God. H e said the othep day when w e wentto call on him, that he had another boy that he was feeding well, so he would be large enough to enter the school before long. This judge seems to be very m u c h interested in the principles of Christianity. H e said the other day in the presence of a number of Turks that the Moslem religion was a religion of the sword. A n d he added that for this reason it was not good. This is one of m a n y things that he is beginning to say rather openly about Mohammedanism. A n d it takes a personal contact with Moslems in order to appreciate how m u c h it means for one of them to say such things. If it were not for his influence as a judge, he would probably not be tolerated here very long, if he continues to speak as he has done. I think that his attitude is partly due to the influence which the school is having on his boys. H e has departed so far from the faith (?) that he had us who are infidels in for dinner not long since. Besides the Turkish boys who are in school, w e have fifty-five others from Greek and Armenian families, making a total of over seventy regular students. If w e had the necessary room the number would be larger, for we have been compelled to turn a number away on account of having no room for them. Besides the work of the week, we have recently organized a Sabbath school and Y o u n g People's Society. W e have an av-

13

erage of about twelve in the latter, and thirty-five in the former. W e are n o w thinking of organizing a Y o u n g Men's meeting, to meet every Saturday. The object is to interest some of the young m e n of the school in this, who will not come to the Sabbath services. In closing, I would say that w e strive here in vain if there is not eamest supplication made at the Throne of Grace for a blessing on the work here. "Except the Lord build the house, they Tabor in vain that build it." I realize more than ever before the great necessity of constant, earnest prayer before God. There are a number of young people in America who are praying for the two M o h a m m e d a n boys, of w h o m I spoke at the beginning. The other day one of them said to m e , "I a m greatly concemed about death and eternity. It seems darkness and trouble are ahead." I believe his words are due at least partly to the prayer of the friends who have their names and are praying for their conversion. Oh, that not only these, but m a n y more will pray that they m a y be brought into saving relation with Jesus Christ. I China, Tak Hin^.Rev. Julius A. Kempf, in a letter dated Nov. 1, 1909, writes of the communion and other matters: The annual gathering for a week of Bible study and conference, followed by communion on Oct. 3, was a success in every way. Those w h o attended with right motives w e feel sure- were helped spiritually and mentally. There were four meetings a day. The average attendance at the thirty-two meetings was 101, somewhat smaller than the attendance of a year ago, but I believe-^ there were more eamest seekers after the truth and fewer w h o came out of mere curiosity. Six men, one boy, two w o m e n and two chil-

14

N e w s of ihe Churches. the boys' school. The way they responded shows that they are truly interested in the work in China, and regard it, not simply as the missionaries' work, but their own work. Personally, and on behalf of the Mission, I wish to thank all who helped purchase the desks. T h e new desks made a great improvement in the appearance of the class room, as you will see by comparing the inclosed pictures with the one published in April Olive Trees. But, what is of m u c h more importance, they make the teaching and managing of the boys m u c h easier. W e can easily put forty desks in the room.

dren were baptized. The boy is a pupil in your Tak Hing school. H e entered school at the beginning of the year. His grandmother is a Christian, but all the rest of his relations, as far as I know, are heathen.. O n Sabbatii at the close of the conference, eighty natives and thirteen missionaries sat at the communion table. In a recent letter some one asked m e if w e "foreigners c o m m u n e by ourselves or with the natives." W e do not c o m m u n e by ourselves. W e mix with the natives and sit with them at the same table. This communion season marks another important advance step' in the history of the Mission. O n Monda.y, after communion, the missionaries and native Christians held a business meeting and elected elders and deacons with a view to organizing a congregation. Seven elders and four deacons were elected. The elders elect will come and spend a few weeks at the mission some time between now and

next communion, and receive instruction as to the duties of an elder, so that they m a y have some knowledge of what will be expected of them when they come up for ordination at the next communion. The people at home responded liberally to the appeal for funds to buy desks for

where wo could place only twenty-five Chinese tables and chairs. Arrangements are being m a d e for the erection of a chapel at D o Sing. The building will be two stories, the upper story to be temporarily used as living rooms until a more suitable place for a dwelling house can be seeured. W h e n the buildi 1 1, u - isfinished,Mr. W . M . Robb expects to move to D o Sing, and open up the work there. Dr. Jean McBumey sends on a postal, dated Nov. 26 and mailed at Yokohama, this brief message:

N e w s of the Churches. W e are enjoying the voyage very m u c h so far. Have had some rough weather, hindering our progress enough to m a k e us a day late getting to Yokohama, but expect to m a k e this up before reaching H o n g Kong.

16

ress. T h e indications seem to point toward the early opening of the new station in D o Sing. The two new ministers have been placed in charge of some of the out-stations. The new w o m e n have given valiant service in the various departments of the work. N e w responsibilities are Dr. Kate McBurney, who was unable to being carried by some of the converts. leave with her sister, writes as follows, This is great encouragement, and w e can Dec. 14, 1909, from Los Angeles: look forward to other steps of progress I a m so glad to know that Olive Trees in the future. is to have a new lease of life. M a n y nice It is good to get home once in a while, things have been spoken in our ears as but it makes us long to get back to our w e crossed the continent, conceming our new home in the field. W e see anew what beloved missionary journal, so that it is the Christian religion can do for a people, not a great surprise to know that the and we long to see the heathen nations Covenanter Church would not consent to have the opportunity to get this unspeakgive u p what has become to m a n y a great- able blessing. Those in this land of libly prized visitor. erty can have but little conception of h o w I trust that your health m a y also have the heathen are held in the clutches of a new lease, and that you m a y be made all kinds of ignorance, superstition and strong and able to do your work as pas- sin. Nothing can give liberty to these tor and editor; but especially as corre- captives but the salvation of Jesus Christ, sponding secretary of the Board. W e and it is a wonderful privilege to have would sadly miss your letters should they ever so little share in telling them. cease to come. W e have come to depend M y sister engaged a cabin on the on hearing from you so promptly, that steamer Siberia Nov. 9, while in the East, were it otherwise, we would feel that and sent her baggage on ahead. W h e n things were out of joint. she arrived in San Francisco, she found It is not m y turn to write for Olive the baggage in storage awaiting her TBees, but I fear those on thefieldhave orders. She left the order to have it sent not written this month, having heard that aboard, but when she came aboard on the Olive Trees was to be discontinued. If day of sailing she found one piece missyou have such a flood of letters that there ing. This piece was the little cabin trunk is no room for mine, just drop it gently that contained the necessary provision for into the waste-basket, and no one's feel- the voyage of four weeks, so she had to ings will be hurt. remove her other effects and watch them Late word from, Tak Hingfieldreports false down the gangway and steam out of all well, or well on the road to health. the harbor. After the steamer had sailed While away on furlough, the work seems she began to arrange for a cabin on the to m a k e more rapid strides than it ever first steamer to sail a week later. There did when w e were there. Moral ? I dare was not a cabin to be had on any steamer not follow it up. S o m e preliminaries, for weeks to come. T h e officer asked her looking to the organization of a congrega^ if she could not possibly get along withtion, have been attended to, and the course out her steamer trank. She said if there of instruction will doubtless be in prog- was no other way she would have to. H e

16

N e w s of ihe Churches.

is sure to be a blessing if w e but appropriate it. I found I had forgotten not a little of m y Chinese, but it comes back m u c h easier than at thefirst,and it seems to be the experience of all Chinese students that forgetting is part of the getting of Chinese, so I take courage and delve on. , I fear I shall not be ready for school work after the holidays as you suggested, since it is only a year next month since I came to China. However, I rejoice that the one year is over, and the time not far distant when I shall be permitted some duties. Our numbers in the school are few at present, but w e trust they are workers in embryo, who shall be used with power by the Master in bearing the light of love to the mothers and girls of this district. Mrs. Wright is kept busy with the management of the schools. The teaching is in the hands of Mrs. A. I. Robb and Mrs. Mitchell. We gladly share with our readers a perW e do not know the final plans of the sonal letter from Miss Jennie Dean, dated Drs. M c B u m e y , whether they are to return Nov. 16, 1909: this fall or remain over another sunimer. I have n o w received two kind letters at If Dr. Kate is quite better, as w e hope, we your hand, neither of which has been anwill heartily welcome their return next swered. I wanted to send an immediate month. reply to your last, but it came at a time Dr. Scott just received a call to the when I was having trouble with m y eyes official's housewho can tell but this may as a result of an attack of malaria. Have be the wedge in bringing the blessed gosnot been able to resume m y study since pel to that heathen home. With God all returning from the Coast until last week, things are possible. and needless to say, I was delighted to be Between us foreigners, her hospital at work again. work and language study. Dr. Scott is Malaria seems to be the bane of for- kept busy. She is indeed a rare, beautiful eigners in Southern China. Physicians character, and a constant inspiration. I say that all have it in greater or less decount it a privilege to know her so intigree. M a n y of the missionaries have been mately, and w e have happy, congenial ill this fall, and despite m y efforts to keep times in our home life. in good health, I, too, fell a victim. One Y o u will rejoice in the opening of the is inclined to lament the loss of time when work at D o Sing, with all its bright proslaid aside for a little, but I guess in the pects. Mr. and Mrs. Will Robb.are planlong run it is not time wasted, for there ning for their future work at that place.

advised her to go while she was sure of a cabin. She gathered up her belongings once more, went aboard a launch and gave chase to the old Siberia. W h e n she cau .ght the steamer she had to climb up a rope ladder, but reached the top without accident, and presently was settled in the original cabin. N o doubt she would think m a n y times of the things she did not have, but if all went well she will have arrived at her destination several days ago. I have taken a cabin on the same steamer on her next trip to the Orient and expect to go (D.V.) by SS. Siberia from San Francisco, Jan. 25, 1910. This will get m e in near the close of the Chinese N e w Year. If m y sister was here I a m sure she would join m e in thanking our m a n y friends for the good times w e have had, as well as for good times w e were obliged to forego, for lack of time.

Monographs.

17

M O N O G R A P H S .

anxiety. Deplorable changes are taking place in the reverence formerly paid to the The following appeal of the EvangelLord's Day, and to the Lord's Word, and ical Alliance for the observance of a week consequently in attendance on public of prayer at the beginijing of the N e w worship; the conception of sin is being Year is well worthy of a place in the, steadily lowered; Romanism is boldly asopening number of Olive Trees. The serting itself in Protestant countries; reasons given for bringing the people of there is still a marked dearth of converthe Lord together for a season of united sions, and the intrusion of worldly methprayer are very suggestive, and should be ods into Church work is more manifest. before our minds and, hearts, not only for All these things are symptoms of a deep one week, but during the whole of- the working of evil, emanating from the great year: enemy of God and m a n . In the N a m e of our one Divine Lord At the same time w e would not forget and Master, w e again affectionately invite the other, the brighter side, where hope you to join in a holy concert of world-wide predominates, and faith has its rest in prayer during thefirstweek .(Jan. 2 to God. H e is assuredly working out His 8) of the coming year 1910. W e do so purposes; H e is prospering His work, eswith m u c h confidence, assured of a willing pecially in heathen lands; H e is vindiresponse on the part of multitudes, and cating the truth of His o w n W o r d ; H e is with a grateful remembrance of the uniting His true people more and more marked measure of blessing that attended in view of that to which w e look forward, the gatherings at the beginning of 1909. "our gathering together unto H i m . " The spirit of grace and supplication was There is every encouragement for the exthen poured forth in a very special deercise of the privilege of united prayer. gree; the unity of believers was realized,, Have w e not the promise of our everand the quickening power of the Holy faithful God which w e m a y plead with Ghost was manifested in m a n y places. confidence? A n d have w e not the experiThis is surely meant for our encourence of answers beyond all our asking? agement, yet w e must not forget the necesA n d have w e not also the knowledge of sity of perseverance in prayer. Never was the great willingness of our Heavenly the need greater than it is nowj both of Pather-to give liberally and to supply all humble confession regarding the sins of our need? our people (Daniel 9 ) , and "of earnest Let us then, everywhere, gather at His crying to God on their behalf. T h e times feet and "give ourselves unto prayer"; are disquieting; on every hand there is and thus begin the N e w Year looking unrest and perplexity. It is impossible away from ourselves, and beyond our to ignore the alarming tendencies of our surroundings, to H i m W h o is enthroned age, recalling as they do the words of in the place of power and of blessing., our Saviour conceming the days when "iniquity shall abound, and the love of THE PROGRAM OF THE WORLD m a n y shall w a x cold." In national and MISSIONARY CONFERENCE; in church life there are causes for grave The program of the meetings of the

A CALL TO PRAYER.

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Monographs. Tuesday evening, June 14: "The Missionary Enterprise Central in the Life of the ChurchChrist the Leader of the Missionary Enterprise." T w o addresses. Wednesday evening, June 15: "Christianity the Final and Universal Religion." T w o addresses. Thursday evening, June 16: "The Missions of the Early Church in their Bearing on the Modern Missionary Enterprise;" "Medieval Missions in their Bearing on Modern Missionary Enterprise." T w o addresses. Friday evening, June 17: " T h e Extent and Characteristics of German Missions; The Contribution of Holland and Scandinavia to the Missionary Enterprise." Three addresses. Saturday evening, June 18: "Changes in the Character of the Missionary Problem in Recent Years; (a) in the Par East; (&) in India; (c) among Puritanical and Backward Peoples." Three addresses. Sunday evening, June 19: "The Duty of Christian Nations; the Contribution of Non-Christian Races to the Body of Christ." T w o addresses. Monday evening, June 20: "The Problem of Co-operation between Foreign and Native Workers." T w o of the three speakers on this subject will probably be native Christians from Asiatic fields. Three addresses. Tuesday evening, June 21: "The Demands M a d e on the Church by the Missionary Enterprise." Three addresses. Wednesday evening, June 2 2 : "The Sufficiency of God." T w o addresses. Thursday evening, June 23, will be the closing meeting. While the sessions of the Conference and evening meetings are in progress in Assembly Hall, Synod Hall, which also accommodates about 2000 people, will be occupied with parallel meetings. T h e

World Missionary Conference is nearly completed. The Conference proper is to be held in Assembly Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland, beginning June 14, 1910, and the 1100 delegates are to be seated on the floor, while missionaries, wives of delegates and other visitors are to occupy, the galleries to the number of about a thousand. The morning and aftemoon sessions of the Conference will be given to the reports of the eight commissions and the discussions thereon. These reports, each of which will m a k e a large volume when printed, deal with questions of the administration and prosecution of missionary work among non-Christian people, such as forces necessary fully to occupy allfields;the native church and native workers, education, the most effective form of the Christian message to the various classes of non-Christians; the preparation of missionaries; the development of the resources of the h o m e churches; the relation of missionaries to governments; co-operation and unity among the yarious missions. Each commission is to present to the Conference, through its ehairman, itsfindings,with a statement of the evidence on which they are based, and discussion is to follow under such regulations as will insure intelligent and profitable treatment. The reports and the discussions will be expert contributions to the subjects with which they deal, and will cover thefieldof missionary enterprise- as it never has been covered before. The evening meetings are to be of a more popular character, and m e n of high place in Church and in professional life and of recognized power on the platform are to speak. Representatives from England and Scotland, several countries of Europe, India, China, Japan, and the United States are on the list, m a n y of w h o m are of world-wide reputation. The topics are as follows:

Monographs. Conference will busy itself mainly with questions arising in the. conduct of missionary work in thefield;the meetings in Synod Hall will be of a more popular character, and will consider the missionary problem as it affects the h o m e Church t h e collection and disbursement of funds; the selection and appointment of missionaries, the training of the young in missionary Imowledge; developing the resources of the Church, inspiring the laity to seek thorough information respecting missionary work, etc. It is intended to make these meetings, morning, afternoon and evening, of special service to ministers and laymen. The speakers will be m e n and w o m e n well qualified to give interesting, inspiring and instructive addresses. T h e admission to the Synod Hall meetings and to the galleries of Assembly Hall will be by ticket only, for which moderate charges will be made. Season tickets to Synod Hall will be less than $2 each. It will be possible for at least 2,500 of the general public to attend meetings at the two halls. Tickets for one day only are to he sold for the galleries of Assembly Hall, excepting missionaries and wives of delegates for w h o m , a limited number of season tickets will be available. WINNING SOULS. There is no m a n so bad but would like to be good. There is no m a n so good but would like to be better. There is such a charm in goodness. T o attain to the good m e n must be wise. W e are told the fear,of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A n d he is wise that winneth souls. T o be wise is to have the power tO discern what is true and right. It is to know what is conducive to one's highest interests. But it is more than to know. It is conformity to a course of action dictated by such discernment. It is insight into

19

truth, and it is obedience to truth. Wisd o m is the right use of knowledge, the use of the most important means for attaining the best ends. This, however, is general. A n d m a n y agree with generalities, but m a y disagree in the application of general principles. Let m e then ask you the question: W h o is wise ? Y o u are a money-maker. Y o u are absorbed in bonds and stocks, in everything that means one more dollar. Y o u are thinking far more of this than any other thing. W h a t is your answer? Without a m o m e n t of hesitation, you reply, "The m a n who builds a colossal fortune is wise." A n d thousands of others agree with you. T h e spirit of the age has taught m a n y to think so. S o m e would not say it, but they think it, and really believe that nothing would bring them so m u c h happiness as piling up untold sums of gold. Y o u have given your answer. Another comes forward. 1 ask him the question. W h o is wise ? H e is absorbed in politics. H^e has been thrilled with excitement, and intoxicated with success in the realm, of politics. H e answers, "The m a n who reaches the highest civil position." A n d thousands agree with him. But there are others who have not been so charmed with this kind of life. A n d next there comes forward the social leader. I ask him. W h o is wise ? Life is to him one constant round of pleasure and entertainment. H e takes nothing seriously. A n d he answers, "The m a n who finds m u c h in social pleasure." A n d he has his followers in great numbers. But now another m a n comes forward. H e is the student of great problems. A n d he says, "The m a n w h o solves the economic problems, or who succeeds in mastering the great scientific questions is the wise man." A n d m a n y agree with him. But last of all I t u m to God, and H e declares " H e that winneth souls is wise." " H e writes it on every blade of grass. H e

20

Monographs.' tism. But do m e n understaiid themselveswhen they give us to understand that they do not want Christ? Dr. Pentecost said when traveling through Ireland he m e t with more beggars than any place else he had been. They, were' every where plead-; ing for help. A t one place there was an old w o m a n sitting by the wayside in silence. She was old and weak. H e r hair was disheveled, her face was cut deep with wrinkles, her hands were withered.Her clothing was tatters and rags, that scarcely held together. Having passed her in her silence, he turned back and asked her w h y she did not ask for alms. She replied, "If m y rags, m y wrinkles,. m y age, m y weakness do not move m e n to help m e , no words of mine would do so."' It was the d u m b appeal. The world may be unconscious of its condition, and say with the Laodiceans, "I have need of nothing." Yet its wretchedness, misery, poverty, blindness and nakedness is the d u m b appeal to the Church of JeSus Christ. Christ is our commander. W e would follow H i m loyally. H e has commanded us, regardless of our occupation, to win souls to H i m . H e says, "Go." H e did -not give this c o m m a n d until H e had by His O'wn life set before the world the example. His life was the great uplifting life of the world. "The Son of M a n came to seek and to save that which was lost." H e came not to be ministered to but to minister. Not to be served, but to serve. H e gave His life to save the world. W h y ? Because it was the most important work in the world. A n d Christ knew what would be the power of His life upon the lives of His friends. They would cling to H i m . Nothing would break that friendship. Paul says, "I a m persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height,' nor depth, nor any other creature, shall

scalds it intp every drop of water. H e engraves it on every star. H e cuts it into every h u m a n face." ' The life of every one is having one of two effects upon the lives of others. It is ilplifting or it is pulling down. There is no beast in the wildest jungle that is so cruel and savage as is'the h u m a n fiend. There are m e n so heartless that they are williag to degrade and ruin their fellow being, caring not that they bring on them untold suffering. There are those w h o are coldly indifferent to the interests of others. This is all wrong. Life should be an uplifting force. So m a n y are the difficulties in every one's life, that instead of adding to these or making them harder to be overcome, they should be lessened or lightened. But winning souls meahs the bringiiig of m e n to Christ, -who only can lift them to God. This is a task from which we shrink. It is the burden of the Lord. A n d well m a y w e cry out, " W h o is sufficient for these things?" Besides, the world seems to be so indifferent to the gospel message. The masses of m e n are saying in a thousand ways that they do not want Christ. Churches are empty or filled by sensationalism.. So m u c h so at least is this true'that there are those who unhesitatingly say the Church is dead, has lost its grip over the lives of men. But the Church has not lost its power. It is exerting the most potent infiuence in the world. It cannot die, because it belongs to Christ. A n d Christ has all power. A n d has said, ^'And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all m e n unto Me." If Christ is lifted up souls will be won, and the world will be saved. But are the masses of m e n so indifferent as they seem to be? All m e n are religious, and they cannot be satisfied until they have obtained the trae religion, which is the religion of Jesus Christ. Y o u call this dogmatism. Well, we need a little of tbat kind of dogma-

Monograpibs. be able to separate us from the loVe of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." That friendship would lead them to do and to die for H i m . W h e n His work on earth was finished and H e was about to go away from the world. H e uttered these over memorable wordsmemorable because of the assurance of their author, m e m orable because of the issues of the future that were dependent upon them. " Y e shall be witnesses unto M e unto the uttermost part of the earth." Zwemer uses these words, "God wills it. That was the battle cry of the Crusaders. Shall it be said that there was more enthusiasm to wrest the empty sepulcher from the Saracens than there is in our day to give to others the Imowledge of the living Saviour. God wills it. Let our rallying ery be,' Every stronghold of evil for Christ. God wills it. Therefore we must do it. God wills it. Therefore, w e will accomplish it. God wills it. Therefore w e must ask H i m to do it speedily T h y Kingdom come. T h y Will be done throughout the world." "Not in d u m b resignation W e lift our hands on high. Not like the nerveless fatalist. Content to trust and die; Our faith springs like the eagle That soars to meet the sun. A n d cries exulting unto thee: Thy will, 0 Lord, be done." After all, w e are not to depend on our strength to lift the world to Christ. W e are simply to allow Christ to lift theworld through us. H e can do it without us, but H e is willing to do it through us. It is when we realize our inability to do this work that w e m a y be most able. " W h e n I a m weak then a m I strong." Once more the Apostle declares, "All forsook m e but the Lord stood with m e and strengthened me." A n d Christ Himself comes out with this promise, "Lo, I a m with you always."

21

Could w e ask for anything more than this? God's word is powerful, and does convert the soul. But suppose we do not strive to bring the world to Christ. W h a t then ? First of all, we are untrue to our marching orders. But, more than this, the world with its evils will t u m the fairest parts of the earth into places of desolation. In that little book entitled the "Moslem World," is found a parable of the locust. W h e n the locust appears in the desert he is at home. H e is contented usually with its barrenness. H e lays his eggs in the sand. H e eats the bitter and unpalatable herbs that grow in the few moist spots in the wildemess. But at certain times, under the influence of unknown causes which science cannot explain, these locusts leave their h o m e and fly over the cultivated fields of empires. There is nothing to do but find the eggs that have been hidden in the ground a few inches deep, where a hundred are found in a single sack, each containing a locust and each locust in turn capable of producing a hundred more. These locusts sweep like devouring prairie fire all over the country, leaving nothing but dead vegetation and impoverished m e n behind them. The author closes: " W e must go to the locust's home. W e must go to the places of evil. W e must Christianize the heathen nations or they will march over their deserts and they will sweep like a fire that shall devour our Christianity and destroy it." .But soul winning is wise because of the beauty, power, value and safety to those won. At a great exposition there was a place that was always surrounded. It was with great difficulty that one could see what was there on account of the crowds. It was a purple velvet cone revolving around its axis, and toward its apex was a diamond of fabulous value. But what is a diamond in comparison to a

22

Monographs. but little attention to missionary effort. O n the second but little to anything else. As the result of these trips he wrote his poem, "The Religion of Hope." H e saw the places where Japan's, India's, and Egypt's great ones lie beneath sculptured art, and gorgeous bloom and jeweled marble, and where flows the storied Nile, laving great tombs that ages scarcely mar. A n d thought the heart- might well incline thus to receive the summons from above. A n d then he says: "Yet o'er the tombs there shines no star of hope. N o angel comes to roll away the stone. H o w long the waiting for life's door to ope; H o w sad the vigil when thus kept alone. At last I stood on Calvary's sacred hill. Where cross had slain and spear had pierced our Saviour's side; Where empty tomb m a d e doubting hearts to thrill. Where for man's sin the debt was satisfied. ' Thence to the Christian comes a sweeter trust Tho' p o m p nor marble mark the finished strife In him who tells the soul, the body turns to dust, 'I a m thy Resurrection and thy Life.' 0 wondrous heavenly grace! 0 fearful h u m a n shame. T o keep close hid that all world sacrifice While millions yet have never heard His name. A n d die unsaved before our eyes. 0 Christians, let us also rise again! A n d leave behind the empty, hollow tomb Of selfish cares, and let us give and live That m e n m a y see His face when past death's transient gloom." (Concludine Incident, page 24)

life transformed into the image of God. Let him know that "he that converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death." W h a t reward is there in life's activities that is to be compared to that of lifting m e n to God. "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament. and they that turn m a n y to righteousness as the stars forever and ever." I think it is Dr. Torry w h o tells the incident of, two brothers. They had started to college. One m o m i n g word came to the college that was near the lake, that there was a wreck on the laise. Ed. Spenser, one of the brothers, was a famous swimmer. H e went to the rescue. H e saved ten lives. His friends tried to persuade him not to go again. H e was so worn out that he could scarcely stand. But he would go again. H e saved five more, when he had to be pulled to shore by a rope which he had fastened laround himself. His friends looked at him as he lay by thefire,and thought he could not live. But coming to, and turning his eyes toward the lake he saw a m a n straggling with the waves. Once more he started in, and with great danger to himself saved the man. H e was now carried to his bed in a state of delirium. As he lay there, being watched by his brother, he awoke and said, "Will, did I do m y very best?" " Y o u saved sixteen, Ed.!" That night he spent in semidelirium. All he thought about was those who went down to the watery grave. His brother tried to quiet him by telling him over and over the number he had saved. "I know it. Will; I know it. But, oh, if I could have saved just one more." "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." A member of the Layman's Missionary Committee made two trips around the world. O n thefirsttrip, as he says in the Missionary Review, he paid

Editorial Notes.

23

EDITORIAL Olive Trees wishes i t s readers a New

Year full of material and spiritual blessings. If at the opening year w e place ourselves under the guidance of the Mediator W h o controls all events, w e can safely leave the future, with all its possibilities, in His hands. Thus to commit ourselves unreservedly into His keeping W h o has engaged to m a k e all things work together for good to them w h o love God, is to be' happy. We are glad to Imow that Olive Trees has so strong a hold on the affections of the people. W e never dreamed that there would be so widely extended a response to our proposition to increase the subscription to a dollar. While a few have felt it necessary to have their names removed from the mailing list, every mail brings to us, not only renewals, but new subscriptions at the advancedfigure.This is not due to any special attractiveness in the make-up of the magazine, but to the fact that its readers are deeply interested in the missionary operations of the Church. They want to read the letters from their representatives in the different fields, and the excellent articles on missionary and kindred topics which brethren in the ministry of the Covenanter Church and friends in other denominations so generously contribute to enrich its columns.

N O T E S .
dresses to another, it is not unusual to malce mistalces, and an immediate correction will prevent future misunderstandings; (&) Last year a number of subscribers, contrary to our expressed wish, paid .in advance for another year at the old rate of fifty cents. These will be credited to June, 1910, and will be expected to remitfiftycents to bring their subscription at the new rate up to the close of the calendar year. All subscriptions must close with December, 1910; (c) This number of Olive Trees is sent to all names and addresses on the mailing list, except those who have notified us that they do not wish to receive the paper any longer, and those who, through some strange oversight, have not observed that they are indebted to us for from two to four years. Perhaps the shock of not receiving Olive Trees will wake them up to a sense of their obligations. W e send out no bills.

We enter upon the New Year with an appeal to ministers, licentiates and students of theology to consider the claims of thc Mission to China. Por months the Board has been calling for two ordained ministers for T a k Hing, West River. There is no field at present appealing more pathetically for help than this one with its million and a half souls in darkness and under the shadow of death, and Two or three points should be made only five ministers, three physicians and emphatic: one teacher to m a k e known Christ to (a) If individual subscribers or agents them. W h o will bear to these perishing detect any mistakes in our acknowledg- m e n and w o m e n the gospel of light and ments, they will please notify us at once, life? that there m a y be no confusing delay in making the necessary corrections. In Since last report Olive Trees has rechanging from one list of names and ad- ceived the following contributions toward

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Editorial Notes. Ei^ht Oulline Studies. By J. Lovell Murray. Price, fifteen cents. These studies are devoted to answering c o m m o n objections to foreign missions, a i i d tlis author answers them ettpctively, along the following lines of thought: _ 1- Criticisms of the idea of foreign missions. , ^, ,.^ 2. Criticisms of the life and qualifications of the missionary. 3. Criticisms of methods and practices of missions. 4. Criticisms of the results of missions. A t the close of each chapter, with its quiet, yet forceful and conclusive, reasoning, will be found a list of references to books where the subject is more fully discussed. W e cordially c o m m e n d this valuable little volume and should be glad to have it find its way into the hands of all the ministers and students of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.

the i-alary of the young women's missionary for 1909 L M Society, Olathe, Kansas... .$12.50 Miss Sadie Caskey, Central Alle, IQ 00 Mi'^'iargaret'Lawson,"Barnes' . , , -j^ -g ..5.00 Mrs. j! B. Williamson, Cambridge, 1^ 4 00

A s suggested "months ago, it seems wise, as so m a n y of the original subscribers have discontinued their annual offering to this fund, that the few w h o continue to contribute, should devote their money to sotne other missionary purpose. A n d w e will close the bank account and transfer the balance to Treasurer Walter T. Miller, Jm W e are indebted to M r . Fennell P. Turner, General Secretary of the Student Volunteer Movement, for The Apologetic of Modern Missions,

If we had jirayed more, we need not have worked so hard. We have too little praying face to face with God every day. Looking back at the end, I suspect there will be great grief for our sins of omissionomission to get from God what w e might have got by praying.Andrew A. Bonar. I will close with this inspiring inci- with the w o m e n of the village; and, oh, dent from the life of Fidelia Fiske, who how desirable seemed rest! B u t God sent spent years in Persia, and the knowledge it to m e in an unexpected way, for a of whose noble life cannot but enkindle woinan came and seated herself directly within our hearts a burning desire to win behind m e and invited m e to lean on her. souls for Christ. She was a refined N e w I declined, but she drew m e back, saying, England woman. O n having her first 'If you love m e , lean hard.' A n d then glimpse of a foreign'missionfieldin 1843, came the Master's voice, repeating the she wrote, ".My heart bleeds over the words, 'If you love M e , lean hard,' and wretchedness whicii meets m y eye.''' She then I leaned on H i m , too. I was rested toiled with self-sacrificing devotion. O n long before the service was through; then one Sabbatii aftemoon, weary and long- I spent an hour with the w o m e n , and after ing for rest after hours of labor she says, sunset rode six miles home. I wondered "I was seated on a m a t in the middle of that I was not weary that night nor the the earthenfloorof the church. It seemed next morning, and I have rested ever as if I could not sit without support since on tliose sweet words, 'If you love throughout the service. Then 1 remem- M e , lean hard.'" bered that after that came m y meeting Cambridge, Mass. R. C. Reed.

A Monthly Journal devoted to Missionary W o r k in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. No. FEBRUARY, 1910.

Q U E S T I O N S

O F

T H E

H O U R .

MISSIONS IN TURKEY.*
REV. J. BOGGS DODDS, STERLING, KANS. In the symbolism of the Bible, David is a type of Jesus Christ. Israel is a type of the K i n g d o m of God in the world. It takes little imagination to see in our text an apt picture of foreign mission work. Wherever the missionary goes into the unconverted world and establishes evangelical work, there is planted a garrison of Jesus, David's greatest Son. W h e n on October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus planted the flag of Ferdinand and Isahella on San Salvador, the territory was annexed to the Spanish domains and was treated afterward as a part of the imperial dominions. So, when the banner of the Cross was unfurled in the Turkish Empire, that country was annexed to the territory of our Saviour King in a most definite manner. Every mission station* is a garrison whose purpose is the pacification of fhe country in which it is located and for the purpose of winning the inhabitants to a loyalty worthy of those so highly favored by "the Govemor among the Nations." T h e loyalty of the Israelites was exhibited by their readiness to aid the King in the maintenance of his gar*A sermon delivered Dec. 5, 1909, be^ fore tahing the mission offering. Text: "David put garrisons in Syria, and ihe Syrians became servants to David and brought gifts."II. 8am., 8, 6.

risons, in providing soldiers loyal and efficient, by which to m a n these outposts and in cheerfully bearing whatever monetary burdens these wise measures of their King might impose. It is m y purpose to-day to tell you some of the later, interesting facts about the garrisons of King Jesus in Turkey. It has been our good fortune to know the staff of that very efficient garrison in Smyrna, of w h o m one is the.Rev. J. P. McNaughton. H e tells us about the forces n o w occupying the land. Foreign workers to the number of 487, assisted by about 2084 native helpers, are maintaining the King's -standard. After above eighty years of occupation, the King has somewhere about 20,556 w h o have taken the sacramental oath of allegiance to King Emmanuel. They maintain upward of 182 organized churches and represent at least 100,000 Protestant Evangelical Christians. W e must not fail to keep in mind .the scores of thousands w h o have gone for crowning among the innumerable company of thefirstborn. These devoted soldiers of the Cross continually exhibit the King's grace to all the peoples of the empire, to M o h a m medans, to Christians, so-called, to Jew, to Druse, to Ansaireyeh, and to all others, throngh 664 schools, ranging from the kindergarten to the college, and by means of over forty-seven hospitals and dispensaries. The King's will has been set forth.

26

Questions of the Hour.

of the Sunday School Times. H e says: explained and urged upon the people by " A n English banker in Constantinople over 35,075,843 pages printed in the two great printing centers in the empire. told m e that he was coming on thesteamer Over 226,000 have in the past year (1908) bne day u p the Bosphorus, there being two pashas aboard, and when he got opreceived most conclusive proof of the posite the place where Roberts College King's good will toward all m e n in the stands, he heard one of these pashas say treatment of physical ailments. After the to the other: 'Do you see that building up fearful atrocities began last April, the therethat American College?' 'Yes, I i.i'retched fugitives,fleeingfor lifeoften see it. W h y ? ' 'That building is the for what to the w o m e n and girls was far greatest shame to Constantinople that more precious than life, came to the garrisons of King Emmanfiel and begged pro- there is in existence; a shame to this city.' tection and were not disappointed. Then, 'What do you mean?' 'Just look at it; after that awful tenipest of ignorance, lust look, at the palaces of those pashas all and hellish fanaticism had died away, the around on the shores of the Bosphorus; wretched refugees realized what protec- rich m e n ! Where is there one of them, tion they had in these Davidic garrisons. one Turk, that ever gave any money to Not only did the recipients pour out their build a school to educate his o w n people? souls in deep gratitude, but the Moslems A n d here is this American w h o has come also, saw a new phase of Christianity. T o to Constantinople, and has put up this this hour the Moslem population is amazed magnificent ,buildi];ig to start the educaat the disinterested kindness of those for- tion ofthe Turkish people!'" Thus that splendid fortress of higher eigners who are so burdened with rescue Christian education is compelling tribute work and relief measures. Dr. Geo. Washburn, President of Rob- to be paid to the religion of the Nazarene erts College in Constantinople, was quite by its traditionary despisers. That colcorrect in saying recentty, "There is, for lege, and the Central Turkey College at us, a wonderful opportunity. These (MosAintab, ahd the great Presbyterian school lems) believe in the Americans. They at Beirut, the Syrian Protestant College say, 'These Americans are not trying to and other such like institutions of Chrisseize any of our territory; they do not tian learning are mighty strongholds that expect any trade advantages, as do the compel the inhabitants of the land to European nations, nor do they expect bring some of the most precious gifts to money return.' Yes, these people trust our ever Blessed Potentate, David's us fully." Mighty Son. These gifts are the lives, The more thoughtful and the better in- abilities and the attainments of theyoung formed M o h a m m e d a n s are coming to m e n and of the young w o m e n of Turkey realize as never before the growing in- who, being seized by the Holy Spirit, beflnence of such treatment of the Turkish come the willing allies of King Jesus and subjects. These bigoted despisers of the His forces. disciples of our Lord aclmowledge the disS o m e months ago-a leader a m o n g the interestedness of missionary labors. N o Young Turks was in Smyrna. H e visited wonder that the Turkish Pasha drew the American school there, and being insuch a vivid contrast between his own co- vited to speak in the chapel, he said in religionists and the. foreign Christians as part, "These Ameriean schools are the is related by Dr. W a s h b u m in a late copy models which will be followed by our

Q'uestions of the Hour. leaders in providing a system of education for our nation." Every school, from the kindergarten to the coilqge, is a guideis a moulding influencein the future of Turkey, and will play an important part in the reconstruction of that empire. There are in Euphrates College two professors. One is Prof. N . Tenekijian. Several years ago he was in a Turkish prison six months on a false charge of disloyalty. T h e other is Prof. Nahigian, once a student at A n n Arbor. Thes.e two m e n were invited to sit on an advisory committee who would assist the new regime in the directing of a suitable educational policy. I a m very sorry to see that in some way or other a false impression has affected the minds of some w h o have always been w a r m friends and good supporters of our mission work in Turkey. B y this false impression, some have been led to think of our work as on the wane in Turkey, and that further support was useless. Recently, after delivering an address in Denver on "Turkey, N e w and Old," some friends said, " W h y , you give us quite a hopeful view of the situation in Syria. W e had the impression that it would be only a short time until all the workers would be compelled to leave." O n m y table lies a letter from one w h o has been a liberal supporter of our work in the Ottoman Empire, w h o asks advice about the wisdom of transferring her contributions to the China Mission, giving as her reason, "I understand that the work there (in Turkey) is hindered." 0 false note of alarm! Would it have been wise in pavid to have recalled his garrisons from Syria at a time when some local feud broke out among the people of the land? Nay, rather, it was the psychological inoment when by wise repression and beneficent control his forces could pacify the contending parties and

27

lead them into peaceful relations once moreeven lead them to see things from a c o m m o n viewpoint and so bring them into relations one to the other far more satisfactory tha;n ever before. N o w this is exactly what the missionaries, of the various boards are doing. Although there has been a time of unspeakable horror, it is fondly hoped that that sort of experience is forever past. N o w there is an opportunity such as never obtained before for pushing our work in Turkey. T h e maintenance of our garrisons means great gain to mission work elsewhere than in the Ottoman Empire. The success of Christianity in Turkey, the very citadel of Islam, will give a great impetus to the spread of the gospel among 224,500,000 Moslems living under non-Moslem rule. Under the British flag there are 81,500,000; under the tri-color of France, 30,000,000 Moslems live; under various other European flags are 80,000,000 more M o h a m m e d a n s to be evangelized. Let m e give you an instance of how the maintenance of the work in Syria supports evangelization in far off China. At the American Press in Beirut, there are manifold more copies of the Scripture printed in A.rabic than on. any other press in the world. N o w , note the fact that more than 20,000,000 M o h a m m e d a n s live in China, chiefly in the northwest. A missionary at Yunnanfu2,000 miles inland from the eastern coastRev. F. H . Rhodes, writes, "I note that your society has very kindly granted us twentyfive Bibles and five hundred gospels in Arabic. These will be employed, God willing, for the sole use of Moslem priests and students at the mosques. - - - Moslem leaders and mollahs visit us here, and urgent requests for portions of Scripture in Arabic come from mosques as far distant as thirty days' joumey." Y o u will bear in mind that I emphasize the phrase

28

Questions of the Hour. signed by all the converts there. One was written to other converts from Islam in Egypt to encourage them in their new faith. T h e other was -written to mission workers in other lands than Egypt, so that those workers could .have their testim o n y to show to M o h a m m e d a n s who universally maintain most strenuously that Moslems never become Christians. The letter is in part, as follows: "Dear Friends: " W e , a company of converts from Islam, gathered together in conference at Zeitoun, near Cairo, send you our greetings. "Having heard from time to tipie, by means of the Christian missionaries working among you, that .you have some doubt concerning the existence of converts from Islam in the world at all, we have the pleasure to tell you that w e have heard and received the, 'good news' of salvation through Jesus Christ. - - A U w e can desire for you is that you m a y obtain a share in this heavenly blessing, which the world knoweth not, and never can know, that it m a y save you as it has saved us." Again, let it be noted that when the enemies of King David show special signs of weakening, it is an opportune time to strengthen the garrisons and to locate other forces by which the people of the land m a y the more speedily be won over to a devoted loyalty to our King. Dr. F. E. Hoskins, of Beirat, in whose h o m e w e have been most kindly entertained, says very recently, "Pan-Islam i s dead, so far as the Sultan of Turkey i s concemed." W e most sincerely hope that this is true. There is good.reason to think so. It would require a despot and a fanatic, such as Abdul H a m i d to effectively manipulate such a politico-religious organization as was proposed in PanIslamism. But, thank God, this hope i s extinct with the downfall of the

"in Arahic," because every Moslem priest of whatever race or land, must leam Arabic, so as to conduct service in that languagetheir sacred tongue. But if the work in Syria is given up, disaster would spread far and wide, from lack of Arabic Scriptures. T h e missionaries of our sister Covenanter Church from Ireland, whose center of work is at Alexandretta, have been most active in pacification work. They have handled over 2000 worth of relief goods and provisions since last April. I venture to say that because of their patient endurance in bearing these burdens, more onerous than any of us can imagine, they are preparing the way for m u c h greater things in the near future. It is refreshing to read of their faith in the future of Turkey. In a recent letter, they hope to raise the funds needful for the erection of suitable buildings for the enlargement of their work at and around Alexandretta. This does not sound like beating a retreat. N o , no! Let us go to our knees the more fervently; let us contribute more generously; let our young m e n and our young w o m e n emulate the example of those w h o have gone out from our o w n firesides to the work in Syria. There is no end of encouraging signs if w e only get an Elisha to pray for our higher eyesight. O n June 16, 17, 18, 1909, at Zeitoun, Cairo, Egypt, there was held a conference of converts from Islam to Christianity. A m o n g those present was Barakat, once a slave, n o w a native pastor, from the upNile country. T w o m e n who had been together as Moslems in Jerusalem five years ago were delighted to meet again at that conference, both having been converted to Christ, meantime. A m o n g m u c h else of deep interest done at that meeting they wrote two letters, each one being

Questions of the Hour. assassin. The supremacy of the Moslem power in Turkey, there being no efficient counter-influence, maintained the perpetual menace of the Turkish army being used in a jehad, or holy war of extermination against infidels. But as a further sign of growing submission to the principles of Christian 'ideals, soldiers and petty officers in the Ottoman army are n o w recruited from the Christian sects. According to m y best information, one-fourth of the rank and file at least m a y be Christians. This " being the case, it would be impossible to use the regular soldiers, as has always been done heretofore, to perpetrate the massacres of extermination of Christian subjects. Christian soldiers in the army would surely give word to their co-religionists of any intended violence against them. In m a n y other ways the followers of the Nazarene would aid their brethren in Christ. E m i n Bey, a N e w Turk leader, writing in the Times (London), Sept. 10, 1908, says: "It appears more than likely in the providence of God that this greatest obstacle to the gospel in the Bast (Islam)

29

m a y yet yield to pressure from within. It is at least certain that with the coming of a N e w Turkey must also come, sooner or later, religious libertyand then wiU be the opportunity of the gospel." Brethren, these are times big with promise in the Turkish Empire. Let our hearts be filled with a holy purpose to maintain all the garrisons of David now planted in Syria of Damascus and to extend their influence and their location. W e will continue our prayers with increasing faith, with loftier-purpose. W e will encourage our sons and daughters more and more to answer the King's call for volunteers. W e will increase our oflerings the more as we see the growing opportunities opening up before us. With Asaph we will say, "0 let thy hand be still upon The m a n of thy right hand. The Son of M a n w h o m for thyself. Thou madest strong to stand. "So henceforth we will not go back. Nor t u m from thee at all; 0 do thou quicken us. A n d w e upon thy name will call."

W h e n a weary, selfish heart comes to the Saviour, the Saviour meets his need by saying: "Take M y yoke upon you." "But, Lord, he is tired and weary already; another yoke will crash him." N o , no; he has just been carrying himself, and himself only, and that is the heaviest of all loads, heavier than any one m a n can bear. But, strange it is, that if he adds another burden, his o'wn burden will become light. That ia the mystery of grace, that the burdens of a selfish m a n are lightened by adding more. "Take M y yoke upon you." A n d what yoke is that. Lord? "The yoke of other people's needsthe burdens of the blind, and the deaf, and the lame, and the lepersthe burdens of other folks' sorrows; put them on to thy shoulderstake M y yoke upon theeincrease thy burden, and thy burden shall become light, a|id instead of weariness thou shalt find rest."J. H . Jowett,

M.A.
Every cross is turned into a crovm, every burden becomes a blessing, every sacrifice becomes sacred and sublime the m o m e n t that our Lord and-Redeemer writes on it "For M y Sake."Cuyler.

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N e w s of the Churches.

N E W S

OF

T H E

CHURCHES.

A B R O A D .
Syria, Latakia.Our readers will be glad to have a letter from Miss P. M a y Elsey, dated Dec. 28, 1909: I have long intended writing to you, but intentions do not get m a n y letters written unless w e push them a bit. T h e general work of the Mission is about as usual. I think perhaps the girls' school is not so large as last year. M r . McFa.rland is giving the people good preaching; so I a m told, although I do not vouch for it. M r . Edgar preached week before last in Arabic. M r . Isaac S h e m m a is very faithful^always ready to take his place and very good to visit the sick and those in trouble. W e hope he will be spared to us long, if the Lord wills it so. The hospital has n o w ten patients; all are convalescing, I believe, although some are malting very little progress. O n Christmas evening w e had an olive tree decorated and some phonograph music, and Mrs. Balph gave us two good Christmas songs. One of the servants dressed as Santa Claus and gave some oranges and cookies, etc., to the patients, and some children of m e n w h o work about the hospital. All seemed to enjoy it very much. Miss Fattal had told the patients the day before of the birth of Christ, and h o w some people believed Christmas was the birthday of Christ, and that ih some countries people had celebrated Christ's birth by giving gifts to friends and to those in need in memory of God's great gift to the world, and so they were m u c h interested, not only in the gifts, but the dav. The Protestants here are making great preparations for the N e w Year's Day. W e will doubtless have many callers, especially if the weather is good. O n e of our old and respected citizens died last night and was buried to-dayMr. Nicoli Vitali, the British Vice Consul. H e was a good friend to the missionaries here. H e had been a sufferer for more than a year. Dr. Balph is busy, as usual. T h e missionaries are all in usual health. Mr.. Haddad is again able to resume his teaching. In a letter of the same date. Miss Zada A. Patton writes as follows: This week closes the third month of this year's work. It has passed very quickly. A t a meeting last week M r . M c Farland gave us a report of his trip to Tartoos, from which he had just retumed. H e spent three days there, preaching on Sabbath. H e found an enrollment of about seventy in the school, for all that w e have insisted that they charge more of a tuition fee. H e returned by way of Bizak to visit the sehool there. W o r d had come the week before that the people were not pleased with the teacher. T h e matter had been reported to the Bishop here, w h o at first snid that he hoped that w e would remove the teacher. But M r . McFarland found that there were only three m e n against the school. A n d one of them had been having a private school before w e began ours. W e had been surprised, because they had been asking for a school for some time. The teacher is doing very good work, has thirty-five boys. Both M r . .McFarland and Mr. Edgar spent the Sabbath before at El Dainey and Bahamra, M r . .McFariand preaching at both places. Then on Monday morning they went on and visited

N e w s of the Churches. the school at Merj. Perhaps one of them has written of their trip, but I will say that M r ; Edgar said' he could see quite an improvement in some of the boys since last spring. Dr. Balph and Miss Elsey are as busy as ever in their work, and have had a good number of patients in the hospital all the time. T h e schools are going along pleasantly. Several of the girls were quite late getting in on account of sickness. W e have only forty-four in the boarding department at present. T w o have been in the hospital for some time, but w e hope one of them will soon be able to return.

31

Rev. S. Edgar, in a personal letter, written the following day, also sends interesting items: W e are always glad to- hear of the work of the Kingdom around Tak Hing. Y o u say you wish your congregation would grow like that.. I wish I could tell you of a similar growth here. But it appears like an adamant that w e are unable to even crack. But yet the day must come. M a y w e look to H i m for the power to do well our part in what is ours to do. Y o u m a y be interested to know that I m a d e an attempt at-my first sermon in Arabic a week ago. I was more afraid than when I preached m yfirstsermon before the Seminary Board. Believe m e , I kept close to the paper, and sometimes a m a n finds real help in crutches, whether he wants to use them or not. Perhaps the Asia Minor, Mersina.A letter, dated Dec. 23, 1909, from Rev. C. A. Dodds, next time it will be easier. Recently Brother McF^-rland and I gives an account of the work, and other m a d e a trip to El Dainey and Bahamra, items: and also visited the school at Merj. W e W e are in receipt to-day of Olive had a good trip, and were well received. Trees for December, and are all pleased The other m a n did the preaching, and I to see that it has taken on a new lease of helped the others to listen. W e did not life. I bope, however, that instead of have overflow meetings at all, but then we only one year, it m a y havefifteenat least had a good hearing and good preaching. added.

and we trast the Spirit shall bless the Word. T h e children in the school at Merj are showing good signs of advancement. It is almost a year ago since I visited this place with Rev. Stewart, and in that time I could see that they had gained a great deal. If our rising generation gets the trath it will make the work m u c h easier in this place. Y o u have likely heard that the Bishop of Latakia, Greek, asked us to take our teacher from Bizak, as he was making trouble there among the people. Mr. M c Farland being at Tartoos, called there on his way home, and found that all in the village, saving a very few, were anxious that we go on with the work. The school had reached an attendance of thirty-five. Since that we have heard that the Bishop is not making any opposition, so now the work there m a y have an opportunity to go ahead for a little. W e are just home a few minutes ago from the funeral of the British Vice Consul. For weeks he has not been out of bed, but was daily growing weaker. In his departure we lose a good friend. H e was always the friend of the Mission, and ready to do all in his power, w e are told, to help them in any way. W e suppose his son, w h o has been doing the work, will be his successor. H e , too, is very obliging and ready with his help. All in our circle are in good health and very busy.

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N e w s of the Churches. H e is very active in trying to get industrial work started for the w o m e n and girls. The work has been organized, with Mr. Chambers as president of the industrial committee, and the Vali gave him 4000 pounds Turkish for the financing of the work. It is as yet only in the experimental stage, and cannot well be expected to be self-supporting for some time, but meanwhile, it'gives support to those who have no other means of earning a livelihood, and in a way that is putting them into the way of supporting themselves. W e hope the undertaking m a y prove very successful. W e are expecting to observe the Lord's Supper in Tarsus next Sabbath, and in Mersina the Sabbath following the week of prayer. Mr. Willson informs m e that the Board has granted our furloughwhereof we are glad. All in the Mission are in fair health. Dr. Peoples is still in Adana, but we expect him to take up his abode in Mersina soon after the N e w Year. In a personal letter, dated Dec. 15, 1909, Miss F. E l m a French has something to say about the school work: The past year has been a very busy one for the missionaries in Turkey. There are still thousands in great need of food, clothing and shelter. The flood in Adana in November m a d e more destitute. They say that of the three hundred and fifty houses which were repaired after the mas-' sacre, onlyfiftywere left after the flood. Fifteen Moslems were hung last Saturday in Adana, and eleven on Sabbatli for the part they took in the bloodshed of last spring. One of the fifteen was a w o m a n , who had been as cruel as any of the men. T h e schools were late beginning this year, but have been going along nicely.

Sabbath before last I spent at Adana and held communion services there. M r . Willson and Dr. Peoples and Mrs. Dodds were also present, it being Mrs. Dodds' first visit to Adana during the past ten years. There was an accession of one by profession of faith, the wife of the m a n whose house we occupy. The attendance was good, w o m e n preponderating in the proportion of three or four to one man. A good m a n y of the w o m e n are widows, whose husbands were killed in the April massacres. A t the morning service there were present about thirty-six w o m e n and ten or twelve men, a nupiber not being able to get into the room. A t the afternoon service the room was crowded to its capacity. While w e were in Adana, twenty-five Moslems were hanged there, fourteen on Saturday morning and eleven on Sabbath morning. The executions had been expected long ago, but so m u c h time had elapsed that no person was expecting them to take place at all. Although the real instigators, who most of all merited hanging, were let off with merely nominal sentences or nothing at all, some of these twenty-five were heads of villages and rich men, whose hands were dyed in Armenian blood, and whose money was spent freely in the effort to avert their impending doom, and their execution will have, w e think, a wholesome effect on the Moslem mind in this vicinity. Although threats of an uprising had been m a d e formerly, there was no indication of anything of the kind when the sentences were .actually carried out. The city remained perfectly quiet, excepting for the wailing of the w o m e n relatives of the condemned men. The present governor of the vilayet of Adana, Jemal Bey, is a very aetive and energetic m a n , and certainly seems to be honestly desirous of doing what he can to ameliorate the condition of the sufferers.

N e w s of the Churches. T h e day schools axe very small, because of a Greek Arab school, which was opened this year, and the parents are forbidden to send their children to us. Because the most of our day pupils were Greeks w e only have about a dozen boys. There are thirty-four names on the roll of boarders in the boys' school. Y o u inight. be interested in a story which was told m e last winter by oije of our teachers, w h o had it from the mother of one of our pupils. One Sabbath she asked the little boy to go to the street and.buy some medicine from the druggist. H e replied, " N o , m a m m a , I cannot, for m y teacher told us it is wrong to buy on Sabbath." She replied, "'What, are you becoming a Protestant?" In a few days the teaeher talked to the boys about honoring and obeying their parents. This little lad went h o m e and kneeling before his mother kissed her hand and asked her forgiveness for disobeying her. H e said his teacher had told them to obey their parents. The child in his sorrow had not noticed that the teacher had said "Obey in.the Lord." So the next day he tried to m a k e the boy's duty more plain. A brother-in-law of this w o m a n was present when this story was told. H e had always been an enemy of the Protestants, but began to inquire about our school, and said that if our teaching was such as he had heard he wOuld take his two little hoys out of the Catholic school and send them to ours. I hope these boys m a y become m e n wiser than their parents. They are out of our school this year, but we hope they will not be' out always.

33

I have made several trips to the country since the first of October. I had always gone out with Mr. A. I. Robb until liist Saturday, when I went out to Sha Pong by myself, I had a m a n to carry m y bedding for me. W e started about half pastfeightin the morning and got out to Sha Pong about four in the afternoon. Twelve miles of the road atpe level ground and the other eight milef are through the mountains. The scenery is very pretty, but one is very tired by the time the end of the twenty miles is reached. W e walk along at an easy gait, and the twenty miles get used up after a while. I rested awhile after getting there Saturday evening, and then held one meeting that evening. Sabbath day we had two meetings. One of the native helpers came across from M a Hui, and w e both spoke at each one of these meetings. The attendance at the ineetings was not very large on account of the rice harvest. Every one was busy in thefields,so that a good m a n y did not come to the meetings. Those who did come paid very good attention to all' 'that was said, and seemed to be interested. At meetings of this kind it makes one long for a better c o m m a n d of the language, but that is something that will come only with time, study and practice. A trip to the country by one's self is a very good way to put into practice what one has been studying. These trips to the country are very laborious, but when one meets with people w h o have never heard the gospel, and who have the opportunity to hear it for thefirsttime at our meetings, the labors of the joumey are forgotten, and w e feel that we have our reward. None of us have been over at Che Tsai China, Tak Hin^ Chau.-An extract from a personal letter, written by Rev. E. and K o Che since last spring. I think C ; Mitchell, Nov. 20, 1909, gives-a good that we will not go over for some time. It idea of the exhausting labors of our mis- seems to make it'iarder for the native sionaries : Christians there, for after we leave, their

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N e w s of ihe Churches. vantage. A t least, this is what w e are told by the people around us. The "Western idea" has reached Tak Hing, and w e are told that three schools have been started for girls in the city. Superstition is, however, plentiful. A short time ago a Chinese photographer canvassed the district south of us and took a great m a n y pictures. Since that time, several babies have died, and the cause is said to be having their photographs taken. W e are all glad to hear such good word in regard to Rev. R. A. Blair's eyesight. W e miss the family, and if it were possible for them to return, they would receive a w a r m welcome. In a brief business communication Dr. J. M . Wright adds: Dr. Jean McBurney arrived Saturday, December 11, 1910, and w e are glad to have her with us again. Mr. K e m p f is beginning to look forward to a h o m e going. H e deserves a good rest, as he has stuck to his work and has a school of hoys, of which any one might be proud. All are in fairly good health at present. A card from Dr. Kate McBurney, dated San Francisco, Jan. 25, 1910, says: Safe aboard S. S. Siberia with all luggage accounted for. Expect to leave at 1 P. M . To m y great satisfaction, Dr. Maria White of the U. P. Mission of India is m y cabin mate. As we go to press news reaches us that the doctors have decided that Rev. and Mrs. W . M . R o b b of Tak Hing Chau should retum to America owing to failing health of Mrs. Robb.

enemies seem to try all the harder to take their spite out on them. So we think it is better for us to stay away. Our readers will welcome even a brief letter from Dr. J. M . Wright: All at present (Dec. 9, 1909) are in good health. Dr. Scott and Miss Dean have gone to H o n g K o n g to meet Dr. Jean McBurney. All will be glad to welcome her back to Tak Hing. W e are sorry that Dr. Kate McBurney is detained at home on account of ill health, but hope for her a quick and a complete recovery, as the Chinese and foreigners all miss her here. The Mission work goes on as usual, chapel, schools and hospital being well attended. The hospital was left for about six weeks in the hands of our Chinese help during our summer vacation, and the result was very encouraging. Dispensary work at the out-stations was opened this fall again. In this way many are made acquainted with the work and doctrine. The Chinese are busy with rice harvest, which is quite good this year. The rice is cut with a hand hook. The grain is threshed by means of oxen tramping it, pounding over a short ladder which is placed in a sort of a'large tub, using a flail or sometimes a piece of wood'resembling a stick of stove wood. The grain is then run through a fanning mill to remove chaff, or the same end is reached by throwing the grain in the air and allowing the wind to blow away chaff and dust. This week there is to be a play in town called a "Theater." In this performance, which lasts continuously for several days and nights, acts are performed to show off good moral teachings to the best ad-

D o not put off till you die to make your gift toward the evangelization of the worid. W e m a y do the job before you have time to die, and see what a splendid opportunity and spiritual blessing you would miss.J. Campbell White.

N e w s of the Churches.

35

AT

H O M E .

Iowa, Morning Sun.Minute of the R. A. Blair, of our Mission in China, Ladies' Missionary and Aid Society of and to the foreign mission. W e have also Morning Sun, Iowa, Congregation, on the paid thefirstpayment for the resurfacing death of Miss Emily Cannon: of the street, and bought screens for the Since w e last met it has pleased our chapel windows. W e have sent boxes of Heavenly Father to call to Himself with- clothing and bedding to Miss Butcher, our out a moment's warning our honored pres- city missionary, bedding and linen to the ident. Miss Emily Cannon. W e record Aged People's H o m e in Allegheny, and our sorrow at the removal of one who, a box of Christmas toys, bedding and though she had not been long among us, clothing to the Southern Mission. had won a large place in all of our hearts; As we enter another year of service may W e bear testimony to her ever ready faith- the love of Christ constrain us to more fulness in service, her kindly sympathy, eamest effort, to more faithful work, that her spirit of hearty, wholesome good cheer, w e m a y bring many souls out of the darkW e bow in submission to the Father's will, ness into the light. express our sympathy with the friends Agnes M . Scott, Sec'y. w h o mourn their loss, and desire to emuTreasurer's Report eor 1909: late her example. Receipts. M a e y E. Willson, . T o balance from 1908 $6.62 Sue Kilpatrick, To monthly dues 50.00 Mrs. R. j. Armstrong, To donations 3.90 Committee. T o penny collections 4.49 T o special collections 1.05 N e w York, Syracuse.Annual report $66.06 of the Ladies' Missionary Society of the Disbursements. Syracuse Congregation for the year 1909 : By penny collections $4.49 Our society numbers thirty-eight m e m B y special collections 1.05 bers. W e have held twelve regular and B y postage and express charges... 2.67 one special meeting during the year, with B y thread and needles 38 an average a.ttendance of twenty-four. B y material for Southern Mission The meetings have been well attended, box 3.46 and have been very interesting and help- B y material for Aged People's ful. The usual missionary readings, letH o m e box 7.82 ters and reports from the home and for- B y material for S. P. C. C 1.01 eignfieldshave kept our hearts alive to B y Jewish. Mission..., 5.00 the cause of missions. By S. P. C. C 5.00 One of our young ladies. Miss Louise B y Syrian Relief Fund 10.00 Crockett, having offered to go to Syria as B y donation to Rev. R. A. Blair.. 5.00 a niissionary, has been accepted by the By first installment on tax for Board, and will go there next year. resurfacing Salina Street.... 10.98 Our receipts have been larger than last By balance 9.30 yea^, and have been sent to the Jewish Mission, the S. P. C. C. in our own city, $66.06 to the relief work in Syria, to the Rev. Louise Crockett, Treas.

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Monographs.

M O N O G R A P H S .
congregation, and willing and interested audiences gathered to hear h i m in the country school houses. H e well underOur friend John Wallace Sproull, D.D., stood the doctrines of grace; to himself sleepeth. H e fell asleep at the h o m e of they were very practical; and his sermons llis daughter, Mrs. Gertrude McGregor, in were clear, practical and to the point. Columbus, 0., on Friday, Jan. 7, 1910, The love of Christ constrained him. It after calmly making arrangements for his was his delight to preach the gospel of the funeral exercises, which he desired to be Master he loved, and in his last days prevery brief and simple. Sitting in a chair pared discourses he was never allowed, in on his' o w n pulpit platforni, on the third the providence of God, to preach. A s a pastor, he diligently took heed to Sabbath of November, he addressed a few earnest words of parting advice to his theflockover which the Holy Ghost made beloved fiock, declared the pulpit vacant, him the overseer. In season and out of and on the next day took his departure season he watched for their souls, as one for Columbus to spend the few remaining that must give account. H e coveted no days of his earthly pilgrimage with his man's silver and gold, but he did covet daughter. H e felt that his end was near earnestly the exercise of the best spiritual at hand, and he m e t it without fear, be- gifts in his people. H e had all joy when he saw his spiritual children walking in eause he, slept in Jesus. the truth. H e was deeply iaterested in ,Dr. S.proull was b o m in Allegheny City in ''l83t.' Nearly all his life was both home and foreign missions, and had spent in Pittsburg and vicinity. H e grad- the' faculty of enlisting his people in the uated from Jefferson College in 1858, took work of the gOspel both at h o m e and charge of the Monongahela Congregation abroad, T w o successful h o m e missions, in 1866J and of the Central Congregation carried on mainly by the members of his in Allegheny in 1871, to which he min- congregation, testify to his evangelizing istered for over thirty-eight years. T h e writer of this obituary notice was As a m e m b e r of .church courts h'e was a m e m b e r of hisfirstcharge, was inti- efficient and usef uh H e rarely tobk. up mately acquainted with hina for more tiie time of the court with long speeches, than forty years, and bears willing testi- but he always knew his o w n mind and niony to his sterling worth as a m a n , his could state his opinion in few words. faithfulness as a minister of Jesus Christ, As stated clerk of Synod for many to his diligence and efficiency as a pastor, years, his chief business was to gather and to his faithfulness and helpfulness as and arrange the statistics' of the .'Church a friend. A s a preacher of the Word, he in money and members. H e ' faithfully excelled in clearness and force; and in and diligently performed every work as^ the earlier years of his ministry, until signed him by Synod, for he loved the overtaken by bodily weakness, he preached Church, and spent time, money and labor with fire and zeal and great earnestness. in furthering the interests of the. Re-^ H e sought opportunities to preach Christ's deemer's K i n g d o m through the channel gospel outside of the bounds of his o w n of the Church of Christ.

A TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF J. W. SPROULL.

Monographs. As friend and companion, when you gained his confidence, you had his friendshiji and, confidence until yoii proved yourself unworthy of it. In all m y acquaintance with him I never knew him to be guilty of a low or unworthy act. H e was a manly m a n , and wise in counsel. H e will be m u c h missed in the councils bf the Church, and by those w h o knew and loved him in life. " I a m distressed for thee, m y brother; very pleasant hast thou been to me." " H e restssfrom his labors and his works do follow him."'

37

tried to repeat after them the scripture verses that were repeated to him by, his loved ones gathered at his bedside. The body was taken to the home of Mrs. Campbell,-Allegheny, on Saturday evening, and to the church, where the services were held, Monday afternoon. His desire was that no remarks should be made, but at the special request of the congregation and friends. Dr. R. C. Wylie told a little of his work in the Covenanter Church, of which he was a distinguished pastor; and Dr. Bonsall, a Baptist minister, spoke of his labors interdenominational throughout the city. T. C. Sproull. Our loss is his gain. While children At the request of. a friend who does not and congregation especially mourn, he has give any name, we publish the following heard the words, "Well done, good and brief letter: faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Knowing the friendly relations between Lord," and who would call him back? yourself and Dr. Sproull, and of his interest in your paper, I write you a few SETTLEMENT OF THE RELIGIOUS DIFlines concerning his last illness and death, FICULTY IN T H E P R O T E S T A N T as told m e by one of the family: C O L L E G E , BEIRUT, SYRIA.* Dr. Sproull left Columbia Hospital The summer of 1908 will always be a Nov. 29, for his daughter's home in memorable one in the history of the Columbus, 0. For a week after his ar- Ottoman Empire. A political millennium rival he appeared quite well, but soon seemed to have arrived, bringing with it grew, weaker until possibly a week before social and religious liberty and freedom from restraint of all kinds, and the exciteChristmas he did not Jeave the second floor. However, on Christmas Day, at his ment of all classes of people was intense. earnest desire, he. was helped^, downstairs Our college term opened, however, in Ocfor his'diimer with the family,, which he tober without special incident except that seemed to enjoy, returning to his room the number of requests from parents of the latter part of the afternoon greatly Moslem students asking that their sons exhausted. That was the last time he ever should be excused from attending college left his room, although the day before his religious exercises, never very large, was death, feesling stronger, he dressed and sat somewhat larger than usual. These rein a chair for several hours. H e knew he quests were not granted. would not be here m u c h longer, and care, Soon after the term opened the mental fully m a d e all arrangements for his ferment in public opinion, which was the funeral services, selecting the passages to be read and the Psalms to be sung. H e was conspious possibly until ten minutes before death, which occurred at twelve minutes after nine P. M., Jan. 7, and , *Tahen from the Thirty-third Annual Report of ihe Syrian Prptestant College io ihe Board of Trustees, 1908-9, for a copy of which we are indebted to Rev. W . McCarroll, Cyprus.

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Monographs. "2. T h e college believes that the highest type of character cannot be developed, or for any length of time maintained, without the aid of religion, and for that reason w e say to every student that he has no right to neglect his religious life, whatever the form of religion his conscience leads him to adopt. Thus w e seek to m a k e him a conscientious and God-fearing m a n . "3. T h e college accustoms its students to respect the religious belief of others, and its students leam to discuss freely and with mutual respect and consideration the points upon which they differ. Thas they leam to understa.nd the intellectual and moral principles which underlie all religious thought and'progress. " W e believe this to be especially valuable in a land where m a n y ,religions are represented, and where the desire has become so strong to unite as' far as possible on c o m m o n ground. T h e college feels that in order to be true to its ideals it must teach religion. It is self-evident that the college, as a Christian college, believes that the Christian religion can do more for character than any other form 'of religious faith. It is also clear that the influence of the Bible and of the Christian religion has produced this college, whieh represents the modern type of education. "4. This is a Christian college and was established with the money of Christian people, the land was purchased, the buildings were erected, the hospitals were established and the equipment was supplied by them, and without their constant support the institution could not be maintained. All this was done for the purpose of providing an education in which the Bible should be taught, and the claims and benefits of the Christian religion should be presented to every student. " W e , accordingly as faithful servants of those w h o appointed us, are in honor

natural accompaniment of the changed conditions in the empire, encouraged the continuance of the agitation seeking to induce the Faculty to alter the college regulations in favor of voluntary attendance of non-Christians upon religious exercises.' A s frequently happens, the work of developing this sentiment was confined to a comparatively small number, w h o found, however, ready sympathy a m o n g the majority of their co-religionists. Non-Christian students registered in the College this year number 242, and are distributed as follows: Moslems, 128; Jews, 88; Druzes, 2 0 ; Behai, 6. T h e total registration for the year includes 876 students. After various negotiations covering several weeks had been carried on between Faculty and students, a petition signed by 98 Moslem students reached the Faculty on Jan. 12, 1909, respeetfully requesting the withdrawal of the regulations requiring attendance at religious services and instruction. The Faculty did not see its way clear to comply with this request, and published to the entire body of students a statement of its attitude toward the general subject of religious instruction and the conduct of religious worship. STATEMENT. "Inasmuch as w e .have recently received several requests to define the position of the college in matters of religious instruction, and inasmuch as- w e have found that m a n y misconceptions exist in the minds of those making these requests, the Faculty desires to m a k e the following statement: "1. The aim and purpose of the college is to develop character, that is, it seeks to develop in its students the love of truth and the desire to do right, and it believes that this should be the aim and the result of all true education.

Monographs. bound to present to every student the truth of the Christian religion, leaving h i m entirely free to accept it or reject it. O u r students k n o w that they are left wholly free in this respect, and our students also k n o w that those w h o frankly disagree with us in religious matters suffer no disadvantage in their relation to the college or to their teachers. This w e consider true religious liberty. " T h e college believes that in requiring its students to attend religious services and instruction it is not trenching upon the religious liberty of its patrons. It publishes in full, in its annual catalogue, its rules and requirements in this respect, so that no m a n w h o sends his son to the college, need be under any misapprehension as to what' will be required of him. These regulations have been in force since the foundation of the college, and have been found most useful in securing our purpose to give all our students an equal opportunity to learn our principles, and to create no special privileges for any one class or sect. "For these reasons w e believe that our regulations are fair to all concemed, and that they serve to promote the highest. type of education." REPLY BROUGHT DISAPPOINTMENT. A certain number of students thereupon. bound themselves together by an oath, and later m a n y others faithfully promised to co-operate with these, declaring that they would not agaiii attend a compulsory service nor a compulsory class in Bible instruction, and further declaring in case such action of theirs should lead to the expulsion of any or all of them, they would refuse to leave the college. Practically the entire body of .Jewish students later affiliated themselves with the movement inaugurated by the Moslems. It is doubtless trae that, while the refusal of the Faculty to grant the students' request

39-

was the main occasion of this oath, there were other influences which led them to take this action. A petition had been presented for permission to form a society for the study of Islamic culture and civilization, and the petition'had been refused. There had been, moreover, quite a number of minor incidents which, though unimportant in themselves, led m a n y of the students to believe, however unjustly, that the Faculty was not treating them considerately or sympathetically. Furthermore, an address delivered in connection with the W e e k of Prayer Services was grossly misunderstood and misinterpreted as being an attack upon the Moslems. There was absolutely no basis for this charge, but the charge was m a d e and believed, and this added to the feeling of irritation. It must be added that quite a number of non-Christian students had left the college by midyear for one or another reason. Moreover, a few, including practically all the Druzes, took no part whatever in the movement against compulsory religious exercises. During all this agitation the students received active encouragement from Moslem and Jewish friends in the city and in Egypt. A number of newspapers vehemently expressed their sympathy with the students, and vociferously challenged the right of the college to impose such regulations upon the students. Public sentiment in Syria and Egypt, so far as it represented Moslem and Jewish opinion, was apparently strongly in favor of such contentions. A m o n g the Christians there were m a n y w h o , while siding with the college in the existing crisis, expressed their disbelief in the principle of compulsory worship. With two or three exceptions, the entire press of Syria and Egypt, generally most favorable to the college, was either outspoken in its attack upon the college or failed to champion the

40

Monographs. out the unrivalled opportunity that the college would have to reach the Moslem world and thus become the greatest force in moulding the citizens of the n e w empire if only these regulations were withdrawn. In seeking to meet this serious situation in the wisest way possible, the trustees and faculty have constantly kept in mind the heavy responsibility they have been under in view of the relationship of the college to mission work, not simply in Syria, but throughout the Ottoman Empire. They have realized that the issue involved is a very wide one, and concerns in one way or another the whole missionary enterprise in the Ottoman Empire. They have been deeply touched by the expressions of earnest and prayerful sympathy, which have reached them from m a n y sources, aud they have earnestly striven to be true to the foundation principles underlying all missionary endeavor. They have striven, on the other hand, to keep in mind the extraordinary ferment in all questions affecting civil and religious liberty that has very naturally resulted from the sudden granting of a constitution to the Ottoman Empire. Realizing that one of the chief opportunities of the college in this new era is the opportunity to help its students to distinguish between just and false ideas of libertypersonal, religious and civilr they have sought to use this crisis to clarify the minds of the students in reference to these questions. Repeated interviews havebeenliadwith the students, individually and in groups, and every effort has been m a d e to enable them to take a fair and intelligent view of the situation'. Finally, the following letter, was sent by the faculty to the parents or guardians of the students: basis of settlement.

college point of view. T h e college was thus confronted with a situation miich more serious than a mere question of a certain number of students breaking an ordinary college regulation. Another feature of the difficulty must be noted. The difficulty has often been spoken of as a "rebellion," and of course in taking the attitude they did, the students practically denied that the trustees and the faculty had a right to determine what the regulations of the college should be, but from the very beginning and throughout the whole difficulty, the "rebellious" students have been scrupulously careful to observe all other college regulations, a.nd to offer no Opportunity for criticism in any other particular. Their leaders m a d e it clear that they believed that the new regime in Turkey required the abolition of such regulations. 3fey claimed furthermore that lieir consciences had been. aroused, and that they conld not conscientiously attend these-exercises. They communicated with the religious and civil authorities in Constantinople and with the local government in order to secure support for their contention. They doubtless acted under the advice and with the approval of a society recently established in Beirat called the Society for Religious Liberty. A t one time excitement in the city ran high, and it was believed that with the spread of fanatical passion, m o b violence from the city might easily make an attempt upon college property. T h e feeling of solidarity, always strong among the Moslems, became stronger, and some students w h o hesitated to join the movement at the start, later on allied themselves with it. A n d yet during the- whole controversy the students expressed their w a r m admiration of the college and their great indebtedness to it. 'They have insisted that the country needs just such an institution, and have pointed

"March 18, 1909. "To

Monographs. "After paying the duties of respect, I beg to state that you have undoubtedly learned of the strike engaged in by most of the Moslem and Jewish students in our college. You are also aware that the faculty of the college has not been hasty in reaching a decision in reference to the matter, bnt have considered the subject wisely and carefully. Since this question is of utmost importance, and since the college seeks to advance the best interests of the students and their development, we have done our best to solve the -difficulty, and with the help of Almighty God (may H e be exalted) we have reached the following decision: "(1) The faculty will treat the striking students in the spirit of indulgence, and will thus excuse them from attendance during the times of worship, and will occupy them during those times 'with something useful to them. This exemption comprehends the present academic yea.r only. "(2) If desired, the faculty will offer the students a study in the science of religion, which will not take the place of the Bible study, but will be in addition to it. "(3) The faculty will take up this question, which has been the cause of the present difficulty, will consider it, and wiU then submit it to the board of trustees in N e w York for theirfinaldecision. They cannot, however, make any promise or hold out any hopes as to the outcome. "As to the students, they will be re' quired "(1) To disclaim everything that suggests the spirit of disloyalty or disobedience or conspiracy against the authority of the college. "(2) To undertake in a special manner a strict observance of the regulations of the college as a sign of the .above-mentioned disavowal and their sincerity.

41

" (3) To resume attendance at the regular Bible classes. "We send you this letter that you may know clearly what has happened. It remains for us to say -that beginning with Monday, March 22, this decision will go into effect. If there is any parent, however, who would prefer to withdraw his son from the college he can do so, and the college will make the necessary settlement with regard to the second installment of fees he has recently paid. "Accept abundant respect, and may your existence be prolonged. "For the faculty of the college,

"Howard S. Bliss,
"President." On Monday, March 22, the decision of the faculty went into effect. Eight students thereupon quietly withdrew from the coltege. The rest agreed to accept the terms of settlement outlined in the foregoing letter. For the coming year it is hardly necessary to add that particular pains will be taken to have every student who applies for entrance to the college understand fully that the college is a Christian missionary college, and no one will be admitted who has not given satisfactory assurance that he understands the rules and regulations of the college, and desires and purposes to obey them so long as he is a student in the college.

Howard S. Buss,
President. Beirut, Syria, April, 1909. THE WORLD MISSIONARY CONFERENCE. The following arrangements for sessions and meetings of the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh, and admission thereto, have been made: THE MEETINGS. All the sessions of the Conference

42

Monographs. meetings in Assembly Hall will be issued. The approximate number of missionaries falling to the share of the American executive committee is seventy. All other places in the galleries are to be occupied by holders of day tickets, the price of which is to be m a d e known later. It is not intended that any person, excepting the two classes above named, shall purchase tickets for two or more days. The purpose is to permit as m a n y different persons as possible to have a day with the Conference. Admission to Synod Hall, which will accommodate over two thousand persons, will be by ticket only. T h e entire space, except a certain portion reserved for the Scottish Public Meetings Committee, will be assigned to the missionary societies proportionately; that is, according to the number of delegates to which each society is entitled. Season tickets, admitting to meetings in Synod Hall, will cost 7/6 ($1.87), but a certain number of seats can be reserved up to five minutes after each meeting commences at an additional charge of 5/ ($1.25) or 12/6 in all APPLICATIONS FOR TICKETS. Applications for tickets to the galleries of Assembly Hall for wives of official delegates must be m a d e direct to the headquarters of the Conference, and should be addressed to the Secretaries, World Missionary Conference, 100 Princes Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, and should be marked "tickets." Applications for tickets for wives of official delegates should be m a d e before March 31, 1910. Applications for tickets for missionaries on furlough m a y be m a d e at any time, but will not be dealt with before March 31, 1910. American niissionaries may apply to the Secretaries of the American Executive Committee at 156 Fifth Avenue, N e w York City.

propermorning, afternoon and evening will be held in Assembly Hall. Parallel meetings for representative workers at the h Q m e ba^e selected by the missionary boards, aie to be held in Syhod Hall, morning, afternoon and evening. The main subjects treated will be the same as in Assembly Hall, but while the Conference itself 'will be concerned chiefly with questions of missionary administration, the subjects in Synod Hall will be discussed from the point of view of those w h o are workers for the missionary cause at home. It is hoped to m a k e the series of meetings in Synod Hall of the utmost service to those whose interests are in the h o m e base of missionsministers, laym e n and leaders of work among young people. A series of evening meetings in a third hall in Edinburgh and a few meetings in Glasgow a.re also to be provided. N o other meetings during the eight days of the Conference are to be held. ADMISSION TO THE HALLS. Admission to Assembly Hall, where the Conference proper is to be held, and whicii accommodates over two thousand persons, will be by ticket only. The -floor is reserved for the official delegates. Official delegates of American societies will be furnished with credentials through their respective boards. They are expected to pay a registration fee of 10/ ($2.50), and will receive free of charge proof slips of the reports of the commissions and a copy of the Conference H a n d Book. The galleries of Assembly Hall accommodate about one thousand persons, and will be occupied by missionaries on furlough, wives of delegates and other persons not delegates. Special tickets admitting to all meetings in Assembly Hall will be furnished to missionaries on furlough at 7/6, and to wives of delegates at 12/6. A set of day tickets admitting to all

Monographs. Applications for tickets for the Synod Hall meetings should be m a d e to the missionary society with which the appli<;ants are connected, and not to the headquarters in Edinburgh 'or N e w York. The missionary societies will determine how the places assigned to them shall be used. T h e number of tickets to Synod, Hall, which each inissionary society will have at its disposal, will be equal to the number of delegates to which it is entitled. T h e price of season tickets (transferable) for the Synod Hair meetings is $1-87, and for an additional payment of 5/ ($1.25), or 12/6 in all ($3.12), numbered seats will be reserved for season ticket holders up to five minutes after each meeting begins. Visitors are advised from Edinburgh to take, as far as possible, the special reserved tickets. Visitors holding tickets for admission to the galleries of Assembly Hall m a y exchange their tickets for any meeting with a person holding a season ticket for Synod Hall. FULNESS OF GRACE. .4. SERMON FOUNDED O N J O H N 1, 16. 'The treasury of grace is in Christ. H e is the fountain of all graces from which all believers draw. H e is the source from which all blessings flow. "Por it pleased the Father that in H i m should all fulness dwell;" "In H i m dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead," and it is "a fulness which filleth all in all." "As the cistern receives water from the fulness of the fountain, as the branches receive sap from the fulness of the root, and as the air receives light from the fulness of the sun, so w e receive grace from the fulness of Christ." " A n d of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." What Is This Fullness of Grace? CHRIST IS FULL OF SAVING GRACE. All grace which tends to salvation was

43

given to Jesus Christ. Whatever we receive of that nature is a gift of His bounty and ah emanation from His fulness. Paul expresses it in this manner: "To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein H e hath m a d e us accepted in the beloved, in w h o m w e have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, aecording to the riches of His grace." In one of the greatest cathedrals of Europe, high up in the carved and vaulted ceiling, there is a window through which the sunlight streams at a certain hour of the day. I n that window there is no picture, no motto, no devicesimply three letters, which in the light of the Sunbeam glow and glisten as if with a light from above. Simply three letters, yet in that monogram is bound up the hope of the world, and to it will at last every knee bow, and every tongue confess"I. H . S." Por w h o m do they stand ? Is it for some wonderful orator who has thrilled the world with the eloquence of his words, or with the charm of his diction ? Is it for some great general, who in time of peril has led the armies of his oountry to victory? Is it some martyr, w h o has laid down his life for his faith ? Nay, for none of these, is this a memorial, but for One greater than any or all. Never m a n spake as this M a n spake, never m a n lived as this M a n livednever m a n died'as this M a n died Jesus H o m i n u m SalvatorJesus, Saviour of Men. H e it is 'Whose monogram shines forth at noonday. H e it is 'Whose initials are cut deep into the everlasting stone. A n d it is from His fulness that w e have all received. Through H i m our sins have been washed away. T o H i m w e owe our salvation, our deliverance from the bondage of death, our redemption from the law and its penalty, from the power of sin, from the power of Satan, and from all

44

Monographs. with it, life is a thing of peace and joy. B y it w e are enabled to triumph over sin; to endure trials, to bear infirmities; to rise to nobler and higher things, to become like H i m , '\hose w e are and W h o m w e serve. T h e grace of Christ .will give comfort to those w h o m o u r n ; peace to those who are troubled; rest to those who are \Veary; joy to those who are sad; strength to those w h o are weak; happiness to all His loved ones. It will supply every need, meet every want,_ satisfy all with good things. Through all the ages the Church and individual believers have been sustained by this grace. It m a y be said to be the golden thread which runs through all history, because the fairest pages of that book are filled with the deeds of thoee w h o have been actuated by the grace of Christ. M e n have done exploits, have suffered, conquered, laid do-wn their livea through the strength which they received from H i m . A n d to-day, by the blessing of God, m e n and w o m e n over all the world are living pure, holy, consecrated lives because they have received of this wondrous fulness. N o service is too great, no task too heavy, for those w h o have the grace of Christ in their hearts. " W e can do all things through Christ Wko strengthens us," beGa,use w e received of His fulness. All His fulness of -wisdoiii to give us knowledge and counsel. All His fulness of love to enable us to love one another, and to love God. All His fulness of power to strengthen us for every temptation and every trial. All His fulness of purity to m a k e us pure in thought, in word, and in deed. All His fulness of every virtue, of everything desirable to bestow upon those w h o receive H i m . But above all. H e is full of the Holy Spirit to give His disciples, to begin and perfect in them every good work and to lead them imto all trath. Verily,

evil. H e has brought us from the sure prospect of unutterable woe unto the sure hope of unutterable glory. Jesus is mighty to save. His grace is sufficient for all. "Plenteous redemption is ever found with Him." Though the host that come unto H i m be as countless as the stars of heaven, yet all can drink from the ocean of His fulness. Because of the infinite dignity of His person. His atonement is limitless in power. A Inultitude w h o m no m a n can number shall receive of His fulness, and yet it shall not be diminished one particle. For day after day, year after year, century after century, m e n have been coming unto H i m to receive everlasting life, and yet His grace is always the same. Around the Throne to-day is a vast blood-bought host, arrayed in robes of spotless righteousness, and singing praise and hosannas unto His glorious name, w h o have been saved by the precious blood of the L a m b , and by His gracious intercession. And, by the grace of God, while the world shall last, m e n shall avail themselves of the precious offer of salvation till at last, when the saints shall all be gathered h o m e to glory, they will be a multitude w h o m no m a n can number, all redeemed by the saving grace of Jesus Christ. But still more: CHRIST IS FULL OF SUSTAINING QRACE. "Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ." H e wasfilledthat H e might fill all in all. H e received gifts for m e n in order that H e might give gifts to men. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, W h o hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." T h e Christian life is sustained, strengthened and beautified by the grace which flows from the fulness of Christ. Without this grace, life is a burden, a wearisome and profitless taste;

Monographs.

4&

H e is full of sustaining grace. But there which cleanses and sanctifies us. T h e indwelling . Christ so operates upon our is one more part of this fulness still to consider, and that is the culminating part. minds and hearts that we are purified and CHRIST IS FULL OF GLORIPVINO GRACE. sanctified, made more and more like H i m , till at last w e are ready to appear "The Lord is m y Shepherd; I shall not with H i m in glory. Well m a y w e want. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear exclaim, "Thanks be to God W h o giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus no evil. For Thou art with m e ; Thy rod Christ." If w e have received of His and T h y staff they comfort me. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow m e all fulness, w e are ready indeed to say, the days of m y life, and I will dwell in the "To m e to live is Christ; to die is gain." house of the Lord forever." The differ- Verily, H e is full of glorifying grace. So ence between those who depend upon their that w e niay see what a wonderful fulness o w n strength and those w h o rely upon the this of Christ is. H e is full of saving graee which they receive from the fulness grace, to grant a new life unto us; of susof Christ is at no time so apparent as at taining grace to support us in that life, the approach of death. It is when our and of glorifying grace to prepare us for days on earth are coming to an end, and the life that is to come. His grace will be sufficient for us from the king of terrors is at hand, that we most feel the need of the grace which the moment we receive Him,, all through comes only from Jesus, and it is then, our days here on earth, till that last great thanks be to His N a m e , that His grace is day "when grace shall turn into glory most freely given. It is the grace of and w e shall come before the Throne of Christ which robs death of its terrors, and God forever and ever." "And when our gives victory over the grave; and it is earthly house of this tabernacle shall be His grace which prepares for the life to dissolved, and we shall have a building of come, and ministers an abundant entrance God, a house not m a d e with hands eternal into it. Death has no sting to those who in the heavens," then w e shall receive of receive of His fulness, but is simply the His fulness as never before, for we shall entrance into glory, into the heavenly be ever at His right hand, and dwell with h o m e where w e shall dwell forever. H i m for evermore. "And w e shall see A n d from His fulness comes that grace H i m face to face, and tell the story saved which makes usfitand ready to enter the by grace." mansions which H e has prepared for us, (concluded in NEXT NUMBER.)

G. W . Benn.
Dallas, Texas. There is no life which in the past.has testified to the power and beauty of the gospel but what lives to-day and shall continue in our future, unfolding life. There has never'been a shrinking from duty or sluggishness but has left its impress on us; and, on the other hand, no gift, no act of self-denial, which _does not still work in us as a beneficial power.B. S. Storrs. W e do not know how cheap the seeds of happiness are, or we should scatter them oftener.LoweU.

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Editorial Notes.

EDITORIAL
A few days ago the mail brought us a letter, covering a dollar for Olive Trees, and asking to be excused for delay, as the writer had been "waiting to see what others were going to do.'' For the benefit of five or six hundred subscribers, w h o are evidently in the same waiting attitude, w e have great pleasure in being able to say that a large majority of our readers have already sent in renewals at the advanced rate, m a n y of them before the close of last year. Those w h o wish to have the magazine for 1910 will, w e are confident, remit as soon as they conveniently can, while those w h o do not wish to renew for 1910, will, as a matter of eourtesy, request its discontinuance, at the same .time forwarding twenty eents for the January and February numbers already in their hands. A s for those w h o are in arrears for a year or more, it is not necessary to give them any instructions, as the date to which they have paid is on every wrapper, and we are determined not to question, even in appearance, the integrity of any meraber of the Covenanter Church by pestering him with bills for a few cents. Probably every one feels like a good brother, who, in a recent letter, enclosing a dollar subscription for 1910 and the full amount of arrears for three years, wrote: "1 thank you for respecting m e enough not to dun." That is the spirit in which w e wish to deal with all our subscribers. W e are old enough to know that m a n y w h o would like to have reliable news from the missionfieldsand stimulatiug articles on missionary topics, and are quite willing to pay, cannot always spare a dollar from other pressing claims at the very m o m e n t it is called for. After some hesitation, we have decided

NOTES.

to let our readers see what two ministers of the Presbyterian Church have to say about Olive Trees. One writes: "1 a m truly glad that the people rallied to your support, so that it did not become necessary to suspend the publication of Olive Trees. I enjoy its contents very much, especially the letters from Syria, though the news for the past year or more has been tinged with melancholy owing to the massacres and the resultant suffering." T h e other writes: " Y o u have a most excellent monthly. It is one of the best missionary publications that I see, and I derive great profit and inspiration from its reading. It would be a loss to the whole missionary enterprise if you should cease to publish Olive Trees. I a m persuaded that it must be of great service to the Reformed Presbyterian Church, but it has a m u c h larger sphere. T h e news items concerning the missionary -work are ideal in their presentation of the work that is done, and the general articles are suggestive and helpful. I sincerely hope you will continue the publication." Olive Trees holds receipt of Treasurer Walter T. Miller acknowledging $66.70 from the young w o m e n of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, $15 from its ministers, and $4.50 from its elders, toward the salaries of their missionaries for the year 1909, and $43.08, balance of those funds drawn from the Union Dime Savings Institution of N e w York and closing account with that Bank, making a total of $129.28. Olive Trees holds the receipt of the Treasurer for $15, part of a fifty-dollar pledge of the Sabbath school connected

Editorial Notes. with the Congregation of Second Boston, toward the support of a nati-ve teacher in Syria. We are indebted to the Student Volunteer Movement for The Students of North America in relation to the Non-Christian World. This is the report of the Executive Committee, presented at the Sixth International Convention, Rochester, N . Y., Dec. 29, 1909, to Jan. 2, 1910. It is full of interesting items and statements, indicating the value of the movement. It notes tbat Volunteers "constitute a steadily increasing proportion of the number of m e n and w o m e n sent out by the Mission Boards. The total number of Volunteers w h o have sailed since the beginning of the movement in 1886 is,4,346, representing some fifty different communions." In the list for 1907 w e observe the names of Rev. Ernest C. Mitchell, Ida M . Scott, M.D., and Miss Mary Lena Wilson, representatives of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Tak Hing, South China, and John Peoples, M.D., in Mersina, Asia Minor, -while in the list for 1909 w e observe the n a m e of Rev. Josiah D. Edgar in Cyprus. "The past four years," the Report informs us, "have been characterized by a growing sense of responsibility on the part of American and Canadian stu'dents w h o are to spend their lives in work on the h o m e field, to sustain those of their fellow students w h o are to devote their lives to work in the non-Christian world. This has become more and more pronounced, so that in most parts of the student field w e find the satisfactory and hopeful spectacle of the students who are to go and the students who are to stay at h o m e standing together unitedly in the c o m m o n enterprise of world evangelization. - - - M a n y w h o are becoming clergy-

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m e n regard their parishes not alone or chiefiy as afieldto be cultivated, but primarily as a force to be wielded on behalf of the whole world." "Another test of therisingtide of practical missionary interest aniong students is the increase in their missionary giving. A t Nashville it was reported that the students bf North America were contributing $80,000 a year to missionary objects. They are n o w giving $131,000 toward such objects, or an increase in four years of over 60 per cent. There are scores of colleges and schools each supporting entirely or in large part its o w n representative on the foreign field." The report also indicates marked prog^ ress of mission study among students. "In the year preceding the Nashville" Convention there were 1049 mission study classes in institutions of higher learning in the United Sfates and Ca.nada. Last year there were 2084. In the year before the Nashville Convention the total number engaged in mission study was 12,629. During the past year it was 25,208. It will be seen that the nuniber has doubled in four years." A m o n g the indirect results of the work of the movement, prominence is given to its "influence on the religious .life of the institutions of higher learning" in North America. "In emphasizing Christ's desire to extend His Kingdom over the entire world, it has at the same time helped students to acknowledge His sway and to give H i m His rightful place as Lord over their own lives." Again, "by bringing vividly and thoroughly before students the marvelous individual and social transformations wrought by the Living Christ in the midst of the most discouraging and difficult conditions of the non-Christian worid, the movement has fumished to inquiring and thoughtful students, present day, satisfying evidences

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Editorial Notes. all the college m e n and college w o m e n throughout our whole field must be led to surrender themselves wholly to Jesus Christ as Lord, and to let H i m determine their life decisions and dominate them in every relationship. The- great question which must be pressed insistently upon them is not the question of whether or not they will become missionaries, not the relative claims of the h o m e and foreign fields, but the one cracial, all-important question whether or not they will yield to Christ His rightful place as the Lord and/ Master of their lives. In proportion as the students of our* day are influenced to answer affirmatively and whole-heartedly this question of questions' "will be the realization of the sublime purpose of the Volunteer M o v e m e n t t o give to all men in our day an adequate opportunity to know and to receive the Living Christ."

of the vitality and conquering power of the Christian faith. A s an apologetic factor and force its infiuence has become enormous." T h e Report, in spealcing of the pressing need of more missionaries,, wisely insists that "the urgency of the situation must not tempt iis or in any way deflect us from the well established policy of the movement to secure missionary candidates w h o are thoroughly well qualified. O n the contrary, the demand of the present time is for missionaries of the highest order of ability. In most countries the problems confronting the missionary are so difficult as to demand missionaries of exceptional ability and preparation." W e have not space for further extracts, but must content ourselves with advising the students of the Covenanter Church to get hold of this report and study it, laying to heart the closing paragraph: "Above

T h e peace of mind that has lived near to God is like the quiet, steady lustre of the lighthouse lamp, startling no one, ever to be found when wanted, casting the same mild ray through the long night across the maddest billows that curl their crests around the rock on which it stands.F. W . Robertson. Never mind whereabouts your work is; never mind whether it be visible or not; never mind whether your n a m e is associated with it; you m a y never see the issues of your toils. Y o u are working for eternity. If you cannot see results here in the hot working day, the cool evening hours are drawing near, when you m a y rest from your labors, and then they m a y follow you. So do your duty and trust God to give the seed you sow "a body as it hath pleaded Hira."^ lexander Maclaren. The spectre that I ara most afraid of at the last is the spectre of lost opportunities. T h e keenest regrets that I feel to-day are born of neglected dutiesof neglect to do all that I might have done for the sick, the sad, the suffering and the sinning; above all for the immortal souls that are now beyond m y reach.Theodore L. Cuyler, D.D. Christianity would sacrifice its divinity if it abandoned its missionary character and became a mere educational institution. W h e n the power of reclaiming the lost dies out of the Church it ceases to be the Church. It m a y remain a useful institution, though it is most likely to become an immoral and mischievous one. Where the power remains, there, whatever is wanting, it m a y still be said that "the tabernacle of God is with men."Professor Seeley.

A Monthly Journal devoted to Missionary W o r k in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. No. MARCH, 1910. 3.

Q U E S T I O N S

O F

T H E

H O U R .

rests upon the sarae basis, the great commission of our exalted Lord to the REV. GEORGE A. EDGAE, W Y M A N , IA. militant Church; it all grows out of the For the sake of convenience, the sys- same great need, the need of a perishing tematizing of the labor and the better huraanity; it all -airas at the same great oversight of the work, w e are accustomed ends, the salvation of immortal souls and to divide thefieldof ecclesiastical enter- the glory of the Redeemer's name. A n d prise into the h o m e and foreign depart- if any part of the Lord's work has a ments, with such other subdivisions as greater deraand on our strength and means seem necessary to facilitate the operation than another, it is not the strong and of the forces at the disposal of the successful, but the weak and struggling Church. S o w e have in the foreign field cause; just as the member of the body the Syrian Mission, the Mission in Asia that needs our best care, or the member Minor, the .Mission in Cyprus, and the of the family that needs our tenderest Mission in China, all administered by the sympathy, is not the healthy, but the feeble. T h e Christian rule to apply in Foreign Board. In the h o m efieldw e have the Southem Mission among the Negroes, these matters is that w e that are strong the Indian Mission, the Chinese Mission, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, the Jewish Mission and the Domestic and not to please ourselves. The business of the Church is identical Mission, administered by the Central Board of H o m e Missions, while the with that of her incarnate Lord, to go into the world, into all the world. "As national reform work and the testimony bearing work are carried on under sep- thou hast sent M e into the world, so have I also sent them into the world." H e r arate auspices. THE W O R K IS ONE. purpose in going is His, "Not to be rainThere is a natural tendency to exalt the istered unto, but to minister." H e r plan importance of one department above an- of operation is His, beginning at Jerusaother and allow our favorite enterprise to lem, to proclaim the everlasting gospel to absorb our attention and efforts to the the uttermost parts of the earth till the ^^hole world has been evangelized. H e r detriment of another. It is a c o m m o n saying that nothing succeeds like success; pleasure is His, to see the travail of His and in this as in other enterprises, our soul; and herfinalreward is to sit down i \ ' i t h H i m upon His throne as H e has sat interest and means are apt to show partiality to the one that seems to show the down with the Father upon His Father's best results. B u t the work is one. It all throne.

THE DEMANDS OF THE HOUR.

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Questions of the Hour. of paganism at our very doors! Think of the millions in this that w e are wont to eall a Christian land that never enter the House of G o d ! Think of the raultitudes of old, gray-headedraen,that are dropping yearly into graves as Christless as any in the heart of Africa! Think of the great hosts of non-church-going youth! Between the age of sixteen and forty, it is said that 65 out of every 100 attend no church; only 10 out of every 100 are in church connection, and only 3 out of every 100 are in active service! Think of the rayriads of children that are receiving no religious instructioii! Think of the great army of Sabbath toilers with its contingent stay-at-homes, w h o are too indifferent to go to church or w h o devote the day to social visiting and pleasureseeking! Think of the wealthiest, the largest and most aggressive Christian bodies making a report at the end of the year of a net increase that varies all the way from nothing at all to 2 per cent, of their merabership. That is a spiritual increraent that does not equal the natural increase of the respective bodies; so that it would seem that instead of building up the Church from the outside world, the Church is not even holding her own, and the precious sons of Zion are going to swell the forces of the ungodly. Are not these conditions appalling? Is the Lord's hand shortened that it cannot save? Or is His ear heavy that H e cannot hear? Is the Church a failure? Must we confess defeat and relinquish our task to other hands? N o huraan institution of ethical- culture or benevolent charity can solve the question of the unchurched raasses. Only a divine institution clothed with the full power of the ascended and enthroned Christ can turn these millions from darkness to light, and from the bondage of Satan to the service of the K i n g of Right-

A STUPENDOUS TASK. T h e work indicated is a stupendous task. A n d in view of the conditions as they exist to-day, after the Church has been at work for nineteen centuries, w e are prone to exclaim, ""Who is sufficient for these things ?" Out of a total population of fifteen hundred millions on the face of the earth, more than two-thirds are living in pagan darkness; and not so m u c h as one-tenth is to .be found in connection with the Protestant Church. Think of the 1350 millions outside the pale of Protestant Christendom against the 150 millions within! Or, extending the m a n tle of charity over the Greek and Ronian Catholic churches, and admitting them to the Christian fold, at best, there are only 500 millions out of the 1500 millions that have professed subjection to the n a m e of Jesus; and there still remain 1000 millions that deny or ignore H i m . A n d if w e confine our view to closer range, and press our investigation no further than the borders of our o w n favored land, what do w e find ? Out of a population of some 76 millions, only 28 millions have any church connection whatever, and with m a n y of these it is but nominal. This includes a million of Jews and the m e m bership of all religious denominations of whatever name, from Reforraed Presbyterians down through a list of 148 to the Mormons, Spiritualists and Theosophical Society, some of which have little to do with either the n a m e or the faith of Christ. Of those that can, by thegreatest stretch of courtesy, be styled evangelical, there are less than 18 raillions. Allowing another million for the Sabbath school, which is not reckoned in the church membership, and w e have 19raillions,or just about one-fourth of the total population of the United States, young and old, that receive gospel teaching. W h a t a great mass

Questions of the Hour. eousness. T h e Church of the Living Christ is sufficient. Charles Kingsley said, "If the Christian Church were what she ought to be, and 'what she could be for a single day, the world would be converted before nightfall." She can do it; she must do it; she will do it! "Awake!A w a k e ! put on thy strength, 0 Zito!" W h e n our Lord put the N e w Testament Church into commission H e said, "All power is given unto M e in heaven and in earth. G o ye therefore and teach all nations." That "all power" was at once the warrant for His command, "Go ye," and the guarantee of the Church's success. If she is not successful, it is because she is not in proper connection with the power. W h a t then do w e need ? SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD. W e need a raore complete separation of the Church from the world. The Lord cannot m a k e use ofa worldly Church. Sin is a non-conductor of divine power.. Jenj.salem must shake herself from the dust and put on her beautiful garments of holiness if she is to be an efficient instrument ini thte hand of God for the conversion of the world. " K n o w ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?" The entire Corinthian Church was defiled and spiritually enfeebled because she harbored one incestuous person. W h e n Israel sinned in the accursed thing they could not conquer, but were repulsed by their enemies. It was the sin of but one m a n , a sin unknown to. the great body of the Hebrew array. -But the array was one iji the sight of God, and the sin of that single raember worked the forfeiture of the divine favor by all. The purest and the bravest of the sons of Israel were deprived of success through that one'man's wrongdoing. A n d they were required to remove the offense and punish the offender before victory should retum to perch upon their banners.

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"The fact cannot be concealed," says a Presbyterian journal, "that the Church as a whole is n o w hand in glove with the world. A large portion of its membership is as truly Christian as Christians ever were found. But to a shocking extent honored members of the Church have the same methods of making money that the avowed servants of M a m m o n use; give the same countenance and employment to corruption in politics that 'ward heelers' give; are practically inoffensive to the awful power that is controlling law-making and execution; are adopting the indulgences that until n o w were rejected because of their evil associations and tendencies; demand preaching that pleases and will not have preaching that requires godly repentance and holy living; have little regard for the form of godliness, and none at all for the substance. These are bard things to say, but they are trae and should be confessed before m e n and God." Unhallowed alliances with sin and worldly conformity of various kinds and degrees have shorn the Church of her strength, so that she is this day weak, though anointed with the regal oil. She is too m u c h like the world to have m u c h influence over the world. H e r low state of vital godliness gives m e n too m u c h reason for saying that they can be just as good outside the Church as in it.; while its high profession under these circumstances lays it open to the charge of hypocrisy. The line of practical piety that distiaguishes the Church from the world must be more distinctly drawn and more plainly seen, if the Church would woo and win the world for Christ. God says to His o w n Israel in Ezekiel, 36th chapter, "I will sanctify M y great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of therii, and the heathen shall know that I a m the

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Questions of the Hour. m a d e themselves gods of gold; yet, now, if T h o u wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot m e , I pray thee, out of the book which T h o u hast written." Jeremiah exclaimed, " 0 , that ray head were waters and mine eyes a fountain of tears that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of m y people!" David's heart also was touched to melting. "Rivers of waters run d o w n mine eyes when I see wicked raen run on in sin and keep not T h y law." A n d the Master Himself wept over the obduracy and the fate of the Jewish nation. " 0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how ofteii would I have gathered thee, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not." W e need raore of that spirit in the Church to-day. W e can look over the Church and see unmistakable evidences of a love for ease and a love for display and a love for pleasure and a love for money and the world. But, 0 h o w laraentable a lack there is of unmistakable evidence of a love for souls. CONVICTION OF DUTV. W e need a deeper conviction of duty. There are very few in the Church who do not k n o w that her business is to evangelize the unsaved world. It is not information in this regard that the Church needs, but conviction. Conviction is a word derived from a Latin verb that means to conquer, to overpower, to subdue, to master. So when a rnan has a conviction he is overpowered by it; not with a power that discourages his heart, paralyzes his will and defeats his efforts. But he is mastered by a po'wer that enthuses his heart, energizes his will and electrifies his efforts with an invincible determination. A conviction i s a power that binds the soul with a sense of obligation and responsibility; that subdues the inclinations of the fiesh to the

Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes." N o w , that is what must precede the ingathering from the world, the sanctification of the n a m e of God among His o w n professing people before the eyes of the world. T h e n shall the world "know that I ara the Lord, saith the Lord God." LOVE FOR SOULS. W e need a larger love for souls. W e need more of the feeling that stirred the Saviour's heart when looking round upon the multitude H e was raoved with compassion toward them because they were scattered and faint, as sheep having no shepherd. But instead of that, how m a n y that are professing to be lovers of Christ look with apparent indifference upon the lost eondition of their fellow-men! A few weeks ago, a m a n in a neighboring community was reported to have wandered away from home in an unbalanced state of raind. The news was flashed abroad. A picture and description of him was posted up in public places and a reward offered for information of his whereabouts. The neighbors left their work, and through the sweltering August heat they searched the roads, the cornfields, the woods and the river for the lost m a n . General sympathy was excited, and the whole county was put in commotion. But how m a n y souls in that same neighborhood are lost, are beside themselves with sin, are wandering away into a world that has no hope and is without God, and nobody seems to be alarmed about it ? It seeras to elicit no sympathy, to beget no concern; and there are no searching parties sent out to rescue them from danger and put thera on the way to eternal salvation. D o we really care? 'When Moses saw the danger of Israel's perversity he flung himself in agonizing intercession between thera and a threatening God. "Oh, this people have sinned and

Questions of the Hour. ambitions of the spirit; that masters the energies and hitches them to the chariot of an all-consuming purpose. It generates enthusiasm. It intensifies the efforts. It directs the powers of the soul toward the accomplishment of that which w e are convinced is truth or duty. Membership in tlie Church of Christ imposes an obligation to do personal work for Christ as a soul-winner. This is involved in the great commission. There is nobody excepted in the command, "Go ye." Thos. Gnthrie says, "I do not believe in the Christianity of him w h o would keep salvation to himself, w h o makes no effort to save others." Robt. E . Speer ' says, "The work of evangelizing the world is for every m a n a matter of personal, inalienable obligation." Jas. H . Brooks declares, "Every Christian of every age and calling is a.ppointed an ambassador for Christ." " M y obligation to disciple m e n to Jesus," says Josiah Strong, "rests on m e , not because I a m a clergyman, but because I a m a disciple." But the trouble is that the Church is not thoroughly subdued to her duty. W e are only half convinced. W e are practically repudiating the obligations w e theoretically accept. W e are shirking our responsibilities, instead of surrendering to the conviction f what the W o r d plainly declares to be our duty. H o w few of us are gripped by the spirit of the apostle w h e n he exclaimed,"Woe is rae if I preach not the gospel!" "What a raighty power for the evangelization of the worid would every Christian congregation be if every raember were convinced, overpowered by the sense of obligation. RECOGNITION OF OPPORTUNITV. W e need a clearer recognition of opportunity. Possibly there are m a n y w h o think there is no opportunity for them to engage in this work suitable to the measnre of their ability; and so their whole

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energies are diverted into other channels , of activity. T h e servants of Satan never coraplain of a lack of opportunity in pushing the work of their master, because they are always on the lookout for business. A n d the raan that is alert in the commercial world, usually finds enough of what he is loolcing for to employ his time and strength. A n d there are m a n y more opportunities for doing evangelistic work than our lethargic hearts and care-filled minds are aware of. W h a t we need is eyes to see them, to place ourselves in that attitude to the work and to the Lord that Paul occupied when he exclaimed, " W h a t wilt Thou, have m e to do?" F r o m that higher position of a whole-souled consecration w e will see raany open doors. Andrew first found his o w n brother Simon and brought him to Jesus. Philip went and told his friend Nathanael. The woraan of Saraaria went rith her story iraraediately to her neighbors, saying, "Come, see a m a n which told m e all things that ever I did; is not this the C'hrist?" One found opportunity in the bosora of his o w n family; another in the circle of his friends; and a third among her neighbors. This was strictly h o m e mission work of a most effective kind. Have you not a brother? and if not a brother, a friend? Is there not a neighbor w h o belongs to the churchless masses, indifferent to the, needs and danger of his soul, to w h o m you could say as m u c h as Philip said to Nathanael ? Is there not a servant in your employ that is not a servant of Christ? Does not sickness in sorae nearby faraily invite a visit and afford an opportunity to carry a raessage of Christian syrapathy and say a word for the God of all comfort? W h e n you feed a trarap, can't you offer him somethingmore than a piece of bread and butter ? W e do not need to be preachers and evangelists

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Questions of the Hour. stant testiraony to the truth and power of Christianity, and are an invitation to walk in the way of salvation. Still further it m a y be remarked that the wide application that our Churcli makes of the truth and authority of God to all departments of h u m a n activity, her testimony against evil and for truth, her reform work, have rauch to do inraa.kingan open way for the acceptance of the gospel offer. It is trae evangelical work, not only to offer a m a n salvation, but to reraove the obstacles that prevent the acceptance of the offer; important not only to persuade a m a n to fiee from danger, but also to throttle the wild beast that would devour him. O u r Church in proclaiming the application of Christ's \ m to all departments of life has stood determinedly against the evils that crush the souls of raen. Responsibility for the social and governmental obstructions to niission work is to be laid in vastly greater degree at the door of other denominations than at that of our own. If the principles of national Christianity, for which the Reformed Presbyterian Church has so long contended, were successful in our land, where there is sufficient Scriptural light for raen to have a wide knowledge of the truth, the salvation of souls would receive a wonderful irapetus." T o all this, w e unhesitatingly say, A m e n . B u t the Covenanter Church cannot rest upon this record. After giving credit for all that is here claimed, the question raay still be asked, H a s she done her whole duty? Direct evangelistic work is as obligatory upon us as upon any other branch of the Christian Church, Have w e gone a.fter the unsaved of the white race that live in the same street with us with the same direct application of effort and personal appeal as we have in our dealings with the black and the red and the yellow of our mission stations?

and missionaries in the official sense of those terras in order to be such in reality. "Let every m a n abide in the same calling wherein he was called." Only let him "therein abide with God," and he will not lack for opportunity suited to the raeasure of his capacity. It was while Peter and John were on the way to the teraple that they discovered the m a n lame from his birth, w h o m they healed in the n a m e of Jesus Christ. It was while on the way to Jericho that the good Samaritan in the parable found his opportunity of teaching the Jew and all the world that he is our neighbor w h o m w e can bless, and that heis neighbor indeed who adds to his profession of godliness a godlike charity and mercy. It was while wearied by the roadside well on His long journey into Galilee that the M a n of Nazareth converted the w o m a n of Samaria. Even so, m a n y of our best and most far-reaching opportunities are to be found, not by special journeys to foreign places, but right at our hand in the raidst of the duties of our regular callings. In that single hour when A n drew brought Peter to Christ he accomplished more for the world than in all his life besides. DIRECT PERSONAL WORK. W e need more direct personal work. W e must recognize as true what was stated on the floor of Synod a few years ago. "In at least certain important lines our Church is not slow in evangelical enterprises. R e m e m b e r her large contributions per m e m b e r to the foreign mission, and that the work for the colored race, the Indian and the Chinese h o m e inission, and also for domestic mission, is pushed steadily on. T h e comparative excellence of the lives of our members, which they have been enabled to live by humble dependence upon the grace of God, and which are largely the result of conformity to the Church's precepts, also are a con-

Questions of ihe Hour. Are w e as a Church at -^York in the highways and hedges, compelling the maimed and the halt and the blind to come in? It is pitiful as one goes over the Church and talks with brethren of the conditions and prospects here and there, to hear one after another say, "If w e could only get a tew families to move in here. -" The only hope of building up the congregation that one hears expressed is the hope of increasing their numbers at the expense of another. T h e thought of additions from the unsaved world about them does not seem to be entertained; at least it is not mentioned. Our liOrd compared the spread of the gospel to the operation of the leaven in the meal. One part of yeast will perraeate two thousand parts of dough; but it does it only as that tiny cell, so small as to be invisible to the naked eye, assimilates the tiny particle of the dough next to it, and that the next, and so it works its way through the entire mass. O n e thing the Covenanter Chureh needs is to devise some method of getting next the unsaved mass. She will never convert thera at arra's length, nor by gathering her skirts about her and saying, "Stand thou there; I a m holier than thou." A n d another thing w e need is more individual work with souls. This has always been an efficient factor in the progress of the Church frora the beginning. There is a rage nowadays for large congregations and great conventions and protracted meetings and elaborate church machinery. These m a y be all right, but they are not enough. W e need a return to the primitive methods of thefirstchapter of John. W e would not discount the public preaching of the Word. God raakes the preaching especially an effective raeans of convincing and converting sinners. But w e would place a preraiura upon the private preaching of the Word. T h e one

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must go hand-in-hand with the other. It is because the public preaching is left too m u c h alone to do the work that the wheels of the gospel chariot drag so slowly through the years. Rowland Hill used to say that if he had a number of empty bottles before him and he were to dash water over thera .all, a drop raight go into this one and a few into that one-; "but," said he, "if I take one bottle at a tirae and pour the water in, Ifillit to the brim." Such is one phase of the comparative value of public preaching and the individual work for souls. If each professing Christiani were to secure one additional disciple a year, and they all one each the following year, and so on, the world woifld be converted to Christ before the rising generation had reached the years of m a jority. After all, this is substantially the plan by which the world is to be saved. Because m a n y have utterly neglected the means of salvation within easy reach is no reason w h y Christian effort should t u m away and count them irretrievably lost. W e go to heathen lands, not because the people want the gospelfor they generally do not^but because they need it. B y indirect raeans such as the hospital and the school, by means of patient toil and af enormous expense, we at last, individual by individual, m a k e them willing to accept Christianity. Never will our indifferent and unwilling masses be gathered into the Church at h o m e until w e are willing to do at least as rauch for thera as w e do to save the heathen abroad. The same effort, the same pertinacity, and the same expenditure upon the masses w h o do not want the gospel here ought certainly to produce not less results than in heathen countries. "Awake! A w a k e ! put on thy strength, 0 Zion. Arise, shake thyself from the dust and put on thy beautiful garments, 0 captive daughter of Jerasalera."

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N e w s of the Churches.

N E W S

OF

T H E

CHURCHES.

A B R O A D .
According to Brother McFarland's plan, he conducted Coraraunion. 1 gave what little help I could, which was, as 3'OU raay be sure, little; but then I gave that little cheerfully, and surely that is a good trait in a worker, even if I have to tell it myself. T h e days of preparation were good, but the Sabbath began with a heavy rain, regular "Boggs Dodds M u d Turtle Weather," so that m a n y were kept at home. A number, too, were away, so that there were only eighteen with the two ministers at the table. W e trust that theraessagesand the presence of the Mastor were an inspiration to all. They still feel that they need an American worker or workers. W e had a good trip home, though the roads were very, very -muddy. About an hour before w e reached Kessab w e went through a fall of snow. It was really good to see it a.gain. W e had supper A personal letter from Rev. S. Edgar, ^vith the Armenian minister there. H e dated Jan. 27, 1910, contains some items reports that the people are doing well that w e publish, reserving only those evi- under the trying conditions. M a n y of dently intended for the private reading of them are busy rebuilding their houses the Corresponding Secretary: with the money given by thegovernment. - - Brother McFarland and I are home They have laid the foundation for their from a trip to Suadia. W e found the new church again, and hope tofinishit brethren all in good health,- and the work- in a year or so. It is to be a very large ers busy in their places. T h e school is in one. 'We reached horae in safety and good shape, though there are not as m a n y found the circle all in good health and Fellaheen this year as formerly. They busy as usual in their places. have been forbidden to attend. The atThe week before w e went to Suadia we tendance is from fifty to sixty, according had a petition from the village of Ayen to the weather. Our Bible w o m a n seems Laban for a school. Mallim Khaleel and to be doing faithful work. She reported the writer went out to see the place and that there was m u c h poverty and want in to talk the matter over with the people. the Suadia Valley. She found raany that W e were well received and they agreed to have not seen flour in their houses this provide the room.and w e the books and year. teacher. W e elected a young m a n as Syria, Latakia.In a personal letter, dated Jan. 18, 1910, Miss .Maggie B. Edgar reports one or two items of general interest: There is need n o w of teachers w h o are better prepared for work than any w e have had heretofore. One of our boys, who is at present in Cyprus, will corae to our help after a year or so, but he is not likely to continue teaching, as it is his desire to prepare himself for the gospel ministr}-, and in that I feel he ought to be encouraged. W e recently opened a school in one of the Fellalieen villages, where work was carried on long ago, at the request of the people, and w e not only think that it will be successful, but that soon there raay be raany more similar requests. I wish w e had the right kind of m e n to m a k e the best use of such opportunities.

N e w s of the (J^urches, teacher from Gendairia. This village is about twenty minutes' walk from Ayen Laban, so it will raake it easy for the teacher to-reach it. H e is an inexperienced worker, but has been one of the boys of the Latakia school. W e visited the school that is in Gendairia and found that all there is going along well. There have been no signs of opposition yet, nor do w e look for any. M a y our Lord bless the work in these two places. Brother McFarland and I, after a careful survey of thefieldat Suadia, - decided that a doctor and an American lady to superintend a girls' boarding school and to oversee the boys' school would fill the bill with Araerican workers. Of course, there ought to be also a good native evangelist with thera to care for the services and so on. W e cannot expect the work to go on as it ought without some overseer there, and there is certainly afinefieldfor a doctor there to do the work among the people and a wide door for him to present the gospel. W e took a trip to Antioch and called on our mutual Irish friend. Dr. Marin. W e found hira in good health. H e still has Arraenians in the compound. His work is a little discouraging this year owing to the Greeks having a fine school and having robbed him of nearly" all his pupils. - The new church building is a fine one, and the school also. A letter from Miss M. B. Edgar, dated Feb. 3, brings good news: Last week a petition was brought in to us from the people of a village about three hours from town, asking that w e give them a teacher for a school,' for which they would provide a roora. They requested as their teacher a young raan, son of one of our people at Jendairia. Just about two weeks before, the brother of this voung m a n had been allowed to

57

begin a school in a little village about a raile frora his home. Mr. Edgar and I had been thinking of going out to visit the new school, so a few days ago w e rode out by way of Jendairia, where we would get a guide, as part of the way was unfamiliar to us. It was a beautiful morning, and the abundant rains of this winter, with very little cold, had clothed the earth everywhere with verdure and, wild flowers. A chilly wind m a d e a little discomfort for us during thefirsthour or so, but by and by that died away. W e stopped at Jendairia only long enough to exchange salutations and secure our young friend to go with us. Then we rode on to Ain Leben, where the new school had been begun. It is a very poor little village, set in a hollow under the hill, and the poverty of its population was very apparent. W h e n w e arrived, some of the pupils of the school were away, having been sent for clay to repair the roof of the school roora, whicii had been leaking. They soon returned, however, and we were invited to enter and inspect the school. A low, dark room, the inner part of which was used as a store room and one side of it as a sleeping apartment, for there was a raised platforra with beds on it. N o windows and just one door for light and airthe ordinary type of Fellah house. O n one side the earthen floor is raised to a little higher level than in the rest of the room, and here there sat in a row, some'just on the earthen floor and some on a piece of sheep skin or sacking, some twenty-two pupils. T h e present generation of small children in this village had never seen foreigners, and after one look at us-, one little youngster set up a howl of fear, and had to be taken out by his friends, and comforted. A t the inner end of the school row were some large pupils, four or five boys of fourteen or fifteen years; two w h o were

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N e w s of the Churches. to attend. H e said that he attended the school we had there in the old days, and that nearly all the m e n w h o signed the paper sent to us, had been at our village school when they were boys. They showed us a very good roora, whicii was really a part of his house, which they Avould give for the use of the school. 1 raay say that since we were out we sent them their teacher and books, and by 'this time, I suppose, they have begun work. This is u o w the fourth n e w school that has been begun in the villages this winter, three of them a m o n g Fellaheen. The Lord would seem to be opening the doors that have been closed so long. M a y we have wisdom to raake a right use of the opportunity given to us. If w e are to do raore of this kind of work w e will need both money and teachers for it, and the latter, such as we would desire, will be hard to find. A letter just corae in frora the new school at Bizzak, reports a daily attendance of from forty-one to forty-five scholars. ]\Ir. McFarland is expected h o m e tomorrow from a trip to Gunaimia and Inkzik. H e has had good weather, but a little cold. W e ask that our friends will continually intercede at the Throne of Grace for these new schools, especially that the teachers m a y befilledwith a desire to win their pupils to Christ, and be shown how to work for His glory. Asia Minor, Mersina. In a letter, dated Jan. 12, 1910, Rev. C. A. Dodds reports in regard to Communions held about that time: Last Sabbath we had Comraunion service at JMersina, and two weeks earlier at Tarsus. A t Tarsus the services were well attended and there was a comparatively larg^ number of candidates for admission

at least nineteen, and one grown raan of twenty-five or more. These older scholars, the young teacher told us, could read a little in the priraer when they came to him, and n o w they were ready to begin thefirstread.er. This class stood up and recited for us the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandraents, Twenty-third Psalm, five or six verses of thefirstchapter of John's Gospel, and six pages of Brown's Catechism for Children. T h e grown m a n was as proud of his accomplishments as the younger ones, though he was evidently a little bashful about it. Think of that for a heathen village school in less than two weeks' time. Then the little ones had their turn, and they, too, did very well; even the little fellow who was frightened, plucked up courage enough to say his lesson before us. T h e eagerness of these young m e n to learn and their willingness to learn these scripture lessons,, impressed us greatly, so that we could not but pray as w e heard them that our Lord will bless the words of life which they learn to the saving of their souls. W e ate our lunch after seeing the school, one of the villagers having brought us a dish of "leben" to help it out, and then rode on about three miles north to Khabooreya, the place from which had come the request for a school. W e were not expected on that day, and all the villagers were out planting olive trees, but w e found the Mukhtar of ihe village at home. A s he is the principal raan, whose influence secures the possibility of keeping the school going, we did not need to see the others, and I suppose they thought so, too, as none of them left their work to come and talk with ufe. There are three little hamlets here within a few minutes' distance of each other. The Mukhtar assured us that. they were all agreed in desiring a school, that they could secure twenty-five or thirty children

N e w s of ihe Churches. twenty-four, I lielieve, counting one who has been out of the coraraunion-of the Church for.sorae years, and who asked to be restored. H e was restored and six others received bn profession of faith. One of these was the widow of Sefr Yalcob, who died last January. Another was her mother. (His mother had united with us at the C o m m u n i o n last spring.) A third was the wife of the m a n who was restored. A younger brother of the same m a n also joined; and the wife of another of our members, and ayoung married .man whose mother is a member. All of these are originally of the ancient Syrian ChurchJacobites. So are sixteen of the seventeen whora it was thought best to hold back for further instruction and a longer period of probation, and soraetwountil they should be able to bring their practice into harmony with their belief with reference to Sabbath labor. Most of the applicants had been attending our services but a short tirae, and m a n y of them were grossly ignorant; or at least appeared so on exaraination, though I discovered that some w h o seeraed very dull before a large company, ap. peared m u c h less so in the presence of only three or four persons. One was an old m a n of probably eighty years of age, and he seemed to be more ignorant than the others, in proportion as he had lived longer in the old church. The one exception aniong the seventeen noted above is a Moslem woraan, w h o was born a Maronite, and has been with Moslems since she was six years of age. She seemed very m u c h in earnest, and is far brighter and more intelligent than raost of tht Christian (?) applicants. She was dissa.tisfied with Islara, and wanted to get back to the Maronites, andfinally,through sorae of her relatives the opportunity came to her in Tripoli to attend- the Maronite service. She seems not to have been satisfied, how-

59

ever, until she found the evangelical way. at Tarsus. She seems very earnest and enthusiastic, and I hope she will'continue so. She brings her husband, w h o seeras a rather weak, harmless sort of a m a n , to the preaching services soraetimes. A t Mersina, Coraraunion was held the Sabbath following the Week of Prayer. One member, whose n a m e had been re^ moved from the roll, was restored. There were eight applicants for admission, bui most of them were deemed too young, and as for two who might have been received so far as age was concemed, there seeraed to be other reasons why it was best not to receive them without a longer period of probation. All in the Mission are in fair health at this writing. W e have been having aweek of cold weatherteraperature below freezing for several nights in succession. The days, however, are bright and clear. China, Tak Hin^ Chau.Miss Ida M. Scott, M.D., has sent us a letter for the readers of Olive Trees, dated Dec. 28, 1909: So 1 1 1 any things have been crowded into the past few weeks that w e can merelj raention them without going into detail. Miss Dean and I had the pleasure of going to Plong K o n g to raeet Dr. Jean AlcBurney. Dr. Jean is hoping to go down the last of February to raeet Dr. I ' V , i t e , though w e have not had definite \\'ord yet that she will be here. Dr. Jean looked the better for her trip horae, and is into the work again so m u c h that w e see little of her. She spends m u c h of her time in itinerating. Dr. Wright has been itinerating a good deal this fall, tbo, and they find plenty of work. The ministers have also beeu making trips to the country, and since the building began at D o Sing, Mr. W . M . Robb is there a good bit, so that we do not all seem

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N e w s of the Churches. were called, but in spite of neglect, she is doing well, and is able to be around again with a little help. The horae of Tak Hing's highest official was m a d e glad recently by the arrival of a young son. Por the first time we were admitted to the horae. The official himself has called on the raen of the Mission, and they have returned his calls, but this was the occasion of thefirstentrance into the real horae. W h e n I m a d e m y first trip it required a great deal of red tape to get through all the courts, gates, etc., and there was great scurrying and rushing around of servants to announce m y arrival, but after I had been there a few tinies I was adraitted with as little forra as into any house, almost. A n American would scarcely consider the official's wife a model housekeeper, judging by the appearance of things, but she is a very pleasant, polite w o m a n , and seemed pleased to have the ladies of the Mission call on her. They have asked us to take a photo of the baby, w h o is a fine fat little fellow, and his eighteen-year-old brother is as proud of him as can be. The official has lived in London and Paris both, and knows something of foreign ways, and they a-sked m e to buy some foreign clothes for the baby. I had asked the older son to come to church, so after the service was over he consulted m e about getting the baby's clothes. In going to the official's house one day we stopped to visit a girls' school in Tak Hing. 1 believe there are three schools, so-called, for girls. T h e one w e visited was taught by a w o m a n of sixty, who had been taught to read by her father. She is letting her light shine by teaching fifteen girls -what she knows. It m a y not be much, but if a gospel falls into their hands n o w they m a y be able to read a part of it anyway. W e also visited Mr. K e m p f s school, where w e heard and saw

to be at h o m e at the same time very often. W a have had some interesting cases in the dispensary and hospital recently, and also in the out practice. One unusual case was that of a soldier, having his thurab bitten ofl by a vicious little pony t h e only thing in the line of horse flesh I bave seen in Tak Hing. Another was a crazy m a n w h o was in the hospital. One beautiful moonlight night he m a d e his escape and wandered into Mr. Kerapf's bedroom. H e naturally took him for a robber and demanded his n a m e and asked his business, i H e received no answer, so he told him not to move, and the order was obeyed implicitly. M r . A. L Robb was sleeping across the hall and he came in answer to M r . K e m p f s call; the supposed robber was captured and tied and a light brought in. 'When they got a good look they began to be suspicious he was mentally unbalanced, and sent for Dr. 'W'right. H e at once suspected who it was and when he came and saw that it was his patient, w h o was so securely tied, it appealed to him as so ludicrous he began laughing, and I ara not sure that he is, over it yet. The m a n is harraless, and, while being searched and tied, raade no resistance, but when he saw M r . K e m p f s bed he insisted on being allowed to retire. For some reason M r . K e m p f did not seem anxious to have him stay, so he was taken back to the hospital, and when he saw his bed he seemed to have found the thing he was in search of, and was soon sound asleep. Another case was an old' lady, over seventy years of age, who fell and broke her leg, both bones. T w o days later w e were called. She made a reraarkably good recovery for one of her years, but was not around long until she fell over the doorsill and broke tho same legthe second time only one bone, about an inch above thefirstfracture. Several davs later we

N e w s of the Cliurches. some interesting recitations; w e also saw the boys being put through some vigorous exercises, which reminded m e of gymnasium days at Geneva. All took part in this, from the native teacher, w h o is not a young m a n by any means, to the smallest boy. T h e former took his with a gentleness and dignity becoming his profession, and one would not expect hira to suffer with rauscular soreness from excessive use. T h e boys entered into the spirit of what they were doing, and seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. The girls' school is near enough to us that w e can hear them taking their exercises daily under the supervision of Mrs. Mitchell. It is nice to see them being taught something else than to stand with hands folded in front, stooped shoulders and bowed head, which in China is regarded as a polite and modest attitude. Miss Dean and I spent a few days in Canton early in December, chiefly for the purpose of giving Miss Dean an opportunity to visit the schools. It was an inspiration to see so m a n y girls under Christian instruction, and m a n y of w h o m are Christians, but I will allow Miss Dean to write about the work, as this is already growing long. W e saw soraething besides schools, too. W e attended a meeting addressed by F. P. Brockman through an interpreterour first experience in hearing an interpreted sermon; w e attended a prayer raeeting of the missionaries of Canton; these union prayer meetings are held monthly. W e were at union services on Sabbath evening and heard a sermon in Englisha rare thing for u s a n d saw about seventyfive missionaries. W^e visited a rug factorythe largest thing of the kind in the worldthat is they handle the most rugs. They supply the markets in the United States and other countries. The rugs are raade in the Lin T a n district, and some

61

of them are beautiful. They also handle large quantities of matting. W e took in as m u c h as possible while in Canton, and being awakened and told to dress ready to go out before 5 o'clock one morning, because afirewas very near, w e m a d e the best of the situation by going out to see the Fire Department at work. W e could not get near enough the scene of action to see much, but we saw the lire engines being brought in from distant parts of the city, each being drawn by twenty raen. The engines looked like good-sized ranges, but they do quite effective work. W e also learned something of the work done by the city'Y. M . C. A. Recently eighty young m e n enrolled in classes for Bible study. These are young m e n w h o are not Christians. Thanksgiving Day w e ate our dinner at Mr. J. K. Robb's; Christmas Day at Mr. A. I. Robb's. The day was an ideal one, and there was m u c h to m a k e it a joyous occasion, but a gloora was cast over everything by the thought of the changes to, take place here soon. That day it was decided that it would be wise for Mr. and Mrs. W . M . Robb to go horae for a tirae on account of Mrs.' Robb's health. Perhaps no one can understand the sorrow there.is here, except M r . and.Mrs. Blair. They will understand. The Coraraunion is to be next Sabbath. The elders and deacons are to be ordained Friday. That will be a new and interesting event to the Chinese. A letter frora Dr. J. M. Wright, dated Jan. 8, 1910, contains interesting items: You will ere this have received word of our last coraraunion. Six were baptizedthree young men, one girl, one elderly w o m a n , and one child. The services were well attended and were as orderly and pleasant as at horae.

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N e w s of the Churches. foreigners. Prayer raeetings were held at night, conducted by the Chinese raerabers. There was an unusual amount of sickness this fall, especially malaria, both among natives - and- foreigners. The Chinese seera to becorae more or less tolerant of malaria, but during the change of the seasons an- outbreak of longer or shorter duration usually occurs. The remedies are legion. T h e Chinese physician is a mysterious individual, and tries to impress his patients with the idea that what he does not know, no other one can tell them. H e pretends to be able to read the pulse so as to know what part of the body is ailing. For example, with the threefirstfingersof the right hand on the wrist pulse of left hand he reads tlie condition of the heart from the pulse by the touch of thefirstfinger;the second finger tells him all. about the liver, and the third finger discovers all the secrets of the kidneys. With the three first fingers of the left hand on wrist pulse of the right hand he can discover every ailment of the lungs; the second finger reads the indications of the spleen, andthe third finger enables him to talk with certainty of the spinal cord disarrangements. If the trouble is diagnosed asflatulence,a dose of powdered scorpion will remove the trouble. If the trouble is serious it m a y take a dose of bear's gall to perform a cure, and so on through the catalogue of cures seemingly endless. Mrs. Rev. Williara Robb is dispensing valuable medicines in our Mission. Last summer she was giving some trinkets to a Chinaman, and among them was a part of a bottle of Montgoraery W a r d talcum powder that, through moisture, had become useless. T h e recipient in some way got the idea that this was some powerful Western medicine, and so inforraed his neighbors. A short- time ago the m a n came to the dispensary to get more of the

Dr. Scott's letter in regard to Mrs. William Robb will, bring a surprise and- a sorrow to you all. They are such a bright proraising couple, liked by all who know thera. It was hard for the physicians to tell them the condition. The sputum has been examined, but no evidence of tuberculosis found, and the lungs seem to be in good health. She has gained several pounds in weight lately, and her case seems to be very promising if given proper attention. Several missionary physicians have been consulted lately, and they all say the case requires treatment in the h o m e land in order to get best results. Dr. Bell, of H o n g K o n g Civil Hospital, was consulted, and his advice was to send the patient horae. Rev. J. K e m p f was appointed to write the Board in regard to the organizing of the Tak Hing Congregation recently completed. The Chinese members are very m u c h pleased. One of them said that it was a very good thing, as no one could n o w say it was the foreigners' cliurch, as was often thrown in their teeth, and that it would be m u c h easier now to push the claims of the church as a Chinese organization, and not an organization controlled by strangers. "Dr. George's Two," as w e call Tai So and A >Sam, are deaconess and elder respectively. W h e n Tai So was told that she had been chosen, she said, "Thank the Heavenly Father." During the examination of candidates by the Session, A Sam's query to each was, "Do you know your prayers have been heard?" These two have surely caught the spirit of the one who first led them. B y the way, a new marble tablet in memory of Dr. M a u d e George was lately fitted into a niche in the Woman's Hospital. The Chinese say it is good, and that it is right to remember her. Over eighty communed, including the

N e w s of the Churches. raedicine, saying "good medicine, had never been seen in his community before; it curedfits,malaria and all the diseases of m a n , w o m a n and child." Since Dr. Jean McBurney has returned, the dispensing work in the outstations has been reopened. It is a very encouraging work, and m a n y are reached in this way by books, tracts and by explanations. W e continually hear of good work being done by Rev. R. A. Blair. I iiope Olive Trees has decided to continue its good work. I would be glad to pay several times its present subscription rate if you would be willing, and I think that is the feeling of each one here, if it would help the work. I appreciate what it has meant to m e in the past, and would be very sorry to lose it.

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comraunion Sabbath, Dec. 31, 1909, the congregation met, the ordination and installation of the officers elect being the order of the day. T h e Church's form of procedure was followed out as nearly as it was possible to do under the existing circumstances. T h e ordination sermon was preached by J. K. Robb, from Ps. 87, 3, after which tha officers elect were inducted into office by the laying on of hands. It was an impressive scene, and none seemed to be raore deeply impressed than the officers themselves. I had never before been present at the ordination of officerSj and so a m not able to compare former irapressions with those of this occasion. But there seeraed to m e to be something peculiarly affecting about this spectacle of m e n and w o m e n so lately freed from the bonds of heathenism and A letter from Rev. J. K. Robb, dated idolatry, gladly taking upon themselves Jan. 1'2, 1910, is full of encouraging vows that have made them, in a .pre,items. eminent sense, servants of the Master, Our winter comraunion fell on Saband whicii distinguish them in their rebath, Jan. 2, this year. Certain features spective coraraunities as representatives of the occasion rendered it a tirae of raore of the Church of God on earth. than usual pleasure to us. Perhaps the The organization thus effected has most interesting event, and the most imserved to substantially change the portant, too, judging from the standpoint Church's standing in the estimation of of the Mission's work and growth, was the .many. First of all, it has given the induction into office of six elders and five Christians themselves a new impetus inthe Lord's work. M a n y of them have deacons, and the organization of a new Covenanter eongregation. About three feltand it is but natural that they should have such feelingsthat the weeks before the time set for the ordinaChurch at Tak Hing was in the hands of tion, the officers-elect came out to Tak foreigners, and that the Chinese had but Hing to receive a course of instruction in the Church's principles, and in the duties little voice in Church matters. The inof their respective offices. . Seven m e n had duction into office of nine of their o w n been chosen to the office of ruling elder, number and of but two of the foreigners but of this nuraber, one was unable to be has served to give thera a new view of the Church. They n o w feel that we are all. present at either the course of instruction on a level, that there is neither "Jew nor or at tlie ordination itself. H e is an old m a n in feeble health. Of the remainGreek," but all one in Christ Jesus. ing six two are elderly raen; the other Then, this step has served to correct erfour, of whora Dr. Wright is one, are roneous impressions of non-Christians. younger. O n the Friday preceding the T h e native Christians were often remind-

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N e w s of the Churches.

usually fine, but w e cannot expect the ed that the church was in the hands of foreigners. N o w they are able to reply good weather to continue rauch longer. that Chinese officers are in the raajority,. and that the raerabership is raore than The following letter to the Foreign Mission Board is published that the 90 per cent. Chinese. All things conr churches m a y know w h y Rev. and Mrs. sidered, w e feel that the organization of W . M . Robb are returning to America: our congregation marks the beginning of "As Corresponding Secretary of the a new era in the history of the .Mission's worl^. N e w interest and new energy are Reforraed Presbyterian . Mission, Tak Hing, China, it devolves on m e to write being shown by all, and w e confidently hope for even larger blessings in the you that the physicians on the field have future than have been bestowed in the unaniraously agreed that it is the part of wisdom to advise Mrs. W . M . Robb, on past. O n Priday aftemoon the newly or- account of failing health, to return home dained session began its duties by exam- for a prolonged furloughperhaps two ining and adrnitting into the Church five 3rearsthen, if pronounced well by a applicants for baptism, three boys, the competent physician, to return to the eldest being twenty years of age, one work for which she and M r . Robb both school girl of m u c h promise, and a w o m a n seem so eminentlyfitted,both by reason of raiddle age. O n Saturday m o m i n g of their consecration and their ability to Rev. E. C. Mitchell preached a very ap- speak the language with such ease. "Her condition, so far as w e are propriate sermon from Matt. 25, 6, after which the five adult candidates for bap- able to judge, is not so serious, tism and a little child, whose father is but we have reason to believe she may one of our members, received this sealing be perraanently cured with practically ordinance. O n Sabbath morning the no deforraity. action sermon was preached by Rev. W . "The decision to advise their return M . Robb, from Luke 24, 26, after which home was not reached without careful eighty-nine persons sat down at the Lord's consideration. W e discussed the possitable. For thefirsttime in the Mission's bilities of what could be done here, at history the congregation had officers of its H o n g K o n g and in Ja.pan. It was hard o w n choosing to assist at the celebration to leave out what they would have us do of the Sacramental feast. T h e dignity and what we would like to have them do; and reverence with which they performed to lay aside our feelings and say what was their duties we could not but admire and our duty to say; but when the question wonder at. was put to each one, 'If it were one of Prayer raeeting services were held on your faraily what would you want done?' Friday, Saturday and Sabbath evenings, it was easier to decide. and on Sabbatii aftemoon Rev. A. 1. Robb "What it means to M r . and Mrs. Robb spoke. T h e attendance was good for the perhaps no one has m u c h idea, except Mr. season of year, and the attention was exand ]\Irs. Blair. They know something cellent. In the midst of it all we were of what it costs. i\Ir. and ]Mrs. Robb are saddened by the knowledge that we are bearing it bravely and are making prepsoon to lose one of our fellow-workers. arations for leaving here in February. The general health' of the workers is " W e wonder what lesson God would o-ood. The winter thus far has been un- tcach us by these strange providences.

News of the Churches. W e trust the lesson may be learned without the removal of more workers. "Ida M. Scott, Cor. Sec. "Tak Hing, So. China, Dec. 29, 1909." Endorsed by A. I. Robb, Pres.

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her return to America on furlough over two summers at least. Mr. and Mrs. Robb expected to sail ' from Hong Kong on the SS. Monteagle, which is said to be araong the best of the Interraediate steamers on the Pacific, on Tuesday, Feb. 15, and should reach VanThis official stateraent is accompanied couver about the llth of this' raonth. "It.is probable," writes Mr. Robb, "that with a formal certificate, signed by the we will spend sorae tirae in South Calithree physicians at Tak Hing, stating the nature of the disease and the present confornia, as' the doctors think i t would not be wise to go East until warraer weather." dition of Mrs. Robb, and recommending

A X

H O M I
To Southern ] \ l i s s i . o n 25.00 To Chinese H o m e Mission 21.00 To Chinese Foreign Mission 20.00 To Syrian Mission per Miss E. Sterrett in Septeraber, 1909... 77.50 Postal money orders .75 $259.25 Balance on hand, Jan. 1, 1910. .. .38 $259.63 As another year of our Society i s numbered with the jDast, and as we look back and see God's kindness, to us, we feel that we have great cause for thankfulness. Our roll now numbersfifty-nineactive raembers and twenty-two honorary raembers. At a ripe old age, Mrs. Nancy Clyde, one of our loved and honorary merabers, was called home to her reward. As we enter another year, let us be more earnest and faithful in our efforts to serve our Heavenly Father. Mrs. a. MacKnight, Pres. Mrs. H. McClurken, Treas. Miss Margaret Johnston', Sec.

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. The L. ] \ I . Society of the Third R. P. Church, Philadelphia, Pa., reports as follows for 1909: At the close of the year we desire to record the work of our Society. W e have held ten regular ineetings with an average attendance of thirteenraerabers.The result of ourraeetingsin dollars and cents i f told in the following: Receipts. Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1909... $0.11 Monthly dues amounting to 100.60 Received frora honorary raembers 27.00 Received from Thank Offering boxes 54.42 Special contribution for Syrian Mission (through Miss Evadna Sterrett) 77.50 $259.63 To To To To Disbursements. Syrian IMission Jewish Mission Domestic Mission Indian Mission $40.00 25.00 25.00 25.00

More raoney i s spent on pneumatic automobile tires in this -country, according to figures furnished m e by a friend engaged in the business, than i s given for foreign missions. O n this one type of tire, I understand we spend $12,000,000. W e give $10,000,000 for the foreignfield.J.Campbell White.

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Monographs.

M O N O G R A P H S .
K i n g d o m of Jesus Christ, and ever hold themselves ready for larger opportunities ONWARD IN OUR MISSIONS. to render sgrvice andraalcesacrifices. Upon God i s moving marvelously in His thera the Holy Spirit, as a Spirit of selfProvidence. A t His presence the earth surrender and liberal giving, has fallen in trembles'. H e is looking upon the old empires of our world, and they are shak- evident power. N o r can this Spirit be repressed. T h eraissionwork is -its natural ing to their foundations. outlet. Onward into yonder marshy Especially are the great forces astir in Turkey and China, where our Missions places, 0 river of G o d ! Onwardj into the waste lands, and the bitter waters, until are established. These powers, with tho waters become full of living fishes others, are waking up out of the sleep of ages, and rapidly entering upon n e w con- and the desert rejoices and blossoras as the rose. Onward with increasing volume ditions of liberty, enlightenraent, and moral progress. A bright day is evidently and larger blessings, fed from the Headdawning; the glory that shall cover the waters of infinite love, the etemal Son earth is appearing; theraanyraillionsw h o of G o d ! ^ sit in darkness are opening their eyes and That this missionary zeal m a y continue waiting for the light, while God is remov- and increase, w e will pray the Holy Spirit ing the last barriers in the w a y of the to abide with us, and w e will expect an gospel. answer. This will be in obedience to A t h o m e the churches are receiving a Christ's comraand, Pray ye the Lord of baptism of the Holy Spirit and of fire. the Harvest, that H e thrust out laborers Zeal is kindling into fiames in m a n y into His harvest. This baptisni of the hearts. A n accusing conviction of debt Holy Spirit and of fire should be conand duty, in relation to piissions, is im- fidently expected in these last days to pelling m e n and w o m e n , ^ich and poor, corae upon m e n and woraen, parents and to heroic effort, and costly sacriflces. M e n children, old and young, small and great. of business and raen of leisure are lay- W e should expect to see our children in ing their tirae, talents and wealth on the our homesfilledwith missionary enthusialtar of God, in a manner unprecedented asra, our scholars in the Sabbath school in raodern times. T h e people in raany and otr students in the college and semplaces are growing munificent with their inarjr. 'Wlio can tell but G o d is now gifts for missions. W h a t is all this but raising up in all the churches a raissionthe voice of God, commanding a forwaid ary generation that shall talte the whole movement iu mission work? If w e fail world andfillit with prosperous churches not in interpreting .the voice of provi- and the glory of Jesus Christ. dence, God, to-day, commands an immeOur missionfieldsin their present condiate and vigorous advance along all our dition are white, and evidently at this missionary lines. hour ready for twenty-five additional Of the baptism of fire the Covenanter laborers, six ministers, five physicians, Church has surely received a share. H e r eleven teachers, two trained nurses, and people are watching, praying, working, one hospital matron. W h o will go? giving, planning for the 'coming of the W h o will arise, and, in the narae of Jesus,

Monographs. say, "Here a m I, send m e " ? Will there not be a reply that will break forth like the voice of m a n y waters ? . Shall we not hear a response frora those w h o possess not merely the physical, educational and spiritualfitness,but likewise have the heroic and self-sacrificing spirit? Here is a field for those who are indomitable in faith and purpose. W e have read of a crisis in a battle, where it was necessary to sacrifice a number of soldiers in a terrible charge. A call was issued for volunteers. Twice as raany stepped forth as were needed. Sorae w h o were refused pleaded for perraission to join the devoted band. In like raanner the call to the mission field is for those who are willing to sacrifice all, even life, for the sake of Jesus Christ. W e have no rosyfieldfor our missionaries to enter, no easy chair. Hardships, difficulties, suffering from thefirstday to the last m a y be expected. Ere Jesus permitted His disciples to enter the niission field H e told them of the wolves, the prisons, the chains, the stripes, the persecutions, and death, for His sake. Nor would w e send forth our missionaries without.giving a clear view of what must befall them. Let such as would accept the wotk count the cost. Farewell to parents, good-bye to home endearments, separation from friends, perils on sea and land, climatic effects on health, embarrassment among strangers, confusion of tongues, paucity of comforts, exhaustion, loneliness, disappointments, vexations and possibly persecution and death. Such a prospect can be faced only by' the lion-hearted. But the heart, in which dwells the Lion of the tribe of Judah, can calmly accept the work, meet the dangers and triuraph over all tribulations. Only such as are afiame with the passion of love for Jesus, and for souls, can have joy and success in the

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Lord's work in the mission field. While others raay grow wealc and be discouraged, they w h o firmly trust in God and fully surrender to His will; they who know the joys of salvation in their o w n life, and the sweetness of Christ's love in the depths of their hearts; they who have this purpose and this experience, can glory in the tribulations of the raission field, and be more than conquerors through H i m W h o loved them and gave Himself for them. 0 will there not be a ready response from twice twenty-five? Will the appeal not call forth all that is best, noblest, divinest, in m a n y hearts? M a y the Holy Spirit fall upon our beloved Zion, causing them that are weak to be like "the house of David, and the house of David to be like God, even as the angel of the Lord." They w h o accept in faith and love the mighty task shall have their reward; yea, an "hundred fold n o w in this time and in the world to corae eternal life."

J. C. McFeeters, William G. Carson, S. A. S. Metheny,

Committee Adopted by the Board of Foreign Missions, Monday, Feb. 21, 1910. FULNESS OF GRACE. (CONCLUDED FROM PAGE 45.) The Manner in Which This Grace Is Received. The way in which it is expressed in our text is, "and grace for grace." The phrase is a singular one, and it has been understood in raany different senses by expositors. A t first in the Churcli by the ancient Greek interpreters, it was thought to refer to the grace of the N e w Testaraent for or in the place of the grace of the old covenant. There was grace in the Old Testament dispensation; but God has

Monographs. given the superior grace of the new covenant, for, or, in stead of that which prevailed under the law. The grace which w e receive frora Jesus Christ is raore excellent and raore abundant. Others, again, understand it in the sense of the grace which w e have, being agreeable and conformable to the grace which is in Christ. W e have received from the fulness of Christ grace corresponding to that which is in H i m . W e are m a d e like H i m in character, disposition and in all the graces of the Christian life. Grace for graee is grace in us answering to grace in Christ. But the majority of interpreters incline to the opinion that the meaning is simply that w e have received from His fulness abundance of grace and favorsgrace upon grace. The Hebrews, in expressing the . superlative degree of comparison, simply repeated the word or phrase. So here, grace for grace m a y m e a n m u c h grace, grace after grace, one grace heaped upon another, grace without end proceeding from the fulness of Christ, one grace a pledge of more and greater to follow. A n d so it is that Christ's grace is bestowed. Every want can be supplied out of His infinite fulness. H e Himself has said, " M y grace is sufficient for thee." One of the things which amazed the ' Queen of Sheba, when she visited King Solomon, was the suraptuousness of his table. So treraendous was the amount of provisions brought in for a single day that she was astonished. A n d the multitude that sat down to eat and to feast were marvelous also, but there was always enough and to spare. A n d so it is with the feast of grace which Christ gives to ITis loved ones; thousands are continually sitting down to the feast; their wants and necessities are great, yet no pne of them is even unsatisfied. There is enough for each and for all, forevermore. W e need not fear that Christ's grace will ever fail us. "The river of God, which is full of water, can well supply the little canals that are fed frora such a source, with graee for grace.'' Our sins raay be ever so vile, yet in the fountain filled with blood drawn from Imraanuel's vein, there is a fulness that can never be exhausted by all the sins of raen. O u r weakness m a y be ever so great, yet, as Paul has assured us, " M y God shall supply all your needs, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Our fear of death m a y be ever so terrible, and our unfitness to enter the Kingdom of Heaven m a y be ever so great, yet no discjple was ever so unworthy but His grace was sufficient to give victory over the grave, and to minister an abundant entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. W e all received of His fulness, even grace for grace. By W h o m Is This Grace Received? Our text answers this question by saying, "all w e " have received. A n d the apostle is speaking here of the household of faith, of the great body of believers. H e is writing of the great host, including himself, w h o have received or will receive the Son of M a n as their Saviour. "But as raany as received Him," he has said a few verses before, "to them gave H e power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on -His narae." Those who receive Christ receive of His fulness, "even grace for grace.'' They .are raade partakers of all the blessings which flow frora H i m . So this grace is received by the saints of God, and- by them alone. It is their peculiar heritage. It is the glorious inheritance which becomes theirs as soon as fhc}' take Christ to be their Saviour, and their all in all. A n d notice that all the saints partake of it. Of His fulness have all w e received. It is the

Monographs. c o m m o n inheritance of the children of God. W h a t a world of comfort and of joy there is in that fact. T o think that the treasury of Christ's grace is open to every Christian, big or little, strong or weak. That the .Master is ready to bestow His riches upon every one of us, and that w e can all be rich indeed if w e only will. As another has said,, our Saviour is no Saviour only of a few, no weak Redeemer w h o can partake only those little officials that scarcely need His aid, but a great Saviour to the great sinners, the Conqueror with dyed garments, whose n a m e is raighty to save. It is His grace which saves the purest saint and the vilest sinner, and it is His grace which sustains the weakest believer as well as the strongest Christian. A n d what a wonderful picture presents itself, when w e consider for a m o m e n t the character of the multitude which has received of this fulness of Christ. Think for a little of the great host of the saints of G o d o f all w h o lived in the Old Dispensation from the days of A d a m till the fulness of time was corae when God sent forth His Son, of Abrahara and Moses and David and Isaiah, and all that glorious company. A n d then think of those who companied with Christ in the flesh, of Paul and Peter aiid John and all the disciples. A n d then on through the ages' of the Church, of Chrysostora and Augustine, and Luther and Calvin, and Knox. Suppose all these were gathered in one vast company, and together with them all who have served God in any place at any time. T o w h o m do you suppose they would all bear witness ? T o w h o m would they ascribe the glory and the power? W h y , with one hand they would all point to Jesus Christ, and with one voice they would all exclaim in jubilant chorus, "Of His fulness have all w e received." A n d then methinks from the excellent glory

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would come a response. That glory would echo back the strain, "Of His fulness have all we, too, received." That is the testim o n y of the Churchrailitantand of the Church triuraphant. Yea, it is the testim o n y of all who in every place and at every time have put their trust under the shadow of His wings. But just one thought moreall the saints receive, it is true, but each one must receive for hiraself. A n d ere he can do this, he must receive Jesus Christ for himself. H e raust receive Christ as his Saviour, and then he will receive of His fulness, even grace for grace. His cup will overflow with good things. Conclusion. Since w e have received all these wonderful and glorious blessings from the fulness .of Christ, what should be our attitude toward that Great Giver, our Gracious Benefactor? It is manifest. W e should love H i m for His priceless benefits; w e should give thanks for His loving kindness; w e should adore Hira for His great goodness to us. A n d furthermore, w e should endeavor to raake every return possible for all benefits. "If ye love Me," H e has said, "keep M y commandments." That is the manner in which one can make retum unto Hira by doing His will, by following His example, and by striving to live Christlike lives. A n d notice, too, that it is by doing so that w e can derive more and more of these graces. The nearer w e dra\T unto Hira, the higher our attainraents in the Christian life, the raore shall w e receive of His fulness, even grace for grace. A n d one thing more, w e should seek to lead others to Christ to receive of this wondrous fulriess. W e can exercise the grace which H e has given us by living a life of service for H i m .

G. W. Benn.
Dallas, Texas.

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Monographs. others, sooner or later, wither and die. Pilgrim. KEEPING THE SABBATH FREE. Keep your Sabbaths free for eamest reading. Burn up the Sabbath newspaper. It is an indefensible, intolerable curse. It exists simply and solely to swell the income of wealthy and greedy newspaper proprietors. A Christian ought to be ashamed to have it in his house. Is not a m a n sufficiently secularized by six days' contact with the world, without dipping his raind on Sabbath m o m i n g once more into the rauddy stream in which he has dipped himself on the preceding six days? W h a t can be expected of a Christian in public worship who comes to church 'with a newspaper stuffed into his raind? H e is cold as a clod to the touch of the preachers, and lowers the spiritual temperature of the entire congregation. William E. Gladstone was an ideal worshipper in God's house. H e concentrated all his great powers upon the sermon. H e was interested because he was informed. H e was informed because throughout life he had m a d e diligent use of his Sabbaths. H e declared in old age that he would not have lived so long had he not always kept his Sabbaths quite apart from his political life. It was pure refreshment to him to turn to holier things on that day. It enabled him to learn more of religious subjects than perhaps any other layraan of our century. It gave him that firra and splendid ground which ennobled and hallowed all his actions. "Go thou and do likewise."Charles E . Jefferson, D.D.

T H E " E S S E N T I A L " IN P R E A C H I N G . "Judge, w h y don't you go to church any longer?" frankly asked a prominent minister of an eminent judge who, he had heard, seldom, if ever, attended the church he had long been associated with. "I will tell you," said the judge, who, by the way, was not a professing Christian. " M y minister tells us that m a n is not naturally sinful; that w e are falling up, and not down, and coraing out right in the end; and that really there is nothing to be saved from, and no one to save us; that Jesus Christ was simply a good m a n w h o m it would be well to imitate. "If this is so, it doesn't seem to m e worth while to go to the trouble of going to church or the expense of keeping it u p ; so I let those who like that sort of a rosewater lecture pay for it." The judge was right, unless the minister was wrong. There is not enough vitality in such a religion to keep it sweet. A t the basis of all religion lies the needs of m a n , the deep soul-needs that can be satisfied only by a Divine Saviour. Even heathen religions,- the worst of them, recognize this need, and are feeling after such a Saviour if haply they m a y find H i m . The religion of Bethleh e m and Calvary has found Hira, and with love and pity offers H i m to all the world. 'Whatever w e leave out of our Creed, if we are Christians, w e cannot leave out the thought of man's need as a sinner and Christ's sufficiency as a Saviour. Around these central root beliefs cluster a multitude of fruit-bearing faiths; but, when they are cut dway, all the

A wise m a n once said, "Every day is a little life." Moses asked to be taught to number, not his years, but his days. If the days are all right, the years will be full of success and joy.Exchange.

Editorial Notes.

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EDITORIAL
The names of all subscribers for Olive Trees w h o are not credited to December, 1909, are removed from the mailing list, except those of ministers w h o are willing to co-operate with us by commending the paper to the people under their pastoral care and using their influence to help on the cause of missions. But, when all arrears have been paid, w e shall be more than glad to place their names on the roll again, as it is our desire that every one should have an opportunity to read the letters from the fields. The other day w e heard of a w o m a n who, when she has read her Olive Trees, passes it on to another, and that friend, having read it, mails it to a third person, and thus good missionary work is being done. Brethren in the ministry, w h o have contributed papers on missionary topics, have unconsciously rendered us excellent service. Theirs is true co-operation. A friend, writing frora Michigan, said: "I did not intend to renew for Olive Trees, but after reading 'Soul Winning' in the January number, I have determined to send you a dollar for 1910." Another, w h o has been very active in securing subscribers, wrote from Kansas: "That sermon in February number on 'Missions in Turkey' is worth dollars." A n d w e are sure no one, wishing to know his duty to foreign missions, will fail to be helped by the opening article in this issue. W e solicit from others assistance on this line. The temporary retirement of Rev. and Mrs. W . .M. Robb froraraissionarywork in China, owing to the illness of Mrs. Robb, should call forth the earnest prayers of the Church. W e do not venture to in-

NOTES.

terpret the providences of the Mediator, but w e know there is a need-be for the afflictions that so frequently corae upon the Church both in its individual and collective raerabership. Perhaps w e are too m u c h inclined to rely for the success of our missionary operations upon m e n w h o are distinguished by special talents and attainraents, rather than upon the Spirit of God. Attention is called to the official letter frora the Mission at Tak Hing Chau and the certificate of the physicians, published in this issue of Olive Trees. A t a meeting of the Board of Foreign Missions, held in N e w York, Feb. 21, 1910, the following minute was placed on its Records: " W a hereby express our deep sympathy with Rev. W . M . Robb and his wife in the serious illness that has befallen her, requiring their return h o m e ; and likewise with our Mission in China in what w e hope will be only a temporary suspension of the services of these devoted missionaries. W e trust and pray that this affliction, through the kindness of our Lord, will be speedily removed, and that these young servants of Jesus m a y ere long be able to return to their work. "The Board also recognizes the hand of God in this distress and other similar cases, and pray that H e will teach us the lesson H e would have us learn." At the same raeeting of the Board important action was taken with a view to increasing the efficiency of our foreign raissionary work. S o m e months ago a circular letter with a list of queries was sent to all our representatives in the sev-

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Editorial Notes. sponsible. T h e article, "Onward in Our Missions," published in this number of Olive Trees, is the closing paragraphs of this exceptionallyfinereport. Olive Trees acknowledges having received and passed on to Treasurer Walter T. Miller the following contributions to the Foreign Missions: $40, to be equally divided between Syria and China, from " A M e m b e r of Geneva Congregation," Beaver Falls, Pa.; $68.20 for some department of the work in Syria, from the Christian Endeavor Society of Hopkinton Congregation, Iowa; $25 for young woraan's fund frora " T w o Friends of Missions" in N e w York; $14.52 for work in Suadia frora "Three Friends" in Belfast, Ireland; $4.84 for any missionary purpose, frora " A Friend" in Rathfriland, Ireland; and $12 frora Mrs. M . B. Wright, Waukesha, Wis., $10 for foreign missions, and $2 for American Bible Society.

eral flelds; and, replies having been retumed containing the personal views of each missionary, a coramittee, consisting of Rev. J. C. McFeeters, D.D., S. A. S. Metheny, M.D., and Mr. William G. Carson, presented "a summary of the information received in regard to existing conditions and present requirements, submitting certain recoramendatio-ns," which were adopted after careful consideration, and the substance of which will be embodied in the Annual Report to Synod. The preparation of their report necessarily involved an immense amount of toil and self-denial, and the Board hopes that the labors of the brethren, w h o had the matter in charge, will result, when laid before the churches, in awakening them to a deeper sense of responsibility to fumish m e n and raoney for the extension of our missionary work till the gospel shall reach the 1,800,000 souls for whose evangelization w e have made ourselves re-

T o engage in the performance of horae duties faultlessly, without petulance, without haste, without frettingto repress the sarcastic and unkind word, to be calra in the hot raoraent of anger, to do without weariness, and to suffer without murmuring, to be charitable in judgment and traraple out of the heart the Phariseespirit, deeming life at once too short and too costly for quarrels and for pride; to maintain a chivalrous honor in all business relations; to hold back from the temptations of doubtful or hasty gain; to wear "the white flower," not "of a blameless life" only, but of a life cleansed from its earthliness and m a d e pure by the Holy Spirit; to walk about the world and before m e n with a calm heartfilledwith love; to shed abroad the "sweet savor of Christ," and allure m e n to the heaven to whieh they k n o w you to be travelingthese are but many-sided exhibitions of the one holy character, m a n y facets of the o m jewel of fidelity by which you are to be "approved" of your Father which is in heaven.Punchon. 'What America needs more than railway extension, and Western irrigation, and a low tariff, and a bigger wheat crop, and a raerchant marine, and a new navy, is a revival of piety, the kind father -and mother used to havepiety that counted it good business to stop for daily faraily prayer before breakfast, right in the middle of harvest; that quitfieldwork a half hour early Thursday night so as to get the chores done and go to prayer raeeting. That's what w e need n o w to clean this country offilth,of graft and of greed, petty and big, of worship of flne houses and big lands, and high office and grand social functions.Wall Street Journal.

A Monthly Journal devoted to Missionary W o r k in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. No. APRIL, 1910. 4.

Q U E S T I O N S

O F

T H E

H O U R .

INTERCESSION FOR THE MISSIONS.

REV. J. C. m'fEETERS, PHILADELPHIA, PA. The Board of Foreign Missions pleads, in the n a m e of the Lord Jesus Christ, for more prayer on behalf of the missions. W e deeply feel our responsibility in relation to those w h o are waiting for the gospel at our hands. With attention fixed on the multitudes that are perishing within the bounds of our o w n mission fields and listening-to the wail of hundreds of thousands descending into a hopeless grave, w e bend under the crushing burden, and beg the Church to help us by keeping this cause continually before God at the throne of grace. "Let supplications, prayers, intercessions'and giving of thanks be niade for all m e n " (I Tira. 2, 1). Intercession is the pressing need of the hour, the crucial necessity of missions; intercession with God, W h o is full .of corapassion; intercession in the narae of Jesus, W h o gave His life for the "other sheep" also; intercession in the power of the Holy Spirit, W h o inspires petitions that will not be denied. Such intercession on behalf of those w h o sit in darkness and have no light, is a service appointed of God, and cannot be too highly esteeraed. W e urge upon the Church this duty as of utmost importance. ''Ask m e of things to come conceming m y sons, and conceming the work of m y hands, comraand ye me." (Is. 45, n . )

the strength of the church. In intercession the Church finds her real strength, thereby becoming allied with God and all the forces of heaven. Herein all the people of God can engage and do effective service. Here lies the path that leads to success in missions, and here the world finds its only hope.' "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in M y n a m e ; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy m a y be full" (Jno. 16, 24). Intercession will cause the hidden seed to become waving harvests and the brazen sky to form clouds and shower down blessings upon God's weary heritage. Elijah was a m a n subject to like passions as w e are, and he prayed, "and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth fruit" (Jas. 5, 17). PREGNANT WITH MEANINO. Intercession means much. T h e heart beats with the strength of a consecrated life, ascends to God in theflaraesof its o w n love, and vibrates with corapassioii for those w h o m it presents before God for salvation. Intercession raeans heartiness with God in His great purpose bf saving souls; co-operation with Jesus Christ and His workers on theraissionfleld,and sympathy with the sin-sick, death-smitten multitudes, upon whose path the sun of righteousness has not yet risen. "Brethren, m y heart's desire and prayer to G o d is that Israel might be saved."

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Questions of the Hour. request. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in M y name. Pie will give it you" (Jno.-16, 23). In the presence of God the intercessor can plead the blood of Jesus shed on the cross; the coraraission to preach the gospel to every creature; the promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh; the bequgst of all the nations by the Father to the Son; the prediction that at the narae of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess; and the vision of the whole earth basking in the royal glory and loving kindness of Christ. To the presentation of such facts, and these reinforced by others innumerable and of equal value, God listens and yields. To the prayer arising frora the heart and prevailing i f U the strength of such considerations, God responds, turning the prayer into the" wonders of redeeraing love, "And it shall corae to pass that before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear" (Is. 64, 2 4 ) . AN URGENT APPEAL. Our appeal to the Church for intercession on behalf of the raissions is urgent. W e confidently expect a response that will shake heaven and earth. T h e people are earnestly requested to arise in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in a simultaneous effort to bring our missions before God in prayer with such faith, power, persistence and passionate interest that H e will be pleased to send the times of refreshing and give us the joy of a great harvest. W e trust the people will yield themselves to the Holy Spirit, to'receive a Pentecostal baptism which will cause them, with the vehemence of desire, and the faith that takes no denial, to cry out, "Awake, awake! put on strength 0 arm of the Lord; Awake, as in the ancient days in the generations of old" (Is. 51, 9 ) . Will notrainisters,elders, deacons and members with renewed interest and con-

T h e intercessor represents those for whora prayer is raade. T h e Father of Spirits sees all that is withinraan'sheart. A n d as H e looks therein, 0 what a world of hope and fear, of faith and action, of people and destinies, lies before the oraniscient eyes! There G o d sees impersonated those for w h o m the prayers, uttered and unutterable, besiege heaven. The cry of that heart for raercy is the cry of ten thousand souls in distress; the sob is the choking grief that heaves in innuraerable bosoms; the hunger and thirst for God and salvation consuming the suppliant brings into the presence of Jesus vast communities perishing for lack of the bread and water of life. T h e intercessor is a manifold person; his personality israultiplied;his power with God is beyond calculation. H o w iraportant the position! h o w valuable the service of intercession! T h e failure to appreciate this right and to exercise this power is to God Himself an astonishment. " A n d I saw that there was no m a n , and I wondered that there was no intercessor" (Is. 59, 16). STRONG ARGUMENTS. The faithful intercessor coraes into the presence of God with invincible arguments that lift his soul into the highest heavens, and give him confidence and countenance, in the brightness of the glory of God. With holy boldness, yet in humility, he is able to set an array of facts before God, to which almighty power yields and in which infinite love delights. H o w amazing the privilege, h o w dreadful the position, h o w solemn the service, how invincible the power of the intercessor! H o w Christlike the attitude and actions! H o w awful the acceptance of such responsibility! H o w tenfold more awful the refusal! 'Who can decline the privilege when the door is open and a voice within says, Corae unto M e and m a k e thy

Questions of the Hour. secration fake hold upon intercession with God, so important and so powerful in mission work? Will w e not, throughout the entire Church, endeavor to m a k e our public ministrations, prayer meetings. Sabbath schools, family worship and secret prayers glow with the fervor of intercession? Will not w e with holy courage, endeavor to take the K i n g d o m by violence, rhe warrantable violence of love, the love that."hath a vehement fiame"? " Y e that raake mention of the Lord, keep not silence and give H i m no rest till H e establish and till H e raake Jerusalem a praise in the earth" (Is. 62, 6 ) . Let intercession be m a d e for our missions, that they m a y become fruitful vines, overspreading the valleys and raountains with their shade; that the harvest so broad and so white raay be raore rapidly garnered; that the W o r d of God m a y fall upon good and honest hearts, and bring forth an hundred-fold; that converts, under the power of the Holy Spirit, m a y spring up like willows by the watercourses; that the native Christians m a y become the salt of the earth, the light of the world, the heralds of Jesus and the witnesses of God,fillingtheir o w n homes with joy and praise, and building up churches and communities in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. W e ought to ask great things from God for our missions. "For God is able to do exceeding abundantly, above all that w e can ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Eph. 3, 30). MADE POR THE W O R K AND ALL CONNECTED WITH IT. Let intercession be m a d e also for the inissionaries. T h e work of salvation is great, but h u m a n effort is weak; m a n is utterly insufficient. T h e missionary has his part in saving soulsan important and essential part; God has so ordained. But unless God carries forward the work.

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"failure" will be written on every service. N o conversion, regeneration, transformation or glorification of soul, without God. This God of salvation listens for the voice ^f intercession, then comes with all the forces of His K i n g d o m to give success to the work. Pray, therefore, for the missionaries, as they minister in the Church, the school, the hospital, and the horae, that the work raay be greatly and speedily enlarged. Pray that they be strong, hopeful, resourceful and unconquerable, serving the Lord with diligence, unity of spirit and widening circles of progress, being clothed with salvation and radiating in their lives the gospel of Jesus Christ. Moreover, let intercession be m a d e for the re-enforcement of the missionaries. They grow weary, become aged, finish their work and are called to other and greater services. Their places must be filled. Besides, the mission work grows, new doors open, new obligations arise, and additional missionaries are needed. Let prayer be m a d e for the self-surrender and dedication of the worthiest sons and daughters of our Covenanted Zion, that our Lord Jesus m a y have a willing people according to the necessities of every field. Pray that the new recruits be healthy, capable, resolute, self-sacrificing, mighty in the faith, established in the truth, alive to God and the responsibilities of the work, and resolved to push it in the power of the Holy Spirit to the utmost limit. . Also, let intercession be m a d e for the Church at home. W e need a baptism of the Holy Spirit and of fire. 0 that it would descend upon all, creating missionary zeal in our homes, prayer meetings, Sabbath schools, churches, college and seminary 1 T h e n would w e see the wonderful works of God. Then would whole burnt offerings be laid upon His altar. Then would the people offer 'willingly

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Questions of the Hour. run before the chariot of our King as H e comes to conquer the world with His gospel of salvation. T h e n shall w e hear tbe "abundance of rain." W e earnestly plead with the Church to turn to God, without delay, with a new prayer for ourraissions,a prayer new in spirit, power, compass and hopefulness; a prayer aflame with desire, wide in its range, and great in expectation; a prayer following closely upon God in His high thoughts and vast purposes of salvation; a prayer for the awakening of activities and the operation of forces on our mission fields, on a scale transcending the~ most sanguine visions of former days. Then will Gbd have pleasure in His Church. Then will Jesus see the travail of His soul, and be satisfied. Will w e not, as a Church, arise and endeavor to walk in His footsteps, grasp His thoughts of mercy and do His redeeming work in the might and majesty of His true representatives on earth? If we be willing and obedient, then raay we expect to see with our o'wn eyes His thoughts t u m into realizations at our intercession, and His ways lead to greatest success in the mission fields. "Then, instead of the thom, shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier, shall come up the myrtle tree." Then shall the seed sown "bring forth, thirty^ sixty, an hundredfold." "Then shall the light of the m o o n be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun be sevenfold, as the light of seven days." "Then shall a little one become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation," for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. "And the n a m e of that city from that day shall be, 'The Lord Is There.'"

unto God, .presenting Hira with talents, possessions,, services and theinselves. Let intercession be m a d e on broad areas, with a wide view of the Kingdom, the power, the glory, the promises, and th'e coming of .our Lord Jesus Christ. Let the,prayer arise from hearts sick with the present languor and slow movements of tl^e Church^hearts burdened and breaJjing with desire for new manifestations of God, and His power in the redemption of the world; hea.rts that will not rest till rivers break forth in the wilderness andfioodsin the desert; hearts that pierce the sky with tlie cry, " 0 that Thou wouldst rend the heavens, that Thou wouldst eome down, that the mountains raight fiow at T h y presence!" Then would we assuredly hear a voice from the throne saying, "Behold, I come quickly." A PROPHECY OF POWER AND SUCCESS. Intercession has preceded every great deraonstration of power and glory in the progress of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus. Intercession prepared the Lord's way for the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, for their retum frora Babylon, for the coraing of Jesus in theflesh,and for the Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Prophet on Carrael bowed his head between his knees seven times, then the cloud appeared, the heavens gave rain, and the earth put on her robe of green and gold. T h e intercessor is a divinely appointed forerunner of the Lord, in the extraordinaryraanifestationsof his presence and power. T h e forerunnerfillsan office most important and honorable. W h o would decline when called thereto ? W h o would refuse to serve the Lord, where both grace and glory so richly abound? Let us gird ourselves, like Elijah, and

W h e n the outlook is not good try the uplook.Anon. Enlarge ray heart so that I m a y have room for m y brother.Joweii.

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N E W S

OF

T H E

CHURCHES.

A B R O A D .
Syria, Latakia.Dr. J. M . Balph writes as follows, Feb. 28, 1910: .During the month that is n o w closing the work in the various departments of the Mission has been carried on uninterruptedly. T h e Sabbath services have been well attended. M r . McFarland, although necessarily giving rauch of his tirae to the study of the language, has been able to preach almost every Sabbath, and has m a d e rapid progress in the use of the languagei M r . Edgar has also preached twice here recently, and is also rapidly overcoming the difficulties of a new language. About the first of the month M r . McFarland and M r . Edgar m a d e a trip to Gunamia and Inkzik, and reported the schools in those places as doing well. The girls' school that was opened in Gunamia about thefirstof Noveraber is well attended, and the pupils getting on favorably. Within the past two months two new schools have been opened in Fellaheen villages on the plain, some two or three hours frora Latakia; one at Ain Lebn, and the other at Khabouria. This makes in all five n e w schools opened since the beginning of the school year. N o action has yet been taken by the new government that would indicate what stand they are going to take in regard to foreign schools among the Fellaheen; however, the local governraent does not at present seem to be hostile to such schools. About the usual amount of medical work is being done, although w e have been remarkably free from any epidemics during recent months. The clinics are always well attended,, and w e ha\'e had about the usual nuniber of patients i r i the hospital. Our aged evangelist, Ishoc Shania, w h o was sick.in the hospital for over a month, has fully recovered, and is again able to preach. Miss Wylie expects to leave us for a few months of rest in the home land, about the last of March. Asia Minor, Mersina.In a personal letter dated Feb. 10, 1910, Rev. Robert E . Willson says, among other things: The work goes on about as usual. This winter again w e have been having a service in English on theflrstSabbath of each month. Mr. Dodds has taken every other one, and I have been trying to give all ray energjr to the study of Arabic. Even so, w e are wondering h o w we will manage when Brother Dodds leaves. W e will be left "fatherless" and "motherless" by the departure of the family, but we do not grudge them a well-earned rest. Last week w e enjoyed a short visit from Mrs. Kennedy, of Alexandretta. She tells of m u c h poverty and distress in that region, and also m u c h lawlessness. There are m a n y rumors and some evidence of unrest in all the country. W e hear reports of fighting in Bulgaria. Dr. Badeer, of Mersina, w h o has been in Constantinople trying to get a permit to practice medicine, reports that there is a strong undercurrent of dissatisfaction with the new governraent, and a growing demand for a stricter observance of the "Holy Law." It would be very discouraging did w e not believe that our Lord is over all and that finally His Kingdom shall prevail in the world.

N e w s of the Churches. China, Tak Hind C h a u . T h e following account of the work, dated Feb. 1, 1910, is from Mrs. J. M . Wright: As the schools have just closed for midwinter holidays, it m a y be of interest to the readers of Olive Trees to know of the closing exercises. The girls and v.'omen who have been in school the last thre.era.onths,raeton Friday afternoon i l l the women's building and rendered the following prograra: Singing of the fourth Psalm by all present, and prayer by Rev. W . il. Robb. Then ilr*. Leung called her classes, which recited selections* frora four character classics, gospel by Mark, Old Testament Bible stories, story of Asia, geography. Ten Commandments, and "Pilgrim's Progress." Xext, Mrs. W . M . Robb, who has had char.ge of the memory work in the -Epistles, called upon the girls to rise and repeat First John, first chapter, which the}' did in concert. Then the w o m e n reviewed some Old Testajnent work frora Joshua to First Kings. Chung Oi Ki, who is one of the older .airls in school, has been teaching arithmetic to tlie beginners, and gave an exhibition of what her class can do. Mr. Tsee, a first degree graduate, then reviewed the school in Chinese character writing and also gave an arithmetic drill. Mrs. A. I. Robb next assigned arithraetic work to the women. She has also taught Romanized writing to the girls. Chu H o n Shang, who is better known at h o m e as A Sam, gave a test on "The Life of Christ." The class traced out on the wall m a p where Christ was baptized. His first rairacles. His transfiguration, and m a n y other things. Next Mrs. j\Iitchell marched the girls to the front, where they first sang a raotion song, rauch to their own and everyone's enjoyment, then gave a short physical drill and sang a N e w Year's song, after which they marched to their seats and read selections from "Thanksgiving Ann," a tract written in Roraanization that Mrs. Mitchell has been teaching. After singing part of the seventysecond Psalra and repeating in concert the Lord's Prayer, and adjournraent, the visitors were invited up front to inspect quilt piecing and other sewing that had lieen done in school under the supervision of one of the older pupils. Sorae of the pupils left for h o m e the same day, sorae the next, and the latest ilonday morning, when those from the Chung village started for their thirtymile walk over the' mountains south before the break of day. Rev. A. I. Robb and Rev. W . M . Robb, along with two student preachers and others of the Chung Clan, are making the trip, hoping to get back in time to attend or send others to a wedding. One of Mr. Kerapf's boys is the bridegroom. The nuptials are to be celebrated on Thursday next, some fifteen miles to the northwest. Rev. J. K. Robb has been invited to perform the ceremony, and several others of our number are planning to attend the marriage feast. Rev. A. I. Robb closed his serainary work on Friday last, and will open ere long with more students. H e also expects to take on some of the class work in the boys' school when Rev. Kerapf goes home on his well-earned furlough. Mr. K e m p f s school closed with a'feast on Saturday. H e has such a nice lot of boys, and they, as well as he, have done hard work and have done it well. Rev. and Mrs. A'V. M . Robb are planning soon to sail for Vancouver. W e are all soi'i}' to see them go, and only hope it m a y be that they will come back again strong and well. The doctors of the Mission are busy

N e w s of the Churches. with woi'k both in and out of the hospital. There have been several very interesting operations of late that are a satisfaction to. others as well as the patient. Dr. Jean McBurney makes regular country trips and Dr. Wright accompanies her when he can lea.ve other work. Dr. Scott has the dispensary work in the hospital, which, with her study, makes her one of our busiest workers. iliss Dean has given m u c h appreciated help in some of the drills in schopl, and is planning to take on regular class- work after vacation. Mrs. A. I. Robb will have charge of the girls' school, and is already mapping out her course of study. Rev. J. K. Robb and Rev. Mitchell spend a day or two each week in D o Sing buying brick and overseeing the building work going on there. Some several weeks ago. Dr. Mary Niles, of the American Presbyterian Mission in Canton, asked to send one of her blind girls to us while the school building is being enlarged. T h e girl came, and she is quite a marvel to the natives here. They arefilledwith wonder that she can read, and, as they say, read without a mistake. Since coming up she-has raade a copy of the Chinese Psalm selections from dictation, and n o w sings out. with others in services. She knits and sews, and it m a y be the beginning of a school here for blind girls. Already, one poor little creature w h o had been driven away from h o m e is here willing to be taught. The children of the Mission are all well and hearty, and could keep their mothers busy were there nothing else to be done. T h e two older boys have daily lessons at h o m e and in school. Chinese N e w Year's day is in ten days more. Already the holiday spirit is in the air, and our neighbors over the wall are sweeping their houses and yards to welcome the N e w Year.

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The following letter frora Miss Jennie Dean, dated Feb. 21, 1910, contains items of special interest: According to our schedule, this is ray month for a letter to Olive Trees. The news will have reached you ere this of the added sorrow that has come to us in the serious illness of Mrs. Wright. W o r d from the doctor to-day reports some iraproveraent, and for this we rejoice, though we know the life still hangs in the balance. Dr. Jean M c B u m e y , who tonight is going down to H o n g K o n g to meet her sister, arriving Feb. 25, is taking little Paul with her, and you can well imagine the joy it will bring to the parents' hearts to see hira after the two weeks' separation. ' These are tiraes when China seems far away. Would that you could receive this news earlier and unite with us and the native Christians in special prayer at this time. The Chinese Christians teach us lessons in faith, for they confidently believe that the Heavenly Father will raise up Mrs. Wright to continue the Lord's work here, and that H e will completely restore Mrg. W . M . Robb, that they m a y return to their field of labor in China. -We know not the purpose of God in these providences, but this we know, they are wise, and sent in love, and w e pray for grace to submit to His will. It was very hard indeed to have M r . and Mrs. Robb leave the Mission and the work, which is their very life and- for which they are so specially well equipped. W e know the sore disappointraent at their hearts, but in spite of this, their subraission was coraplete, revealing further evidence of strong Christian character. W e cannot but believe there is even greater ser-vice in the future for them. They had greatly endeared themselves to the Chinese, on w h o m they had wide infiuence.

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N e w s of the Churches. sented, and w e enjoyed their visit very much. L o n g tramps were indulged i n one afternoon being spent in clirabing H e u n g Shaan, the mountain in whose shadow T a k Hing lies. O n retuming, we were in tirae to witness the evening idol worship in the large Buddhist temple at the foot of the mountain. Numbers of immense, hideous-looking idols are in this temple, and as a tray of cooked food and wine was presented to the gods, a Buddhist priest with shaven head and fiowing robes bowed to the ground three times; then followed in quick succession the loud clanging of gongs and noise offirecrackers, which was supposed to arouse the gods to the homage being paid them. It was pitiful, to say the least, to see tl^is groping of the h u m a n soul, this need of raan's spiritual nature being met with such emptiness. This is but a glimpse of the dense darkness and superstition surrounding these people, w h o are perishing without knowing of the Living and True God. There has been trouble in Canton lately between the soldiers and policemen. The affair started over a trivial thing, but resulted in' battles, in which several hundred m e n were killed. Over a thousand rebels have been beheaded. Peace is gradually being restored. The schools re-open Feb. 28, with yery bright prospects, as .there are several new pupils being enrolled. A t the close of the school year Mrs. Wright gave over the management of the girls' school to Mrs. A. I. Robb, thus giving her needed relief. Our long spell of delightful winterweather has come to an end, and the chilly rainy season has set in in earnest.

One sweet little w o m a n w h o attended Mrs. Robb's class of inquirers, broke into tears the day before they went, saying that she could not spare Mrs. Robb, w h o was able to make the gospel truth so plain. One of our teachers on w h o m M r . Robb has had not a little influence, but w h o has not yet come to the point of a public confession, desired to leave his old associations here and go with them to D o Sing and be baptized there. It is alraost irapossible for us to realize the barriers in the way of scholars accepting the religion of Jesus Christ. Still, w e know that the power that has been raanifested in other lives can break down these sarae barriers and yet bring our teachers to publicly confess Christ. Last evening one of the newly elected deacons, with another m a n , came from H a Long, a village between M a Hui and Sha Pong, to ask Rev. A. I. Robb to go to their village and conduct the funeral service of a certain Christian's mother, w h o died recently. This Christian i ' s an only son, and his relatives wanted him to spend a large amount of money, call in the Buddhist priests, and have the regulation heathen burial cereraonies of beating brass gongs, etc. But the son thought this not becoming a Christian, yet he did not want his mother buried without any service. So, netwithstanding the rain, M r . Robb started out this m o m i n g on the eighteen-mile tramp. There are several people in that vicinity who are applicants for baptism, w h o will be glad to hear the message. The Chinese N e w Year, with its roar of fire crackers and display of red paper, has come and gone. During the vacation a. party of young people from Canton visited us. Several missions were repre-

Let rae always remember, that it is not the aniount of religious knowledge that I have, but the araount that I use, that determines m y religious position and character.. Maclaren.

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A X

H O M I
in each month: one to transact business and the other for work. The average attendance has been about seventeen per day. T h e largest attendance was at the November meeting, when there were thirty-one merabers present; the smallest attendance was at the October meeting, when there were- nine members present. W e find the attendance better when the all-day meetings are held. W e lost seven members during the year and gained two.. In the forepart of the year there was a box of dresses for the school girls m a d e and sent to the Indian Mission, and in the latter part of the year a box of new and second-hand clothing was sent to the Southem Mission. W e also worked at quilts, comforters and carpet rags. The Mission book, "The Uplift of China," was studied to some extent during the year. Our treasury has been supplied by dues and donations as heretofore, and the effort has been to distribute this where most needed. It is with gratitude that we acknowledge God's goodness and mercy throughout the past year. Mrs. A n n i e Wilson, Pres., Margaret Atchison-, Sec. , Receipts. A m o u n t collected for the year 1909 by dues, donations and proceeds of sales $205.87 Value of box sent to Southern Mission 60.00

Iowa, Hopkinton.The annual meeting of the L. M . Society was held Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 9, in the church. T h e attendance was very good and the interest manifested in missions most excellent. The reports of the secretary and treasurer were very encouraging. During the year $106.88 have been raised in cash, barrels of fruit and clothing have been sent off valued at about another $100, etc. Papers were read by Mrs. A. L. Barker, "The Protection of Christian Civilization, the Evangelization of the World"; Mrs. U. M . Wallace, "The Over-syhelming Needs of the World and Our Ability to Supply the Needa," and Mrs. T. J. Joseph, "Loyalty to Our Profession Demands that W e Preach Christ." After these Mrs. Mary E . Doolittle, Professor in Lenox College, gave an address, wherein attention was directed to the consecration of the missionaries and the duty of Christians- at h o m e to manifest similar consecration. Illustrations were drawn frora the experiences of the missionaries at Paoting Fu, China, during the Boxer uprising, and the large spiritual life that has since come to the work. Finally, the pastor directed attention to theraostiraportant character of this work of raissions. All else is secondary to it. The "Lo I a m with you" is conditioned on "Go ye." Mrs. S. T. Foster, President of the Society, presided.

Kansas, Olathe.The L. M. Society of Olathe Congregation sends the following report for 1909; W e have come to the time of year when Total $265.87 Disbursements. it is well to review our work. There have Jewish Mission $10.00 been eight all-day meetings held during The Aged People's H o m e , Alle- the year. In July, August and'September gheny, P a 30.00 there. \yere two afternoon raeetings held

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N e w s of the Churches. 15.00 12.50 20.00 10.00 10.00 15.00 15.00 5.00 5.00 15.00 14.57 10.00 60.00 Miller on Jan. 29, 1909, they put on record their appreciation of her service in the Society, leam that youth is no barrier to death and the need of a strong arm to lean on at such a time, and commend the bereaved ones to the care of the Great' Shepherd of Israel.

American Bible Society Pledge money to Syrian Mission. Boys' School in China Contingent fund of congregation. Indian Mission Domestic Mission Syrian Mission T o assist people in Detroit, Mich. T o Rev. Blair for work in China. Contingent fund of congregation. Miscellaneous expenses Value of box sent to Indian Mis'n Value,of box sent to S. Mission..

Pennsylvania, Parnassus.The R> P. Ladies' Missionary Society has met with the loss of one of its members by death, Mrs. Caroline McHaffy. Although a member for only a short time, w e had come to. appreciate her presence with us, and were always sure of hearing someTotal $247.07 thing bright and cheery from ber, and Balance on hand 18.80 we all felt glad that she had become one of our number. W e knew her to be loyal, Total- $265.87 liberal and loving in the home and in the ilRS. J. M . Milligan, Treas. congregation, and knew she would be the same in the Ladies' Missionarj^ Society. Kansas, Hebron.^The L. M. Society of Hebron Congregation, in reporting the W e extend our sympathy to the bereaved family, and unite with them in the feeldeath of Mrs. Jane Stewa.rt, who passed away at Russell, Kans., June 26, 1909, ing of assurance, that our loss is her great' gain. aged seventy-six years, bear testimony to Mrs. a. B. Copeland, her Christian character, strong faith in Mrs. M. G. Euwer, the Saviour and her interest in mission Committee. work. In reiiorting the death of Mrs. Rose Chalmers' great phrase, "the expulsive power of a new affection," was. it is said, suggested to him by an incident whicii happened during his ministry at Kilmany. H was driving out on some pastoral errand, and, as the pony trotted briskly along, the driver suddenly drew his whip and gave it a savage cut. Chalmers remonstrated. "You see that white gate-post?" said the driver; ''he has a habit of shying at it, and so, whenever he gets near it, I always give him a cut of the whip, just that he may have something else to think about." A n d this is the way to banish evil thoughts; fill your raind with noble affections, and you will have something else, something better, to thinlc about. A n d this is the philosoplty of Sanctification. It is, if I m a y put it so, a process of displaceraent and replaceraent. Y o u see illustrations of it on every side. A roora is purified by opening tbe window and letting the fresh air rush in and drive the foul air out. A stagnant'pool is purified by turning a stream into it, and letting the living waters pour through it.The British Weekly. The mark of a saint is not perfection, but consecration. A saint is not a m a n without faults, but a m a n who has given himself without reserve to G o d . B . F. Westcott.

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M O N O G R A P H S .

OLD 39rH STREET CHURCH. His believing people, including the present ]5o^'sessioii of eternal life, coraplete deli\'era.nce from condemnation, and an experience of the keeping power of G o d ; and the two-fold security of believers the fact that they are the property of Christ, a precious gift of the Father, and the personal dignity of H i m on W h o m th'ey rely for full salvation. (John 10, 28-30.) The next Sabbatii found the congrega-

AN O L D CHURCH GONE. The old. church frora whose pulpit the writer has preached a full gospel for nearly thirty-five years is n o w dismantled. T h e elosing service in the building was the observance of the Lord's Supper on Sabbath, Feb. 20, 1910, "a day never to be forgotten." The subject of the action sermon was the blessedness of the relationship, that exists between Christ and

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Monographs. Christ.'-" This church is, Presbyterian, and we were the only Americans present. W h e n w e went 'ashore, we were alone, and neither of us could speak a word of Filipino, and but few words of Spanish. W e had been told we would have no trouble in finding people who could speak English, but we had a long search. W e then reasoned it out that the sehools were teaching English; therefore the school boys were the ones to approach. This was the solution of the problem, and w e had no raore trouble. W e found a b o y a little gentleraan he w a s w h o was not only able to speak English fairly well, but seemed glad to act as guide, and piloted us to our desired haven. W h e n offered a coin at the door of the chureh to pay him for his trouble, he declined most politely, butfirraly,and behaved more like a personal friend. W h e n he found he had reached the place, he said it was yet an hour until the church would be opened, but that if we wished, he would accompany us to the Mary J. Johnston Hospital, where we could be with Americans until time for service. It was so good to be with our o-wn kind again. O n the way over the lad had inquired where we hailed frora and where we were going. W h e n he found we were bound for India and China he said, "Are you missionaries?" 'When he learned we were, he said, "I a m so glad.'' It was good to hear. W e lay in port until AVednesday morning, so had two days for sight-seeing. A young lady, who is a nurse in the San Lazaro Hospital, and w h o came over on the stearaer with m y sister, received us gladly, and had us to tiffin, and again to dinner. She also hired a two-horse vehicle called a Victoria and drove us round all afternoon. W e ealled at the Civil Hospital, and were able to persuade Miss M c C , Superintendent of that institution, to accompany us on our rounds. She is

tion in the home of Fourth N e w York Church, through whose Christian hospitality it has a shelter till lots can be secured and a- new edifice erected somewhere uptown. In the ineantime the two congregations Avorship together, as brethren in the closest fellowship.

OUB PULPIT. December 17, 1875-rebruary 20, 1910. ON THE WAY. W e carae to port in Manila on Sabbath. Dr. White and I stayed on board until evening, when we went ashore for services. W e found a church of Protestant natives, and listened to ateerraon in the native tongue. W e had been told of the American churches, but found we would have to go on a street car, so stayed at the church nearest shore. W e were courteously treated, one of the choir coming down with her book, of which we understood only one wordJesu. The preacher could speak English fairly well, and when the service was over he came to us and greeted us in a very friendly manner. W h e n we told him we were utter strangers, he said, "There are then two words we have in,common, and' in comraon with all the world; they are 'Jesus

Monographs. an able young woraan, and is doing a great work. She took us through the immense new building that is soon to be opened as the Philippine General Hospital, with a capacity for a thousand beds. The structure is to cost one million dollars, and is by far the largest I have seen. W e also went out to see Fort McKinley, said to be the largest fort of America, and locally at least, it has the reputation of being second in size in the world. W e saw m a n y other things of interest, but the best was the Bilibid Prison. U p to the present time, I had never been in prison; I can say so no more. It was one of the saddest sights I had ever seen, but one of the most inspiring. This sounds paradoxical, but it is true. W e were fortunate to have friends w h o introduced us to the prison-doctor, w h o seeras to be a very suitable person for the work. H e took us through the prison hospital. With the exception of a native medical assistant, the work is mostly done by m e n in prison stripes. O n e m a n w h o had been somewhat far down in the criminal scale is n o w in charge of the care of the surgical dressing rocun, and keeps it in fine order, and takes great interest in assisting. They have a system of grading the inmates. Those who are new- and untried are third ra,te. Those w h o have been somewhat tractable are granted certain privileges, and are in second grade. Those w h o have a record of good behavior for six months are first grade, and their privileges are proportionately larger. The beds in the hospital are more comfortable than those in the prison proper, and the food somewhat adjusted to the n'eeds of each case. But the crowning feature of the hospital, to m y mind, was the tubercular ward. There are in it about one hundred andfiftypatients. They are instructed in m o d e m ideas of sanitation for tuberculous cases. T h e ward is large

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and splendidly ventilated, and they have a runway in the adjoining yard. They each carry a white porcelain cup, covered, to receive the sputum. These are cleaned by the prisoners under supervision, and supplied with suitable disinfectant. Those w h o are able to work are given work, and I did not see any w h o were confined to bed. W e were allowed to see them line up and receive their supper. This was the crowning feature of the tubercular ward. A long line was formed and each m a n had given to him an enameled cup, two soup plates of the same material and a spoon (no knives or forks were allowed). They passed along in cafateria style and were helped to each kind of foodas m u c h or as little as they wished. First, they were given boiled rice, then boiled lentils something like beans or peas, and m u c h prized by the nativesthen a cooked fish about six or eight inches long, a liberal helping of tapioca pudding and all the milk they could carry in the c u p o n e pintand last of all, were two m e n serving salt and vinegar. N o eggs were served at that meal, but'they are on the bill of fare, and the tubercular patients get all the milk and eggs they can eat. The milk is provided for everyraeal,and three times between meals. The patients 'are weighed once a week and take a great interest in their gains. The food and sanitation are m u c h superior to that of the poor, so it seems to m e it must appeal to the poor fellows when they see what the Government is doing for them. The upkeep, I understand, is frora the islands and not from the States, as I had supposed. The raillion dollar hospital is also built entirely of island raoney. A t 4:45 P. M . w e were taken to the raain building, and the warden conducted the guests up to the tower, where w e could see the rest of the prisoners line up to receive their evening rations. There are at

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Monographs. m e n with a trade and an incentive to be raen the rest of their lives. It certainly gives a m a n a chance. The woraen? Yes, there are some woraen there. W e had only time to see the hospital, so were not taken through the prison proper. T h e women's quarters are secluded by a high stone or concrete wall, entirely separate from the raen. The passage frora the administration building to the tower, passes over the women's compound. W e saw them formed in lines ready for their maneuvers, which they took at the same tirae as the men. What impressed m e was their clean, erect appearance. T h e dress was "stripes," but the huraane touch of the administration was apparent in a spotless white neck-kerchief, after the fashion of the islanders, whiciiraustbe a strong invitation to those poor unfortunates whora the world is so ready to trample deeper into the mire, to rise from the depths. W e are told that m a n y inmates come out and live decent, self-supporting and self-respecting lives, and it is believable. K a t e ilcBuRNET. SS. Siberia, Feb. 24, 1910. P, S., Feb. 25.Arrived safe. Jean met me. Dr. Wright is with us. Mrs. Wright is iraproving. She has been much raore seriously ill than I had supposed. The rest all well.

present 2,000 inmates of various nationalities. These were all drawn up in array for review by the warden. There is a band of musicians, trained frora the ranks, and they play beautifully. T h e director was not a m a n in stripes, but the players all were. The buildings are so arranged that they form a sort of wheel-like figure and each captainnot in stripeshad his "regiment" between the barracks facing the tower, in four long rows. It was an impressive sight. While the music progressed that vast multitude of prisoners maneuvered in excellent order, and no matter in what direction we looked, it was the sarae orderly sight that met our eyes. There was not m u c h room for fancy marching, sonone was attempted, but they gave them some fine physical exercise, which they evidently enjoy, if we raay judge by the way they did it. W h e n the band struck up "The Star Spangled -Banner," two thousand hats came off simulteneously, and if any one could look on unmoved he raust have been the " m a n with soul ^o dead." W h e n the maneuvers were over there was more music and a little quiet marching, and thefirstthing we knew all that vast multitude were formed into continuous lines, four abreast, to be served with food. They passed momentarily behind the kitchen, and when they emerged their dishes were supplied. I do not know what they had,, but all had a good-sized piece of white bread and something in the dish. In some it looked like thin vegetable soup; in others like coffee, while others seemed to have water. W e were too far to see, and I neglected to ask; but I wondered if the three grades received different kinds of food. A s I said I have never seen a prison before, but this is certainly a great improvement on anything I ever heard of. It looks to m e like a gigantic reformatory, where criminals m a y rise and corae out

K. McB. HANNA SHAI.

In response to a request for some additional information concerning Hanna Shai, w h o was killed, as w e have every reason to believe, with his wife and two' small children, in the massacres of last April, I send the following sketch, the material for which I have obtained principally from Mallim H a n n a Besma. There is nothing of particular interest in his story, so far as I have been able to learn

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it, viewed from the standpoint of the very happily. His wife was a bright litstudent of martyrology. But as a picture tle w o m a n , w h o possessed the iather rare of life in Turkey and its vicissitudes, the accomiilishment for a woraan of being humble record m a y not be without inter- able to read. H e returned alone to A d a n a est to the readers of Olive Trees. jierhaps about four years ago, and, as I H a n n a was about thirty-seven years of remember, about a year later his wife and age at the time of his death, and had been little daughter carae. A little boy was married three times. His married life, born to thera in Adana. Just a short which comprised thirty of his thirty-seven tirae previous to the breaking out of the years, was a rather checkered one. W h e n massacres of last spring, he went with he was a little boy, his father, who lived his family to a Turkish village sorae three in jVlesopotamia and was well-to-do, had a or four hours distant from Adana to plant servant woraan, w h o had' a daughter whose cotton. W e have no accurate infonnation domestic virtues were so resplendent in as to what the circumstances of their his father's eyes that he said no person death wei'e. W e were told that they were should marry her but his o w n son; so spared and protected durihg the .first when H a n n a was seven and the girl twice massacre, but were killed in the second. his age, they were married. H e would Of the fact of their death in either one tell how if they happened to be going to or the other there is little room for doubt. a distant place his wife would tote him on Hanna, during the years that I was her back, and h o w she would give him acquainted with him, was most of the his bath and would slap hira to make him time in very poor health, and was very sit still while she washed. him. They .poor in this world's goods, but he was lived togetherhow happily the record rich in faith, and was a very earnest does not tellfor seventeen years, which preacher of the gospel. At one time we brought them to the fateful raassacre employed hira for a few months as assistyear of 1895. Their village was attacked, ant to Mallim H a n n a Besma. But, and Hanna's wife and father and sister whether employed or not employed, he were killed. H a n n a hiraself somehow was ever zealous in proclaiming the truth managed to .escape, his wife, as I under- that had become so precious to hira. Livstood frora H a n n a Besraa, having in some ing in poverty and often sick, he was apway given hira waming. H a n n a then parently always joyful in the Lord. H e went to live with his mother's brother, was not lazy, but was often unable to who was an earnest Christian m a n , and work, and soraetiraes could not get work. from hira H a n n a learned the way of life. A t such tinies he would betake hiraself H e spent about a year with his uncle and to Mallim Hanna's house, devote himself then came to Adana, where he lived about for a tirae to the study of the N e w Testafive years before marrying the second raent Coramentary, and then go out and time. S o m e months after marrying, he try to persuade others to accept the truth. took his journey and returned to his H e was not very free in the Arabic, but native province. His second marriage according to the testimony of H a n n a proved unhappy, his wife embracing Besma, he was a very effective speaker in Islam after they had been married about the Syriac tongue. ' W e know not h o w H a n n a and his little a year and a half. About six months after his second wife left him he raarried faniily met death. They were taken as a third time, and this time a.pparently by a whirlwind and chariot offire,with-

Monographs. divergence frora the then existing order of things. In view of what is stated in R o m a n s 13, 1-7, I a m sure Paul saw the great wickedness of the R o m a n Empire, and that he called for separation from its sin. "Wherefore, come out from among thera and be ye separate, .saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you." H e wished rather to C. A. Dodds. preach the gospel of the K i n g d o m atMersina, Asia Minor. R o m e , and in that rounded out message to cause R o m e to be in very truth a no mean "A CITIZEN OF NO MEAN CITY."* This topic is taken frora Paul's answer country. For this he worked, for this he to the R o m a n Centurion in the city of prayed, and for this he died. Jerusalera, when Paul was arrested in that W e are prepared n o w to apply our topic city. Paul, in speaking of his nationality to our o w n country and to the conditions and of his city, said, "I a m a m a n which n o w existing. Relatively speaking, we a m a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Ciliciaa m a y affirm that w e are living in the greatcitizen of no raean city." est country in the world. Our form of There are a great m a n y conjectures as government is scriptural, and here we to the exact meaning of Paul in the use en-joy the blessings of civil and religious of these words. Evidently the .main idea liberty as nowhere else in the world. For was local and comparative. In this sense these things we are profoundly thankful, Paul might well be proud of his birthand in every possible way we will unite place, for historically, geographically and for their maintenance. commercially, it was "no m e a n city." But this is,not all. W e wish to show Strabo speaks of the Tarsian Univer- that it. is only relatively, that w e are "citisity as even surpassing in some respects zens of a no m e a n city." Looking at the those of Athens and Alexandria. In ideal state, of which Paul speaks, we are Paul's tirae Tarsus was in its most flour- far from being what we ought to be. N o w , ishing condition. In this sense Paul as it was Paul's patriotic desire to bring could saj-, raost truthfully, "I a m a citiR o m e up to what it ought to be, so is it zen of no mean city." the duty of us all to do what w e can to There are some who affirm that Paul secure for our beloved country the greatest gloried in R o m e and in R o m a n citizen- blessings. T o this end we speak and for ship, in the fullest sense, and all the while this reason w e aSk the prayers and cohe entered no protest against the corrup- operation of every true citizen of this tions of that wicked empire. If this be great Republic. H o w m a y this be accomtrue, I cannot understand why Paul inplished? T h e answer will be found, in cluded in his letter to R o m e the statepart -at least, in the following consideraraent of the characteristics of the ideal tions : state. Certainly that ideal was the widest Knowing Our City or Country. * A n address delivered some years ago The gross ignorance of the average citiin Boston and elsewhere on behalf of N a zen of the place in which he lives is protional Reform, and now published hy reverbial. Features which strike a stranger quest. at once, names which challenge curiosity, out the sustaining preseiice of any earthly friend, but w e have faith to believe that H e w h o walked in the raidst of the furnace, with His children, was with this little band, too, in the. hour of their trial, and would see to it that the flame should not kindle upon them to their hurt.

Monographs. historical facts which have contributed to the making of a nation, of the great m e n w h o have lived and died in the vicinity, of all this he usually knows next to nothing. Our o w n city of Boston is peculiarly such a city, and w e owe it to our friends and to our city, to know about all these peculiar features. Our country, also, has a history unique 'among the nations of the world, which ought to c o m m a n d the interest of every trae citizen. T o be intelligent citizens we ought to acquaint ourselves with all the evehts in our short but eventful life as a nation. All the charters and State papers from the earliest colonial days to the present m o m e n t ought to be the comm o n heritage of our people. W e ought to be familiar with all the influences for good or bad, and to k n o w the sources of the same. W e ought to know when our country was first settled, and the people and the circumstances of those times. N o one can study the characters of the m e n and woraen w h o first landed on our shores without feeling that God was their Sovereign, Jesus Christ their King, and the Bible the foundation of all law. Nothing short of this will account for the sufferings endured by these faithful people in the several colonies along the Atlantic seaboard. Read the history of those times, and especially familiarize yourself with the different compaets, charters and State papers, and you will be impressed with the thought that the first Pilgriras believed in religion as necessary to the State, and behold in all those docuraents the true principles of civil government. The compact signed in the cabin of the "Mayflower" re'ad, "Ih the n a m e of God, Amen." T h e n these solemn words follow, " W e whose names are underwritten, having undertaken for the glory of GocJ and advancement of the Christian faith

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and the honour of our king and country," etc., etc. Read also the charter of Rhode Island obtained from Charles II in 1663. This instrument was so completely satisfactory to the colonists and afterward to their descendants during the Revolution, and subsequently, that it remained as the basis of the government for one hundred and eighty years. O n account of its great value, w e quote the opening sentences of that charter: " W e , -^vhose names are underwritten, do hereby soleranly, in the presence of Jehovah, incorporate ourselves into a body politic; and as H e shall help, will submit our persons, lives and estates unto our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords; and to all those perfect and absolute laws of His, given in His holy W o r d of Truth, to be judged and guided thereby." W e might follow up this sarae line of study, and the whole story is the same, whether at Plymouth or N e w York, or Philadelphia or Jamestown. This whole line of history ought to be kno'wn by the people of this country, and instead of having to fight its way for recognition, the principles of the Christian religion as they apply to civil affairs would be recognized and adopted as the very genius of our history. W e ought, also, to know the other line of influences which were dominant to a great extent when the Constitution of the United States was fraraed. W e should inform ourselves of the increasing infiuence of French infidelity and secularism from 1700 to 1789 in the Araerican Colonies, and herein perceive the introduction of a leaven of evil, the effects of 'which are working mightily at the present time in our country. N o w , these facts which are cited, are but illustrative of a line of knowledge with which, as American citizens, we

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ihe very best in the world, and there are ought to be familiar; 1 a m sure it would also m a n y other features which we aU hold make ,us better citizens, and I a m sure dear. A s the friends and lovers of our that our beloved land would be brought country, w e approach this problem, and fonvard again to these true principles AA'hile w e raust be honest as to defects, we whicii were here at the first. shall do all in the above spirit. W e May D o Much To Bring Our Country To W e M a y D o Much To Bring Our Country The Ideal State By Maintaining a To The Ideal State By a Willingness True, Patriotic Attitude To To See And Remedy Evils. All Our Institutions. All of this still in the spirit of the B y this I raean the attitude of friends patriot. Paul was one w h o saw the evils and true lovers of our country. W e can sing with every one who enjoys' the bless- of Rorae, and he did his very best to remedy the same. N o w , the great trouble ings of this country: with so raany of our o'wn countrymen is " M y country, 'tis of thee. they are not willing to see evils and deSweet land of liberty. fects in any part of our national constiOf thee I sing." W e hold the position of raen who be- tution or in our national life. There is so m u c h boasting of everything lieve in governraent, and especially in this Government. W e hold the attitude of American that the evils are covered over those w h o are careful to eraphasize the as m u c h as possible. I say, that this is a good, and without any prejudice, we try wrong spirit, and one which, if allowed to to look at matters as they really are. remain, will lead us into national ruin. There are raany who condemn our Gov- W h e n the citizens of a land cease to have ernment because it is not just like the strength of purpose enough to allow evils one under which they lived in some other to go unchallenged, then are they unfit land. W e are not of these. W e believe for citizenship. that there is the possibility of making One, to read the reports in our papers this Governraent what it ought to be, and after a Thanksgiving Day, would imagine as constructive agitators we are at work, that here in our country there were no in seeking for the true Christiaii state. real evils and dangers. T h e eagle is made This attitude of friends and lovers of to scream, and herein is danger. N o w I country will aid us m u c h in making this a m here to affirm, in the spirit of a patriot, God's country in every truth. Just as in the that we should .cry aloud and spare not. family or in the Church, the lovers of There are evils in the land, which, if not either m a y see and suggest defects, and corrected by the friends of truth and not be misunderstood, so do we come to country, will lead us to national ruin. Do all of our institutions. W e will allow no -we not hear the rumble and roar of battle one to go beyond us in our. patriotism. which has already begun in our country, W e do not imagine some evil or wrong and which, if not correctedand that Avliere such are not to be found. There speedily, will lead to the worst conflict we are always enough real evils which the have ever known? Wlia.t means the jiatriot must attack without these imagin- struggle to-day in the comraercial world, ary ones. Wliere w e can endorse our in- and what js the thought of the poor and stitutions w e should do so gladly and needy, who, by thousands, are suffering cheerfully. For example, as already because the principles of Christ are not stated, our form of Government is indeed in operation among us?

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Secularism i s everywhere the standard No Sacrifice, However Great, Should Be and socialism i s its natural outcome. This Regarded As Too Great For The secularism of our day i s the natural stream Attainment of This End. which flows from a secular governraent, If what has been said thus far in this and everything is being swept before it. address i s true, then we have soraething I say there are evils in the city. The to which we raay bring all our best efforts Sabbath i s being openly violated, the secret and our greatest resources. ^ When we think of the faithful contendempire is being outlined, and the agents ings of theraartyrsof Jesus, in the past, of Satan are everywhere busy. Shall we not, then, as true patriots, stand together our minds are filled with admiration. They endured even unto death. Well has in pleading these Christian principles ? W e May Do Much To Bring Our Country the poet sung of them, "The lover of freedom can never forget Into The Ideal State By Promoting The glorious peasant band; The Christian Reugion In His siresthat on Scotia's moorland Our Country. Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the met. Gospel of Christ," and among other things Each name like a seal on the heart i s set; he saw its beneficent effect upon the The pride of his fatherland." nations of the world. The Bible contains Truly, they espoused a great cause and a gospel for the nation, and if a nation devoted all to its success. does not accept that gospel i t soon must If they, who have gone before, made perish. I believe that gospel should be such sacrifices for the truth, shall we not preached in our tirae.and country as never respond to the very utmost ? Even though before. Certainly, the gospel should be reproach and scorn and suffering and sore preached to the individual, and every defeat come, let us not count i t too great effort along that line should have our that this end may be attained. In this earnest support and co-operation. But way only shall we be true to the Pilgrims that i s not enough. Let us preach to and to the Huguenots, and the Covennations; they are to be born in a day, and anters of the past, who came here to perchance our feeble word may be taken America that these Christian principles by the Holy Spirit and blessed to this end. should be forever the inheritance of all its The opportunity is now before us, the people. In this way only shall we be true fields, are white to the harvest. It is ato the God of Truth W h o has taught us iime of great unrest and confusion, and these great principles. And in this way such times are pre-eminently opportune only can we be true to our dearly beloved for the declaration of the gospel. I know country. It i s worth while. These printhere i s a solution of the commercial evil ciples are to prevail. and all other evils in King Jesus and the Samuel McNaughton. principles of His Kingdora. If only we Boston, Mass. should enthrone Christ as King, then we would see the end of all these troubles. OUR GOSPEL DEBTS. Those who have received the gospel of The streams of happiness in His reign would make glad -the city of our God. God's dear Son are debtors to those who Let us, then, join our prayers with all are without the good news of salvation. lovers of truth in our land, to promote "I am debtor both to Greeks and, to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolthe Christian religion in our country.

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Monographs. had been arrested in his m a d career. H e had surrendered to Jesus unconditionallyyielding body, soul and spirit. "Lord, what wilt T h o u have m e to do?" H e would have preferred a mission to his o w n people, no doubt. But it was not his to choose. His work was laid out for him araong the Gentiles. A n d he was not disobedient to the hea-fenly -vision. H e heard their' cry, voiced by the m a n of Macedonia, " C o m e over and help us 1" H e saw their misery, degradation and poverty. H e knew the hollow emptiness of hea.then religions. A n d thus their d u m b appeal stirred his soul. The proconsul, Sergius Paulus, at Paphos, on Cypras, was delivered from the Jewish sorcerer, and led to Christ with the same zeal that he manifested in delivering the raen of Lystra and Derbe from idolatry. H e preached to the woraen at the river side, beyond the walls of Philippi, with the same eamestness that he discovered in proclaiming Christ and the resurrection to the Athenian philosophers in the Areopagus. H e had not intended doing pubhc work in Athens until certain helpers came to his assistance. But when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry, his spirit was stirred within him, and he testified to Christ and His resurrection. H e was just as enthusiastic in preaching Christ before Felix and the court at Csesarea as he was ' in speaking to the common people at Corinth. Addressing the shipmaster and crew and passengers on the foundering ship, he displayed the same sublime faith as on the Island of Malta ih the hands of Publius the governor, whose father he healed of a dangerous disease in the n a m e of Jesus. At Rome he preached to the soldiers w h o were chained to him in turn, a n e w guard being exchanged every four hours, until the whole pretorian guard (one thousand soldiers) believed. Paul was anxious to

ish." The Greeks called all w h o did not speak their polished language, of which they were justly proud. Barbarians. "The Greeks" and "the Barbarians" therefore included all the Gentile nations. "The wise" and "the foolish" were "the educated" and "the ignorant and unlearned." A n d these two classes embraced all the Gentile nations. So twice over-the Apostle Paul declares_ his indebtedness to the whole Gentile world. The language is coramercial. W e speak of debts- as obligations incurred when an article has been purchased on trust, or money has been borrowed as a loan. But the apostle was not in debt like that. H e owed no m a n anything. H e paid for everything he received. H e was not in debt one penny. H e was the raost independent m a n in the world. Neither was he under obligation by reason of kindness received at the hands of the Gentiles or gifts bestowed by them. O n the contrary, he had experienced only persecutions wherever he went. It was not what he received from them, that constituted his indebtedness, but what he had received for them. "When he was met in the way by Jesus Christ, he was commissioned to the Gentiles. "For to this end have I appeared unto thee, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of the things wherein thou hast seen .Me, and of the things wherein I will appear unto thee; delivering thee frora the people and frora the Gentiles, unto w h o m I send thee, to open their eyes, that they m a y turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they raay receive remission of sins and an inheritance among thera that are sanctified by faith in Me." This is a case of sudden conversion. H e was just as sincere and strenuous in his devotion to Judaism before this as he was to Christianity afterward. H e

Monographs. preach in R o m e , because he would there meet m e n of all nationalities, and through them the gospel would be sounded out into all the world. While the apostle's commission was special and peculiar, the principle upon which be bases it is universal and permanent. T h e prineiple is that the, possession of any peculiar privilege lays us under obligation to share it with those w h o have it not.

9 ^ 3

social order and manipulated the forces that are at wbrk. I a m not beholden to others for m y success." All this sounds familiar. It is a repetition of Nebuchadnezzar's proud boast. A s he walked with his courtiers on, the walls of the city and beheld the hanging gardens and art and architecture of the. capital of his empire, he said, "Is not this great Babylon that I have built by the might of THIS PRINCIPLE IS ROOTED AND QROUND- m y power, for the house of m y kingdom, ED IN THE VERV CONSTITUTION OF HUMAN for the honor of m y majesty?" M a n in NATURE. the original state of innocency loved God " N o m a n liveth unto himself." The supremely ahd his neighbor as himself., m a n who has an education is under bond But sin separated man's soul from God to impart his intellectual possessions to and made m a n selfish. That was his death. the untaught. T h e m a n of great wealth It involved four evils: be lost M s standis mortgaged to those w h o are poor and ing with God, he lost his character of needy. T h e m a n w h o occupies a position holiness, he lost his fellowship with God, of honor and trust is requisitioned to and he lost his deligbt in and his ability serve the c o m m o n people for whose sake to do God's will. M e n separated from he has been promoted. This is the real God like this are dead to H i m . They are significance of the parable of the good self-centered and so are separated from Saanaritan. W e know that depraved one another. But Christ came to redeem h u m a n nature repudiates this. T h e worldand to restore. H e took h u m a n nature ly m a n says, "I have accumulated m y into, union with His divine person and fortune by industry, economy, self-sacrilived in theflesha life in harmony with fice and persevering effort. I a m indebt- God. H e recovered man's lost dominion by becoming obedient unto death, even ed to nobody for it. It is mine. Can I the death of the cross. H e exhibited the not do as I will with m y o w n ? " Or he ideal life by exercising supreme love to says, "I a m a self-made m a n . I toiled God and unselfish love for men. H e had while others slept. M y acquisitions in corapassion upon the ignorant and thoseleaming are the result of personal appliw h o are out of the way. H e went about cation. I aan not under obligation to any continually doing good. The perfect .man." O r he says, "I have risen to m y m a n was exalted to the throne. present position by careful planning. I studied the conditions that prevail in the Boston, Wass. F. M. Foster. (to be concluded n e x t ISSUE.) Rob the world of the Bible and you have robbed it of its chart, robbed it of its compass, robbed it of its M a g n a Charta-the bulwark of its libertiesrobbed it of, that vrhich has produced the noblest manhood and the purest womanhood; robbed it of tbat which has worked out its highest civilization, robbed it of that which has made the Christian nations the most enlightened, the raost progressive, the raost humane, the wealthiest, and the most powerful peoples on the face of the earth.Henry B . Williams.

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Editorial Notes.

EDITORIAL
The closing exercises of the Theological Serainary, Allegheny, Pa., will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 26 and 27, 1910. The Board of Superintendents will raeet on Tuesday, April 26, at 9 A. M . in the Serainary Building. Olive Trees calls the attention of its readers to the opening article of this issue, and unites with the author in urging unceasing and definite prayer for the foreign missions. While there are not wanting evidences of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, both in the Levant and in China, it must not be forgotten that constant communion with the Redeeraer is essential to the continued success of any gospel enterprise in the face of the persistent opposition of His eneraies. Apart frora Hira nothing can be done, and His promise is, "Call unto M e and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not." A n d should there not be a recognition of His hand in the personal and relative afflictions that have come upon the missionaries at Tak Hing Chau? There is a raeaning in all the providences of the Mediator which will be unfolded at His appearing, and in the meantime H e would make it clear that comfort and strength are to be found only in fellowship with Himself and quiet submission to His will. Here is the way that Rev. W . M . Robb puts it in a personal letter of March 11 from quarantine at Williams Head, "For ourselves, I raay say that we have been and are at peace in regard to what the future has in store. In no uncertain manner were our minds directed to Phil. 4:6,7, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding has kept our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

NOTES.

The horae Church will be favored with visits frora twelve of itsraissionariesin the summer, including Rev. and Mrs. Janies S. Stewart, w h o have been in Araerica for some months. Rev. and Mrs. W . M . Robb, ordered h o m e on prolonged furlough owing to the illness of Mrs. Robb, just when they had - acquired a Avorking use of the language and were beginning to take a prominent place in the service, were in sight of land on March 10, expecting to land at Vancouver some time the next day, but owing to a case of sickness that had developed on board resembling smallpox, the steamer had to go into quarantine, where, as M r . Robb writes, they "will be detained till everything is thoroughly disinfected and in all probability until sufficient .time has elapsed for new cases to develop." They will be followed by Rev. Julius Kempf, who sailed on the SS. China, scheduled to leave H o n g K o n g March 12, and should, under favorable circumstances, reach San Francisco on April 9. Tarsus Mission will send Mrs. C. A. Dodds and her husband, who has reraained at his post faithfully and with a good measure of success for the full term of ten years, but it is uncertain whether he will be forward in time for Synod. T h e brothers McCarroll, with their families, will come from Cyprus; Dr. Calvin, of Nicosia, leaving in time to reach America toward the end of April; Rev. Walter, of Larnaca, remaining behind till some tirae in June to attend to pressing business.' Miss Mattie R. Wylie planned to leave Latakia March 30 on the Italian stearaer connecting at Naples with the Prince Albert of the North Gerraan Lloyd, due in N e w York on April 28.

Editorial Notes. Writing from Williams Head, Victoria, B. C , on March 14, Rev. W . M . Robb informs ns, in a personal letter, that "the ship has been fumigated and allowed to proceed, but the passengers are all detained here." "It as a delightful place," he writes, "and we are in every way comfortable. W e have lots of room for exercise, and are not seriously inconvenienced* except by excess of leisure." T h e Church will be glad to know that Mrs. Robb is quite comfortable. "Fortunately there was a physician on board w h o had had special work along the line of her trouble," and he has been of great assistance. "Detained as w e are," continues M r . Robb, "we can make no definite plans for the future, but will leave them to be worked out, as God sees best. Meanwhile, we await His pleasure."

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mends the book to the ministers and students of the Reformed Presbyterian Church:

The Report oe the Student Volunteer Convention ' at Rochester (Dec. 29, 1909Jan. 2, 1910). Substantially bound in cloth. Octavo. Over 600 pages. Advance price, $1.

Regular price, $1.50. This report is now on the press. It will contain a verbatira record of all the great addresses given before the convention, in-cluding the following: Johri R. M o t t " T h e Spiritual Conditions in the Universities and Colleges Requisite for Meeting the Present Missionary Demand." . Dean Edward I. Bosworth"The Discovery of God." Dr. Arthur J. B r o w n " T h e Changing Conditions in the Orient." Ambassador James Bryce"The ObOlive Trees has received and passed ligations of Christian Nations." on to Dr. S. A. S. Metheny, temporary Bishop William F. McDowell"The treasurer, the following contributions to Highly Multiplying Possibilities of Obethe Fbreign Missions: T e n dollars from the Sabbath school of Second Boston, the dience to God." Robert E . Speer"The Abounding last installment of a $50 pledge toward the Sufficiency of Jesus Christ to Meet the salary of a native teacher in Syria for 1909; and $50 from Miss Della J. Needs of All M e n " ; "The Spiritual Obligation of the United States and Canada Mathews, of Sparta, Illinois, in raemory to Latin America." of her sister, to be used for special work Bishop Arthur S. Lloyd"The Undisin China. covered and Unrealized Possibilities of Intercession." Olive Trees has received and passed Alfred E . Marling"TheMoney Power on to Treasurer Dr. S. A. S. Metheny, Related to the Plans of the Kingdom of two hundred and sixty-two dollars for mountain schools in Syria, frbm some God." Also addresses by Dr. F. P. Haggard, w o m e n of Second N e w York and their Dr. S. M . Zwemer, Dr. John P. Jones friends. and m a n y other prorainent leaders. Of special value At the request of Mr. F. P. Turner, T o missionaries, to broaden the horizon General Secretary of-the Student-Volunof their o w n fields. teer Movement, Olive Trees cheerfully T o pastors, in their new leadership of inserts the following announcement in the missionary moveraent, and in preparregard to the publication of the Report ation of missionary addresses. of the Rochester Convention, and com-

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Editorial Notes. the Poreign Missionary Board or Society of one's o w n church. "The Congress will open with an afternoon session on M a y 3, and conclude with the evening session on M a y 6. M a n y of the strongest and most experienced missionary speakers and leaders on this continent will be heard. "One aftemoon will be devoted to sectional conferences, as follows: 1. Ministers' conference. 2. Church officers' conference. 3. Bible school officers' and teachers' conference. 4. Brotherhood conference. 5. Physicians' conference. 6. Lawyers' conference. 7. Business men's conference. "Another afternoon will be devoted to conferences by churches, giving opportunity for each church to consider more fully its o w n missionary work. T h e programs for these church conferences will be prepared, in each case, by the Foreign Missionary leaders of that church. " A special coramittee has already been appointed, representing the Laymen's Missionary Movement, and the organized Foreign Missionary Boards of North America, to prepare a national missionary policy to be subraitted to the Congress for its consideration. " W e call upon the raen of this nation, especially those w h o are busiest and most responsible, to put first thingsfirst,and so to adjust their affairs as to be able to take their full share in this effort to bring the impact of corabined Christianity to bear upon the conversion of the world. " W e appeal to Christians everywhere to. unite in prayer that this National Missionary Canipaign and Congress m a y inaugurate a new era in the history of missions."

T o Christian workers, showing the world-wide power of the gospel. T o laymen, beca.use of its vital relation to the Laymen's Movement. All orders for this volume at reduced rates should be mailed at onee to Student Volunteer Moveraent, 125 Bast Twentyseventh Street, N e w York. The Laymen's Missionary Movement announces that arrangements are being m a d e to hold a Missionary Congress in Chicago, M a y 3-6, 1910. "This call," writes the Executive Comraittee, '*is being m a d e at seventy-five main conventions, out of which a large nuraber of secondaij conventions have developed. T h e call is direct. T h e object is deflnite and vital. " W h a t is America's share in the evangelization of the world ? W h a t is meant by evangelization? W h a t part have m e n in it ? H o w is it to be done ? These are some of the questions being considered during this campaign by constructive leaders of Christian thought in Araerica. A t least one hundred thousand m e n are expected to attend these seventy-five conventions. T h e number of representatives of the National Missionary Congress is limited to five thousand, the capacity of the Auditorium, where the Congress Will be held. ''All churches entitled to representation in the Congress will have their number of delegates deterrained partly by the numerical strength of the Church, and partly by the amount expended in foreign missionaiy work. "To meet the expenses of the Congress, each delegate will be charged a registration fee of five dollars, which will include one copy of the bound volume in which the detailed proceedings of the Congress will be published. "Application for membership in the Congress should be m a d e in each case to

A Monthly Journal devoted to Missionary W o r k in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. No. MAY, 1910. 5.

Q U E S T I O N S

O F

T H E

H O U R .

country during the past few months. T h e conventions have no precedent by which they can be judged. They have been the makers of history, the setters of precedents, whereby religious enthusiasm and The great missionary campaign is well Christian possibility m a y and will be on the home stretch. In a short time the raeasured for the future. UNDERTAKEN WITH SOME HESITATION. -last of the conventions will have been T h e campaign was not undertaken withheld. With a mighty irapetus and triumphant, swing, the culminating congress out serious doubt. A t the beginning only will come, and the United States join fifty conventions were contemplated, and to m a n y even this nuraber seemed too Canada in the declaration of a missionary great a task. B u t the larger number of policy for North America. . W e are living too close to the event seventy-five soon became the least that dared be undertaken, while as the properly to estimate the marvelous significance, power and influence of the un- campaign progressed an increasing n u m paralleled missionary and religious awak- ber of allied and auxiliary meetings ening that has had its expression in the were forced to be provided for.. It will be readily recalled by those responsible one hundred or more conventions and for the raovement h o w earnest at first auxiliary meetings that have belted the

THE NATION'S RESPONSE TO THE NATIONAL MISSIONARY CAMPAIGN.* COLONEL ELIJAH W. HALFORD.

*This siriking summary of ihe Naiional Missionary Campaign has been prepared by Colonel Halford while confined, to his bed in the hospital ai Little Rock, Ark. From the opening conveniion of the campaign at Buffalo, Oct. 16, until the accident on Feb. 11, 'resulting in ihe fracture of his leg. Colonel Halford was continuously engaged in the campaign. Since that time he has kepi in close touch with the conventions ihrough the prinied reports. N o m a n is betier qualified ihan he to interpret the real spiritual significance of this unprecedented awakening.Camphell White.-

were the efforts to repress and to limit. It was feared that it would be quite impossible to secure the required force for such a huge carapaign; the necessary financial assistance could not be commanded; it would be out of the question to hold the attention of the country during so long a period; the strain would be too severe; the pace could not be kept u p ; the whole enterprise would prove unwieldy and would collapse. So far as h u m a n elements were concemed, all these fears and doubts seemed to be well founded. They were worldly wise. It was not surprising that m e n

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Questions of ihe Hour. preparation raade, and have found their spirit and their raessage strangely moulded by a power outside themselves, a pbwer that has unified heart, ennobled piltpose, enriched deliverance, stimulated faith and perfect love. This has been the repeated and uniform testiraony of those w h o have been nearest the center and whij have touched raost closely and intiraataly the pulse of the campaign. W A Y S OF LOOKING AT THE RESUut. A s the wind-up approaches, two classes must be reckoned with. First, thdde excessively carbonized folks, w h o will assume that "all is over but the shouting." The results have been so stupendoilS that not a few will iraagine that the wOrk is now coraplete, and that the future is to be siraply a time of joyful reaping. A second class is composed of those whfl will heave a sigh of relief because the strenuous days are in the past, and are ready to return, measurably at least, to the old days of comparative ease and comfort. One of the most prominent missionary leaders in the country, w h e n approadhed for personal enlistment at the beginning of the campaign, responded in the aflirtoative, saying, " W h e n it is all over, I doll't want any one to be able to say that I did not give the movement m y heartiest support"; and he fixed the time when "it*' would be "over" as the concluding date of the Chicago congress! A t no other junp' ' ture of religious history could the wordi of Livingstone be more truthfully used i l l paraphrase"the end of the campaign is the beginning of the enterprise." Wonderful as has been the demonstration of these months of awakening, it is, however, only the first furrow turned in i fallow field. T h e possibilities of cultivat tion have been revealed, not realized, li there be a lesson more patent than any other, it is that "leaving the things behind, w e press forward."

asked themselves, "'Who is sufficient for these things?" and that, while raany questioned, sorae feared to such a degree as to becorae faint-hearted, and not a few were disinclined to get under the burden. MANIFEST GUIDANCE OF THE SPIRIT OF QOD. But God's ways are not the ways of raen. F r o m the beginning H e has guided the campaign; taken care of the work, and seen~to it that, despite great weaknesses, in the face of obstacles apparently insurmountable, n o w and again one or another upon w h o m a measure of reliance was placed being forced to drop out of the ranlis for a time or altogetherin the words of .Mr. Eddy, "not one of the conventions has recorded a failure." F r o m the opening convention at Buffalo to the congress at Chicago, the song of triumph has been heard; the note of victory ever sounded; a moral force has been displayed, and a spiritual power visibly developed in the Church that compels universal recognition and calls for humble and reverent praise. Each of the conventions has had its o w n special feature and characteristic. O n e has been notable for what m a y be termed demonstration of enthusiasm, as at Boise, where business was suspended that m e n could attend the raeetings, while the Governor and Mayor headed the street parade as they marched to the opening supper. Another has been characterized by a depth of feeling, the tide of which, in Tennyson's words, was "too full for sound and foam." But all of them, without exception, have been marvelously marked by the presence and power of the Spirit of God. This one thing, more than any other feature, has impressed all w h o have come into contact with the conventions. M a n y men, numbers of them a m o n g the leaders and the speakers, have had to readjust themselves mentally and spiritually; they have had to discard in a degree the advance

Questions of the Hour. OBVIOUS LESSONS. One manifest lesson of the campaign is the ease with which God's work m a y be done when m e n really undertake it with devotion and purpose. Nothing is harder than "to pull against a cold collar." A n d this has been the difficulty with m u c h of the service of m e n in the Church. They have had spirit and desire in other things, and the "other things" have progressed and prospered to a marvelous degree. B u t with the things of the K i n g d o m m e n have had only perfunctory relations. T h e sense of duty has been appealed to, and unrelieved duty is always irksome. George Macdonald says some day w e shall stop doing right from a sense of duty, and will do right for the love of it. That day in a measure has come in this "Laymen's" uprising. W h a t a spring there has been! What a revelation of the truth that " M y yoke is easy and M y burden is light!" Not that sacrifice is not involved. It is, and m u c h of it. T h e ease is not the ease that begets indifferent service; it is the ease that marks love's work and differentiates between h u m a n drudgery and divine ministry. A companion lesson is the readiness of m e n to , respond to a worthy challenge. M e n like the large, the heroic, the sacrificial. N o libel is more deadly and deadening than the current view that m e n will not give themselves to religious work. Scores, if not hundreds of thousands of men have followed the beckoning hand of this moveraent and thrown theraselves into its service with an abandon that is equaled in history only by the experience of the Crusaders or by the high resolve with which m e n have ever faced a supreme moral crisis, as in the days w h e n for what they believed to be right, raen of every section flocked to the standards which led them even to death. Surely the Church and Church leaders will not underestimate

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or forget this pre-eminent teaching of the campaign. W e cannot go back to old mediocre days and to worn-out methods. In a sense, at least, "old things have passed away, and behold, all things are becoming new." Let the dead bury the dead, while the living Church marches, with- beating pulse and exultant steps, to the victory that is presaged by every token. Another lesson is that of leadership and organization. Things do not happen in the Kingdora of God any more than in other kingdoms. There is no warrant of Scripture or of sense for the idea that the Kingdom will "grow," like Topsy. T h e world everywhere and in everything waits for and upon leadership. Said the Marquis of Salisbury to Lord Roberts, when "little Bobs" left hira at Charing Cross to assurae coraraand of the alraost defeated British forces in the Boer war, " M y lord, we are finding out that in this war we must depend upon the Generals." In everything this is true. Materially, and spiritually as well, leadership is dernanded and is absolutely essential. Oh, the pity of it when a inan assumes to take any place requiring the qualities of leadership and shows that he is stuffed only with sawdust! A n d h o w fearful when this is in the spiritual realm. This campaign has been possible because m e n were willing to give their ability in leadership and of organization, subordinating themselves to the domination of Hira who calls m e n into partnership with Himself, and W h o by. His blessing, raakes even five loaves and twofishesfeed uncounted thousands. THE FUTURE. A concluding suggestion is that of responsibility for the future. T h e work is but in the initial stage. T h e past and the present must be conserved to save the future. T h e Laymen's Missionary Movement understand that it will not do to

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Questions of ihe Hour.

lessen -interest, to abridge service, to min- gress than to consider and determine how ify effort, to economize expression. W h a t the initiative and spontaneity of individhas been accomplished has been under the ualism m a y be preserved without weakehlead of, an agency able to secure the ing in any wise the inestimable value of imited action of the Church. The the completest co-operation. The Church strength and force of interdenominational has had a fuller taste of unity than ever union has been overpoweringly deraon- before; but sweet as that taste has been, strated, as it has been in other phases of it is only a foretaste of the larger develconcerted Christian action. N o other duty opraent of Christian union yet within the will be more pressing at the Chicago con- possibilities of the Laymen's .Movemait.' "I want you to spend fifteen minutes every day praying for Foreign Missions," once said a pastor to some young people in his congregation. "But beware how you pray, for 1 warn you that it is a very costly experiraent." "Costly?" they asked in surprise. "Ay, costly," he cried. " W h e n Carey began to pray for the conversion of the world, it cost hira himself, and it cost those who prayed with him very much. Brainerd prayed for the dark-skinned savages, and after two years of blessed work it cost him his life. T w o students in M r . Moody's suramer school began to pray the Lord of' the Harvest to send forth more servants into His harvest, and, lo! it is going to cost our country thousands of young m e n and w o m e n w h o have, in answer to this prayer,gone forth to foreignfields,or pledged theraselves to this work."Forward. ."Ifl can put some touches of rosy sunset into the life of any m a n or woman," says George Macdonald, "then I feel that I have wrought with God." T o make an old person happier, more comfortable, more hopefulthat is, to put the touch of rosy sunset into a h u m a n life. It is a special privilege of youth to cheer old age. H o w naturally an old person turns to a young person for sunshine! It is beautiful to see the sympathy that subsists between the two extremes of life. In some respects youth and age are as like as sunrise and sunset; and it seeras to be God's blessed will and plan that each should t u m to the other for help. It is in the power of every young person to bring sunlight into the life of some old person, to irapart that "touch' of rosy sunset" which is so sweet to the aged pilgrim w h o is drawing near the close of life.Wellspring. A well-known British officer, in a letter to the London Times, says: " D o not let us forget that the most important and the raost far-reaching work in China is not done by our official representatives, nor by our enterprising raerchants, but by that great body of Christian m e n a n d w o m e n , t o o w h o are giving their lives to impart to the Chinese the accuraulated knowledge of the West, and, more important still, to infuse into thera that new spiritual infiuence without which Western learning is of little avail. T h eraissionaryhas received but lukewarm encouragement so far. Can w e not, now, at any rate, avlien he is about to prove himself a success, give him that trae warmth of sympathy and support which he sorely needs and richly deserves?" W h a t a m a n does is the real test of what a m a n is.~William Matthews

N e w s of the Churches.

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N E W S

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CHURCHES.

A B R O A D .
Syria, Latakia.A letter from Miss Maggie B. Edgar, dated March 22, 1910, gives an encouraging account of the work at Latakia: It falls to m e to send in the news of the Mission for this month, but the days have been so full that I a m rather tardy. The missionaries in Latakia are all in usual health and the work in the various departments goes on as usual. In .a few days Miss Wylie leaves for her visit home, and, as you will have learned before this time. Miss Paton is giving up her work at the close of the school term, and thus the girls' school will be left for a little while without a head. W e still have applications for teachers for village schools. T w o are n o w presented for consideration and another is being prepared. W e have few m e n w h o are suitable for teachers, so that w e will not be able to supply m a n y more. It is encouraging even with a scarcity of workers to see that the work is opening up again. Last week M r . McFarland and I visited the three village schools, which are -within three hours' ride of Latakia. It makes a good long day's work to get round the three and home by siinset. W e found a good attendance, and m u c h interest on the part of both pupils and their parents, and the boys are leaming quite a store of scripture, while they learn to read. One of the young teachers, w h o has done in the three months very good work, has been drafted into army service. His father has paid the ransom, 50, but the young m a n is required to serve three months here in Latakia. His father is taking his place temporarily in the sehool, but he will not be able to do as good work. W e are planning to have a conference of all. our workers in the Syrian part of the field just after the close of school in July. This has been a long-desired affair, but the way has never seemed open to it heretofore. Our workers here in Latakia have been talked with about it, and have entered into the plan with interest. W e want it to be a time of helpfulness and profit and spiritual uplift above all things, as well as a time of social enjoyment. Our people, working as they do alone, and often for months or years without any of the helpful fellowships that workers in the home land have, cannot be expected to grow m u c h or even keep up a high standard of work. W e do hope and pray that .this conference m a y create a desire for others and do all the workers great good. M a y w e ask that you will remember it in your prayers that the blessing and presence of the Holy Spirit m a y be in all the arrangeraents for the conference. W e were greatly encouraged and gratified at the result of the special collection taken on thefirstSabbath of this month, for the work in the village schools, amounting to about $40, the most of which was contributed by the native members. So w e have had m u c h reason of late to thank God and take courage for the future, trusting as in the past, but with stronger hope and faith that God blesses and will bless the work that is His own. Mr. McFarland and M r . Edgar, have just returned from Gunairaia, where they held communion on last Sabbath. They repqrt an accession of ten to the membership there, and they will doubtless write

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also true that Turkey is still Turkey, and M o h a m m e d a n i s m is just the sarae dark pall over this land that it has been for so long a time. The outlook is not as bright as w e would like to see it, or as some of the writers in American papers and magAsia Minor, Mersina.Dr. John Peoples, writing March 30, 1910, has sorae- azines would have the people in America thing to say to which the churches should believe it to be. listen: If w e look at the m e n and w o m e n of P r o m several items in the Church history Avho did things, w e find that they papers lately it would seem as though were those w h o were confronted with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and there were those w h o would advocate the curtailing or suspension of the work in the in some cases they even met with actual Mediterranean fields. If w e were on a defeat. T h e obstacles and defeats, howbattlefield w e would see the eneray's lines ever, simply raade them clench their fists long drawn out. W e might go with the and put their teeth together and go forward. So for the Church of Christ, and commanding officers to one point on that line, and there we would see part of the especially for that branch of it, the little force, in whose lines we are, hammering Covenanter Church with Scotch blood in away on the enemy's lines. As we exam- her veins. These obstacles should make ine the eneray's line closely it would apher clench her fists and put her teeth pear to be wavering and slowly, but surely, together and go forward shouting the giving before our line. W e go to an"battle-cry" of the Psalraist of old: other point along the line, and there we " A n d in the n a m e of God the Lord see our forces working just as hard, but W e shall them all root out!" the enemy's line seems almost to be as They should be a challenge to her to strongly entrenched as ever, with little show of what "stuff" she is made. Whether sign of weakening. Does the command- like Ephraim of old w h o ing officer order his forces to withdraw " W h e n as the day of battle was either'in whole or in part? N a y ! Bather They faintly turned back;" does he call on his reserve forces to come or, whether she really is worthy to carry to the help of this little detachment. That the narae given to those in Scotland who seems to m e to illustrate the conditions "counted not their lives dear unto them." found on the missionary battlefield of to- Let the Covenanter Church get down on day. her knees before God, and even the To m e it seems only right that the mighty Gibraltar of M o h a m m e d a n i s m will Church at h o m e should be made acquaint- tremble to its very foundation. ed with "things as they are" on the raisThere is one thing very noticeable about sion fields. the sunrise in the Bast, the twilight is As we look at some of thefields,prog- very short. A comparatively little time ress is evident, but as we look at others, passes between the darlmess of night and it would almost seem as though the re- the appearance of the sun. W h o is able verse were true. to say that the same will not be true conThese are dark days for Turkey. While cerning the arising of the Sun of rightit is true that a constitution was granted eousness on this land ? It is not for us to and liberty loudly proclaimed, yet it is know the times and the seasons, but it is you in detail about it. To-day they are away to Tartoos, expecting to have a communion season there this coming Sabbath.

N e w s of the Churches. for us each one to say, "Lord, what wilt Thou have m e to do?" and then, with God's help, to set about doing the duty assigned as faithfully and zealously as we can. "Paul m a y plant and Apollos water, but God giveth the increase." "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest, that H e m a y send forth laborers into His harvestfields."" C o m e up to the help of the Lord against the mighty." God forbid, that a message should come to us similar to the one sent to Meroz, "Curse ye bitterly because they came not to the help of the Lord against the mighty." The ten spies probably did not magnify the greatness and the strength of the giants, but they were evidently suffering from far-sightedness. They could see the giants and fortified cities afar off, but they could not see the raountains covered with the armies of the Lord of Hosts. alongside of them. Caleb and Joshua, on the other hand, probably did not minimize the greatness of the giants or the strength of the fortified cities; but they had the vision which enabled them to see the mountain covered with the hosts of the Lord God Almighty. So, if w e have the perfect vision, w e will be able to see and appreciate the raightiness of the principalities and powers against which w e wrestle, and w e will be also able to see and k n o w that they that be with us are raore than they that be with them. Let us' be u p and doing while it is called to-day, for the night cometh when no m a n can work. I a m sincerely glad that Olive Trees is to continue, for another year at least, and I hope that it raay continue for m a n y ' years. The raissionaries are about in their usual health. For ourselves, w e are sorry that Rev. Dodds and faraily are shortly to leave us to go on their furlough, but for their sakes w e are glad, for they need it badly and have well eamed it.

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China, Tak Hin^ C h a u . A letter from Rev. A. 1. Robb, dated March 7, 1910, but "not written for publication," contains items which w e have his permission to give to the press, should there be a dearth ofraatterfor Olive Trees : Your welcorae letter of Jan. 31 awaited rae to-day on ray return frora N g Chau, forty-five'miles west of here, where I was over the Sabbath, assisting in the dedication of a new church for the Christian Alliance Mission. They were kind enough to ask rae to come and preach the dedicatory serraon for them.* The church will seat 700 and the evening raeetings filled the house. The day service consisting only of Christians was not nearly so large. I have had a few things to do in m y years in China that seeraed to m e very hard, and parting with % . M . Robb and wife is araong that number. W e are all praying and cherishing the hope that it is only teraporary, and that health m a y be restored entirely. Y o u will be glad to know that Mrs. Wright is on the up-grade and moving somewhat rapidly, too. She is doing her o w n writing to the Mission now, and is, if not entirely out of danger, at least so greatly improved that our fears are greatly allayed. W h a t the decision will be as to her risking further attacks in the tropical conditions here, is yet to be k n o w n ; but we are hoping they, too, will not have to go home. The physicians have been urging for some raonths that the Mission buildings should have wire screening at all the doors and windows, so as to shut out the raosquitoes entirely, or as nearly so as possible. Also, thefiies,which are the carriers of m a n y diseases; and our sur*Rev. A. I. Robi also preached the Baccalaureate sermon at the girls' school connected with the American Board of Missions at Canton, recently.R. M . S.

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N e w s of the Churches. boat for the use of the Mission. I think it was started by the Indians at the Mission. T h e Mission decided at its recent meeting that it did not think the conditions justified the expense that would be involved. Stearaers run each way every day, and travel, by them is m u c h cheaper than it would be by motor boat. I came from N g Chau, forty-five -miles, for twenty-eight cents. W e ventured to suggest that if the thing met with favor they might allow us to purchase a couple of ponies. They can be purchased, in the adjoining province, and w e travel more by land than on the water now, especially the physicians. * Mrs. Janet Robb has charge of the girls' school this year, and Miss Dean expects to be ready for it next year. W e hope for favorable action on the part of the Board permitting a trial of English when we think the time is ripe. The day after writing the foregoing letter M r . Robb learne'd that it was his turn to write for Olive Trees that inonth, and he at once mailed us additional items of special interest: The latest word from Mrs. Wright is that she is gaining steadily, and we hope she will soon be well and strong again. There is rather unusual movement among the missionaries in recent weeks, and the changes in our number are marked. Dr. Jean arrived from home in December. Rev. W . M . Robb and wife left for home early in February. Dr. Kate McBurney arrived last Thursday,full of good spirits and with a nice, sweet trunk, owing to weddings, honey bees and similar sweet things that you have at home. Dr. Jean met her in H o n g Kong, and they took advantage of her trip to give Mrs. Wright a visit from her son Paul, who had to be left behind when she went td the hospital. N o one could t e l l

roundings among the natives m a k e it impossible to control cesspools, vaults and all such places. I felt myself that it should be a personal matter, and that those who wished them could get them. However, some who are soon to m o v e and who have moved would probably find it burdensome, as the netting is really a fixture of the house. At the meeting of the Mission last week they voted to ask the Board to allow sufficient for the purpose. It will require about $l20 "to screen our dwellings here. Mr. Orr, of Greeley Congregation, gave Mr. Blair $50 to start a fund for a summer h o m e which the .Mission does not want, and we have suggested that it would make for health to put it into screens. I think it probable sufficient funds will be found without drawing directly on the treasury. H o w ever, I a m quite sure the Church at home will be quite glad to do anything that will contribute to the health of this Mission. Malaria has been responsible for an enormous amount of illness and loss frora work in S. China during the past year, and our Mission has not suffered frora it as rauch as sorae others. Of the eight adults w h o came to China with ine less than three years ago, four are now in , the home land, and we almost begin to wonder if a time need be set for furloughs, as no one seems able to stay a full term. W e will hope better things for the future. The school work opens up nicely. The boys' and girls' schools both have increased attendance, and I hope to have six in m y training class. However, only four have been in attendance so far, one being detained by smallpox in his family and the other is in Canton trying to secure the release of a brother w h o was thrown into prison on account of being concerned in the recent riots down there. Y o u will perhaps have learned that a fund is being raised to purchase a motor

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105

whieh was most pleased at the meeting. way home. W e effeminate foreigners have I have understood that on the trip to have a carrier to carry some bedding up the river, the steamer put in twenty- and clothing, while a Chiliaman will have four hours on a sandbar, a stop that was a five-pound bundle which answers for not on the schedule; but I believe no extra all needs. The thermometer was down fare was charged. Theh yesterday. Rev. into the 40s and the carrier's feet got so Kempf started homeward with a broad cold (he was barefoot) that it hurt to set smile, black hat (pith hats are the standard them on the ground. Then, about four here), steamer trunk and suit case. I miles from home, he slipped, fell off a understand that it has been averred that bank into a ricefieldin about a foot of' he packed up in twenty minutes, but I m u d and water. H e got m y luggage think a cipher should be added, and ven- out, went into the stream, and washed the ture the prediction that it will require m u d off his clothes without removing them longer to get ready to return. from his body, picked up his load and The Chinese N e w Year came late this said he was ready to travel and was sorry year, Feb. 10, so the schools were closed he had delayed me. during February. They are all in session O n N e w Year's Day a riot broke out in now, I believe, with an increased attendCanton between the soldiers and city ance. Some of the advanced pupils, w h o police. It began over a difference of five have been in school for several years, are cents, and before it ended they had a now at the point where they understand pitched battle with rifles, b u m e d a n u m methods of study and can do vastly more ber of buildings, and all the soldiers in work. one of the three divisions n o w at' Canton The building at D o Sing hasbeen placed have been dishonorably discharged from in Mr. Mitchell's hands. A t last report the army. That includes all w h o went it was going up "slowly," which is the from T a k Hing a year ago. There is way all buildings rise in this land of n o w a band of robbers systematically opqueues and primitive machinery. M r . erating within two or three miles of N g Mitchell is getting lessons in the 'virtuChau. They hide in daytime and attack ous practice of early rising and patient the villages at night and loot them. In waiting. This has been a part of the one place they tied a m a n and his son together, poured kerosene over them and training of some who have builded before him, and is doubtless good training. set them on fire. The father was b u m e d About two weeks ago two of our Chris- to death and the son is n o w in a Mission tians from H a Long, eighteen miles dis- hospital with small hope of recovery. N g tant, came and requested m e to go to their Chau is a treaty port with foreign consuvillage and conduct the funeral of a lates, foreign customs staff and lots of heathen woman. H e r only son is a ChrisChinese officials and soldiers, -but they tian, and his relatives insisted that he do nothing. Of course, -the foreigners have Buddhist ceremonies, so that she have no power to act, and the Chinese would soon be reincarnated. H e refused, will not or canhot. and they said he must have something, so I believe there are some at home w h o he sent for me. I went and conducted are regularly praying for our teachers the funeral, speaking to the living and who are scholars, but do not believe the praying for them. It was cold for here, gospel. I wish I had some good news to and rained all the way there and all the tell, but I can only say I wish more would

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ofraissionariesat Tak Hing Chau, about pray, and i f sorae could arrange to pray Feb. 1, 1910. The only oneraissingi s unitedly I would be glad. To-day I Dr. Kate McBurney on furlough. talked with one of them, who recently said he wished to be baptized. I fear he has not yet the faintest glimmer of the t - . * . ^ i < ^ ^i ^ ^ ^ i ^ B i real meaning of salvation, and has not iitf^^ P # f : * % : 1 >^ " . : tasted of it. H u m a n persuasion and human instruction are alike unable to give new life or new vision. Help us, ' . - ^ friends, or rather help them, by asking ^ " \ , .-.axis'" God to give thera light to see themselves 5 . * aright and to see Christ.

i
Through the courtesy of Rev. W. M. Robb, we can give our readers a group

= ' 4

W e want and must have the heart of things in religion, but we cannot have them unless we "observe all things whatsoever" Christ has comraanded. One must not be afraid of going through all neededraotions.Think not that prayer will do as well if you sit s t i l l and take thefioorfor granted, instead of troubling yourself to kneel down. A lazy body and soul i l l befit fervent prayer. - Closed eyes, intent minds, quietness, of spirit, are means to be reckoned with. W h o knows anyone having the heart of religion, who absents himself from church, neglects his Bible, keeps no prayer tryst, gives no money to the Master's cause, makes Christ no promises, and shuns the communion table ? Grace i s the heart of things for us Christians, and no trio of words i s more to Christendom than this: Means of Grace.Rev. T. C. Potter, D.D.

A sense of duty pursues us ever. It is omnipresent, like the Deity. If we t ourselves the wings of theraorningand dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, dnty performed or duty violated i ss t i l l with us, for our happiness or our misery. If we say the darkness shall cover us, in the darkness as in the light, our obligations are yet with us. W e cannot escape their power nor fly frora their presence. They are with us in fhis life, will be with us at its close; and in that Scene of inconceivable solemnity which l i e s yet farther onward, we shall s t i l lfindourselves surrounded by the consciousness of duty, to pain us so far as it has been violated, and to console us so far gs God may have given us grace to performit.Daniel Webster. During m y early years in India I spent several months in a village where we gained only thirteen converts. I returned there two years later and found eight hundred-converts. No missionary had been in that village since I left. W h o did the work o f evangelization? Every Christian became a witness for Christ. This i s theway the world was won in thefirstcentury; it is the way the world i s to be won to-day. Bishop J. M. Thoburn. Teach m e to do Thy will.The Psalmist.

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M O N O G R A P H S .
agements to- those w h o live to-day to expect the fulfillment of this coramand. Think how easy it is to reach all nations. "Go ye therefore and m a k e disciples of all the nationsand lo, I a m with you H o w quick and comfortable travel is today.' Y o u can go from Vancouver to always, even unto the end of the world." H o n g K o n g in twenty-one days, and This is the c o m m a n d of Jesus Christ to His disciples, and like all His commands, around the world in far less tirae than it comes to His followers to-day. took a generation ago to cross the AtlanW H A T IT MEANS. tic, and all with rauch more comfort. It means that those w h o know H i m in Then to-day w e have the Bible, the Book this day and age are to make disciples of containing the message, translated into all those w h o know Him'not in this day and languages and into most dialects. A n d age. It means that the Christian people how cheap it is. To-day you can purchase of every generation are to preach the gos- two Chinese N e w Testaments for five pel to those in darkness in their o w n gencents. Tben there are great changes takeration. It means that w e of this generaing place all over the world. Nations tion are to preach the gospel to all the that have' been asleep for centuries are people w h o are living in this generation. waking up and desiring that which ChrisIt raeans this or it means nothing. If tianity alone can give, lasting power and we can push the responsibility back the greatness. There are signs of bonds beleast bit, and say that w e are not respon- ing unloosed and captives in political sible for the preaching of the gospel to. all bondage being set free. Liberty, Freenations to-day, then there is no definite re- dora, are words which are taking on n e w force around the world. Then we are sponsibility resting upon us, and Christ's comraand can be shifted on to all suc- told that the Christian people to-day have ceeding generations. So when Christian the m e n and the means to accomplish this great end. m e n and w o m e n say that with God's help OUR PART IN THE WORK. they are going to evangelize the world in But leaving the general, let us come this generation, they are only accepting nearer home. O u r o w n Church has a Christ's c o m m a n d and seeking to fulfill it. Only seeking to do what Christ has com- part in this great work. W e claira w e are Christians, and so corae under this commanded. N o w , when w e look over the world to- raand. W e have been given special privileges and qualifications for doing our day w e can easily see that there is m u c h part. 'We have a full gospel, which will work for this generation to do. M a n y millions w h o have never yet heard the not only change the life of indi-viduals, name of Christ. Are the Christians of but. of nations. W e have a plain, yet irapressive service. W e use God's word the present day able to do this work? Well, of one thing w e are sure, naraely, throughout our entire worship. W e seek that Christ never coramands us to do any- to honor Christ in all things, and so can look confidently for His blessing. A n d thing that w e are unable to do. ENCOURAGEMENTS. this is a work in which w e do not stand Then there are m a n y outward encour- back and say w e will only do so m u c h and

OBEYING OUR LORD'S COMMAND.

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Monographs. eign work was because they thought the Foreign Board would not be able to pay their salaries. Anyone w h o is staying at horae for that reason ought to be kept at h o m e for another reason. T h e Foreign Board has always paid in full all their expenses and are likely to' do so for m a n y days to come. They are Christian men, and deal like Christians with those who represent them on the field. But let us look at the treasury. I confess I ara not a very expert accountant, and there are so m a n y accounts and funds that I will not guarantee anything I say here, but if I a m wrong I will be glad to be set right. I hope the time m a y come when we will pay our tithe into the Lord's treasury and allow those appointed to deal it out. OUR FINANCIAL ABILITV. According to m y figures, we have for our Syrian Mission an endowment of $51,633'.43. Then there is the David Gregg fund, which last year brought into the Mission $3,005, and I just wish to say that I do not k n o w the terras of these endowments, but I wish they could be invested right in the work. Each one brought to Christ to-day is not only one less to be converted, but a new power to convert others, and as everyone knows the great part of the work must be done by the native converts, so I wish w e could relieve Treasurer Tibby of this part of the invested funds and invest it right in lives on the field. Then w e have the A. Alexander fund of $2,500 a year forfiveyears yet. Then w e have about $7,138.01, which is in current funds and can be used to extend the work. Then for China we have an endowment of $5,991.50 (which is all the endowment in money I hope it will ever have) and current funds of $11,254.20. Then, besides all this, we had left, according to last year's report, $6,827.64 of the semi-centennial fund.

leave the rest for others. Nay, it is a work that we esteem a great privilege and press forward to the utmost of our ability. Let others do as they raay, as for us and ours, we will obey our Lord's comraand. W H A T W E ARE DOING. N o w , when compared with others, w e are already doing much. One of the largest denominations in this land is seeking to have one missionary on the foreignfieldfor every one thousand members at h o m e ; that is the goal they have set. Already the Covenanter Church has one missionary in the foreign field for every 370 members at home. Then in contributions, w e stand first, surpassing the Moravians, w h o have been so jioted for their liberality. The last year for which statistics have been secured, w e were 19 cents per member ahead of the United Presbyterian Church, which stood second. But ought we to rest satisfied with this, or be boastful? Ought w e not to be thankful, and strive still after higher things? Can we do more? Can w e afford not to do more? Think how far w e are yet frora raanning our fields. W e have taken as ours to evangelizefieldsin Asia Minor, Syria, Cypras and China with a population of at least 1,800,000. CAN W E DO MORE? N o w to give the gospel to these will require, on the lowest estimate, nearly eighty missionaries. Counting all our missionaries, we have only twenty-five, and are really one or two short of that. So that to m a n ourfieldsw e ought to send out in the near future about sixty moremissionaries. Can we do this? Are we able? Leaving the question as to whether w e have the raen to a future tirae, let us look at our financial ability. I heard it said lately that one reason w h y there were not more m e n offering themselves for for-

Monographs. This m a y be all used to pay expenses this year, and w h y not, w h e n it is not being used for advance work. T h e n we have the Isabelle Stewart Martin fund of $5,627.55, the Oliver B r o w n of $1,560.21, and the Rev. D. J. S h a w $11,226.73. All this is on hand and more at the present time over and above all that has been used in the days gone by. N o w is the future going to be any worse than the past? Well, if we think so it will become so for us. However, I do not think so, and I think w e have every indication that instead of being worse it is going to be better. The Third Philadelphia Congregation, I understand, has raised the salary of a second forei^ missionary. I know of a number of congregations that are seriously considering raising the salary of a foreign missionary besides what they are already doing. Quite a number of Sabbath schools and of individual classes have started to support native workers. T h e students of Geneva CoUege last year for thefirsttime raised the salary of a native evangelist, and there are individuals and congregations all over our Church ready to respond to the call to m a n our fields. Take our little congregation in St. Louis as an example of what we can do. There are forty-three members. They are paying their pastor $1,300 salary. They are going to pay their full quota to aU the schemes of the Church this coming year, and make a special effort to have some one represent them on the foreign field besides. If all the members of our congregations were to pay at the same rate as the St. Louis congiegation w e could m a n all our Mission fields to the full. . Pay all the h o m e ministers the amount of money they received last year. Have $32,149 bonus to divide a m o n g home pastors. Have all our home missions, college and other schemes receive

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their full appropriation (a thing that has never been done yet), Remove almost all our congregations from the Domestic Mission and Sustentation funds, a thing greatly to be desired, and then have $22,500 to divide extra among the foreign missions. This m a y seera incredible, but Mr. Tibby has audited these figures and you can. each one take the Minutes of Synod and figure it out for yourselves. According to the estiraate of $25,000 a year to reach 25,000 heathen, we would need $185,000 a year to reach all in our fields. Our invested funds bring in about $6,134. This would leave abput $178,866 to be raised each year. If every forty-three members paid $13,000 salary, we would have $287,300 salary. Last year the ministers at home received $76,885. This would leave a balance of $210,415, Taking the $178,866 needed to m a n our mission fields from this, w e would have $31,549 to divide among the home pastors, and we would have all the other scheraes of the Church paid in full, including the $22,500, the present appropriation for foreign missions. This does not take into account the increase which the St. Louis people intend to make to foreign missions, nor bequests, which w e can expect just as m u c h as in the past, nor the money at present on hand, nor the present equipment that we have oh. the fields. All these would be to the good over and above the specified amount. This being so, is the manning of our fields such a visionary project? A n d w h o will say that our Church as a whole would not average as m u e h wealth as our St. Louis congregation? Then w e have the Lord's promise that when w e bring all the tithes into the storehouse, H e will add more and more nnto us, so that our barns shall be filled

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Monographs. great Master Builder. H e alone can turn men's hearts, but realizing that when we go into all the world, w e can always claim the "Lo, I a m with you always." And what an inspiration to ourselves and what a pattern it would be to the world, if one of the smallest denorainations would be thefirstto m a n herfieldsto the full and bring the knowledge of God t such a large proportion of those w h o are now sitting in darkness. R. A. Blair. Beaver Falls, Pa. OUR GOSPEL DEBTS. (CONCLUDED PROM PAGE 93.) THIS PRINCIPLE IS FUNDAMENTAL IN THE NEW ORDER, WHICH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST INTRODUCED. Cain voiced the worldly principle when he said, " A m I m y brother's keeper?" The enormities of the ancient civilizations find their key right here. 'When- we review the history of Egypt, Chaldea, MedoPersia, Greece and Rorae, the language of Israel's wise king has its counterpart: "So I retumed and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun; and beheld the tears of such as were oppressed; and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter." But Christ united the power .of God to the weakness of humanity; and H e taught His followers to look "not every m a n on his own things, but every m a n also on the things of others." -He condemned that selfish and complacent policy which passes raisery and sorrow and want and oppression "by on the other side," and commissioned all His followers to use all the resources at their coraraand for the, raitigation of the suffering and the reraoval of the ignorance of their fellowmen, so that each of them could say, "I a m debtor both to the wise and to the un-

with plenty and our presses burst out with n e w wine. This is only theraaterialside, but it is our side, and.if we do ours and ask H i m in prayer (obeying the call issued by our Foreign Board), can w e not rest assured that H e will do His part ? , THE NEED AND OUR OPPORTUNITY. Think of the great need. W e are told in that excellent little tract, " A Call to Prayer," that there are one hundred in our o w n territory descending daily into a hopeless grave. A n d this is not all, terrible as it is. If these people were our o w n relatives, what would w e think? If w e were in that condition and those who had the Light and the Life did not send it to us, what would we think? Those poor people are our brothers. W h a t do we think ? Our brothers and sisters dying daily while we have bread enough and to spare. W e think it terrible to have thera die frora physical hunger, but if they are .not told of Christ, raany of them would be far better dying right away. Think of a million eight hundred thousand souls! If these people were just in a large city by themselves and dying each day at the rate of a hundred a day, would it not be terrible and would w e not strain every power to go and tell them of the Christ, the Saviour of the world ? But it is far worse than that. These people are but parts of great nations, and, at leastas far as China is concerned, the day of opportunity is passing, and in the near future China will either be brought to, Christ or she will become atheistic and materialistic. Will w e not, seeing the need and the opportunity, attempt great things for God ? Atterapt things, although they m a y mean sacrifice? Go forward, rising to heights that will call for the strength and efforts of all our forces, never forgetting that after all the work is His. H e is the

Monographs: wise." This principle is recognized today in Christian lands. President Taft is the Chief Executive of the United States, to the end that he m a y proraote the highest interests of the whole people. If he used his position to promote his o w n interests or those of a few at the expense of the many, he would be an execration. Presidents Pierce and Buchanan are spoken of with scant forbearance because they prostituted the office to serve the Southern slave holders and rivet the chains upon h u m a n property. President Lincoln is honored in all the States to-day because he stood for a government of the people and by the people and for the people. T h e fiftieth an-niversary of the execution of John B r o w n was celebrated Dec. 2, 1909. H e is honored as a martyr because he dared to strike that s u m of all villainies in the n a m e of the God of Justice and on behalf of a wronged people. Booker T. Washington has dedicated his splendid talents to the uplifting of his race in this land. Christian education will uplift the colored people, andfitthera for the privileges of Christian citizenship, and our Saviour King will then appear for their vindication and proraotion to their rightful place in the political life of ihis nation. A n d then will John Brown'sraissionbe realized. In the meantime the blacks are suffering no great hardship in being denied their franchise, for it is not a creditable, right as yet. Money kings* w h o get their fortunes by overreaching and underhanded methods, and hold them in safes with corabination locks are regarded as a curse to humanity. They are the Dead Sea, unto which m a n y riversfiow,but from which none fiow out. They are a raoral pest, and produce barrenness. B u t where Christianity obtains, the interests of the employed are safeguarded in the process of accumulating, so that getting rich quick is cut out. A n d

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the fortune, when acquired, is held as a trust for the use of the poor and needy. His property is bonded fgr God's beneflciaries. W h e n the famine was in Egypt the people came to Joseph. H e gave them food for their moneiy. Then he gave them food fpr their herds and flocks. Then he took their land in exchange for food. A n d last of all, he took the people theraselves for food. But all these were restored to the people the moraent they surrendered their all, and Joseph raade Pharaoh the Proprietor and the people his stewards. A n d as a recognition of their stewardship they brought one-fifth as a revenue to Pharaoh's treasury. N o w , Joseph is a type of Christ. Believers suri'ender themselves and their all to Hira. A n d H e at once gives all back and makes His people His stewards, to use theraselves and their all as H e directs. " W e are not of those w h o draw back unto perdition, but of those w h o believe to the saving (and -winning, getting possession of) their souls." "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for M y sake shall save it (get possession of it) to life eternal." Such Christ uses for conveying His compassions to huraanity. Such are responsive to the durab appeal of the suffering and sorrow of distressed humanity. Full greatness is service. 'When the disciples disputed as to w h o should be greatest, our Lord did not uproot the spirit of eraulation out of which it sprang, but gave it new direction. H e exalted and transforraed that which is natural. "Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister, and whosoever will be chief a m o n g you let him be your servant, even as the Son of M a n carae not to be ministered unto, but to minisfer and to give His life a ransom for raany." THIS PRINCIPLE IS THE ONLY REMEDY FOR THE SORROW OF NATIONS.

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Monographs.

A n old- fable speaks of a chasm in the streets of R o m e that no amount of rubbish couldfillup. The oracles were consulted, and they replied, "The most precious thing in R o m e must be cast into it." This was interpreted by young Curtius as applying to manly courage and arms. A n d so, mounted on his steed and fully accoutered, he galloped into it, and it immediately closed over him. 'When the Redeemer carae. H e found h u m a n society separated by rifts. T h e J e w and Gentile were separated, the Greek and the Barbarian, the scholar and the ignoramus, the m a n and the w o m a n , the slave and the master. The Saviour sacrificed Himself. H e leaped into the chasm, and it closed over Hira. "In Christ Jesus there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor feraale; but all are one." Society will separate into classes, as naturally as the trunk of the tree separates into branches and twigs. But the religion of Jesus Christ takes out all the poison and makes peace to m e n of good will. The infusion of Christ's life into the hearts of the American people, making them "a willing people in the day of His power," will unite the white European, the black African, the yellow Japanese and Chinese, and the red Indian in one composite nationality. "The lion," the rich employer, "and the lamb," the poor eraploye, "will lie down together." Such a people cannot engage in fratricidal internecine war. "They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; and they shall learn war no more." This is the glad message of the angels at the birth of our Lord, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among m e n in w h o m H e is well pleased."

decade of the twentieth centu,ry present a record of heroism in the foreign field which is unparalleled in the world's history. T h e first three centuries of the Church's history do not outshine this later period. I have been deeply interested in reading a book by Rev. Jaraes L. Barton, secretary of the Araerican Board, entitled, "The Missionary and His Critics." It is chiefly valuable for the array of witnesses which heraarshals,all testifying as eye witnesses to the selfsacriflce and self-abnegation and perfect consecration of this great host of Christ in the foreign lands. They give all their lives to this work; they spend raany years in mastering the languages and acquainting themselves with the customs of the people. They deny themselves to convince the people that their purpose in coraing among them- is wholly disinterested. They absorb all their income in the work, making no provision for themselves in old age, knowing that God cares for them. T h e chapter on "The Missionary and His Achievements" is suggestive of 'victory near at hand. 1. They have intrenched and fortifled themselves in all the strategic centers of the non-Christian world. 2. M o d e m education has been introduced into most if not all of the nonChristian countries by the missionaries. 3. Missionaries have created a modern literature- for most of the non-Christian peoples. 4. A vast army of. native Christian literary and educational workers have been trained and put into the work. 5. Foreign missions have largely revolutionized the Oriental ideas of womanhood. 6. Missionaxies illustrate the power of God ahd the wisdom of God. Here he rests his case. T w o principles of military tactics are observed by great generals: THIS PRINCIPLE IS EXEMPLIFIED IN THE First seize the enemy's strong centers, and CHURCH'S FOREIGN MISSIONS. second, capture his outposts, all .the while The nineteenth century and the first keeping open communication between the

Monographs. centers and outposts. T h e Captain of the sacramental host is following these principles. Great Britain, Germany and the Unitedi States ;are the centers of Christian civilization. China, Japan, India, Africa and the Islands of the Sea are the outposts, which H e is capturing. B y steamship, railroad, telegraph and telephone, open communication is kept up between the centers and outposts. The kingdoms of this world are the empire of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. MORAL MOTIVE POWER.

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J. M. Foster.
Boston, Mass. THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION. Careful students of social tendencies report a reaction against the prevailing laxity in conduct and opinion. This is sometimes'characterized as a moral renaissance. It goes deeper; it is nothing less than a revival of religion. Yet it does not appear to be the result of any of the ordinary evangelistic efforts or agencies. It is springing up in unwonted places, and is flnding utterance by unprofessional and unfamiliar voices. A n y one w h o has ears to hear raust catch n o w and then in the c o m m o n speech of m e n a note of unusual seriousness. The facts which have been coming to light during the last few years respecting the terrible infldelity and abuses of power in high places have touched the heart of the c o m m o n m a n with a sense of solicitude. In days like these, the airy optiraism which can see no perils in the path of the nation is an impertinence. Sensible nien are not ashamed to confess their fears, and in their study of existing conditions the trath is brought home to them that the remedy which is needed is a deepening of the life of the peoplesomething organic and elemental which shall change the c o m m o n currents of thought and feeling and renovate the springs of character.

N o doubt some correction in the comm o n moralities is needed. T o our complex and crypticflnancialsystem we must learn to apply the principles of ethics; the Eighth C o m m a n d m e n t needs a large new annotation. H u m a n invention was never so prolific as it is to-day, and its resources have been taxed in devising new ways of stealing. They must be searched out and legibly labeled; that is the business of the law-makers. But w h e n ' all this shall have been done, the deepest need of the people will still be unsupplied. That is the awakening of their consciousness of the sense of the great loyalties on which life is built. Moral rules are not enough; what is needed most is moral motive powerthe love of righteousness, the impulse to integrity, the enthusiasm of virtue. A n d this, as even the coraraon m a n is beginning to feel, is kindled only by religionby fellowship and c o m m u n ion with that "Power not ourselves which makes for righteousness." Thus, even those who have been supposed to be furthest from the comnion creed are clearly recognizing that a merely secular morality is not enough; that. therQ must be something, sacred and supreme in it, else it 'will have little meaning for us and little power over us. Dr. Felix Adler, in his book on "The Religion of Duty," in which he powerfully argues that duty must include a religious element, says: "The moral law is not a convenience nor a convention; it is not imposed in order that we m a y achieve happiness for ourselves or others. T h e moral law comes out of the infinite depths and heights. 'There is a voice that speaks in us out of the ultimate reality of things. It is not subject to us, but w e are subject to it, and w e must bend our pride." Dr. Stanton Coit, of London, another

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Monographs. these great themes of the inner life. Even those w h o have not philosophized much about it have the impression that help must come from this quarter in resisting the encroachments of the dominant materialism, and in bringing the people back to the ways of sanity and integrity. THE SOCIAL WELFARE. One phase of this revival of religion is significant. Its main concern is less for individual than for social well-being. The two cannot well be separated, and doubtless those who are earnestly promoting it have a consciousness of their o'wn -personal need of deliverance from the engrossing raaramonism. But the eraphasis rests on the c o m m o n danger,- and the salvation sought is primarily a social salvation. The notion seems to be gaining that the moral health of the individual cannot well be preserved in a fetid social atmosphere. Heretofore there has been m u c h protest against any close contact of religion with business or with politics. N o w it seema to be assumed that nothing but religion can renovate brutalized business and corrupt politics. It is a great enlargement of the popular conception of religion, and ought to gain for it some new consideration.Editorial in April Century. THE MILLION MOVEMENT IN KOREA. The movement for winning a million souls to Christ in Korea in a year is sweeping over the hermit nation like a tidal wave, and is arousing the highest pitch of enthusiasm. The passion for souls displayed both by the missionaries and the Koreans is little less than apostolic in its fervor and heroism. A t a conference with the Koreans presided over by Rev. J. L. Gerdine, of the Southern Methodist Church, there were about three hundred delegates in attendance. I saw three Bible w o m e n who had walked one hundred miles to be present.

leader of the same school, declares, "The whole of the moral law is by no means contained under the conception of love to one's neighbor. If Christ raeant righteousness, when H e spoke of 'the Lord thy God,' if H eraeantrighteousness worshipped as the sovereign reality of life, w e raust assent to His declaration that thefirstand great coramandment is 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind.'" THE DEEPER NOTE. All this means that religion is, after all, the principal thing; that a raere readjustment of ethical forraularies is not enough; that a deeper note than this must be struck if w e hope to restore the Jost harraony to the huraan soul and the social order. There raust be something to worship, something that kindles our purest love and marshals our highest loyalties. Nothing less than this willraeetthe social need of the tirae, which is a call for a radical change in ruling ideas, for a mighty reconstriiction of ideals, for new conceptions of the meaning and value of life. The call is heard, as w e have already said, in m a n y .unexpected quarters. A daily newspaper, published in Wall Street, declares that there is nothing the country needs just n o w so rauch as a revival of old-fashioned religion. A daily paper, published in the interior, has taken every morning for a week the subjects of its leading editorial frora the phrases of Paul's pfaise of love as the greatest thing in the world. The last Christraas number of a Western daily journal had a brilliant editorial three columns long upon "The Holy Spirit,'' written by one of the strong journalists of America, and full of the passion of a genuine religious faith. These are signs of the times. M e n are thinking seriously and feeling deeply on

Monographs. and a blind m a n w h o groped along more than twenty miles. THE KEYNOTE. The keynote of the conference was the "Million Souls for Christ" this year. Every address, every talk, and every song was concentrated on this one great aim. At thefirstmeeting. Dr. W . T. Reid led the congregation of over four hundred, in the beautiful country church, in singing the carapaign song by M r . Harkness, "A Million Souls for Jesus." It was the most popular hyran of the conference. They never tired of singing it. S o m e of the Korean leaders suggested that it be sung at faraily prayers each raoming, and this is now the custora in not a few horaes. The raost thrilling hour of the conference carae when Rev. C. T. Collyer called upon the delegates to give their whole time for so raany days during, the next three raonths to working for the lost. I was amazed at the marvelous response to the appeal. Soraetiraes there would be ten orfifteenor more m e n on their feet at once eager to call out their "days of service." A merchant arose and said: "I a m going to do this work continually; but I will devote m y entire tirae to it for one week every month," making twenty-one days during the next quarter. "DAYS OF SERVICE." A boatman said he would give sixty days to the Lord during the three months. A third declared he would give every day save Sabbath,-when he wanted to attend church himself! Another said he could only give three full days, but he was going to preach every day, no raatter where he was. A traveling merchant said he was going to preach all along the road, but he would give six entire days. One m a n aroused enthusiasm by stating that he would devote sixty of the ninety days to the Lord. A t length the blind m a n arose^the one w h o had walked twenty

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miles to be presentand said he would give the entire ninety days to the work. One of the w o m e n delegates said she could only promise six days, but she was going to preach to everyone she raet. T h e total number of days promised was 2,721, or the equivalent of one raan preaching Christ constantly for seven years, seven raonths and five days! EARNEST PRAYER. The Koreans are praying for souls with an intensity and simple faith which puts to shame those of us in Christian lands. They think nothing of spending all day or all night in prayer. In m a n y Korean churches it is a kind of unwritten rule that a new convert must lead sorae one else to Christ before they are adraitted to church membership. Will you not pray, and pray daily for a great outpouring of God's Spirit upon Korea? The missionaries are convinced that n o w is the hour of crisis for Korea. Will you help by prayer?George T. B. Davis in the Michigan Chi'istian Advocate. CHINA'S " STUPENDOUS TASK." In the flrst Annual Report on Opiura Suppression, prepared at the B,ritish Legation in Pekin, the above phrase was applied to the Chinese Government's attempt "to eradicate a nattonal and popular vice in a country whose population is generally estimated at 400,000,000." The third of these reports (besides an interraediate one) is n o w issued as a Parliamentary Paper, and is not less encouraging than its predecessors. SENSIBLE DIMINUTION. Sir John Jordan, in his covering despatch, says: "This Report shows that considerable progress continues to be m a d e in the task which the -Chinese Governraent undertook three years ago. There has undoubtedly been a very sensible

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Monographs. VACILLATING FARMERS. Widely different is the tenor of reports from sorae other provinces. Where, as in Eastern Sz-chwan, the officials have vacillated, farmers w h o have seen their neighbors sowing poppy with impunity and reaping the reward of heightened prices due to suppression in other parts, have been eager to get their share of these unhallowed gains, so that in not a few of these districts more poppy was sown in 1907-8 than in the previous year, sometimes even more than before the edict. This experience, together with the proved impracticability of carrying out elaborate provisions for diminishing cultivation by one-tenth annually, in a country destitute of any reliable statistics on which such reduction could be based, has brought the leading Viceroys to the conclusion that total and immediate suspension is the only feasible course. "NO POPPY IS TO BE SOWN." I remeraber that sixteen years ago, m y host at Pekin, the late Dr. Dudgeon, told rae he had arrived at the conviction that a gradual process of reduction 'was unworkable. Accordingly, in m a n y provinces no poppy cultivation is to-be allowed this season. A m o n g these is Sz-chwan, where our Friends' Mission is laboring, and which produces nearly half the total Chinese crop. Sir John Jordan writes that this province "will furnish the supreme test of the success or failure of the program of total prohibition, and, as the order has gone forth that no poppy is to be sown this autumn (1909) the issue on which so m u c h depends is doubtless being fought out as. this report is being written." In West China, the poppy is sown in the autumn, and the opium crop gathered in the spring. "NOT A BLADE OF OPIUM." Already one favorable report has reached the China Inland Mission from Sz-chwan.

diminution in the consumption and cultivation of opium, and a public opinion has been formed which will greatly strengthen ^the hands of the Government and the provincial authorities in the drastic measures which they conteraplate taking in the near future." Previous reports showed great dift'erences in the success with which the great reform is being carried out in different provinces of the great Chinese Erapire. T h e present report shows a more striking contrast than any of the others, especially as regards the cultivation of the opium poppy. A t one end of the scale stand six widely separated provinces, in which orders for total prohibition were issued and enforced during the season of 1907-8, with remarkable success. T w o of these, Shansi and Yiinnan, had been a m o n g the largest producers of opium, nearly all the suitable land in both being given up to poppy cultivation. Yet, with the exception of the portions of Y u n n a n occupied by semi-independent races they have been almost cleared of the poppy. Each was visited by a British official; their reports are appended, and testify to the remarkable success achieved. Hsiliang was Viceroy of Sz-chwan at the time of m y visit to Chengtu three years ago, and assured m e , through R. J. Davidson, "on this question China is one." A few days after our interview, he was transferred to Yiinnan, where he initiated with great vigor the drastic policy carried out by a successor. In Shansi, we are told, prohibition of poppy cultivation meant "depriving the agricultural classes of almost half their income at one blow." Well m a y the consular official w h o visited Yiinnan observe on "the wonderful power which can be wielded by a sincere and effective Imperial decree, even in the most inaccessible circuit of this remote province of the Empire."

Monographs. The Rev. Arthur Polhill, M.A., one of the famous Cambridge seven, writes from Shuting, under date of Nov. 22: "Is it not truly wonderful ? This great center:of opium, now for the first time within memory, finds itself, without a crop of opium.. The prohibition of opium cultivation has begun suddenly, drastically, and actually, and the people seem to take it quietly. Not a blade of opium have I seen, but instead, one sees wheat, vegetables, etc., all growing, with prospect of cheaper foodstuffs next year." M a y this report prove the precursor of many others equally satisfactory. For this it is not too late to pray; m u c h will doubtless depend on the firmness of the officials in rooting up, as has been done elsewhere, the crops of poppy which m a y have been so-wn in spite of orders. J..G. A. in B o m b a y G-uardian. JAMES CHALMERS. Rev. James, Chalraers is known as the London Missionary Society's pioneer missionary to N e w Guinea. H e was born in Scotch. Highlands in 1841, and was the son.of a.stonemason. H e had many thrilling adventures -^hile yet a boy. Three times he eame near to death by drowning. W h e n only ten years of age, he rescued another boy from a watery girave after a persistent and truly heroic effort, astonishing intone so young. H e was onlyfifteenyears old when he determined to devote his life to missionary work. Going to a lonely place, he knelt down and prayed earnestly to God to both show him the way and to make himfitto be a missionary. , , Jan. 4, 1866, when twenty-five years of age, he started on his journey as a missionary to the South Seas. His vessel was wrecked, and the young missionary and a part of the crew, were, rescued by a. pirate vessel. Young Chalmers soon gained a wonderful

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infiuence over the pirate captain, and thus his life and the lives of others were spared. H e finally reached Raratonga,. one of the Cook Islands. Here he lived' for ten years, "fighting strong drink," says the record, "and training up a large company of heroic native Christians who beeame his beloved and trusted assistants in N e w Guinea, m a n y of them dying there for their Saviour." H e was affectionately' known as "Tamate," the best they could do in their attempts to pronounce the name "Chalmers." In 1877 the heroic missionary settled' among the fiercest of the cannibals of N e w Guinea. H e faced a thousand perils. Every day his life was threatened, and that of his no less heroic wife also. Three times he wrenched from the murderer's hand the club raised to slay him. Assassins crept up behind him, but on each occasion he turned just in time to stay the thrust of the knife. Hate changed to love; enemies grew into friends. H e becanie the "Great Heart" of N e w Guinea, the name bestowed upon him by Robert Louis Stevenson. H e went from tribe to tribe, winning each to a knowledge of Christ. At one time he administered the sacrament to nearly five hundred erstwhile savages. But the hand of hate struck him at last. H e was murdered on Easter, April 7, 1901.The Young Chrisiian. ' ' . SOUTH AMERICA AS A MISSION FIELD. South America is the "big brother" of North America. It has nearly seven million square miles. At least six million are' suitable for emigrants, double the avail-' able territory of the United States. ' It has no great deserts, no large sections under perpetual snow, no large tracts which cannot by irrigation be rendered.a fruitful garden. It has every variety of'

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Monographs. ezuela has had ninety years of so-called independence. Eighty-two of these ninety years have experienced ninety-nine revolutions. There can be no stable state of society in a land whose "principal industry is civil war." T h e people are ignorant. N o t one in five can read. Not one in a thousand possesses a Bible or a N e w Testaraent. Education is making strides in the more enlightened republics, but crass ignorance, the raother of superstition, prevails in large sections of the continent. There is still m u c h fanatical persecution of the raissionary. Liberal governraent, however, is prevailing; but the ignorance of the populations still raakes perilous the life of the missionary. T h e missionary is in South America, and in to stay. Mission work has been carried on for more than half a century by various evangelical bodies in the United States and Europe. T h e most efficient pioneers in South America were the Agents of the British and American Bible societies. These godly colporteurs, with little machinery and small outlay, traversed the continent from Cape Horn to Darien, "undeterred by persecution, imprisonment, or even death," .circulating the W o r d of God. There are at present in South America, representing all denominations, about 850 missionaries. This includes ordained m e n , lay workers, physicians, wives of missionaries, single wonien missionaries, and colporteurs. Selected.

cliraate. Its coasts are all corapassed by steam navigation, and the interior is largely accessible through the great waterways. It is to-day the Bl Dorado of the emigrant. T h e emigration from Europe to South Araerica n o w exceeds that to the United States twenty years ago. It is a robbed land. The gigantic robbery of the continent was begun early' and persistently continued. Spain for centuries dorainated South America. T h e South American says of the Spanish flag (stripes of yellow between stripes of red) : "It represents a river of gold between two rivers of blood." Here dwell thirty-seven and one-half millions of people (the n u m ber is constantly increasing through emigration), representing the Spanish, Portuguese, Indian, Negro and mixed races. It is the third h o m e of European humanity. South Araerica as a mission field represents peculiar difficulties. It is cursed with a most ignoble priesthood. In 1897 Pope Leo in his encyclical letter to the clergy of Chili wrote: "In every diocese ecclesiastics break all bounds and deliver themselves u p to manifold forms of immorality. T h e clerical press casts aside all sense of decency and loyalty in its attacks on those w h o differ. It is sad to refiect that prelates, priests and other clergy are never to be found doing service araong the poor." T h e country is cursed by swordcraft. In 1849 the Argentine Republic had twelve presidents in ten raonths. Ven-

James Gilmour, the pioneerraissionaryto Mongolia, was a raan of prayer. H e had the habit in his writing of never using a blotter. H e raade it a rule w h e n he got to the bottom of any page to wait until the ink dried and spend that time in prayer. That kind of habit drives prayer right into all the chinks and corners of our lives like the raortar that holds the building stones together. "While the learned are fumbling the latch, and arguing about its weight and finish, the simple and poor have entered into the K i n g d o m of Heaven.Augustine.

Editorial Notes.

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EDITORIAL The Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church will meet at Winona, Ind., Wednesday, M a y 25, 1910, at 8 P. M., when the retiring Moderator, Rev. T. H . Acheson, D.D., will preach the annual sermon. This assembly of elders should call forth m u c h prayer that brotherly love m a y prevail and that all business may be transacted according to the mind of the Holy Spirit. Then the King will be "in the midst," and God will be glorified.

N O T E S .
Presbyteries, and of elders from congregations making application for aid through this Conference expecting to attend Synod, is called to the second recommendation, adopted by the Conference last year. (See Minutes of Synod for 1909, page 77, recommendation 2.)

J. S. Thompson,
Chairman of Central Board.

According to present arrangements for leaving the fields, all the missionaries on furlough should be home in time for Special attention is called to the followthe meeting of Synod, except Rev. Walter ing official notices: McCa.rroll, of Cyprus. S o m e of them are Ministers and Sessions will take note already,in America, and others are exof the fact that the Synod of the Reformed pected by the middle of this month. Their Presbyterian Church has been called to presence, fresh from the scenes of their meet in pro re naia session on Wednesday, labors, willfillthe hours set apart for -the May 25,1910, at 7 P. M., at Winona Lake, consideration of the Foreign Missions Indiana, to change the time of the regu- with inspiring influences, and ministers lar meeting from Wednesday, June 1, and elders, retuming to their pastorates, 1910, at 8 P. M., to Wednesday, M a y 25, willfirethe people with renewed devotion 1910, at 8 P. M . All certificates of elders to the missionary enterprise. should reach the Clerk of Synod not later than M a y 17. (See Rule 6 for Organiza- All delegates, before leaving home for Synod, should study the article on "Obeytion and Proceedings of Synod.) All papers or communications intended for ing Our Lord's Comraand." It iS from the pen of Rev. R. A. Blair, w h o was Synod should be mailed to the Clerk in forced by failing sight to leave China, but ample time. J. S. Thompson, who is helping the work most effectively Clerk of Synod. by his enthusiastic addresses as he travels In view of the proposed change of the throughout the churches. H e should have date of'the meeting of Synod, the Central the prayers of all interested in the ForBoard of Missions has changed the date eign Missions. of the meeting of the Mission Conference from Tuesday,May 31,1910, at 7:30 P.M., Rev. and Mrs. W. M. Robb were reto Tuesday, M a y 24, 1910, at 7:30 P. M . leased from quarantine Saturday, April The place of meeting is Winona Lake, In- 9, 1910, and were among friends at Seatdiana. Delegates to the Mission Confer- tle that evening. A slight attack of ence and others having any business with smallpox rendered his isolation necessary the Conference will please take note of for about twenty days, but he is n o w this chemge of date. T h e attention of rapidly regaining strength, and Mrs.

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Editorial Notes.

Gardner, of St. James's Church, Cambridge, Mass., for the instruction of children and young people in the homes and Sabbath schools of the land"to make them see the world, part of i t won, and part of i t waiting for Christ, and to make them feel a demand on their responsibility." The book is so admirably adapted for this purpose that Olive Trees cordially commends i t to parents and Sabbath school teachers who wish the boys At the March meeting of the Board of and giris nnder their care to have a share Foreign Missions, the Corresponding Sec- in winning the world to Christ. "As a raeans to accomplish this, the entire retary was instructed to appeal to the course centers about an outline map of churches' for about $400 to complete a the world, and each lesson deals with buildirig in Gunaimia, Syria. Dr. Balph has, largely at his own expense, erected a some heroic character or characters, who, one-story structure, where religious seras Christian soldiers, ainied to win the vices can be held on Sabbath arid a school peoples of a certain country to Christ." during the week. And i ti s desirable that a seoond story should be added at once, The Foreign Board has prepared the thus providing a comparatively comfortfollowing program for a conference on able horae for araissionaryand his famForeign Missions at Synod, Friday evenily during the sumraer holidays. In that ing, June 3, 1910: Armenian village there were reported to General Topic.The Mediatorial Suthe Synod of 1909 from seventy to premacy of Christ and Foreign Missions. seventy-five communicants, and at the last Rev. T. P. Stevenson, D.D., LL.D., Chaircommunion, only a f^w weeks ago, there raan. was an accession of ten to the membership Prayer.Rev. E. L. McKnight, Olathe, .of the Church. It i s hoped that in the Kansas. near future there may be a raissionary Singing.Psalm 96 :6-9. C. M. stationed in that proraising locality, and Address.The Sovereignty of the ultimately an organized congregation with Mediator the Authority for Foreign Misa native pastor. Are there not four memsions. Rev. S. J. Johnston, New Castle, bers of the Covenanter Church who will Pa. make, up this trifiing amount that the A ddress.The Kingly Presence of the building may be ready for occupancy this Mediator the Inspiration of Foreign Missumraer ? sions. Rev. McLeod .M. Pearce, St. Louis, Mo. The Fleming H. Revell Co., New York, Singing.Psalra 67:1-4. S. M. Chicago and Toronto, has sent u s Address.A World-wide Recognition WINNERS OF THE W O R L D . of the Regal Claims of Christ as MediaThis, l i t t l e volume is a course of mis- tor the End or Aira of Foreign Missions. sionary study from the time of Paul to the Eev. J. M. Foster, Boston, Mass. present day, specially prepared by Mary Singing.'Psalm 72: 10-12. L.M. Tracy Gardner and William Edward Prayer.'Rey.B,. C. Wylie, D.D., LL.D. Robb, who reraained at the station while he was in the detention hospital, has perceptibly iraproved in health. H e informs us that, a friend wrote thera, " W e often experience much of the best things that God. has to give in the most unlikely place," and adds, "In quarantine we receivedrauchfrora the hand of our blessed Saviour that might otherwise have been missed."

A Monthly Journal devoted to Missionary W o r k in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. No.

J U N E , 1910.

Q U E S T I O N S DANGERS THAT THREATEN THE GOSPEL MINISTER.

O F

T H E

H O U R .

But it is a plain, sad fact of history that soraeyes, many-who have stood officially near to God have in heart been REV. T. H. ACHESON, D.D. distant from him. Nadab and Abihu "Lest that by any means; when I have bore God's censers, but they put strange 'preached to others, I myself should he a fire therein. Korah was set apart to casiau'ay."I. Cor. 9, 27. serve the tabernacle, but he dies in reIt is not a remarkable matter that a bellion. Balaam, inspired of God, beyoung m a n born and reared in a Christian holds the star coming forth from Jacob home, accustomed to the family altar and and the sceptre rising out of Israel, but religious conversation, taken in childhood to Sabbath school and sanctuary service, he dies not the deSth of the righteous sent for education to a Christian college, man. Hophni and Phinehas bring the associating with companions- m a n y of ark of God into battle, but they bring not whose goal is the Christian ministry, with it the protection of God. Caiaphas, should find himself at length in the school the high priest, even as he enters the most of the prophets, and shortly after be set- holy place, is far off from God. Judas is tled as a preacher of the gospel. The re-- made one of the twelve by our Lord, but sult is natural and logical. It is not sur- he betrays his master and plunges into eternal night. A h , there have been false prising to find such an outcome from such priests, false prophets, false preachers, antecedents. m a n y of them, in the world's history. It is a solemn thing to be an ambassador of the King of Heaven, tb be the rep- "Many will say to m e in that day. Lord, Lord, have w e not prophesied in thy resentative of the God of holiness, to be the mouthpiece of the God of truth. It is name? and in thy narae have cast out a solemn thing to preach to sinful m e n devils ? and in thy narae done raany wonthe good tidings of salvation, to offer them derful works? A n d then will I profess eternal life, to warn them of the wrath to unto them, I never knew you; depart fromrae,ye that work iniquity." come, and to walk before them as one A n d it is no doubt true in the present whose life is specially near to God. Surehour that someshould w e say, m a n y ? ly the ground on which the minister who offer life to others, were never b o m stands is holy! *Sermon preached at the opening of ihe again. They wear the robes of office, but have never touched in faith the h e m of Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church at Winona Lalce, Ind., Wednes- Jesus' garment; have given the right hand of fellowship, but never felt the saving day, M a y 25, 1910, ai 8 P. M .

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Questions of the Hour. prize, which is an incorraptible crown. H e tells us also that he himself is a runner, and is running with great eamestness. "I therefore so ran, as not uncertainly; so fight I"so box I"as not beating the air"as a pugilist not striking empty air;"but I buffet m y body" bruise m y body, beat m y body blue "and bring it into bondage"-make it a slave. H e does not, however, here sanction asceticism. "Lest by any. means," he

touch of His hand; have applied the water of baptism, but have neVer been washed from sin; have given sacramental bread to others, but have never themselves partaken of the bread of life. Is it not true, brethren, that -there are ministers w h o proclaim m u c h truth, w h b are interested and active in their work, w h o are eve.n the means of salvation to others, and yet who are not genuine, w h o do not know that they are not genuine, and whose friends do not know their true character? A s m e n w h o have put another year behind them, and are arailestonenearer the goal, w e should find this a topic of vital and absorbing interest. There is an hour coming for u s o n e for m e and another for y o u w h e n w e will go out frbm these familiar scenes. Our congregations will not go with us. Our friends will not accompany us. Even the dear ones at home will pause on the threshold. Soon w e shall go out alone, as far as h u m a n friend is concerned, into the future. I stood the other day and looked into the silent face of one with w h o m I had studied for the ministry; and I afterward recalled at least six other similar companions w h o have already laid aside life's work. Did they realize in their o w n souls the truth they preached to others? Did they go forth to meet in joyful welcome the face of H i m whose word they spoke while here? T h e foundation standeth true and sure. Were they established on this foundation? Are m y feet resting on the solid rock? Watchman, what of yourself? Look not only abroad, but at h o m e ; not only without, but within. A glance at the context here m a y aid us. In the twenty-fourth verse Paul e m p k y s the flgure of athletic contest, probably referring to the Isthmian games. H e urges his hearers to run the Christian race, and to exercise self-control as a means of preparation. H e tells of the

T. H. AOHESON, D. D. coiitinues, "after that I have preached to others"^^have been a herald of the good tidings of the gospel"I myself should be rejected." W e have quoted from the Araerican Revision. T h e regular version reads: "Lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." I a m aware that m y theme m a y seem wider than the context. T h e apostle is

Questions of ihe Hour. here saying that he represses bodily appetite for the salie of spiritual safety. Yet in the words of the text he voices the w a m i n g that a m a n m a y preach the gospel and himself not be saved. Hence our theme, which is: THE DANGERS THAT THREATEN THE G O S P E L MINISTER. THERE IS MUCH THAT IS ATTRACTIVE IN THE GOSPEL MINISTRY FROM A WORLDLY POINT OF VIEW. N o such sacrifice is required of us as of Christian leaders in Christ's day. "Behold, J send you forth as lambs among wolves." N o such trials confront us as God's workers met under Nero, or Trajan, or Marcus Aurelius, or years ago in Scotland or the Netherlands, or more recently in Chiija. W e are not menaced by persecution in our day and country. Life and property are not imperilled because we preach the gospel. There are also positive secular inducements to enter the ministry. 'What other professions offer suchfinancialhelp onthe threshold of preparation? "What other professional schools than schools of theology offer the advantage of free tuition, with perhaps free dormitories, and considerable sums of money for general expenses? Nobody stands ready to provide the medical student's lodging, or the coming teacher's table expenses. The Church m a y be wise in making the provision it does for her future ministers, but it cannot be denied that temptation lurks in these very conditions. The ministry is more 'certain than some other professions, to yield an incorae from the beginning. Even before the preacher becomes a pastor, he receives a stipulated sum for each day's appointment. A n d when he becomes a pastor, the Church requires that a fixed salary with a m i n i m u m amount shall be paid. Truly the laborer is worthy of his hire; but w e are merely

123

stating conditions. T h e incipient physician m a y wait for m a n y a day before thefirstpatient rings his door bell; and the lawyer m a y sit for weeks at his desk before hisfirstclient crosses the threshold. The minister has a distinct advantage here. Moreover, the pastor has a social standing in his comraunity. H e is recognized as a leader, as a m a n of intelligence and culture. Social courtesies are extended him. A prorainent place is often given him on public occasions. Duties of importance and honor are assigned him. Financial concessions are m a d e to him. There is also a fair degree of material comfort in the h o m e of the preacher. There are very few large salaries among rairiisters. N o minister becomes wealthy from his income. F e w could lay aside in a long life even a competence for old age. M a n y salaries are too small for his family needs and literary tastes; for the education of his children, and his library. Some salaries are smaller than the income of a day laborer, and others are miserably insufficient. Yet with all this, the average minister of the gospel has better material conditions than the average m a n the country over. H e has a h o m e of comfort, with fair provision for body and mind. The ministry also affords a field for rare intellectual pleasure; a field with m u c h to attract the m a n of books and thought. His library appeals to literary taste. His hours of study bring iriuch that is inspiring. His researches take him into m a n y an alluring field. There is m u c h pleasure, too, in the presentation to a.udiences of the results of careful tho-ught. True, there are ofteri discomforts in pulpit work, yet surely it is a great intellectual privilege to speak on important theraes every week to assemblies bf thinking m e n and women. I a m sure this is a most attractive feature in the work of a

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Questions of ihe Hour. God!" and yet afterward from his lonely prison sends, in apparent doubt, the query, "Art T h o u H e that should come, or do w e look for another?" Peter, in an hour of great spiritual enlightenment, pronounces the sublime declaration, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," and later, in an hour of craven fear, says, "I know not the man." A n d the apostle w h o saw the great light at Damascus here voices his o w n danger from thefiesh^lestafter he has preached to others, he himself should be rejected. Doubt is a darksome bird of prey that raay hover over the preacher's head and even nestle in his heart. Dr. Payson is quoted by a writer as saying in a letter to a friend, "There is one trial which you cannot k n o w experimentally; it is that of being obliged to preach to others when one doubts of everything, and can scarcely believe that there is a God. All the atheistical, deistical and heretical objections which I raeet with in books are childish babblings corapared with those which Satan suggests, and which he urges upon the raind with a force which seems irresistible. Yet I a m often obliged to write sermons, and to preach, when these objections beat upon m e like a whirlwind and alraost distract rae." Jaraes Renwick, as w e read in "Scots Worthies," when he had come to some degree of maturity, but evidently before he entered the university, went into a labyrinth of darkness concerning foundation-truths, and said on one occasion as he looked to the mountains : "If these were all devouring furnaces of burning brimstone, he would be content to go through them all, if so he could be assured there was a God." Doubt is a terrible foe, and the minister does not always escape. M a n y forms of temptation and sin assail hira. Covetousness, no doubt, has taken raen from the pulpit, or made their

great majority of the preachers of the gospel. A n d thus, brethren, danger arises right here, out of the very conditions of the gospel ministry. Such are the induceraents that a raan raay be led to enter the rainistry w h o is not a child of God. THE GOSPEL MINISTER IS ONLY AN IMPERFECT MAN, SUSCEPTIBLE TO EVIL INFLUENCES. If he is a child of God, as his position assuraes, he is not yet a perfect m a n . H e has not already attained, nor is he already m a d e perfect. Though the old m a n is cracified with Christ, he is not yet dead. T h e minister is not .yet free from sin, nor i m m u n e from its attacks. Induction into office does not change character. T h e consecration of priests; the bathing of Aaron and his sons; the official garments; the mitre upon his head, with its solemn inscription, "Holy to Jehovah"; the anointing .oil; and the sprinkled bloodthese did not m a k e them different men. T h e approval of presbytery and the imposition of hands, in themselves work no sanctifying change in men's hearts. Neither does official position fumish such external protection that the preacher is safe. T h e high priests' garments were not morally antiseptic. T h e minister is not so shielded that the darts of sin can find no vulnerable spot. H e is not placed within a fortress, so that the arrows of Beelzebub can never reach hira. H e is a sinful m a n in a sinful world. A n d sin finds its way to his church, and to his home, and to his study, and to his heart. It assails him day by day, and often makes him bite the bitter dust of defeat. Moses went up into the m o u n t and caught in his face the refiection of the divine glory, yet afterward sins in unbelief and anger, and is shut out frora the proraised land. John the Baptist on one occasion says: "Behold, the L a m b of

Questions of the Hour.

125

message weak and worldly. Ambition and years he and I have been standing on the pride have set their snares successfully brink of a precipice, trembling with apfor the preacher's feet. ]irehension that at any tirae he raight go Sin, in its grosser,fieshlyforms, m a y over. But n o w he's safe." N o n e of you assail, and cripple, and even slay the gos- . m a y fear this form of temptation-at all, pel minister. It' is the body which Paul but m a n y of us m a y need to fear the body fears in the text, and well m a y the as m u c h as Paul did, or far more. preacher fear the perils of thefiesh.Lust So w e desire to emphasize at the close has throttled some, and even where the of this point, brethren, that Paul in this messenger's voice has not been silenced, a text distinctly flies the danger signal. deadening hand m a y have been laid upon The doctrine of perseverance in grace is his heart. Intemperance has entered the no pillow for oa.reless security. H e w h o saw the light at Damascus, and was fllled pulpit, yes, even our o w n pulpits, and taken the robes of office from the incum- with the Holy Ghost, was certain of his bent. W e are told of arainisterwho-, on salvation, and of his apostleship, and of medical advice, took stimulant after, a the final outcome; but he knew better severe illness. Soon he found himself in than to think that he was in no danger from sin. Hodge is quoted as saying, the coils of the terapter. It was the old story. H e fell, and rose, fell and rose, "The reckless and listless Corinthians and fell again. H e resolved and resisted, thought they, could safely indulge themand prayed and yielded. H e went to an selves to the very verge of sin, while this inebriate asylum. His Christian char- devoted apostle considered himself as enacter secured for him the respect of all gaged in a life struggle for his salvation." the inmates. In about a year his cure was The m a n who does not watch, w h o does supposed to be complete, and he was de- not fight foes without and within, w h o sired to remain as chaplain of the institu- does not overcome, will, whether he be a tion; but he accepted a call to a congre- minister or layraan, fail of the crown of gation. H e m a d e a full and frank state- righteousness. ment of his infirmity, and told thera that THERE IS THE DANGER OF PROFESSIONALISM TO he must fall unless sustained by the grace THE MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL. In harmony with ourfirstpoint there of God and the prayers of good men. H e is teraptation to enter the ministry merely won the hearts of the whole comraunity by his appeal. God gave him great suc- as an occupation. O n e young m a n , fresh cess, but his labors exceeded his strength. from college, chooses journalism; another, H e flagged, was temptedand resisted! engineering; a third, medicine; another, B y the grace of God and the help of m a n the law; and it is true that some, with nb he stood. His church enjoyed his ser- higher purpose than the choice' of one among m a n y occupations, select that of vices only about a year. H e sickened and died, but it is said he died a hero! the ministry. Also there is danger that in the proH e conquered the foe by which m a n y strong m e n have been slain. A t the gress of a minister's work it shall become funeral the wife seemed composed, and to him more and more professional. The almost happy, and she said to the officiat- regularity of duties has a tendency to ing clergyman w h o inquired about it, ''Oh, such a result. H e must preach every Sabbath, whether his o w n soul rises to he's safe! Y o u don't k n o w anything about what w e hiave passed through. For the occasion or not. H e is expected to

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Questions of ihe Hour.

take part in prayer-raeeting, while those H e is supposed to be nearer Christ than w h o feel they have no special message others. H e is supposed to know more of raay sit still. H e visits the sick; he conGod's will. It is not natural for the ducts funerals; he baptizes; he holds com- pupil to instruct the teacher; for the munions. All these experiences should _child to warn the parent; for the soldier deepen his spirituality, and maybe as a to tell the commanding officer that he is rule araong ministers, they do; but there raaking a grave mistake. is danger in routine. Repetition m a y dull Sin m a y be evident in the pastor's life, and harden. There is m u c h danger in self-consciousness m a y be apparent to following the letter rather than the spirit. others, pride m a y reveal itself in his work, T h e very contact with sacred things covetousness m a y take him from his study, deadens the spirituality of hira who comes social functions raay lessen his influence, to spiritual duties unprepared. The high worldliness m a y dira his spirituality and priest w h o entered indifferently the holy m a r his work, and yet, because he wears of holies would come out a worse raan the badge of office, no warning voice m a y than when he went in. It is a solemn be raised to show him the error of his thing to pray in the sanctuary, and at ways. His position magnifies his peril. It raay be partly germane to the presthe sick bed; to baptize in the n a m e of the triune G o d ; to offer to m e n in Christ's ent thought to say that the low standard n a m e the emblems of His sacrifice; and it of the Church in general is a menace to is a perilous and hurtful thing to do so the preacher of the gospel. It is true unprepared in heart. that the Church is, in considerable measIt is hard always, of course, for the ure, what the minister raakes it; but it is worker to enter into the real raeaning of just as true that the minister is more or spiritual work. The physician cannot less what the Church makes hira. What carry fully on his heart the sorrow and the Church is, in its creed, in its discipsufferings of the horaes to which he goes. line and in its raoral tone, determines in T h e nurse in the hospital becomes accus- great measure what the minister will say tomed to painful sights and sounds. T h e and think. H e m a y at times rise lawyer cannot burden himself with all the higher in his preaching than the Church's financial distresses of his clients. T h e standard, but after all that is a standard pastor, even raore than any of these should for him. A n d the failure of the Church do, is called upon to suffer with his peo- in the present hour to measure u p to cerple, as a representative of Christ; but it tain great traths, and to require a higher is impossible for him to suffer as deeply plane of living for herraerabers,helps to at all times as all his people do, with keep the preacher's convictions on a lower w h o m he must deal in hours of distress. plane. A n d so there is danger of routine and THE GOSPEL MINISTER IS A SPECIAL OBJECTOF professionalism. SATANIC ASSAULT. This assertion goes without proof. THE MINISTER IS LESS LIABLE THAN OTHER MEN Nothing is plainer, and it is a most imTO BE WARNED OF SINFULNESS ; TO BE portant fact to be remembered. THE OBJECT OF FRIENDLY REBUKE. It is his place to warn; and w h o will Satan is shrewd. H e is guilty of folly presurae to warn him ? It is his to rebuke at tipies and gross blunders; but he is and who will rebuke h i m ? Very few, cunning. It is a wily foe w h o dogs our unless his corapanions in the ministry. steps. H e knows the significance of lead-

Question* of the Hour.

127

ing the leader astray. W h e n the bird at prejudice against him. H e will stir up the apex of the flying triangle of wild strife between him and his brethren. - Satan assails the courts of God's house. geese falls before the hunter's gun, the others of the flock are thrown into con- H e sends his emissaries to church sessions. fusion. T h e erring parent m a y soon be H e sends them to presbytery. H e m a y atfollowed in his wayward path by the tend in person the meetings of Synods and child. If the general falls in battle, it assemblies. I'his is not a humorous, but a sad and dangerous fact. H e is more m a y soon fare ill with the soldier. A n d if the teacher can be led astray, m a n y a than an interested spectator at such pupil m a y stumble in forbidden paths. places. Like death, he loves a shining So w e see the serpent entering Eden to mark, and he makes a particular effort to beguile the head of the h u m a n race. H e lead the leaders astray. knows the significance of that hour, and It is logical to assurae that he will take he puts poison in the foimtain-head. H e careful advantage of all the conditions of knows, what it means to overthrow the . temptation we have mentioned to-night: king and poet of God's people, and he the worldly attractions of the ministry; stands up against Israel and moves David the minister's susceptibility to teraptation; to nuraber the people. H e saw that Job the professionalism of his work; his corawas an upright m a n and a great example parative freedora from w a m i n g ; and his for good, and so he destroys for him leadership in the sphere of morals. Naturally he holds in his hands these and property, children and health. Because Joshua of the second temple is high m a n y other lines of strategy, as he endeavors to overthrow the gospel minister priest, Satan stands at his right hand to be his adversary. H e knew that and nullify his work. Israel's prospects were brightening, and CONCLUSION. Having thus presented some of the he wanted to blast them. H e assails the Son of God in the wilderness forty days perils that beset the preacher's pathway, in the hope that he can m a k e the Re- we will occupy two or three minutes, here at the close, in pointing out the condideemer of m e n break His covenant. If he can wrench the chief cornerstone of tions of safety. Examine yourself! 0 redemption from its place, the whole leader, have you yourself been led into structure will fall in ruins. H e per- the K i n g d o m of God? W h a t is your suades Judas, one of the twelve leaders, foundation ? Sand, or the rock ? A good to betray the Great Leader into the hands life, or Jesus only? Waich! B e sober, of His enemies. H e sifts Peter as wheat be vigilant! Instead of being indifferent, we, of all m e n , should be on our guard. and brings him to sore defeat. H e w h o leads in the work of the King- Pray! N o safety without prayer. Not dom n o w is surely a special object of m u c h safety without m u c h prayer. Prayer Satan's devices. H e w h o stands in the precedes study. Prayer precedes preachforefront of this battle need not be sur- ing. Prayer precedes success. Pray raore prised that he is a target for the sharp- in the closet than in the pulpit. "What shooters of the devil. Satan will put ob- was prayer in the life of Jesus? Strive! stacles in his way. H e will try to discour- Not only for others, but for yourself! Let age the minister of Christ. H e will poison the hand cleave unto the sword. So run that you m a y attain. R u n , as not uncerhis mind with unbelief. H e will try to neutralize his message. H e will create tainly. Fight, as not beating the air.

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Qu'esiions''of:ihe Hawti:

Buffet the body, and bring it into bond- the boat. P u t all of yourself into the age. Only he w h o overcomes will re- scales. M a k e self a whole burnt offering ceive the crown. Trust! Not in h u m a n on God's altar. For safety, for purity, effort, not in strenuous flghting, but in for assurance, for power, for thefillingof. Jesus; daily, hourly, looking unto H i m . the Spirit, let us surrender wholly unto And,finaUy,brethren. Surrender! Wholly our Lord .Jesus Christ! yield to G o d ! Get all of yourself into The following illustration was omitted frora the article by Rev. George A. Edgar on .the "Demands of the Hour," which appeared in March Olive Trees. It should be inserted before the closing paragraph on second column of page 55. and Jaraes and John and little Scotch A n drew and sorae more of them down there just to m a k e it the business of their lives to tell others, and the others are to tell others, and the others others, and yet others and still others, until the last m a n in the furthest circle has heard the story R. M. S. S. D. Gordon in his "Quiet Talks on and has felt the thrilling and the thrallService," presents the responsibility of be- ing power of it." A n d Gabriel knows us folks down here lievers for the working out of the plan in a very impressive way. H e supposes that pretty well. H e has had more than one after thefirstfiushof feeling a m o n g the contact with the earth. H e knows the inhabitants of the other world has spent kind of stuff in us. A n d he is supposed itself, that "the Master is walking down to answer, with a sort of hesitating relucthe golden street one day, arm-in-arm with tance, as though he could see difficulties Gabriel, talking intently, eamestly. Ga- in the working of the plan, "Yes^but^ briel is saying, "Master, you died for the suppose Peter fails. Suppose after a while whole world down there, did you not?" John siraply doesnot tell others. Suppose "Yes." " Y o u must have suffered much," their descendants, their successor away off with an earnest look into that great face in thefirstedge of the twentieth century, with its unremovable marks. "Yes," get so busy about thingssome of them again coraes the answer in a wondrous proper enough, some m a y be not quite so voice, very quiet, but strangely full of properthat they do not tell others deepest feeling. " A n d do they all know what then?" A n d his eyes are big with about it ?" "Oh, no! Only a few in the intenseness of his thought, for he is, Palestine know about it so far." "Well, thinking of the suffering, and he is thinkMaster, what's your plan ? W h a t have you ing, too, of the difference to the m a n who done about telling the world that you hasn't been told"what then?" And died forthat you have died for them? back comes that quiet, wondrous voice of "What's your plan?" "Well," the .Master Jesus, "Gabriel, I haven't m a d e any other is supposed to answer, "I have asked Peter plansI'm counting on ihem."

There is in the heart of every m a n an eamest desire to know h o w he m a y be victorious in the tirae of teraptation. Temptation ia not sin, though yieldmg is sin; but there is one sure way of escaping from the overmastering power of the tempter and that is to keep busy. W h e n David was idle he sinned; when Peter was not toiling he failed, and it was when you were drifting idly along in Christian experience that you denied your Master. The secret of a victorious life is to keep busy.i^a;.

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N E W S

OF

T H E

C H U R C H E S .

A B R O A D . REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN MISSIONS.

The report pf the Board of Foreign Missions has been referred to us, and as w e consider the occurrences of the past year, w e are assured that, while God's providences seera raysterious to us, yet ,they "in no way release us frora- the obligations w e are under to extend the gospel invitation widely in thefieldsw e occupy. W e can rest in the confidence that God will never turn His messengers, bearing His work, backward, but is only -rearranging the forces for, a more effective movement. W e believe-a heart of sympathy that fccffers with.the need of the heathen world is the great need of the Church. A n d if the missionaries n o w at h o m e can awaken this, their work will be a great blessing. There is .no'way this syrapathy can be established in the h o m e Church so satisfactorily as by prayer, and thus w e grow like the Master by keeping in touch with H i m . The great stirring of the people in both pur fields are indica.tions that point to great' opportunities, and w e dare not neglect this open door. It would be a disaster at such a tirae for us to stop and measure what w e are planning by what others had done or were likely to do or what w e ourselves had done in the past. - O u r only measure should be our ability, viewed in the light of God's .generous dealings with us and the cry that comes to us out of the darkness. W e desire to express our hearty endorse.ment of the resolutions of the Board as hown in their report under (a), (b), (c) and (d), in which they plan great things for God, and assure thera of our hearty co-operation in all forward movement. W e send to the missionaries on the field this, message: " W h e n you are pressing forward in the work in new fields, or holding ground already won, you can rely on us to stand back of you with every support at our command." W e receive the missionaries coraing home with lowered energy or enfeebled health into our hearts, and assure them -of our purpose that the strong ones of our sons a,nd daughters shall go forth to the help of the Lord against these mighty forces that have called so heavily on their strengthW e recommend: 1. T h e election of Dr. S. A.' S. Metheny as treasurer of all funds fbr the ,Foreign Missions. That he shall give a good and sufficient bond, and deposit all money in the bank designated by the Board, in the name o , f the Treasurer of Foreign Missions , in the Reforraed Presbyterian Church, ajjd shall so sign his checks on sarae. 2. Your coramittee has noted in the report of the Board that Mr. Walter T. Miller, the treasurer - of Foreign Mission funds, becarae, during the winter, so enfeebled that he laid down the duties pf treasurer. That this becarae necessary, causes us sorrow, -but being the -will of the Head of the Church, Synod bears testiraony to Mr. Miller's high Christian character, and to his value in Synod as an elder. Especially does Synod bear testimony to M r . Miller's efficiency as mission treasurer. All these long years, ,,he discharged. the duties of the office with a breadth of view; with a clearness of in-

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N e w s of the Churches. nate one or more suitable text-books for use in such classes during the coming year. 9. That the Board of Foreign Missions arrange for a conference onraissionson Friday evening of the next meeting of Synod.

sight; with such wisdora in administration; with such scrupulous honesty that he m a y be set as a raodel. T h e Church can scarcely k n o w the time and energy which M r . Miller has given. Synod earnestly desires and prays that the days remaining to M r . Miller m a y be full of grace, mercy and peace. 3. W e hereby direct M r . Walter T. Miller or his representative to turn over to Dr. S. A. S. Metheny, treasurer, all money, books and all other p:foperty connected with the office of treasurer of the Foreign Missions of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America.. T h e receipt of S. A. S. Metheny, treasurer, shall be a sufficient discharge of Walter T. Miller from all obligations. 4. In case the treasurer of the Foreign Mission Board be unable to discharge the duties of his office, the Board shall be authorized to appoint one of their number to act as treasurer until the next meeting of Synod. 5. That the Board of Foreign Missions be urged to push forward the work by personal and public appeals to the Church at home, and w e approve of their sending m e n out into the congregations to present the clairas of the foreign fields. 6. That w e pledge to thesefieldsour hearty prayers and that w e will seek to cultivate a lively sympathy with the heathen in their need.- That w e will seek raore fully to raeet the call of God to consecrate our sons and daughters to the work in the foreign field. 7. W e desire to attain more fully the grace of liberality, and will welcome every opportunity to exercise this gift, and will aim to keep supplied the money needed to properly prosecute this work. 8. That pastors and sessions encourage the organization of mission study classes in all our congregations, and that the Board of Foreign Missions again desig-

W. W . Carithers, C. D. Tkumbull, A. A. Wylie, W. R. Sterrett, Wm. Pearce. REPORT OF FOREIGN MISSION BOARD.
"Clouds and darkness are round about H i m , but justice and righteousness are the habitation of His throne." These words suggest themselves to us, as w e recall events that have taken place in connection with the Foreign Missions during the past year. A few months ago w e missed from its raeetings the efficient. Treasurer of the Board, M r . Walter T. Miller, w h o has served the Church in that office, since 1872, at great personal sacrifice and with singularfidelityto its foreign raissionary operations. 'In his enforced retirement from business and from Church activities w e lose the cooperation of a brother 'vfhose distinctive personality has left an ineffaceable impress on all his associates, and w h o has so w o n the hearts of the missionaries by his interest in their comfort that every letter from the fields records sorae loving expression of appreciation and a prayer for his restoration, if that is the Lord's will. In the raiddle of the winter word came frora the doctors at T a k H i n g that Rev. Williara M . Robb, just when he was able to preach in Chinese, would have to retum home for an indefinite period owing to the failing health of his wife, w h o had also acquired such a use of the Chinese vernacular that she could easily teach the truth to the natives in their o w n tongue.

N e w s of the Churches. Their arrival in this country after sorae testing experiences on the way brings with it a request that their names should be retained on the roll of foreign missionaries, without salary, till it can be seen what developments there m a y be in the case of Mrs. Robb^ w h o seeras to be steadily gaining, and m a y be completely restored after a furlough of two summers in America. More recently Mrs. J. M . Wright, after weary weeks in the hospital, her life trembling in the balance, has been given back to a raeasure of health, but on the order of the physicians at H o n g K o n g she will have to spend a few raonths in the United States. A woraan of untiring energy, adding to her h o m e duties as wife and mother work peculiar to the missionary, and refusing any remuneration for those services, Mrs. Wright would not leave thefieldonly that, in the judgment of m e n w h o understand her case, the change is imperative, and her equally devoted husband. Dr. Wright, will reraain at his post. Into these providences of the Mediator we cannot penetrate, but w e can apprehend and appreciate His moral qualities in the administration of h u m a n affairs. -Speaking of the massacres in A d a n a and vicinity, in which thousands of Christians lost their lives, Rev. Robert B*. Willson says, " O u t of the midst of the cloud God hath shined forth to malce His mighty power known. The work of missions has gone forward and its enemies have had set before their eyes an exaraple of Christian charity, self-sacrifice and helpfulness which ought to be a great factor in teaching them the power of the Christian religion." A s M r . Ruskin says in "Modern Painters," "For m y part, I enjoy the mystery. W e should not be less grateful for sumraer rain or see less beauty in the clouds of morning, because they come to prove us with hard questions."

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DEPARTMENT OF PREACHING AND SCHOOL WORK. A resume of the annual statements from the Missions is all that need be given to the churches at present. Admirably written and full of intensely interesting details, these papers should be studied carefully when published in connection with this Report. Syria.Beginning with thefieldsin the Levant, w e discover m a n y indications that the advance movement, which is stirring this country from center to circumference, has reached Syria, showing itself not so m u c h in large n u m bers of converts as in the devotion of our representatives and the multitudes that, through their consecrated efforts, are being brought into contact with the truth. A n addition of twelve to the merabership of the Church is not large, nor is it to be despised, in view of the disturbed condition of the country during and since the Moslem uprising of last spring. A n d w h o can tell in h o w m a n y hearts the gerras of etemal life have been planted by the evangelisra of our brethren. Is it nothing that the tworainistersstationed there not only keep Latakia and seven outstations supplied with preaching, but go out on tours that demand m u c h tirae and energy, M r . Edgar covering six hundred railes in thirty-eight days and preaching ten tira.es in Arabic, and .Mr. McFarland covering seventeen hundred railes in one hundred and one days and preaching fifty-four serraons iii Arabic ? Is it nothing that in that one center, with its outlying villages, there are five hundred and seventy-five pupils in Sabbath schools and six hundred and fifty under the daily religious instruction of twenty-seven Christian teachers in seventeen schools, one hundred of these in the boarding departments of the Latakia schools, where boys and girls in equal numbers enjoy all the advantages of Christian homes? Is it

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N e w s of the Churches. istry, and two students are watching for his return. Miss Edgar was transferred to the Girls' School and will have responsible charge of this department of the work, with Miss A n n a Louisa Crockett, w h o was comraissioned teacher Oet. 5, 1909, and will go out this autumn with M r . Stewart and his family, as her assistant, in place of Miss Zada Patton, who has tendered her resignation and will be married to Rev. J. D. Edgar, of Cyprus, in July. Miss Wylie, w h o has conducted this school with unwearying diligence and success for about thirty-five years, was appointed City Visitor. A letter recently received from Syria inforras us that this re-arrangement of the work has the hearty endorsement of the Mission. Asia Minor.In Asia Minor, as in Syria, there are not wanting signs of progress. Here, as there, the work is carried on through preaching, school teachmg and house-to-house visitation. In Mersina there is public worship every Sabbath, though the attendance is not large and there are few conversions. After the service on Saturday preceding the Communion that closed the week of prayer, there were eight applicants for membership in the Church, but on examination it was deemed wise not to receive them till after a longer period of probation. In both departraents of the Boarding Schools, the forty-four girls in charge of Miss Sterrett and the fifty-three boys under the direction of Miss Elraa French, "special attention is given to daily instruction in the word of God, believing that the proraise is sure, 'It'shall not return unto M e void.'" M r . Willson lays great emphasis in his statement on the visiting from house to house. Speaking of the Bible Reader in Mersina, he says, "This forra of the work w e look upon as very iraportant, both because it gives opportunity for direct personal work in

nothing that seven new schools have been opened at the urgent request of m o u n tain villages and that similar requests are sure to come frora other places? Is it nothing that the converts are being trained, as never before, in self-support and in giving for religious and benevolent purposes ? Listen to a few instances culled from the statement that M r . McFarland has prepared for the Board: "In nearly all the outside schools," the people provide "a h o m e for the school .and teacher," while "$166 have been collected from the boys and $57 from the girls in the Latakia Boarding Schools;" "the organization of a Sabbath school and midweek prayer meeting and a weekly offering, the fruit of a brief holiday spent at Gunaimia by Miss Edgar and Dr. and Mrs. Balph last sumraer," and perhaps the accession of ten at a recent communion in that village, m a y be traced to the same source; "at Suadia the people have been paying half the wages of the Bible w o m a n ; " the wives of the missionaries have organized a sewing society in Latakia, which "is attended by raany who are not Protestants, but listen with rapt attention, while the Bible reader from the hospital reads and explains to them a portion of the precious W o r d at the opening of each meeting," and "they are supporting a w o m a n primary teacher and Bible reader at the Nusairia village of Bahamra;" andfinally,the congregation at Latakia, having decided to m a k e offerings for four of the Church schemes, the first and only one yet taken "amounted to $38, largely from the native raembers." A w a y with the idea that our oldest Mission is raalring no progress. A t a recent meeting of the Board, Rev. James S. Stewart was appointed to take charge of the Boys' School in this field and to conduct a Theological Class for the instruction and training of a native min-

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pressing h o m e the clairas of the gospel, is able to speak of, increasing attendance and beeause it reaches those w h o do not and interest. For details the churches 'corae under the influence of the preach- raust read the annual statement from the ing service or the schools. W e are ear- ' Mission. nestly hoping and praying that w e m a y In these three cities, with outlying vilsoon flnd opportunity to enlarge this lages, there were 120 pupils in Sabbath work." schools, and 272 under daily religious inIn Tarsus a native evangelist has had straction during the year, and at its close charge of the work for m a n y years and -there were seventy-five Church members has proved himself a servant of the Lord, in good and regular standing. -at once efficient and faithful. A t the A s to the outlook in this field, we C o m m u n i o n in December, 1909, there quote the words of M r . Willson, w h o were twenty-four applicants for admis- being on the ground, can speak from sion, but, as they were not well instructed, observation and near at hand study only six were received into the fellowship of the question: "The events of the - of the Church and one w h o had been sus- past summer, the revolution and counter pended was restored to. full privileges. revolution in Constantinople, the massaA m o n g these applicants was a Moslem cres in this vicinity, the deposition of the woman, w h o was kept back at that time, old Sultan, have all left the country in but she has since accepted the Christ as general in a strange state of unrest. her Saviour and pledged herself to His "In.the midst of uncertainty and m a n y service in the ordinance of baptism. The discouragements there are some things -evangelist reports an encouraging at- which give us ground to hope that a tendance of from eighty to one hundred day of greater opportunity is near. on Sabbath services and an enrollment of Other places have already realized some 100 at the school. The prominent place fruit in the calls for the opening of that the fellaheen holds in this school schools in places where work has never challenges attention. O n e of the teach- been carried on. ers is a Fellah Sheikh, and sixty-two of ' "The very fact that the empire of the pupils are fellaheen, while in a speTurkey is seemingly at a turning point cial class for daily Bible study, which constitutes the call and challenge to Mr. Luttoof hiraself conducts for the Christianity. However unsatisfactory more advanced pupils, in addition to the .conditions m a y seem to be, it should not regular instruction in the Scriptures, beget discouragement in us or cause us to -there are seventeen fellaheen young m e n , slack our zeal, but should drive us to "all taking," as he says, "a keen interest the Throne in raore earnest and persistent in the study." T o meet this awakened and faithful prayer, for the disposition of interest a m o n g the fellaheen, the Mission affairs is in the hands of the enthroned has appointed a Bible w o m a n to work es- Mediator, W h o is able 'to m a k e even the ' peeially a m o n g them in Tarsus. wrath of m a n to praise Him.' Greater dilThe work in Adana w a s interrupted by igence and zeal on the part of workers, 'the Moslem massacres a year ago, in more fully manned stations and above which two of our members "were killed. all more prevailing and believing praj^er But the evangelist w h o has continued to should be America's answer, and our hold religious services in his o w n house Church's answer to Turkey in her crying 'for lack of more suitable accoraraodation. need."

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N e w s of the Churches. wisety, on the advice of the King's Advocate, took steps to settle the matter out of court. Thus a fund of between seven and eight thousand dollars has been secured to the Church for the benefit of the work on the island. In this field there are at present only twenty-four merabers, and yet, as Mr. McCarroU says, in reporting a net decrease of seven, "the prospects have never been so bright. Doors of opportunity are being opened to us and without doubt fruit will result in the future, if only w e have faith and energy to enter the open doors." China.The report from China indicates that the work in that field has had its elevating and its depressing features, alternate light and shade. A n d yet good results are visible in every direction. The raost iraportant event in the history of the Mission was the organization of a congregation at T a k Hing, Oct. 4, 1909, with seven elders, five. deacons and a present raerabership of one hundred and twenty-two, counting the Ameriean wonien who handed .in certificates from their horae congregations at the date of. the organization. T h e officers are all Chinese except Dr. J. M . Wright, who is a raeraber of the Session, and Mrs. A. 1. Robb, w h o is on the Board of Deacons. AVe need not give any particulars, as the Commission, appointed by the Synod of 1908, will present a detailed report. Eev. J. K. Robb was appointed Moderator of Session, and has charge of all the services connected with the Robert McNeill Memorial Chapel. In his opinion some of the converts are growing in knowledge and grace. A n d with a view to their spiritual developraent, he "presses upon the people not only the rudiriientary and fundamental truths, such as repentance, faith and kindred topics, but the duties growing out of their "acceptance of them."

Cyprus.The report from Cyprus is full of encouraging incidents, the most important being the arrival of Rev. J. D. Edgar and the opening of the school of which he is head master. A m o n g its sixty pupils of five different nationalities are two Arabic-speaking boys from our school in Latakia, who, as M r . McCarroll writes, "have done splendid work and give promise of development into excellent workers for the Lord. Another boy in this advanced class is from Mersina, a son of cne of the merabers there, arid w e are hopeful that his life also will be given to the Lord in willing service." In this class there is also a Moslera young raan who is almost persuaded to confess Christ, and w e do not wonder that our raissionary believes that the school will -prove an evangelistic agency of great efficiency. A short time ago a Moslem wrote, inquiring as to the terms on which he could place his son in the Boarding -School. O n visiting him, in corapany with M r . Edgar, they learned that he was the most infiuential m a n in the comraunity, and tha,t, "though it was a M o hararaedan village, the people had little knowledge of their o w n religion or language, were not fanatical, and seeraed open to the reception of the truth." This m a n will send his son to the school next year, and it is a fair inference of M r . McCarroll that raany others will follow in course of tirae. Another incident of importance is the death of M r . Peponiades, a m a n of wealth and influence, who had willed to the Cyprus Mission "two-thirds of all his movable and immovable property." The probating of the will was contested by the heirs on the ground that "the law does not allow a raan to will away more than two-thirds of his estate, one-third being reserved by law for the legal heirs." A n d our missionar}^, who was executor, very

N e w s of the Churches. Besides the duties of the training school and translating. Rev. A. I. Robb has been employed in opening u p n e w work in the country and evangelistic efforts in those places. Buildings have been bought or rented and repaired for chapels at M a Hui, ten miles northeast, and at T u n g O n , a county seat, thirty miles southeast from Tak Hing, and in both places the work is largely in the hands of trained natives. At K o Che, where the converts stood so loyally for Christ and the truth under very severe persecution a year ago, they have purchased a n e w site with the intention of erecting a place of worship. "In the work connected with the opening of these chapels, their repair, the stationing of workers and subsequent visits," M r . Robb has "made twenty-nine trips irito the country,fifteenof them occupying one day dach, and fourteen of them ranging from two to eight days, making a total of sixty-four days." A n d on these occasions he has conductedfifty-sixregular, services. A few sentences from Rev. E . C. Mitchell's report of thefivetrips he m a d e to the country give a good idea of the exhausting labors of our missionaries and of the eagerness of the Chinese to hear the gospel. Of the meetings held each evening during three or four days, he writes: " W e usually had good opportunities for presenting the gospel, the people crowding in sometiraes till not only the seats, but standing roora as well was taken up. T h e speaker m a y be tired, but the toils of the journey are all forgotten when a huraan being, w h o perhaps has never before had an opportunity to hear the gospel preached, is seen eagerly listening to the message." The value of the colporteur work, also in charge of M r . Mitchell, is seen in the reported sale of five Bibles, twenty N e w Testaments, 3053 gospels and Acts and 633 tracts during the year.

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The magistrate has at last stamped the deeds for the property at D o Sing, and M r . Mitchell is busily engaged in superintending the erection of a building, the lower story to be used as a chapel and dispensary and the upper as living rooms for the missionaries. A very important factor in the work at Tak Hing is the schools. In the Boys' School, under the supervision of Rev. Julius A. -Kerapf, special prorainence is given to distinctively Christian teaching. H e reports that "all the pupils are required to attend. Sabbath school and preaching in the chapel every Sabbath morning," and that the boarders have to attend in the afternoon as well, and also Tuesday evening services in the school building, and the weekly prayer meeting on Thursday. H e also writes: "Every morning I conduct devotional exercises and hear the boys recite their Bible lessons." "DuriPg the second term I met with the boys in the dorraitory every Sabbath and Friday evening for the study of the Old Testaraent. W e covered the story of the creation and the lives of Joseph and David. T h e boys were especially interested in the character studies, and it afforded a good opportunity to irapress upon their niinds the fact that the good in the lives of these two m e n and their greatness were due to their desire and purpose to do the will of the living and trae God, and to the Spirit of God dwelling in thera." A n d what was the result? "During the year three of the boys were baptized and received into the Church. T w o others m a d e a confession of their faith in Christ." The women's and girls' schools show sirailar attention to devotional teaching and sirailar results. Three girls and two woraen were received into theraerabershipof the Church, while others are believers and have expressed a desire to be baptized when they have suffi-

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N e w s of the Churches. ignorance of the Saviour, and sorae have shown their interest in theChristian teaching of the Hospital by attending church services after being discharged. The Head Nurse, Miss Elsey, besides her other duties, has one of the employees under instruction and training for professional nursing. ; This is a step in advance. In Asia Minor the work is scarcely begun. Dr. Peoples secured permission to practice his profession in Turkey, M a y 1, 1909, just at an hour when there was pressing need of the skillful hand of a Christian surgeon at Adana, the central scene of Moslera- outrages, and on reaching Mersina he went at once to that city, where he remained till Jan. 1, 1910, "in .connection with a hospital organized to relieve the suffering attendant on the massacres, but which is being continued as a permanent institution under the direclion of the Araerican Board missionaries." The Doctor is n o w in Mersina, and reports for the last three raonths of the ilission year, 177 prof essional-visits and 421 treated at clinics. T h e raedical work in China has been carried on under raany disadvantages. The Drs. McBurney were absent on furlough for the greatei part of the year, and Dr. Wright, medical- director of-the Mission, was necessarily detained at Hong K o n g for m a n y weeks, owing to the serious illness of his wife. But notwithstanding this teraporary weakenijig of -the force, the work, as statistics prove, has not been without good results. Dr. Ida M . Scott, to whose lot it fell to prepare the annual stateraent, reports the Dispensary open every day, and expresses the bope that raany have derived spiritual benefit from the words spoken there. Though, as she writes, her knowledge of the language is -very limited, "the native helpers are all Christians, and are most diligent in telling of the Great Physician."

cient knowledge. For inforraation as to the needs of this school, the churches should read M r . K e m p f s statement to the Board. W e cannot more appropriately close this part of our report than with the words of our senior missionary: "The work has some bright spots and sorae very dark shadows. The iraperfect conception of Christian character and life held by m a n y of our converts, the apparent greed for gain in some, the fear of raan and failure to testify for Christ, the low spiritual life in which w e missionaries too often set a very imperfect example, would lead us at tiraes to say, 'I have labored in vain. I have spent m y strength for naught and in vain.' O n the other hand, when w e see the faithfulness of some, their wonderful ca,pacity for enduring persecution, the slowly growing courage and capacity of the Church for taking responsibility, when w e see the gospel, in spite of a _ determined anti-Christian national spirit, with its accompanying misrepresentation and calumny, taking root arid growing and still proving itself the power of God unto salvation, w e are able to say with conviction, 'There is real life here.' - There is never a doubt that God is moving in this great nation." MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. Turning to the raedical departments of our Missions, w e find that they continue to demonstrate their efficiency as evangelistic agencies, and eraphasize the iraportance of sending into the fields a large number of Christian physicians and professional nurses. Dr. Balph, though burdened with the relief work rendered necessary by the massacres of last spring, has, in addition to tri-weekly clinics, m a d e thirteen hundred visits to^out-patients and treated ninety-eight cases in the Hospital. A n d in this way m a n y have heard the gospel w h o might otherwise have died in

N.ew's of the Churches. In the Hospital th.e patients are brought daily into "touch with the gospel, wor.ship being conducted morning and evening in the wards with those w h o are not able to go to the chapel." Speaking of itinerating, she records the opinion that "if some one could give his or her whole time to this work it would be one of the most valuable ways of carrying the gospel into dark places."

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in China, w e had made, ourselves responsible for the evangelization of about 1,800,000 souls w h o are ignorant of the only Saviour and without hope in the world. " T o occupy these fields," wrote the chairman of the coinmittee, "with one minister for every 25,000 souls (the -usual estimate) would require seventy ministers instead of twelve, our present number, and a greatly increased expenditure of raoney, though not in the same proportion, for STATISTICS. Looking back over this suraraary of thefield,when cultivated, will doubtless what has been done during the year, w e grow into a good degree of self-support. are able to state in a single sentence that While such an increase cannot be utilized in oui^ two Missions, there are 485 native immediately, yet w e wish to keep the need Church merabers, 46 added during the ever before the Church, and work rapidly, year, a net increase of 2 7 ; 780 pupils in toward that end, that at the earliest day Sabbath schools and 974 under constant the complete evangelization of all these Christian instruction. fields raay be a glorious reality." A series of resolutions were then adopted, ADVANCE MOVEMENT. of which we record the following:' During the winter the Foreign Board has been, rauch in prayer for the mission(a) W e inform the Chureh of the ultiary work under its supervision, and after , mate need of seventy ministers, native and foreign, for our Mission fields, on earnest discussions, has agreed on certain tentative measures for widening its boun- the basis of one to every 25,000 popiilation, and physicians, teachers and nurses, daries and increasing its efficiency, which in a proportionate number; and the purare herewith presented to this Assembly pose of the Board to push the work, so as of the Elders and through them to the churches intrusted to their pastoral care. to cover the entire territory at the earliA comraittee, consisting of Dr. J. C. est day. (&) T h e Board presses upon Synod the present urgent need of twentyMcFeeters and Elders Dr. S. A. S. Metheny and William G. Carson, appointed to five additionalraissionaries,six ministers, devise sorae plan of operation, reported to five physicians, eleven teachers, two trained nurses and a hospital matron; the Board a circular letter and a list of these to be distributed araong the Misqueries intended to elicit the personal views of theraissionariesas to the present sions according to the present necessity of condition and needs of the Missions. each, (c) W e thank our Lord Jesus Christ for the liberal responses of CovThese were mailed to thefleldsand a reenanters to the incessant appeals for sponse received from each of our representatives, male and feraale. In this way means to sustain and extend our Missions, and are confident that a great onward it was ascertained that in selecting a termovement will be accepted by them as ritory in Syria extending from Suadia to their opportunity for investing more of Tartoos, more than one hundred miles their wealth, where it will yield largest along the Mediterranean, and reaching inland to the River Orontes, and a terri- retums, both for heaven and earth. (d) W e instruct our missionaries to retoryfiftymiles square on the West River

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N e w s of ihe Churches.

of which raore than enough raoney was contributed sorae time ago is still unsettled. 3. Approval of the action of the Board in continuing Rev. R. A. Blair as Field Secretary to keep alive the interest in the ITEMS NEEDING OFFICIAL ACTION. Foreign Mission enterprise that he has W e close our Report with a few items kindled throughout the churches by his that require the action of Synod: 1. T h e election of a Treasurer for magnetic addresses. 4. Endorsement of the proposal of the the Foreign Missions in the place of M r . Walter T. Miller, w h o is no longer able Board already outlined, to s u m m o n the Covenanter Church to take its proper to attend to business, and w e recoramend place in the van of the missionary hosts, for that office Dr. S. A. S. Metheny, w h o is, on the unanimous choice of the Board, meeting to the full measure of its ability acting as temporary Treasurer. W e re- the twentieth century challenge to Chrisquest Synod to authorize M r . .Miller or tianity. 5. A n appropriation of $20,000 for the his legal representative to transfer to the ne'^y Treasurer, whoever he raay be, all Levant Missions and $20,000 for the Mission in China, the standard that the check accounts, deposit receipts or other Church should aim to reach. temporary investments held by M r . MilRespectfully submitted. ler, and his receipt as Treasurer of the In the narae of the Board, Board of Foreign Missions of the Synod R. M. Sommerville, of the Reformed Presbyterian Church Cor. Sec'y. shall be payment in full of all demands of this Synod against M r . Walter T. Miller or his legal representative. W e also FIELD REPORTS. request Synod to authorize the Board, in SYRIA. case of the death or necessary retireraent W e herewith transrait our annual reof a Treasurer, to appoint one of its m e m port for the year ending April 1, 1910. bers tofillthe vacancy, the 'Treasurer in While the year opened far frora auspithis and every other case to be bonded. ciously, with the sword and torch of the 2. Perraission to call for raoney to Moslera carrying terror and rain and coraplete a building in Gunairaia, Syria, death to the poor Arraenians in our and in Latakia, on property the Church vicinity and in other places not far from owns there, a house for the second misourfieldsof labor, w e are able to testify sionary, so that it will not be necessary that again the Lord has m a d e the wrath for hiin to live with his family in comof m a n to praise H i m , and has restrained fortless and perhaps unhealthy quarters, the remainder of wrath. There are more any balance to be.the nucleus of a buildevidences since the massacres than before ing fund. Also permission to acquire that some measure of liberty is to be exproperty for church and school and hospected from the n e w era ushered in by pital purposes in one orraoreof the three the declaration of the constitution and cities of Asia Minor, where our represen- the assembling of the parliaraent, and tatives are at work. A n d it m a y be menwhile there is yet rauch uncertainty, we tioned in this connection that the title are at least able to say, " W e rejoice with to the property in Tarsus for the purchase trembling." quire the native merabers of the Church to give of their raeans according to their ability to support the ordinances, and to urge upon them the duty of tithing their net income for the Lord's work.

N e w s of the Churches. Our Mission force has been greatly wealcened by the absence of Rev. James Stewart and faraily on furlough. W e have greatly missed his counsel, and the people have greatly raissed his preaching, MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. Dr. Balph has had an unusually busy year, carrying on the usual medical work, and in addition to that rendering invaluable help in the relief work following the massacres, the great bulk of the relief for Kessab having passed through his hands. H e has raade 1300 visits to out-patients. Clinics have been held tri-weekly as usual, with attendance fully up to the average, so that m a n y hundreds have thus been brought into contact with both the words and works of the gospel of love. The Hospital was open for the reception of patients nine months of the year, and ninety-six cases .have been treatedthirtytwo surgical, sixty-one raedical and five confineraent. The same number of helpers has been employed as heretofore. Daily religious instruction has been given and a number have continued to attend the Sabbath services in the church after their discharge from the hospital. -Boxes containing hospital supplies have been received from Walton, Hetherton, Coulterville, Glen Campbell and Pamassus, and also a package of pictures from the Junior Society of Second N e w York Congregation. A number of personal gifts have been raade to the hospital by the native people. Sorae sewing has been done for it by the Ladies' Society of Latakia. T h e amount received for raedical visits and medicines was $172.50, and frora hospital patients $20.80. Miss Elsey, besides doing efficient work as head nurse, has continued the study of the language and given instruction in English and nursing to one of the eraployees, w h o is in training for the profession.

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SCHOOLS. W e are glad to be -able to report sorae iraproveraent in the matter of s.chools, as w e have granted petitions for seven new schools and have over six hundred children receiving instruction in the precious truths of the gospel. T w o hundred of these have been in our Latalcia schools and about one hundred in the boarding departraent, girls and boys in equal nurabers. Miss Wylie, in addition to the work of superintending, has taught two classes in Bible study. Miss Patton has assisted in superintending and taught two classes in the Catechism and two English classes. Miss Edgar has superintended the boys' school and taught five classes in English. About one-third of the instruction period is spent in distinctively religious instruction. About one hundred of the whole number of school children are from Protestant families, 320 frora Greek Orthodox, 114 Nusairia, 44 Arraenian and 16 .Moslera. T h e araount expended for all the schools is approximately as follows: Pood, clothing and fuel, boys' school, $905; girls', $1429; wages, boys', 4 male teachers and 2 servants, $845; girls', 4 girl teachers part time, one male teacher and 3 servants, $436; outside schools, 5 girl teachers and 10 male, $1350. This does not include the salaries of one raissionary teacher for the boys and two for the girls. W e can report sorae progress in the matter of self-support, as w e have had the people fumish the house,, for the school and the teacher, in nearly all the outside schools, and have collected from the boy boarders, $166, and from the girls, $57. EVANGELISTIC. Touring and preaching, along with the study of the language, have occupied the time of Messrs. Edgar and McFarland. T h e forraer spent about thirty-eight days touring, twenty-two of them in the sad-

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N e w s of the Churchess taken and araounted to $38, mostly from the native people, and for mountain schools. NEEDS OF THE MISSION. W e need at least $3000 for an additional missionary residence, to be built on land already in our possession, and we are praying that this m a y be forthcoming at once as the house is greatly needed and it will cost less n o w than later. W e do need also more money for raountain schools, as our prayers are being answered and these doors are beginning to open to us again. A n d raore than all else, we need your prayers that the Lord will provide teachers for these schools and make the work of all. the teachers and Bible readers and evangelists and missionaries increasingly faithful and effective to the extension of the Kingdora and glory of our exalted Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. B y order of the Mission, A. J. M c F a r l a n d , Chairman. F. M a t Elsey, Secretary. STATISTICAL REPORT. Preaching places, 7; evangelists, 5; Bible readers, 6; schools, 17; teachers (including evangelists w h o teach), 27; number of pupils, 650; Sabbath school scholars, 675; Church merabers, 272; increase, 12; baptisms, 8; contributions, $146. ASIA M I N O R . The present year began with a cloud over the cause ofraissionsin this region. W e are n o w within a week of the anniversary of the raassacres in Adana and vicinity, in which thousands of Christians lost their lives. But out of the midst of the cloud God hath shined forth to raake His mighty power known. The work of raissions has gone forward, and its eneraies have had set before their eyes an exaraple of Christian charity, selfsacrifice and helpfulness which ought to

die, covering about 600 railes. Preached ten tiraes in Arahic and a few times in English. Taught a class in English also at the boys' school during the year. The latter spent one hundred and one days touring,fifty-fourin the saddle, making about 1700 railes, preaching in all fifty times in Arabic and once in English. Coraraunions have been held at Latakia, Suadia, Gunairaia and Tartoos. Rev. M r . Kennedy, of. Alexandretta, was present at the first and had all the services except the words of institution and the adrainistration of the Sacrament, owing to the fact that through a misunderstanding he had come a week before the time appointed and the assistant pastor had just recovered from an attack of fever. The ser'vices of Brother Kennedy were greatly enjoyed and appreciated. Twelve have been admitted to merabership. There have been eight baptisras and five weddings. One frait of the few weeks spent in Gunairaia during the summer by Miss Edgar and Dr. and Mrs. Balph has been the organization of a Sabbath school and midweek prayer meeting and weekly offering. A t Suadia the people have been paying half the wages of the woraan Bible reader. At Latakia a flourishing sewing society has been organized by the missionaries' wives, which meets weekly and has done sewing for the hospital and for an orphanage in Kessab. It is attended by m a n y w h o are not Protestants, but who listen with rapt attention while the efficient Bible reader from the hospital reads and explains to them a portion of the precious Word at the opening of each meeting. They are supporting a w o m a n primary teacher and Bible reader in the Nusairia village of Bahamra. The Latakia congregation is taking an advance step also by undertaking four special offerings this year for Church schemes. The first has been

N e w s of ihe Churches.

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be a great factor in teaching them the service there is an attendance of thirtypower of the Christian religion. five to forty, besides the pupils from the A n Arraenian in Mersina said to the schools. A t the afternoon service and writer recently, "There is no doubt but the Wednesday evening prayer meeting that the raassacres have drawn m y peo- . the attendance is somewhat less. There ple nearer to G o d and strengthened their have been preaching services in English faith in Christ." T h e attendance on on thefirstSabbath of each month. M r . Protestant services in Adana has been Dodds and the writer have talcen turns in larger than ever before. Our o w n work conducting these services. T h e attend-has gone on with but little interruption, ance has been small. and as w e review the year and see God's The attendance at the Sabbath school mercies multiplied, " W e thank God a.nd is about seventy-five or eighty. T h e take courage." W e close the year with a pupils in the boarding schools m a k e up net increase, and while the number is not the larger part of this number. T h e Inas large as w e might have wished, yet w e ternational lessons are followed in this study, together with Psalras, Scripture rejoice greatly in what God has wrought and do not count our labor lost, because verses and catechism for the smaller children. During the year there has been a God only can compute results when the Bible class in English with a membership standard of values is iramortal souls. Mersina.The regular Sabbath ser- of eight, including those missionaries vices consist of m o m i n g Sabbath school, w h o were at liberty to be present. Coramunion was held in Mersina on morning and afternoon service, private Sabbath following the week of prayer. instruction of the school children in Catechism, Psalms and Scripture verses Prayer meetings were held each evening by the teachers, and evening prayers in of the week. Thursday was observed as the schools. A midweek prayer meeting a day of fasting and preparation. Further preparatory services were held on Saturis held on Wednesday evenings. Iraraediately following the raassacres day aftemoon. A t the close of this serof last spring, M r . Dodds was so over- vice eight young people raet with the whelmed with extra work in connection raissionaries to ask for adraission to the Church, but it was thought wise to hold with the relief work for Tarsus and these back for a longer terra of probation. Adana, and in caring for our o w n crowd One person was restored to his privileges of refugees that no time was left him for at this tirae. All the labor of these serpreparation for regular public preaching. For some tirae when the work was heav- vices fell upon .Mr. Dodds. Although iest the preaching was conducted by Mal- some of us were unable to' understand the preaching, the season was very pleaslim Hanna, of Adana, who with his faraily were here in Mersina. Since that tirae ant and helpful. In connection with our evangelistic deMr. Dodds has continued to preach the Word. In case of his absence at another partraent, w e would mention the work of our Bible woinan, Rosa Dimian, which station, the services are in charge of one consists of house-to-house visits, reading of the teachers. the gospel to the w o m e n and teaching It would be gratifying if w e could report an increased attendance on ordi- thera to read it for theraselves. Sorae of nances here as in other places, but such the woraen come to her o w n house. This is not the case. A t the Sabbath raorning forra of the work w e look upon as very

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N e w s of ihe Churches. In addition to keeping up her study of Arabic, Miss French has superintended the boys' school, and for part of the year has taught a class in English. This department eraploys four native teachers, and here, as in the girls' school, the main lirie of work is the comraon branches in Arabic and English classes. In addition to these, in this departraent there is the study of French, and this year for the first there has been a class in Turkish. There has been an enrollment of 53, of whora 36 are boarders. There are 15 Greek Orthodox, 6 Fellah, 6 Maronite Catholic, 7 Jacobite, 3 Moslera, 1 Chaldean, 15 Protestant. Money received in this departraent for tuition araounts to 28 1-5 liras Turkish (about $124); realized from the sale of books 2 1-5 liras T. (about $10). In both departments special attention is given to daily instraction in the Word of God, believing that the promise is sure, "It shall not return unto M e void" (lsa. 65, 11). . MEDICAL WORK. O n M a y 1, 1909, Dr. Peoples passed the government examination and secured permission to practice in Turkey. The conditions in Adana at that time furnished an immediate and urgent call for his services. H e arrived in Mersina on the morning of .May 6 and went the same day to A d a n a to assist in the medical relief work. Of the arduous labors of. those days you have already heard something, and it is impossible to go into details, for everyone was worked to his full capacity. T h e suramer months. were spent there, with the exception of a few weelcs spent in Guzne for needed rest and change of air. After the summer, owing to conditions resulting from the massacres, it was thought that A d a n a would present the field of greatest need and greatest opportunity, so the time up to Jan, 1,

iraportant, both because it gives opportunity for direct, personal work in pressing h o m e the claims of the gospel, and because it reaches those w h o do not come under the influence of the preaching service or the schools. W e are earnestly hoping and praying that w e m a y soon find opportunity to enlarge this work. One of the chief hindrances has been the difficulty in finding competent persons to carry it on. SCHOOLS. During the present school year separate schools have been conducted for boys and girls, including a boarding department for each. Owing to the extra work due to the crowd of refugees which were cast upon us last spring, the schools were late in opening. Through the faithful and earnest efforts of Miss Sterrett and the generosity of the Board, the school has been partially equipped with new desks, which add not only to the comfort of the scholars, but m u c h to the convenience of the teachers and to the general appearance of the school. The equipment in this line is not wholly complete, and we hope that in the near future it m a y be raade raore so. The girls' school has been in charge of Miss.Sterrett, who returned frora her furlough on Oct. 22. In this department there are three native teachers. The enrollment for the year has been 44.' Of these, 26 are boarders and 18 day pupils. They are divided among the different religions as follows: 1 Armenian, 1 Jew, 3 Jacobite, 5 R o m a n Catholic, 13 Protestant, 21 Greek Orthodox. The studies are the c o m m o n branches in Arabic, with some classes in English, and the usual careful religious training in the Word. The tuition received in this department to date amounts to 22 liras Turkish (about $97), and m.oney received from sale of books 2 % liras (about $10.25).

N e w s of the Churches. 1910, was spent by Dr. Peoples at work in Adana, in connection with a hospital organized to relieve the suffering attendant on the massacres, but which is being continued as a permanent institution under the direction of the American Boardraissionariesat that place. For the foregoing reasons the present raedical work in Tarsus Mission is in its infancy. As to the work. Dr. Peoples says, "As yet I have given no advertisement to the medical work for two reasons: (1) In order that I m a y have as rauch tirae as possible for language study; (2) because of lack of room or accoraraodations in the present quarters. More roora and better accoraraodations are badly needed." Por the three raonths in which work has been carried on the following record is given: Professional Clinic. 'Visits. January 39 13 Febraary 129 40 March 253 124 Total 421 177 That the medical work m a y reach its highest degree of efficiency a hospital is needed as soon as possible. This would require the services of a trained nurse for the Mission. W e are glad that the Board has already recognized the need, and is taking steps to supply it. W e pray that the way m a y be soon opened.

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especially among the fellaheen, which we sincerely trust m a y continue, and that there m a y be a harvest of. souls as a result. A Sabbath school is conducted with an average attendance of 45 to 50. C o m m u n i o n was held by M r . Dodds in Tarsus on Sabbath, Dec. 26, 1909. A t the close of the preaching service on Friday evening a meeting was held for applicants, and 24 inquirers raet with the raissionary. Sorae of these, however, were absolutely ignorant of the gospel way, and most of them were not sufficiently instructed to receive adraission. There were six received on profession of their faith, and one w h o had been under suspension was reinstated. Araong those applying for adraission at this time was a Moslem W o m a n . She was at that time kept back on probation, but has since been received and baptized by M r . Dodds. In view of the awakened interest, the Mission has eraployed a Bible woraan for Tarsus. to work especially among the fellaheen. SCHOOLS. Three teachers have been employed in Tarsus school during the present year. One of them is a Fellah Sheikh w h o was employed to teach Turkish three hours each day. T h e other two were continued from last year. There has been an enrollraent of 100. Of these, 62 were fellaheen. T h e others were divided araong the Protestant, Jacobite, Roraan, and Orthodox. There were 24 girls and 76 boys. Besides the regular instruction in the Bible, a daily Bible study class for the more advanced pupils has been conducted by Mallira Mikhail. Seventeen fellaheen young raen attended this class, and the evangelist writes, "These all take a keen interest in the study."

EVANGELISTIC. Tarsus.The work in Tarsus has this year again been in charge of our native evangelist, Mikhail Luttoof. H e has been faithful in conducting the regular services, morning and afternoon on Sabbath and prayer meeting on Wednesday evening. H e reports at the Sabbath raorning service an attendance ranging from 80 to 150. The attendance on the preaching service during the year has been above the (CONCLUDED NEXT ISSUE.) average, and there is an interest manifest.

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Editorial Notes.

EDITORIAL

N O T E S .

The Synod of the Reformed Presby- were devoted to a careful consideration terian Churcliraetat Winona Lake, Ind., of both departments of the one work. The Wednesday, May 25, 1910, at 8 P. .M. advance movement urged in the Report Special attention i s called to the serraon of the Foreign Mission Board was heartiof the retiring Moderator, Rev. T. H. i l y endorsed as indicated in the Report Acheson, which appears as the opening of the Committee on Foreign Missions. article in this nuraber of Olive Trees. It i s unnecessary to repeat what i s said in This discourse, founded on the words of these two reports, as they are published Paul in I Cor. 9, 27, "Lest that by any in this issue of Olive Trees and should raeans, when I ha.ve preached to others, be prayerfully studied. 1rayselfshould be a castaway," was unusually appropriate at araeetingof min- At the request of Miss Helen W. isters and elders, indicating with peculiar McAteer, corresponding secretary, we pubimpressiveness and power certain facts lish the following item to show the interthat imperil the spirituality and usefulest that i s taken in our foreign workers; ness of every Christia.nrainister.Those At the last meeting of the Women's who are interested in the success of the Missionary Society of the Pittsburg Presgospel ministry will not cease to pray that byterial, i t was suggested that we send a the men engaged in this responsible ser- message to Miss Mattie R. Wylie, our revice may "be strong in the grace that i s turned missionary from Latakia. W e had in Christ Jesus" to resist all allurements hoped that she would address us at the and "keep themselves in the love of Tuesday session, but she was lying in a God." Philadelphia hospital very weak from an Rev. Jaraes S. Stewart, who has so operation. faithfully served the Church, as i t s raisThe followingraessagewas sent to her sionary representative in Northern Syria, by wire: "Greetings frora the women of for twenty-two years, was elected Moder- Pittsburg Presbyterial, Isaiah 26, 3." ator by unanimous vote, and with maniThe next day the followingraessagewas fest heartiness. In placing Mr. Stewart received from Miss Wylie, too late to be in this position. Synod has not only rcad before adjournment: "Greeting. honored a faithful servant, but has put Thank you for reraerabrance. A m makonce more the stamp of i t s approval upon ing good progress. Psalm 116, 12. the operations of a l l associated with him Mattie R. Wylie." in the Levant Missions. Their hearts will thus be encouraged in their self-denying The Transportation Agent of the Forefforts to evangelize afieldwhere there eign Board i s Mr. William G. Carson, 305 are so many open doors and at the same South Forty-second Street, Philadelphia, tirae so raany adversaries. Pa., and a l l missionaries should communiTheraissionarywork of the Church at cate with him in regard to the purchase home and abroad received i t s full propor- of tickets and the transportation of goods tion of Synod's time, and many hours to and from the fields.

A Monthly Journal devoted to Missionary W o r k in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. No.

JULY, 1910.

Q U E S T I O N S

O F

T H E

H O U R .

CLIMATE AND DISEASES OF THE TROPICS. J. M. WRIGHT, M. D., CHINA.

A n article written in 1877 is prefaced as follows: "To those w h o are impelled by necessity or induced by interest to visit the torrid zone and relinquish the blessings which flow from exercise in the delightful climates of the earth, in teraperate regionsto those w h o exchange their native countries, which yield the free and unbounded enjoyraents of spontaneous health, for such as no care nor art can ever make agreeablesome caution m a y be necessary, some precepts useful." {Journal of Am'erican Medical As-' sociation.) The tropics for centuries have contained wealth coveted by the enlightened nations, and have raany and varied attractions for the white raan; and although the quotation just given m a y have lost some of its then trath, it has not lost all. A present-day writer says that "white people living and residing for long periods of time in the tropics cause harra to themselves and deterioration to the race, and unless their residence is merely temporary their children will be handicapped, and their grandchildren, if any, will see the finish of the family." "As most of our heat is due to solarization, the long tropical day accounts for the great heat, while the blanket of mois-

ture always present prevents the radiation of heat by night." {Journal of A. M . A.) The history in the past of the white race in the tropics is not a pleasant one in regard to health. H o w was it in South Araerica, in Havana, in Africa, in the Philippines, in India? Missionaries, soldiers and civilians going to these countries soon were gathered in by the grim reaper or sent home a wreck of former self. But n o w w e have modern sanitation stepping in and dispelling this dark cloud of death. In m a n y places w e have seen this Arab tenting, and in the m o m ing of our experience, h o w true it can be said of him in some places that during the night he has folded his tent and stolen awaylet us hope forever. All things have a cause. T h e effects raay be prevented, providing the cause is known and can be removed. Acting on this principle, m e n began to investigate this death-dealing tropical climate. N o white person could for years with impunity set foot in the city of Havana or on the shores of P a n a m a because of the deadly yellow fever and the withering blast of "the malaria." "The tropical diseases offirstimportance are malaria, cholera, yellow fever, dysentery, beri beri and relapsing fever, with certain parasitic disorders, such as ankylostomiasis." {Medicine and Hygiene of ihe Tropics.) W h a t was to be done ? Evidently to find the cause and remove it. It was found by

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Questions of ihe Hour. the British colony in Nyasaland. "1. Measures which m a y be said to be in general application, a T h e clearing of all brushwood and rank vegetation in and around European settleraents. b Drainage wherever -this is practicable, c Filling uj> of hollows and depressions where wa.ter is likely to collect and stagnate. d Segregation of natives in what are termed native locations, at a distance from the dwellings of Europeans. Great importance is attached to this measure in view of the high percentage of malignant tertian infection in native children. 2. Measures which are in more or less general application^ a T h e taking of quinine as a prophylactic, b The use of mosquito nets. 3. Measures which are not in employment, but the expediency of which is generally recognized, a Making houses wholly or partly mosquito-proof with wire gauze netting, b T h e quinination of the na.tive population in the neighborhood of European settleraents, raore particularly of infant children. 4. Measures advocated and put into ef fect in sorae colonies, but which, by reason of cost, would be prohibitive in this Protectorate, a Drainage of marshes, b Filling up of swamps, c Application of paraffin oil." {Medicine and Hygiene of the Tropics.) Articles in medical literature tell us that the above-named terrors which stalk boldly at noonday can be overcome by the applieation ofthese simple rules. Can these be m a d e applicable by the missionary to his surroundings, say in China? M a n y of these diseases are found in Central and North China and all of them in South China, which has for generations been considered by the Chinese themselves to be very unhealthy. In Williams' "Middle K i n g d o m " a statement is m a d e to the effect that it was the prac-

diligent search and careful experiraent that the mosquito was the vector of at least two of these great foes. T h e eradication of this pest and the observance of the already well-known sanitary measures was the key, and by its application has opened worlds formerly comparatively unapproachable until the records have been changed from being mainly tabulations of death to read, "Comparison favora.ble with h o m e cities." Other civilized countries have joined the canipaign against disease in their tropical dependencies, and with' good effect. T h e germs of all but one of the aboven a m e d scourges have been found. Dysentery, typhoid, cholera, malarial fevers, oriental sore, round w o r m infection, dengue and others are n o w k n o w n to be carried by mosquitoes and flies, which either infect the person directly or contaminate the food and water, and all of these are preventable diseases. W h a t are sorae of the raethods taken to escape the diseases of the tropics? Prophylaxis offers the greatest hope. Teraperance in all things. Restdaily, annual vacations, furloughs. Protection from the rays of the sun. Proper clothing. Properly cooked food and water thrice boiled. Comfortable dwellings situated on elevated ground (250 feet elevation being equal to one degree north latitude.Journal of A. M . A.) Drainage, so that no standing water or place for hatching mosquitoes is within a radius of 200 yards of dwellings. All houses screened. Bed nets. All wells or containers of water covered or screened. N o cesspools. Pree distribution of quinine to natives. Destruction of rats and the building of rat-proof houses. Oils on waters not capable of being drained, etc. A s malaria is the hydra-headed raonster of the tropics, let us quote for example one of the colonial office reports of

Questions of the Hour. tice of the Chinese to banish their political prisoners to K w o n g T u n g and K w o n g Si (which are in the southern part of China). They expected them to die in a short tirae frora the unhealthfulness of the cliraate. Is it not the duty of the missionary to endeavor to live so as to accomplish his task, and not regard it as an act of heroism to die prematurely? Is he not in duty bound to give all possible attention to the preservation of health? Does not "all lawful endeavors to preserve our o w n life and the life of others" apply? If he uses all k n o w n possible means within his reach, can he not more readily expect protection? W e are to offer our bodies a living sacrifice. Does this not m e a n they are to be kept as living as possible ? W h a t was the law of offering a sacrifice in regard to the fitness of the thing offered? Does not the sarae rule hold good on the mission field as elsewhere in regard to clairaing God's care? Are His followers promised food on fulfillment of His conditions for securing the same? Can the missionary expect health if he neglect the rules of health? Is it not his duty in place of disregarding sanitary practices and laws, to practice and teach thera to the natives? W o u l d it be advisable for a prospective missionary to the tropics to be required to take a short course of instruction in the care of the health in the tropics? W o u l d it be further advisable for the Mission Board to require annual statements from their raedical representatives on the fields as to sanitary conditions of buildings and local surroundings ? Sir Patrick M a n s o n in a lecture at Livingstone College, Coraraeraoration Day, speaking of tropical diseases and their

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cause and prevention, closes with the following: "Those w h o send out missionaries to work in foreign lands should lay to heart the importance of this knowledge to a missionary. It is not fair to any one to ask a m a n to go abroad and face avoidable risks. Martyrdom is one thing, suicide is another; and raurder, though he did not like to say the word, is a third; yet to send a raan abroad to worlc as a raissionary in unhealthy cliraates and not provide hira with proper inforraation as to h o w -to prevent himself being Icilled h e left his hearers to say what that would be. People have not yet come to recognize this; they will by and by. T h e reraedy depends upon the public. The public should deraand that such a state of affairs should be irapossible, whether in raissiona.ry or governraent circles. If the supporters of raissionary institutions deraanded that the raen sent out should have sorae instructions frora such an institution as this as to h o w to care for their health and h o w to take care of theraselves, they would then be coming soraething near doing their duty, and until then they were not corapletely fulfilling their duty." It is the duty of theraedicalraissionary to be inforraed in what concerns the health of his colleagues, and to advocate raeasures to -secure the best possible for thera. T h e foregoing reraarks are given with the hope that w e m a y not come short of our duty, and that we m a y be able to contribute something to the welfare of our fellow-workers. M u c h more raight be said, and raany raore points touched upon which must be left for future meetings.

The world raeans nothing, G o d alone means everything. , For Jesus deraands that daring confidence of faith, which does not shrink even before the impossible, and which ventures to ask forrairaclesas well as for ordinary blessingsa faith that is borne up by the Msurance that with G o d all things are possible.Arthur Titus.

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N e w s of the Churches.

N E W S

O F

T H E

C H U R C H E S .

A B R O A D .
coils of the Turkish governraent, and in what condition it will come forth (if it ever does) no one knows. A d a n a . I n A d a n a it has been impossible to open a school on account of lack of room. T h e evangelist, Mallim Hanna Besma, has continued holding services regularly in his house. T h e present accommodations are not such as to provide for any growth whatever in the work. During the early part of the year the work was interrupted by the massacres and the unrest and uncertainty immediately following. T w o of our members were killed. During the past two or three months Mallira H a n n a reports an increased attendance at the Sabbath services, and apparently awakening interest. T h e house where the meetings are held is too sraall to accommodate the increased attendance. It is earnestly hoped that for the coming year a more commodious building m a y be secured, although it must be confessed that at present the prospect is not very bright. Comraunion was held in Adana by Mr. Dodds, Dec. 12, 1909. A t this time there was an accession of one on profession of faith. Mallim H a n n a .Melki has been employed by the Mission as Bible reader in Karadash. In addition to this work he has conducted a school with an enrollment of 32. Of this number, 18 were fellalieen. It is thought that for the coraing year the condition of the school raay justify the employment of another teacher for this station. There are at present 75 native communicants, distributed as follows: Mersina, 25; Tarsus, 35; Adana, 15.

FIELD REPORTS. ASIA MINOR.

(CONCLUDED FROM PAGE 143.) READING ROOM. The reading room in Tarsus has, w e believe, been a great help in awakening and maintaining interest in the work during the present year. T h e evangelist reports a daily attendance of from 40 to 80. Of these the majority are fellaheen; a few are Moslems, and occasionally a visitor from far in the interior., It is not to be supposed that all of this number do any great amount of reading, doubtless raany who come cannot read at all. Nevertheless, it affords an opportunity for conversation for those w h o cannot read, and this opportunity the evangelist can improve by speaking a word for Jesus. Mallim Mikhail says of it: "It is the door of the Church and the school." The K a i m a k a m and the Chief of Police have expressed themselves as in favor of it. The fellaheen seera to be especially interested in it, and some w h o n o w frequent the reading room say that forraerly they wasted their time in the coffee houses. PROPERTY IN TARSUS. The matter of obtaining a title to the Tarsus property still reraains unsettled. Early in the winter the Mission was advised that since the revolution, it was possible to get a permit from the governraent for a school, in which case the transfer could be m a d e without further delay. Immediately a petition was formulated and presented to the proper authorities in Tarsus, and with some changes sent on to Adana. It is at present somewhere in the

N e w s of the Churches. FURLOUGH OF MR. DODDS. In a few weeks w e expect to part with Mr. Dodds and family, w h e n they leave for America on a well-earned vacation. The past year has been especially trying, as in addition to his regular work there was m u c h extra labor in receiving and distributing relief, and m a n y other.duties made necessary by the disturbances in Adana and Tarsus. For our sakes w e are sorrj' to see them go, but for their sakes we are glad, and w e heartily bid them Godspeed on their joumey, and pray that their stay in the h o m e land m a y be a great blessing to them and to their friends there, as well as an inspiration to the Church. T h e dilemma which w e were facing in view of their departure has been relieved by the kindness of the Board in allowing the transfer of M r . McFarland to Mersina during the absence of M r . Dodds. W e will n o w feel that there is an experienced hand at the helm still, and if the Arabic does not prove altogether invincible, the writer is hoping that he m a y be of more use in the future than he has been in the past. OUTLOOK. Turkey is passing through a period of reconstruction. W h a t will be the end? The events of the paSt summer, the revolution and counter-revolution in Constantinople, the massacres in this vicinity, the deposition of the old Sultan, have all left the country in general in a strange state of unrest. T h e party in power in Constantinople are facing a stupendous task. Granting that this party is honest in their avowal of the desire and purpose to insure religious and civil liberty to all their subjects, whether they will be able to hold in check the tendencies to reaction or not is a question that no person could answer with certainty. Those w h o have spent years in Turkey under the old. rule declare that there is

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encouragement in the fact that the old regime is, at least partly, broken u p ; that even suspense and uncertainty are more hopeful than the deadening influences of the reign of a thoroughly unprincipled and wicked despot. A n d n o w that the iron hand is broken and its power gone, it is not surprising that the people w h o have endured that despotism so long should take several years to regain consciousness, and to wonder if the thing is really true. In the midst of uncertainty and m a n y discouragements there are some things which give.us ground to hope that a day of greater opportunity is near. Our roll for the year shows a net increase of six. T h e awalcening interest and the increased attendance are matters for praise. Other places have already realized some fruit in the calls for the opening of schools in places where work has never been carried pn. The very fact that the erapire of Turkey is seeraingly at a tuming point constitutes the call and challenge to Christianity. However unsatisfactory conditions raay seera to be, it should not beget discouragement -in us or cause us to slack our zeal, but should drive us to the throne in more eamest and persistent and f aith-^ ful prayer, for the disposition of affairs is in the hands of the enthroned Mediator, W h o is able "to make even the wrath of m e n to praise Him." Greater diligence and zeal on the part of workers, raore fully manned stations, and above all, raore prevailing and believing prayer, should be Araerica's answer, and our Church's answer to Turkey in her crying need. More than nineteen centuries have passed since Christ declared to His disciples that the flelds were ready to harvest, and to-day His message to every believing heart is "Lift up your eyes and

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N e w s of ihe Churches. Pupils enrolled during year Boys Girls

look on thefields,for they are white already to harvest." The very difficulties in the way are a call to the Churcli in the n a m e of her Lord to go forward. The Mission is heartily in synipathy with the plan of the Board to enlarge the work. Our prayer is that divine wisdom m a y be given in laying plans, and that divine strength m a y be afforded for carrying them out; that there m a y be a new consecration of means to the Lord's work, and that God would prepare those whora H e will have go forth into His harvest.

157 72 - 229 Collections, April 1, 1909, to March 31, 1910: Mersina, 1425.5 piasters (about $60). Adopted by Tarsus Mission, April 4, 1910.

R. E. Willson. Chairman and Cor. Sec. CYPRUS. Larnaca.The past year brought to
us various iteras of interest,firstand foreraost of whicii was the occurrence of the massacres in Turkey. Though w e were not participants like our brethren in Cilicia in the stirring and awful scenes of April of last year, w e were near enough to be witnesses of the huraan fiotsam thrown out of the maelstrom of the massacres. REFUGEES. W h e n the refugees first arrived we opened our church for a daily prayer meeting which was well attended, though there were not m a n y Protestants among them. W e endeavored day by day to set forth in a clearer light some phases of the problem of pain and suffering, and many seemed to be helped and comforted. A m o n g the refugees were two Protestant preachers, w h o had been on their way to attend their annual raeeting at Adana, but providentially escaped to Cyprus. One of them, Stanbolyan Effendi, had a trying experience. H e boarded a steamer in Alexandretta by which he was taken to Rhodes, where he was immediately imprisoned, but released again on the intercession of the foreign consuls. H e then found a steamer for Cyprus and landed at Liraassol, not knowing that the steamer came on to Larnaca; so he was compelled to come by carriage, which was upset on

R. E. Willson, Chairraan and Cor. Sec. Adopted at araeetingof the Tarsus

Mission, April 4, 1910. STATISTICAL REPORT FOR TARSUS MISSION. Native Communicants Roll at beginning of year 69 Added during the y e a r B y profession of faith.... 8 B y certificate 2 B y restoration ' . . . 2 12 Total roll for year 81 Removed during the year B y death Roll, March 31, 1910 78 Under suspension

Present No. regular standing. 75 Evangelists 2 Bible readers, 1raale,2 females. 3 Preaching places ' . 3 Schools DayBoys' , . . 1 Girls' 1 Mixed 2 Boarding Boys' 1 Girls' 1 6 Teachers 10

N e w s of the Churches. the way and he narrowly escaped being killed. H e must have felt at first like the barbarians of Melita, w h e n they saw the viper fasten on Paul's hand, that though he had escaped from the hands ofthe Turks, yet vengeance suffereth him not to live. H e has been with us during the past year doing evangelistic work, and has proved one of the best workers w e ever had in the Mission. W e axe sorry that he must return to Turkey, but since he was educated at the expense of the Congregational Mission, he feels that it is his duty to return. SUMMER RECESS. The -school closed last year at the end of June, after a successful year of school work, several getting prizes for excellent work, the money for the prizes having been granted by the governor of the island. Immediately after the close of school we went for a couple of raonths to the mountains, about thirty railes from Nicosia, to a village named Pali Hori. Here I tried to do some evangelistic work on several different occasions. W e went to .the coffee houses, which the m e n of the village most frequented, and succeeded in getting a hearing until the priest interfered. H e carae out to protect his flock from the ravening wolves! The meeting was thrown into confusion and a zealous policeman took it on hiraself to escort us horae. A few w h o really wanted to k n o w w h y w e were not "orthodox" came on our invitation to the house the next day, when w e had a plain talk about the antiscriptural teaching and practices of the Orthodox Church. A few weeks ago when conducting communion in Nicosia, three strangers were present who remained throughout the whole service, one of them being a m a n from Pali Hori, w h o had heard us teaching there and seemed genuinely interested.

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SCHOOL WORK. O n our return to Larnaca at the end of August w e expected Rev. J. D. Edgar to pass on his way to Alexandretta, but owing to an accident to his steamer he went to Alexandretta by another route, so we did not have the pleasure of welcoming him uhtil the day school opened. His work, therefore, began iraraediately on arrival, nor has he found tirae hanging heavy on his hands because of nothing to do. H e has thrown hiraself heartily into the work, and though it has not always been sraooth sailing, yet thorough and effective work has been done. The students theflrstsemester numbered more than sixty in regular attendance, but as some of them were sons of Armenian refugees w h o have since returned to their o w n country, the attendance this semester has been reduced to sixty, raade up of five different nationalities as follows: 20 Greek boys, 18 Turkish boys, 16 Arraenian boys, 4 English-speaking boys and 2 Arabic-speaking. The Arabic-speaking boys are from our school in Latakia and have done splendid work, and give proraise of developraent into excellent workers for the Lord. Another boy in the advanced class is frora .Mersina, a son of one of our raembers there, and we are hopeful that his life also will be given to the Lord in willing service. In addition to the opening exercises each class has a daily Bible lesson, with frequent written tests, and examinations at the close of each term. Along with the Bible lesson the advanced class has been studying as a text-book "God's Living Oracles," by A; T. Pierson. T w o of the class are bright Moslem young m e n , but one might almost say Chrisiian young men. They are "almost persuaded," if not already w o n by Jesus, but certainly the great adversary will m a k e a hard fight before he will permit them to con-

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fess Christ as their Saviour. W e ask, DEATH OF MR. PEPONIADES. Near the end of October occurred the therefore, that His "intercessors" in the h o m e land m a y plead for the complete de- death of M r . A. G. Peponiades, our memfeat of the great adversary that he m a y ber in Nicosia, w h o had been ill for more be driven off the battlefield of their wills, than a year. His body was brought to that they m a y be delivered from the evil Larnaca for interment. According to the one and left free to choose the good, even terras of his will two-thirds of all his movable and immovable property were Jesus. The tuition from the school amounts left to the Mission, and I was appointed to nearly 117i. e., about $565, which executor. W h e n I applied for probate of will it was contested by the heirs. The is more than double the araount received principal ground for their action lay in last year. Though the boarding department has the fact that the law does not allow a not been as satisfactory as desired, yet m a n to will away more than two-thirds the foundation has been laid and w e hope of his estate, one-third being reserved by to see a very decided increase in the n u m - law for the lawful heirs. T h e law is so . ber of boarders next year. In fact, w e are curiously worded that there was some planning and making every preparation ground for the contention that the tesfor fifteen boarders, and w e have good tator could not even "will" the legal porreason to think that w e will actually have tion to the lawful heirs, and if he says "I that raany; but again w e wish to ask the 'will' two-thirds of ray estate to the MisLord's praying ones to unite with us in sion," it raeans two-thirds of two-thirds or prayer for the realization of this desired four-ninths of the whole. W e sought the developraent in the boarding department, best legal advice, iand were advised by the and especially that the boys m a y be just King's Advocate to settle out of court if the ones that the Master wants in the possible, rather than enter upon long, school, and who will be of use to H i m in costly and vexatious litigation, which the future. wbuld have an uncertain end, and would A few weeks ago, shortly after asking inflame public sentiment against the Misthe brethren to make this a matter of sion. W e accordingly carae to an agreespecial prayer, I received a letter from a ment with the heirs by which the estate is Moslem in a village, inquiring about the divided equally betweeri the Mission and terms on which he could place his son in the heirs, and thus good will and harthe boarding school. M r . Edgar and M r . m o n y prevail. T h e estimated value of Jordan visited the village and found that, the estate is soniething over 3000. though it was a M o h a m m e d a n village, the CHURCH' WORK. people had little knowledge of their o w n I visited Kyrenia twice during the year, religion or language, were not fanatical, and found the brethren that had embraced and seem open to the reception of the the "Plymouth Brethren" heresies much truth. The m a n who had written is the more friendly disposed; and the last visit most infiuential m a n in the village, and our service was held in the house of Mr. proposes to place his son in our boarding Kassilian, and he, with his family, atschool next year. This means that m a n y tended a second service in the house of other boys will probably come frora the another brother. This was a great consame village in the course of tirae. Thus cession on their part, and we are hopeour God hears and answers prayer. ful of their ultimate return into the fold.

N e w s of ihe Churches.

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I conducted the Sacrament of the future if only we have faith and energy Lord's Supper three times in Nicosia and to enter these open doors. once in Larnaca during the year. T w o In Korea the brethren are laboring and candidates, one in Nicosia and one in praying for the conversion of one million Lamaea, were received into full membersouls during the present year, and they ship. The Sacrament of Baptism was have asked the churches in other lands to administered once, when Ares, the infant help them in prayer against the great son of Mr. and Mrs. Dimitriades, was adversary. W e , too, would ask our baptized. -brethren in the home land to pray that O n the other hand, .there have been fifty souls in Cyprus m a y be renewed, several removals from the island. M r . quickened and brought into saving relaNishan Ghazikian, who was a worker in tions with Jesus Christ, within the comthe Mission for m a n y years, has removed ing yeari. e., March 31, 1911. with his family to Egypt, by which w e furlough. lost two merabers, and three young peoW e are grateful for your generous perple. Five others left the island for Tur- mission to spend a few months in the key, two Armenians and three Greeks, horae land. W e expect to be absent from Another was removed by death, and still the field for eight months, or from the another by dismissal, making a total de- beginning of M a y to the end of December. crease of nine, and a net decrease of general items. seven, leaving the total number of comW e regret that Brother Miller has been municants at twenty-four. laid aside. H e has rendered invaluable This last year w e have had in the emservice to the Mission cause, and we reploy of the Mission six native helpers member with gratitude his unfailing one licensed Greek preacher in Nicosia, courtesy and kindness. H e has well one licensed Turkish preacher in Larnaca, earned his title to a rest. three teachers in the school, and one careW e rejoice that Dr. McFeeters is to talcer. visit these Missionfields,but venture to Regular preaching services have been express the hope that his visit m a y be deheld in L a m a e a and Nicosia. The ser- ferred until winter, when four at least mons by Mr. Stanbolyan were m u c h ap- out of the five missionaries home on furpreciated by the Armenian refugees, and lough will have returned to their posts. the church was usually wellfilledon Sabacknowledgments. bath afternoons. I acknowledge the following "special Mr. Edgar taught a Sabbath school contributions" received last October class each Sabbath m o m i n g , and had through Treasurer Miller: charge of a Y o u n g People's meeting in W . M . S. of Pittsburg, per Jennie the aftemoons. R- Thompson $100.00 OUTLOOK. C. E. S. United Miami Cong., per Though we report a decrease in m e m Margaret O n a 5.00 bership, yet the prospects have never been W . M . S. of Pittsburg Presbytery so bright as at the present time, and that per Mrs. S. R. Wills 2.50 owing to the establishment of the school W e thank also all those wlio have upon a sound basis, by which doors of op- helped us by their prayers and letters, and portunity are being opened to us, and we would close by reminding you how without doubt fruit will result in the m u c h w e are dependent upon your pray-

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News of the Churches.

ers; "not that we are sufficient of' burselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God"; and to His name be all the praise.

WORK IN THE COUNTRY. Of the four students who completed the three years' course, three are in the employ of the Mission in country chapels, and the fourth, who supported himself in statistics of CYPRUS MISSION FOR YEAR school, i s giving his services free in the ENDING MARCH 31, 1910. work here in Talc Hing. During the Missionaries 3 year two new chapels have been opened Native helpers 6 s at M a Hui, ten Na.tive communicants 24 and work begun. One i Increase 2 miles northeast frora Tak Hing, where a shop was purchased and repaired at a Decrease 9 cost of sorae $200. The work here has Net decrease 7 been raainlyin the hands of two of our Coraraunionsworkers, Mr. Chung O n Taai and Mr. In Nicosia 3 Chung Ying Taai, who were transferred In Larnaca 1 4 Baptisms 1 to this place from Sha Pong as being a Schools 1 better center. They continue to make periodical visits to Sha Pong for meetings Pupils with the brethren there. One man has Turkish boys 18 been received into the Church as a direct Greek boys 20 result of their labors at M a Hui, and the Armenian boys 16 fear and opposition manifest atfirsthave Arabic-speaking boys 2 English-speaking boys 460 largely subsided. The other chapel was Ordained ministers in Larnaca 2 opened at Tung On, some thirty miles Doctor of Medicine in Nicosia 1 southeast of Talc Hing and a county seat There we rented a building for fifteen Licensed Greek Preachers (Nicosia). 1 Turkish Evangelist (Armenian).... 1 years at an annual rental of about $12. Teachers in school 3 The repairs cost sorae $40 or $50. Mr. Chung Leung Kwai is stationed there, Care-takers 1 Tuition from school 116 14s. 3^d. and one man has been received into the Sale of Books... 28 8s. bldi. Church frora this place. Sale of Scriptures 3 7s. Ofd. During the year we have also succeeded in getting the D o Sing property secured, 148 9s. 9|d. the magistratefinallystamping the deed "W. McCarroll. early in April. The work and plans there will be reported by others. CHINA. Rev. a. I. RoBB''s Report.When the The struggle over the chapel at Ko Che, students of last year completed their where the work was stopped by persecution work i t was not thought there were a last year, has continued, and i t was finally sufficient nuraber of new students to decided that i t would be better to try t o justify the beginning of a new class. Con- get another house. The brethren there sequently the writer's work up until the fixed on a site and three-tenths of a beginning of Noveraber has been conChinese acre was purchased. The deeds nected with the opening up of new work have been sent forward, but are not y e t in the country and evangelistic efforts in stamped. The purpose of the brethren i s these new places. to build a chapel, and they have agreed

N e w s of the Churches. that if w e will advance the money to build it they will pay it back in annual installments. T h e house and ground will cost about $150, and they have agreed to pay back $15 a year. If the work prospers, as w e hope, they can do better than that. The fact that floods have not only ruined their crops, but m a n y of their fields for two successive years, keeps down their subscription list. M r . Chung Ying Taai has been transferred to that place and will superintend the building and preach in it. In the work connected with the opening of these chapels, their repair, the stationing of the workers and subsequent visits for preaching, the writer has made twenty-nine trips to the country, fifteen of these occupying but one day each; the other fourteen varying from two to eight days, raaking a total of sixtyfour days. Fifty-six regular services have been conducted in chapels by the writer during the year. This does not represent nearly all the services conducted by missionaries, as on m a n y of these trips others accompanied m e . Rev. E . C. Mitchell, Rev. W . M . Robb and Rev. J. K. Robb have been with m e at different times and have conducted services. During the month of July I had charge of the work at the T a k Hing church, and was absent from thefieldin Macao during August. TRAINING SCHOOL. The training school was reopened Nov. 11, with three students in attendance and a fourth came in before the close of the term, which occurred Jan. 28. T w o more students are expected to enter after the N e w Year vacation. LITERARY WORK. The former edition of the Psalms in meter being exhausted, during the summer I m a d e over sixty selections. from thesefiftyodd Psalms, and with the help of a Chinese teacher added a number of

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others. T h e writer raust say, however, that the teacher did most of the work, while he acted the part of critic. A n edition of a thousand was printed and they are n o w in use. I also translated a pamphlet, "Gospel Truth for Y o u n g People." T h e translation of the edict, terras of coraraunion and queries in connection with the organization of the congregation here also fell to rae. While the work answered the present purpose, it is ray hope that in future a careful and accurate translation of these can be raade by a corapetent coraraittee. CONTRASTS. The work has sorae bright spots and sorae very dark shadows. T h e iraperfect conception of Christian life and character held by m a n y of our converts, the apparent greed for gain in some, the fear of raan and failure to testify for Christ, the low spiritual life in which w e missionaries too often set a very imperfect example, would lea.d us at times to say, "I have labored in vain. I have spent m y strength for naught and in vain." O n the other hand, when w e see the faithfulness of sorae, their wonderful capacity for enduring persecution, the slowly growing courage and capacity of the Churcli for taking responsibility, when w e see the gospel, in spite of a determined anti-Christian national spirit, with its accorapanying misrepresentation and calumny, talcing root and growing and still proving itself the power of God unto salvation, w e are able to say with conviction, "There is real life here," and in spite of trying conditions of cliraate, which reraoves so m a n y of our workers and renders so m a n y raore only partially effective on account of m a n y bodily ills, w e are neither cast down nor discouraged. "Wliile it is often with a humiliating sense of personal failure that w e labor, there is

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News of the Churches. has been, generally speaking, larger than during any former year. One year ago a total merabership of. 98 was reported. This year the increase is, by baptism, 20 and by certificate 8, the latter number being the lay members of the Mission's working force, who had their merabership transferred to the Tak Hing congregation at the time of its organization. The total increase for the year is therefore 28. The decrease has been 4, 1 by the exercise of discipline and 3 by death. Our net increase i s therefore 24, and the congregation's present membership i s 122.

never a doubt that God i s moving in this great nation in stately steppings of majesty. H e will perfect that which concerneth us, and we can therefore say, "Surely our judgraent i s with the Lord and our work with our God." A. I. Robb. Rev. j. K. Robb's Report.During the past year the preaching services in the chapel have been under ray charge. Services have been held moming and aftemoon, every Sabbath of the year.

SABBATH SERVICES. The moming services have been, with a few exceptions, conducted by myself. GENERAL ITEMS. Sabbath school services have been held The afternoon services were soraetimes during the year, the school for men and conducted by others, at ray request, and boys being under m y direction. The Insoraetiraes byrayself.Tiraely assistance in the preaching services has been given ternational lessons have been studied. by the otherrainisterialraembersof the Thursday evening prayer meetings for Mission's working force, and by some of men and boys have been held regularly. our native evangelists. The preaching of Theseraeetingsare open for all, foreignthe Word continues to be, in the estima- ers and natives, to .take part. They have tion of your representatives in this field, come to be regarded as an efficient means an effectual means of leading raen to be- of developing and fostering the Christian lieve, and also ofraakingthera to grow in graces and gifts. The Commission appointed by Synod grace. A considerable nuraber of our converts haveraadesorae progress in their to organize a congregation at Tak Hing, after having completed the organization, spiritual development, and consequently their needs, as well as the needs of those appointed m e to moderate the session. It less advanced, and of the as yet unbeliev- therefore falls to m e to attend to the exing, must be met. A marked change araination of candidates for baptism, and from the preaching of former years, both to instruct the merabers of Session when in the manner of presenting the truth, necessary, in regard to duties devolving and in the nature of topics discussed, has upon them as officers of God's house. become necessary. Not only have the At the Mission's last annual meeting I rudimentary and fundamental truths, was elected to the o f f i c e of treasurer of the such as repentance, faith and other kin- Mission, the duties of which o f f i c e I have dred topics, been discussed, but the duties perforraed to the best of m y ability. growing out of their acceptance of them Otherraattersof no great iraportance have .been pressed upon ourraerabers.W e in theraselves, but related to the work of are glad to know that God is able to use the Mission as a whole, have required atfeeble and iraperfect instruments for the tention at times. salvation of men. J. K. Robb. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. The attendance at our chapel services ing the past year ray time has been taken

Rev. E. C. Mitchell's Report.Dur-

N e w e af the Churchy. up largely with the study of the language, which I have endeavored to prosecute as diligently as health and climate would permit. During the entire year, with the exception of the s u m m e r months, when I was absent from the Mission, I have taught a class of boys in theraen'sSabbath school. This was a very pleasant duty, and also has been a great help to m e in getting a use of the language. During the year I have prepared and delivered six serraons in Chinese in the chapel at T a k Hing, m y first atterapt at preaching in Chinese being March 21, 1909.

157

story can be used for a chapel and dispensary and the upper story can be used for living rooms for the missionaries until a raore suitable site can be secured and a permanent dwelling erected. T h e building that is n o w under construction can then be used for a chapel or a school.

COLPORTAGE. During the year I have also been in charge of the colporteur work. For the greater part of the year w e have had three book-sellers employed. The reported sales have been as follows: 5 Bibles, 20 N e w Testaments, 3053 Gospels and Acts, 653 tracts. While the 'work has not been as satisTRIPS TO THE COUNTRY. 1 have raade five itinerating trips to factory as w e would like it, because of the the country, three in company with other difficulty of keeping account of the bookmissionaries, two by myself. Each trip sellers, yet it is hoped that portions of usually occupied three or four days and the Scriptures and tracts have been placed meetings were held in our out-stations in the hands of some w h o had never had each evening and during each day that the opportunity of reading the W o r d of we were there. W e usually had good opGod, and w h o perhaps might not have portunities for presenting the gospel, the had any other means of learning the way people crowding in sometiraes till not only of life. E. C. Mitchell. the seats, but the standing roora as well Boys' School.A large part of my was all taken up. Itinerating is hard work, as nearly all our traveling has to be time was given to the boys' school. There were 248 days of school. done on foot, but by this means w e have School hours were from 7 :30 A. M . to a splendid means for doing good. Tht speaker m a y be tired, but the toils of the 4:30 P. M., with one and a half hours for lunch and recess. journey are all forgotten when a h u m a n There were 27 boys enrolled during the being, who, perhaps, has never before had year. Average attendance for the year an opportunity to hear the gospel preached, is seen eagerly listening to the was 21^. There were 17 boarding pupils. Eleven of the boys are Christians. Six message. others have Christian parents. W O R K AT DO SING. O n account of the enforced withdrawal STUDIES. T h e course of studies was Bible, of Rev. W . M . Robb from thefieldI was Chinese classics and reader, Romanized placed in charge of the building at D o Sing, about theraiddleof January. The Chinese, arithmetic, history, geography and calisthenics. work there has occupied the greater part T w o hours a day were given to Bible of m y tirae since then, as ray presence is required at D o Sing the greater part of studies. T h e advanced pupils memorized Matt, fifth to eighth chapter, and John each week. T h e building that is being (CONTINUED ON PAGE 160.) erected is so arranged that the lower

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N e w s 'of the Churchea.

MISSION C H A R T . The chart on the opposite page is intended to give an eye impression of the progress m a d e in mission work during the lastfiveyears at Tak Hing, China. Plant.At the close of 1909 it consisted of two dwelling houses, two school buildings, a woman's building, a chapel and a hospital, seven good substantial twostory brick buildings. Force.This means the active workers, or only those missionaries and missionaries' wives w h o have been on thefieldmore than one year. Usually a missionary in China is counted an effective worker only after the second year. Reckoning on that basis the number of workers for each year would be5,5, 7,7,4,6.' In drawing the diagrams representing " Force " and " Converts, " the same unit of space given to each missionary was given to each convert, so the comparison of number of workers with number of converts is accurate and quite interesting. The native force at the close of 1909 was three native preachers, three teachers, two colporteurs and one Bible w o m a n . The number of native Christians at the close of 1909 was 114. The figure 122 on the chart includes the lady missionaries w h o became members of the congregation when it was organized. Sphere of Infiuence.This represents an area 70 miles square, or 4,900 square miles. The Christians are scattered in eighteen different towns and hamlets within the " Sphere of Influence. " In nine of these towns or hamlets at the close of 1909 we had three or more Christians. The blue spots indicate those places where w e have a chapel, and where evangelistic work is' being done regularly by native workers or missionaries. School Work.The red portion of the diagrams indicates what proportion of the pupils became baptized Christians during the year. School W o r k for 1909 and Medical W o r k for 1908 show a decrease from that of the year before. It was due to the absence on furlough of the workers in charge. Julius A. Kempp.

News of the Churches.

.159

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This has been the school's best year, both financially and in work done. The fruits already raanifest more than justify thirteenth to seventeenth, studied the Shorter Catechism and a book of questions the expenditure of the time and means on the Old Testament. T h e raiddle put into this departraent of the Mission's work. W e look forward to large developclass raemorized the parables and studied an outline of the Life of Christ. T h e first ments and still greater results in educaclass meraorized the T e n Coraraandments, tional work. 19th and 23d Psalms and a four-character NEEDS. The boys' school is in need of a dorclassic dealing with Christian truth. T h e mitory building. Last terra the house older pupils in this class also memorized rented for a dorraitory was overcrowded. about half of the parables. Next terra, in addition to the rented All the pupils are required to attend Sabbath school and preaching in the house, w e will have to use part of the chapel every Sabbath morning. T h e reading room in the school building for boarding pupils are required to attend the teraporary sleeping quarters. Sabbatii afternoon preaching as well; T h e school is also very rauch in need They also attend the Tuesday evening- of a native Christian teacher, trained in services in the school building and the Western methods of teaching. H e will Thursday evening prayer meeting. coraraand a rauch larger salary than an T w o native Christian teachers assisted ordinary Chinese teacher, but w e must in the school work. I spent frora three have such a m a n in orde.r that w e may to four hours every week day, excepting hold the advanced pupils, and that the Saturday, in the school. Every raorning foreign worker m a y be able to talce up I oonducted devotional exercises and heard more advanced studies. W e hope that bethe boys recite their Bible lessons. In fore the end of another year some steps the afternoon I taught arithmetic, Ro- m a y be taken to secure such a m a n . manization and calisthenics. SPECIAL SERVICES. During the second term I m e t wifh the Every Tuesday evening, excepting durboys in the dormitory every Sabbath and ing school vacation, services were conPriday evening for the study of the Old ducted in the preaching hall of the school Testament. W e covered the story of the building, the preaching being done by creation and the lives of Joseph and native helpers or mj'self. Apart from David. T h e boys were especially interthe school boys the attendance at these ested in the character studies, and it af- services was rather sraall. W e hope that forded a very good opportunity to im-hen this work is again taken up some press upon their |minds the fact that the better raethod will be found for attractgood in the lives of these two m e n and ing outsiders to these evening services. tlieir greatness was due to their desire Julius A. Kempe. and purpose to do the will of the living Report of the Girls' School.In and true God, and to the Spirit of God the absence of Dr. Kate McBurney, Mrs. dwelling in them. Wright has had the management' of the During the year three of the boys were .girls' school. Since she is not able to baptized and received into the Church. write a report of the work for the past T w o others made a confession of their year, she has asked m e to do this for her. faith in Christ. The school opened Jan. 25, 1909, hav(continued from PAGE 157.)

N e w s of the Churchea. ing but one day instead of the usual month's vacation for Chinese N e w Year's. This'was planned in order that the term might befinishedbefore the hot weather. School closed M a y 31. In the fall, the digging of the well and the repairing of the building m a d e it inconveinient to open school until Nov. 1, and the term closed Jan. 28, 1910. During the year 18 girls were enrolled. The subjects taught were Bible, Chinese classics, Chinese Romanization, arithmetic, history, geography, physiology, calisthenics and singing.

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spring, but in the fall gave it up in order that she might give her time to the woman's school. I had charge of the. calisthenics and the reading classes in Chinese Romanization during the year. The beginners' class read the Priraer on this work. The advanced class read the Gospel of Matthew and the well-known tract called "Thanksgiving Ann." A s Mrs. Wright did not have tirae for her class in singing in the fall term, I tried to give the girls a little training along this line. Most of the time was spent in learning to sing the Psalms. A t the end of the term each girl was SCHOOL AT WORK. The girls have also been taught indus- given a new Psalra book for reciting the trial work, such as sewing Chinese clothes, fourth Psalra from memory, and also bepiecing and quilting quilts, housework ing able to sing it correctly. and gardening. This worlc was under the Lei L a u Y u n g conducts worship with manageraent of Mrs. Wright, and with the girls raoming and evening. Five the help of the older girls, the work was evenings in the week they go to the made easy and pleasant for all. Lei L a u woraan's school to study the Life of Yung has done efficient work as teacher. Christ, which is taught by Chue H o n Shaang. O n Saturday evenings they have The girls have been under her care and prayer raeeting together with the women. teaching in the forenoon. Sabbath aftemoon, Mrs. W . M . Robb heard Leung Sin Shaang taught the girls the writing of Chinese characters until a few them recite verses of Scripture. This months ago, when all his tirae was occu- work was entirely voluntary; each girl repied with teaching in the boys' school. citing as m a n y verses as she had time to Then Che Sin Shaang began teaching coramit during the week; but they -genwriting and also the advanced class in erally had enough to take an hour or so of Mrs. Robb's tirae each Sabbath afterarithmetic. During the first four months of the noon. The girls' Bible study class, which it year. Dr. Wright gave several hours a has been m y privilege to teach, has met week to teaching physiology in the school. regularly twice a week. One of our This was a subject of m u c h interest and Christian w o m e n conducted the class durof very great help to the girls. Mrs. A. I. Robb taught the writing in ing ray absence in the suraraer. During Chinese Romanization. A t the end of the school year she assists in the class, the year the copy-books showed improve- teaching the sraall children. W e have ment in the writing. S o m e of the older studied the Sabbath school lessons during girls are very good writers, as Dr. K . M c - the year and part of the tirae we had the Parables of Christ. N o w , in our ThursB u m e y can testify from the letters which she received from them while she was in day class w e are studying Old Testament the horde land. Mrs. Robb also taught characters. Eight members of the class the beginners' class in arithmetic last are Church raembers, three of these hav-

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News of ihe Churches. Canton to stay for a while. Since she carae a l i t t l e blind girl from up street has come to be taught by her. The Chinese think i t very wonderful that a blind person can read and knit and sew, and so i t is. Two frora the woraen's school were received into the Church during the year. This looks like very little, when we look about us and see sorauchto be done; but we hope i t i s the beginning of better things. Janet C. Robb. Gregg Memorial Hospital and Dispensary.Owing to the fact that Drs. McBurney were home on furlough for the greater part of the year, and that Dr. Wright i s away frora the Mission for an indefinite tirae on account of Mrs.. Wright's serious illness, I have been asked to write the report of the Hospital and Dispensary work for the year 1909. christian INFLUENCES. As a whole, the work has been much the sa.me as that of previous years. The Dispensary has been open daily, and we trust many have been benefited, not only physically, but spiritually; for, though we were unable to do rauch work, owing to our liraited knowledge of the language, the native helpers are all Christians and areraostdiligent in telling of the Great Physician to those who come trusting only in the huraan physician. Those in the Hospital are brought in touch with the gospel daily^worship being conducted morning and evening in the wards with those who are not able to go to the chapel. Any who are able are expected to attend the chapel exercises. ITINERATING. Owing to the liraited force in the field for the greater part of the year, not much could be done in the way of itinerating, but since Dr. Jean McBurney's return the work has been taken up again, and already i ti sraakingan increase in the

ing been baptized during the past year. Most of the others are believers and have expressed their desire to be baptized as soon as they have acquired sufficient knowledge. Mrs. Wright, having the manageraent of two schools along with her home duties, has been kept very busy, but the efficiency of the Chinese teacher and the splendid conduct of the girls, along with their interest in helping themselves, has made the worlc much easier. Those of us who have been able to help a l i t t l e with the work count i t a great privilege.

M. L. Mitchell. Report of the Woman's School.

Because of Mrs. Wright's illness, she asked rae to report the work done in the woraan's sehool. I ara sorry I do not know more about it, and I fear m y report will be very incomplete, for Mrs. Wright had charge of the school, made the plans and arranged the classes. I think the spring term began Jan. 25 and closed the last week in June. In the fall the school opened Oct. 5 and closed Jan. 28. The attendance was somewhat irregular. There have been eighteen different pupils in attendance during .the year, but not that many at any one tirae. Nine was the most I ever had inrayclass, and that only for a short time. But there were four faithful ones who were there nearly all the tirae. Mrs. Wright taught singing and also a class in Bible study twice a week. Mrs. W . M. Robb had a class for inquirers Thursdays and Sabbaths. Lau Yung gave her afternoons to the woraen's work and taught a class Sabbath raorning. Hon Shaang taught the Life of Christfiveevenings in the week. After Dr. Jean McBurney went home I had her arithmetic class. About thefirstof January a blind girl came up here from Dr. Niles' school in

N e w s of the Churches. number of patients. If some one could give his or her whole time to this work it would be one of the most valuable ways of carrying the gospel into dark places. For nearly two months during the hot weather, the hospital and dispensary were left in charge of the native helpers, to do such work as could be done without the supervisiftn of a physician. During this time Dr. Wright m a d e a trip home and stayed a number of days to look after any w h o might need treatment. There was no appropriation m a d e by Synod for the medical work last year. A s the work grows, the expenses will increase, so w e hope w e will not be forgotten this year. STATISTICAL REPORT. Women's Department. Dispensary patients Hospital patients Outcalls Treatments ;

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F'inancial. Money received in dispensary.... $54.84 Other sources 40.62 Total Expended Trips Patients Men's Department. Dispensary patients Hospital patients Outcalls Treatments Financial. Received Expended Balance Itinerary. 4 156 1340 62 50 4990 $187.63 181.23 $6.40 raade 22 956 Ida M . Scott. $95.46 $95.46

561 19 85 300G

Trips Patients treated

A n d to-day, by universally admitted ethical obligation, Christianity is a missionary religion. It is a creed which, - twenty centuries after its founder's death, produces missions and raissionaries as naturally as a living tree, in whoge woody fibers the mysterious forces of spring are stirring, produces blossoras. A n d theraissionariesit produces are of an absolutely unique type. Mohararaedanisra is araissionaryreligion, too, but the evangelists of Islam use the logic of the sword blade. Their message is, "Accept the Koran or die!" But the Christian missionary is a phenoraenon without a parallel in history. A certain measure of half-pitying contempt coraraonly gathers about him. H e has the scantiest equipment. H e carries no arms; he is clad with no civil authority; he has very little money; he is usually alone. H e has only a message and a motive. T h e message is the story of Christ, and the motive is the love of Christ.W. H . Fitchett, in The Messenger. Syria, Latakia.The following items are found in letters from Rev. S. Edgar, dated April 9 and 20, 1910: Mr. McFarland and the writer have been touring the past three weeks. W e administered the Lord's Supper in Gunaimia and Tartoos. In the former place the interest was deep and the attendance excellent. Ten united with the Lord's people, on profession of faith. Sorae of these are the children of -the church and others frora the Arraenian Church. The new house was full to the very door. W e praise our Lord for this vision of the Spirit's working on hearts. Carae home and rested one day, then started for Tartoos. Were overtaken by rain and had heavy rains all the journey. Yet w e had

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N e w s of the Churches.

good attendance at all the services. But workers in Tak Hing are having! H o w no accessions. The school is doing good, grateful w e here ought to be for the good faithful work. W e were in the Sabbath health of all the workers. W e trust that school for review on Sabbath morning. the Master raay, with the heavy burdens, The work done by the children was a give ourraissionariesin China,that concredit to the service. There was not one stant help that is needed through all these question missed in all the review, and trying hours. W e are very sorry to hear of the conthe review was no skimming operation. O n our way h o m e we had some more hea'vy dition of M r . Miller. But congratulate the Board on having such a m a n as Dr. rains, and in Jebley, where w e stopped all night, we had that rich encouragement Metheny to take his place. That call for which your coraraittee in their recent re- twenty-five workers is surely a loud deport offered to the new workers, namely m a n d to the Church to be up and doing. "paucity of oomfort." W e had this in W e shall wait with deep interest the action abundance. W e can assure you your ser- of the Synod on all this advanceraent. vants will not lack for this blessing to I was deeply interested in the change keep them rich in humility and gratitude the Board has m a d e in Latakia. A n d we for the taste they have had of these bless- hope that your plans for the good of the ings in the past. However, the joy in the work here and the change of the workers work makes these things a second thought. m a y mean all the success that you desire W e called at Bizzak on the way to Tar- in our midst. W e are all glad that toos and find the school work going well there is to be a beginning in the theologfor a new place. ical department, and we hope it m a y be At the recent mission meeting here w e the opening of great things for the prephad three more petitions for new schools aration of workers. in the raountains, two of these were I a m just h o m e from a trip to Suadia. granted, but we are not certain that teach- Mrs. McFarland went with m e that she ers appointed will accept. W e rejoice to raight see Suadia and Kessab. W e cersee the people coming and asking for the tainly saw Suadia in its beauty. Mrs. education for their children. This is the McFarland's pen is a better one than mine opportunity the Church has been wanting. for telling all that we saw, so I shall leave AYe rejoice in the Board's answer to the that part for her. This was m yfirsttrip field's need. W e will await with deep in- there without M r . McFarland. I hope terest the action of Synod. W e do hope that the trip will not add to his burdens for China that new corps of workers that when he goes next time. O n Sabbath the the place and need demand. writer preached in the morning, and the Just now comes the word that an order native evangelist in the afternoon. The came frora the Walley of Beirut to the attendance in the m o m i n g was about Muttaserrif here to close the Bizzak eighty, and in the afternoon about fortyschool. This no doubt is the work of the five. The schools are in good condition, Greek Bishop of Latakia, who tried sev- although few of those that w e are so anxeral tiraes before. W e hope, however, ious to reach are in attendance this year. that this is not thefinalact, as the people W e were glad to be able to make a beginwant the school. ning in going alone, as this m a y help us W e were exceedingly sorry to hear of to relieve Brother McFarland occasionally Mrs. Wright's illness. "What trials our from these long trips, which hav^ fallen

N e w s of the Churches. on him since M r . Stewart's departure. This is a part of the work that I would thoroughly enjoy had I a full and easy use of the language. W e were greatly grieved to find the people in so great need. There are dozens of families that have not had br^ad in their houses since our last visit in January. They have not money to pay the price that is asked for the grain, and so they have been living on the vegetables they can gather in the fields. S o m e of them w h o have a little money have been able to buy some flour that is m a d e from Kaffir com. This makes a very, very dark bread, but is bet- ter than none. T h e price of wheat is simply out of their reach. All this is caused by a shortage in the crops of last yearcrops that promised good, but were attacked by the locust and destroyed wholly or in part. W e are glad, to say that only two of our o w n families in Suadia have had to ask help, and this w e were glad to give, under the conditions. W e heard m a n y complaints from the Greeks conceming the lack of interest of their o w n church in refusing them help at such a needy time. They said that call after call had gone to the Bishop of Latakia for help and not a word in reply. I mention this simply to show another of the ways in which this church that claims so much, does the work of the Master, Whoin she clairas to serve. The people are n o w busy with the silkworms, and expect that in a few weeks the money frora this will bring to them great relief. T h e harvests at present 'are promising to be very good. O n Monday w e left Suadia and arrived in Kessab shortly after noon. All in Kessab seemed to be busy building or helping the builders. T h e w o m e n are caring for the silkworms, while the m e n do the house repairing, though we saw not a few w o m e n "carrying the hod," as

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we say. W e had supper with M r . and Mrs. Hurter. These, as you know, are the young couple from Philadelphia, who were sent out to open an orphanage. They certainly arrived in an opportune moment. They have n o w a family of thirty-two children around them. A n d the blessings of corafort and cleanliness that they have brought to these children help us to appreciate the good things that corae from the gospel of our Lord Jesus. T h e pastor of the Arraenian Protestant Church had just moved into his own house again, although it was far frora ready. They have the foundation ready for their new church, which was completely destroyed a year ago. W e made an early start for Latakia the next m o m i n g and reached home in the evening after being about twelve hours on the road. China, Tak Hln^.The following letter from Dr. Kate M c B u m e y , dated April 25, 1910, and the paper frora the pen of Dr. Wright, to which it refers, will be read with special interest: The outcome of local environments and climatic conditions in the past has led the members of the medical staff here to seriously inquire whether w e have been doing all that we raight in the way of investigation and recommendation in addition to such remedial and prophylactic measures as have recommended themselves to those who have made systematic study of the tropics. T o the furtherance of this end we have recently organized ourselves into a local Medical Missionary Society of the Covenanter Church in China. W e are n o w earnestly seeking to Imow the dangers that beset the health of the missionary who comes here, and also to learn what measures should be recoinmended in the effort to prevent a repetition of our past

1 ' ' 6 6

N e w s of ihe Churches.

record in regard to health. No one who paper was read and discussed. The socihas kept pace with the history of our Mis- ety asked Dr. Wright to allow us to give sion in China will think this effort has it to the Church through the columns of been begun before it is needed^ and w e Oli^ve Trees. T o this he has consented, trust that before it is necessary for us to and w e trust you will be able to give it lose another worker on account of broken a place and- that your readers will give health, we m a y be shown clearly what is it a careful perusal. This is a serious our duty and be given grace to perform it question, but w e are not without hope faithfully. that there is at least a partial solution of A t our recent meeting the- enclosed the difficulty. W h e n I went to London in 1872, I preached in a Congregational Church with no unusual power. There was nothing unusual in the service. In fact, I was a little disappointed. That evening I preached to a congregation of raen. There seemed to be great power; The building wasfilledwith the glory of God, and before I closed I asked for an expression on the part of those w h o wanted to be Christians. The men rose by hundreds. I said torayself,"They don't understand me." So I concluded to put another test. I asked all seekers to step into the chapel. They fiocked into the chapel by hundreds. I was in great perplexity. I could not understand what it meant. I had to go to Dublin the next day, and on Tuesday m o m i n g I got a dispatch, saying, "Come to London at once and help us." I did not ^ o w what to make of it, but hastened back to London. I labored there for ten days, and there were four hundred conversions. For months I could not understand it; but by and by I found out. There was in that church a bedridden woraan who used to take different ones on her heart and pray for them until they were converted. Well, she began to pray to God to bring m e to that church. O n Sabbath raorning her sister carae horae and, said, " W h o do jou think preached for us this raoming?" She guessed a nuraber ofrainisterswho had been in the habit of exchanging with the pastor, and finally gave up. "It.was Mr. Moody frora America," the sister said. The invalid tumed pale and said, "I know what that means; there is going to be a great work here." W h e n the servant brought up her dinner she said, " N o dinner for rae to-day; I spend this day in prayer and fasting." A n d that night, while I was preaching, she was praying. In answer to her prayers the power of God just fell upon the audience.

D . L. Moody.
" H e that believeth on M e , the works that I do, shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto M y Father." (John 14, 12.) Christ opened the eyes of a blind m a n and he saw his father. Y o u can open the eyes of a man's heart and he shall see God. H e lifted up a raan w h o was lame; you shall bring a m a n to walk in the ways of righteousness. H e took a young m a n by the hand and raised him up from his bier. If you arefilledwith the Spirit of God, you can bring a m a n up from the death of sin into the life of God. It is a greater work thari Jesus Christ did when H e opened the eyes of the blind man.Alexander McKenzie.

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M O N O G R A P H S .
M a n y are not more, than ten by fifteen feet, while very few are larger than fifty or eighty by one hundred feet. They are plowing and harrowing these patches under water. For this they use the water buffalo, but here is one m a n whose buffalo is not in evidence and he has hitched hiraself to the harrow and is laboriously dragging it through the m u d . W h e n the m u d has been loosened up, mixed with water, and then smoothed down again with a few inches of water over the surface, it is then ready for setting out the tender little shoots, and in a short time the whole valley will be a very pretty scene. Here comes a poor distressed looking beggar, ragged and dirty, with a most depressed, hopeless look in his face. H e is not an old m a n , but his face is pale and haggard. A s he comes closer, passing us on the narrow path, w e see that nearly all his toes are gone, and open sores in their place. H e looks at us with hopeless appeal in his eyes, but does not ask if he can be healed, for well he knows, the verdict H e is a leper, and recognized as such by all w h o see him. These are perhaps the hardest cases w e have to raeet. It is hard to see those who, like this one, having given u p all, are abandoned to lives of loneliness, suffering and poverty, begging for the food which enables thera to continue a little longer in this wretched condition, with no hope for anything better here or hereafter. It is harder still when a raother brings her daughter to us to k n o w if she can be healed. She has been cast off by her husband's people, and her raother take? her in, but it is only for a tirae. Soon the neighbors object to her being in their midst, and the mother must do something. They bave heard of the

A TRIP TO THE COUNTRY.

It is a dispensary day at K u n Hui. W e always choose a market day for our dispensary work, because on market days people from the surrounding country far and near, corae to buy and sell all sorts of produce. Each raarket town has its regular raarket days for each month. Those of K u n H u i are the third, sixth, ninth and all numbers ending in three, six and nine, making nine market days each month, as the Chinese month has twentynine or thirty days, according whether the month is "short" or "long." A boy goes with us to carry the medicines and lunch, and a woraan goes along to help in treating and talking to the w o m e n . These helpers are both Christians and improve every opportunity to tell others of the one true God, W h o loves and is able to save them. ON THE WAY. The journey is a very pleasant one, being along a narrow raud or gravel path patted down sraooth and solid by the many bare feet that have passed over it. The road is practically level all the way, passing along in zigzag turns between the ricefieldsand garden patches that lie in the valleys," and winding around the hillsides with their pretty trees and bracken and beautiful wild roses n o w in full bloom. T h e ricefieldsare being prepared for the second planting, or setting out of rice, which was sown some weeks ago in little oblong patches in the raidst of each rice field. These patches are n o w a most beautiful green, and will soon be ready to take u p and separate into little bunches to be planted over the whole field. The fields are divided into square, oblong or irregular patches of various sizes.

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Monographs.

not wear as well as their other cloth, so is not so practical for poor people. O n one side of the teraple a long, heavy plank makes a seat for us. T h e crowd follows us in and surrounds us, using up m u c h good oxygen that w e would like, but as they seem inclined to be kindly and respectful w e raake no protest, except n o w and then when they crowd us too closely, we gently request thera to stand off a little. T h e altar stands on the other side of the temple, and on each side of it stand two large idols facing the altar. Back of this are five more idols and a group of five on each side of thesenineteen in all. A raan and a boy come iri with viands prepared for use, and place them on the TOWN AND TEMPLE SCENES. altar. The m a n kneels and bows, touching A s w e enter the town, we. cross a streara by means of planks, which are his head to the ground three times, then placed one from each side with ends rest- rises and stands a few seconds, kneels ing side by side on a standard in the mid- again, bowing three times as before. dle of the stream. It seems strange to Then he rises, and with hands together, see a w o m a n dipping clear-looking water bows three times standing. T h e boy goes out of the m u d d y stream, but if you look through .the same performance. Duriug more carefully you will see that the this time a priest stands beating a gong stream is shallow, and near the center the to call the idols and .spirits. N o w one sand is up to the surface of the water. takes some paper, perhaps with gold or There is a round basket sunk in the sand, silver tinsel somewhere on it, representmaking a little well, into which the water ing money, and holding this in both filters through the sand. W e enter the hands, lights it and bows with it three crowded streets and edge our way along times before the altar. Finally a bunch past tents like large, irregular four-cor- of firecrackers is put off, scattering all nered urabrellas, which have been erected around a m o n g the crowd of children who teraporarily over the stands to keep off have been watching. S o m e of them are sun and rain. A s w e enter the teraple scarcely big enough to walk and you fear which we use as dispensary, we find raen for the little tots, but they do not seem and woraen with their wares spread out to care in the least. W h a t a blessing it on the fioor. Here is sold grass, of which will be to these people when they leam one kind of grass cloth is made. Old the truth, so that their earnest devotions w o m e n , not able to do heavy work, buy raay be directed to the O n e W h o ' alone this grass and sit by the hour separating has power to give them that for which it into fine shreds with their finger nails. their souls long. A m o n g those - who These they fasten together into one long crowd around us are all sorts of patients. thread and sell, to be woven into cloth. ' A ' ^ a rious kinds of pains, aches and sores This cloth is light-weight and cool for are prescribed for and treated. When sumraer, but is raore expensive and does there are eyes to examine, abscesses to foreigners, so corae to us as their- last hope. H o w w e long for sorae plan by which w e could give thera not only shelter and food for the body, but also an opportunity to hear the gospel of salvation, which would raean so rauch to thera in their helpless, hopeless condition. M a n y , raany tiraes these cases are brought to our notice, and if w e have nothing to offer them, there is but one thing left for them to do, and that is to go out with the other lepers and beg. Think of a pure, honest, respectable person, no more a beggar in heart than you or I, being corapelled to live such a life. But w e must leave the leper behind and hasten on.

Monographs. open or teeth to extract, it is necessary to spend some time keeping an opening through the crowd to let in a little light, for there is no window. T h e people are usually willing to stand aside, but just as ready, unconsciously perhaps, to-close u p the ranks again in their eagerness to see. A n old m a n comes with a four-year-old blind girl. H e has been to us before, and knows h^r sight can never be restored, but he coraes to give us opportunity to tell him a little more about the possibility of the little girl learning to read and sew when she is a little older. T h e child clings tb h i m and begs hira to take her home, but gradually, finding w e are not going to talce her by force, she becoraes more calra and quiet while the old m a n hears about the blind girl w h o can read and write and knit and sew, and can also teach others. H e is very m u c h interested, but it is hard for hira to believe it all, so he is invited to come himself and see the work. T w o little boys are teasing and laughing at the blind girl. She shows evidence of having been teased before, for she resents it, manifesting considerable temper. She tries to strike the offenders, but misses every time. This is great sport for the boys, but their laughter is not soothing to her troubled spirit. The boys are reproved for such conduct, but do not take it seriously. N o w there are some pictures (cut from magazines) to be given to the children. They are delighted, and would reach and beg for them had they not already learned that those who -reach out their hands and ask are never thefirstto get pictures. T h e two little boys receive none, being told there are no pictures for boys w h o tease and laugh at a poor little blind girl. After this they are meek and silent for a time. Then again ask for a picture, but are refused. They try different ways, going around to different positions in the crowd.

169

trying to corae in for their turn with n e w ones as they come in, but they fail to get pictures that day. If the children at h o m e knew the pleasure a few pictures give the children here, they would be glad to cut out some f(5r them occasionally. They especially like pictures of children and aniraals. Even raen and woraen come asking for pictures for their children or grandchildren, and the grown people take as m u c h interest in seeing them as do the children. T h e time comes to go, and w e must close up our baskets even though there are more patients n o w than before. S o m e have just finished their marketing, so that they can corae, while others have just riow learned that we are here. GOING HOME. W e are sorry to refuse thera, but w e are giving ourselves only time to get h o m e before dark, so must hasten. W e tell thera when they m a y expect us again, and ask thera to come earlier next day. O n the way h o m e w e have several calls to stop and deal out medicines, but unless the case is urgent w e do not stop, but tell them where they can get medicines. AYould you like to follow our two helpers a little further? Y o u will find one of thera a little later in the evening in the woraan's ward conducting evening prayers. They sing a Psalra, read a chapter in tlie Bible, and some one leads in prayer; then all join in repeating the Lord's Prayer. O n the men's side, prayers are over and several of the patients are sitting out on the veranda. T h e boy w h o carried for us is sitting there with thera and talking earnestly. W e will not stop to interrupt thera, but w e catch a few words as w e pass. "If you ask G o d " a n d it is enough to tell us the subject of his discourse. These are only a few of the things you could see in one day.

Jean G. McBurney.
Tak Hing, China.

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Monographs. extremity." There seems to be absolutely nothing we can do from the Chinese standpoint in the way of redress. Every inquiry we m a k e and every suggestion is raet with the sarae hopeless response. Our hands are tied, but our tongues are not, neither is the hand of our Lord shortened that H e cannot save. In our regular course of singing at worship we have corae to the 94th Psalra, and we were touched by its appropriateness and were encouraged by it. W e trust that this m a n m a y see the error of his way before the words of the last verse are fulfilled in him. They tell us he is a nice kind of a man when he has plenty of raoney, but that he will stop at nothing when "luck goes against hira." This is thefirsttime she. has come to us over night. W h e n we open the school to woraen at coraraunion time, so that they can attend the night meetings, she has never been allowed to stay over night. W e were surprised that she should risk his further displeasure by coming here; but she is here again tonight, and we will gladly give her shelter as long as she asks it. ELiTE M c B u r n e y . Tak Hing, China.

A GAMBLER'S WIFE. One of our members is having a sad experience just now. A Kwan's husband is a gambler, and has beaten her several times because he had not been successful in winning. O n e of these seasons of discontent befell him on Saturday. He called for his wife and little daughter who is a pupil in the school^to go home. The little girl was heard begging oue of the Christian raen to loan thera sorae money so that her father raight be persuaded to not beat her mo-ther. But the blow fell on Sabbath morning. They were not at church, and no one seeraed to know why. Late in the evening they carae, aslcing to be allowed to sleep in the woman's school. H o w thankful we are for that refuge! W e learned that he had beaten them until, when he went up street, she left the house and came here. The evidences of his brutality were abundant, and our hearts ached for her. A s we looked on the great welts of his cruel instrument of torture, w e were willing to believe that the other emotion that clamored for place in our hearts was of the righteous kind. To-day w e exhausted our resources and have come to "man's

"They shall walk and not faint." Not in our tiraes of stress and strain, but in our plodding along the weary path, w e are raightily helped, and heartened, and encouraged, by the strength that coraes from waiting upon God. A n d do you know why the prophet puts that last? It is because he keeps the hardest till the end. It is because to be strong in dull and dreary duty is about the hardest task a m a n can face. It is a noble thing to be brave in tragic raoraents, but perhaps there is soraething even nobler than that. It is to be brave, and glad and strong, and tender, when the sky is dreary. It is in such seasonsand they form nine-tenths of lifethat he who waits on God will show his strength.George II. Morrison.

A traveler, fording a river on horseback, beca.me so dizzy as to be near losing his seat. Suddenly he received a blow under his chin from his corapanion, with the words "Look up!" Looking up from the turbulent waters saved his life. Looking on ourselves, our wants, our cares, our disappointments, causes us to becoriie spiritually dizzy. Looking up unto God in prayer will help us to "rejoice always."S. S. Times.

Editorial Notes.

171

EDITORIAL
The churches will please bear in raind that at theraeetingof Synod Dr. S. A. S. Metheny -was appointed Treasurer of the Foreign Missions, and all raoneys for this purpose should be sent to his address, 617 North Forty-third street, Philadelphia, Pa. T h e Board urges increased liberality on the part of the people that the full appropriation of $18,500 for the Levant Missions and the full appropriation of $8,000 for the Mission in China raay be raised. That amount will be required, and more, to raeet the expense of the advance raoveraent described in its Report, and heartily endorsed by Synod. (See Olive Trees for June, pp. 137 and 138.) The Board was also authorized to ask for not less than $3,000 to coraplete a Missionary Horae in Gunairaia, a very important outstation in Northern Syria, and to enlarge the "Alexander House" in Latakia by the addition of three or four rooms, thus providing suitable accommodation for a missionary and his family. The friends of the Levant Missions are requested to contribute the amount called for at once, that there raay be no unnecessary delay in doing the work this sumnier. Surely it m a y be confidently expected that twenty or thirty devoted members of the Covenanter Church will put this money into the Treasury without waiting for any special appeal. The readers of Olive Trees are requested to study carefully the Report of the Foreign Mission Board and the Report of Synod's Committee on Foreign Missions, published in the June number. According to these papers it will be seen that there is "present urgent need of twenty-five additional missionaries, six ministers,fivephysicians, eleven teachers.

NOTES.

two trained nurses and a hospital matron; these to be distributed among the Missions aecording to the present necessity of each." Acting on the pledge of Synod "that we wiir seek more fully to meet the call of God to consecrate our sons and daughters to the worlc in the foreign field" (see June number, p. 130), the Board n o w calls for an indefinite number of laborers. Blanic forms of application will be promptly forwarded to any one w h o wishes to devote his life to this service. These applicants should be in good health, possessed of an evangelistic spirit and filled with an intense desire to bear a part in the evangelization of the world. Never was the Lord's call more loudly addressed to the Covenanter Church than to-day: " W h o m shall I send, and w h o will go for U s ? " A n d never were there grander opportunities for successful service. The interests of thefields,for whose evangelization we have m a d e ourselves responsible bo thin the Levant and in China, seem to demand that the ministers, physicians and teachers called for should be in thefieldsbefore the close of 1910. The readers of Olive Trees are urged to exaraine the Field Reports published in June and July nurabers, and thus make themselves acquainted with the present condition and needs of the work abroad. A brother, whose very loyalty to his conviction leads him soraetiraes to say and to put things in print without measuring their far-reaching consequences, offered on thefioorof Synod a resolution to inquire into the practice of using individual cups at Comraunion. T h e special committee to which the resolution was referred, recommended the following action:

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Editorial Notes. will hold him and his service, so freely rendered, in loving remembrance." At the request of Mrs. J. R. Copeland, Pamassus, Pa., w e publish the following report of the Treasurer of the Latakia Church Building Fund up to and including June 10: M a y 14, 1910. Olathe, Kan., Mrs. A n n a E. Wilson $25.00 M a y 23, 1910. N e w Concord, 0., Mrs. C. B. Jaraeson 10.00 M a y 23, 1910. Beulah Cong., Nebraska, J. T. Mitchell 10.00 M a y 24, 1910. Third N . Y., Mrs. F. M . Foster 242.00 M a y 31, 1910. Pgh. Presbyterial Thank Offering, Mrs. S. R. Wills 1941.18 June 1, 1910. Denison, Kan., Mrs. Bertha Braura 15.00 June 1,1910. Lake Reno Cong., Minn., Mrs. J. K. Elsey 30.50 Total $2273.68

"Not wishing to introduce into the Church unnecessarily a disturbing element, the consideration of the question as to the method of dispensing the wine at the Communion is indefinitely postponed." During the discussion on the adoption of this suggested action. Rev. Julius A. K e m p f stated that an article, which appeared in The Christian Nation a few raonths ago, refiected with great severity on the Mission at Tak Hing, China, where the individual cup is used in the observance of the Lord's Supper, and had deeply wounded the feelings of all the missionaries. At once the writer of the article was on his feet to express regret, and made a manly apology, saying in effect that he had written it under excitement and consequently hadraanifesteda spirit that was not brotherly. A n d this apology The Christian Nation volunteered to publish as widely as the offense. The recommendation of the Coramittee was then adopted, and Synod put on its Minutes the following resolution: "Synod expresses its confidence in the faithfulness of our missionaries in China and of their ability to order the affairs of the Mission-to the best interests of the Covenanter Church."

We give below the Thank Offering received at Pittsburg Presbyterial Woman's Missionary Convention, A l l e g h e n y Church, M a y 17, 1910: Indian Mission $163.74 Jewish Mission 19.50 Every letter frora the foreign fields exDoraestic Mission 19.50 presses profound sympathy with Mr. Wal- Mission in China 118.50 ter T. Miller and family in their trouble. Southern Mission 4.50 T w o quotations will serve as specimens of Syrian Mission 7.50 raany that might be made: "Mr. MiUer, Students' Aid 1.00 laboring on long after he should have had National Reform 5.00 relief, has faithfully served the Church Proposed new church in Latakia 1941.18 and the missionaries, and will be missed Rev. A. Kilpatrick , 13.75 very rauch in the work." "The Church Total $2294.17 A synopsis of the report of Mrs. 8. R. Wills, treasurer of the W o m a n ' s Missionary Society of Pittsburg Presbytery, will appear in next issue of Olive Trees. Mrs. J. M . Wright and son arrived in Seattle, Wash., June 3, 1910, Both well

A Monthly Journal devoted to IVIissionary W o r k in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. No. AUGUST, 1910.

Q U E S T I O N S

O F

T H E

H O U R .

and twenty congregations and mission stations. This does not look rauch like an over-supply of preachers. T h e writer PROF. R. C. AVYLIE,, LL.D., ALLEGHENY, PA. has had opportunity of knowing that sorae of our vacant congregations have been The opinion prevails to a large extent without preaching for raonths at a time, that there has been for some tirae and still is a superabundance ofrainistersin and could not by any means Icnown to thera obtain supplies. If young...men-are the Reforraed Presbyterian Church. This turning their faces toward'otiier callings opinion has doubtless deterred sorae of because they see no openings f9r the the young m e n of the Church frora entering the Theological Seminary. B u t it is preaching of the gospel, they have viewed a very erroneous opinion. While the the field from the wrong standpoint. Even if no advance is made, if no newr graduating class a year ago last spring numbered eight, the class last spring n u m - fields are to be occupied, w e have not enough active, energetic ministers to bered only two. T h e class of 1911 n u m B u t the bers four, and that of 1912 only three. A t supply the present demand. Church should not be satisfied to do no the present writing I a m not sure of any more than hold the ground already ocnew students at the opening of the semincupied. This would be the surest way to ary next September. lose ground. E v e n to hold its own, the A littlefiguring,together with a little Church must be aggressive. A n d if there serious thought, will m a k e it clear that is to be any growth whatever, advance instead of an overplus of ministers there moveraents are indispensable. is an alarming scarcity. T h e entire nuraBut the scarcity of ministers in our ber on the roll is 118. Of these, about Church becomes m u c h more apparent sixteen are n o longer in active service, when studied in connection with the although they m a y take occasional approposed advance raoveraent in the forpointriients. Twenty-one are employed in the college, the theological serainary, the eign mission field. In the recent report of the Board of Foreign Missions w e home and foreign mission fields, and note these paragraphs: national reform. This leaves only eighty "In selecting a territory in Syria exordained ministers available for regular tending from Suadia to Tartoos, more preaching. A d d to this nuraber h^e than one hundred railes along the Medihcentiates w h o have completed the seraterranean, and reaching inland to the inary course, and w e have eighty-five River Orontes, and a territoryfiftyrailes preachers to supply about one hundred

YOUNG MEN AND THE GOSPEL MINISTRY.

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Questions of ihe Hour. the ministry. Y o u n g raen of ability and scholarly attainraents must consecrate theraselves to the Lord with the spirit of willingness to serve Hira wherever there is a call for service. Parents should dedicate their sons to the ministry as H a n n a h dedicated Samuel and as pious fathers and mothers in past generations used to do. Unceasing prayer should be ofl'ered to the Lord of the harvest that H e would thrust forth laborers into His harvest. B y the Great Comraission, the members of the Churcli in each generation are m a d e responsible for the evangelization of the entire heathen population living in their generation. T h e Church of to-day is responsible for the evangelization of the more than one billion of heathen now living. In the providence of God, our Church has become responsible for the evangelization of nearly 2,000,000 of these. If it is remembered that those for w h o m w e are n o w responsible are already living, but are rapidly passing beyond the reacii of the gospel, w e will not be surprised at the urgency of the Board, and the ready response of Synod, that we m a k e a forward move ^\'ithout any delay. T h e entire number of missionaries named in the report to Synod as needed at the present timelshould be sent out at once. As rapidly as the workers and the means can be supplied, the remainder of the quota of workers to be supplied by the home Church should receive their appointment. But it will be utterly impossible for the Church to respond to this loud Macedonian call frora Syria and China unless young raen in greater numbers give themselves to the gospel ministry. Are there not at least a half dozen consecrated .young m e n w h o have finished their collegiate course ready to listen to this call and to take up the A\-ork of thc seminary course next fall ?

square on the West River in China, w e have m a d e ourselves responsible for the evangelization of about 1,800,000 souls w h o are ignorant of the only Saviour and without hope in the world." " W e inforra the Church of the ultimate need of seventy ministers, native and foreign, for our Missionfields,on the basis of one to every 25,000 population, and physicians, teachers and nurses, in a proportionate nuniber; and the purpose of the Board to push the work so as to cover the entire territory at the earliest day." "The Board presses upon Synod the present urgent need of twenty-five additional missionaries, six ministers, five physicians, eleven teachers, two trained nurses and a hospital matron." The Committee on Poreign Missions, in their report, called special attention to these and some other paragraphs, expressed hearty endorsement of the purpose of the Board to press forward, and assured thera of our hearty co-operation in all forward movement. But where are the laborers to supply this pressing dem a n d ? Possibly the requisite nuraber of physicians, teachers, and trained nurses can be secured, for the schools equipped to qualify m e n and w o m e n for these callings are always well patronized, and there seems to be at all times a surplus, especially of physicians and teachers. But where are the ministers to come frora? Very few if any are found in the ranks. of those without charges. However capable these might be, raost of them are n o w past the time of life for entering upon foreign mission work. If six young m e n are to be sent to the foreign field now, some at least raust be chosen frora the ranks of settled pastors. In any case the result is the depletion of the needed working force in the h o m e field. W h a t then is the solution of the problem that n o w confronts us? There raust be an increase in

N e w s of the Churches.

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N E W S

OF

T H E

CHURCHES.

A B R O A D .
Syria, Latakia.The following items are from Rev. Samuel Edgar, written June 22, 1910: The writer- has just returned from Tartoos. This was m y first trip alone, and I hope that the work will be none the worse of the visit. Brother McFarland had it in mind to make both trips, that is, to Tartoos and to Suadia, before he went away, but what with the moving and hot weather he thought it might be safe to trust m e out alone n o w that I have enough Arabic to inquire the way if I should happen to get lost. W e found the schools in good working order and the teachers all in good health. The school there is perhaps not quite as large as a year ago, when I m a d e m y first visit, but it is doing just as good work. There is an attendance of about seventyfive. The difference in the numbers is owing to the Greek school, which this year bas two teachers. Yet, with all this, and the fact that w e m a d e a charge on all pupils, except the very poor, shows the grip that the work has on some of the people. H o w deep the grip is remains for others to answer. I a m very sorry to report to you the resignation of Mrs. Juraidiny, the widow of Yacob Juraidinj', whose death was such a great loss to the Mission. She has been in the work' of the Mission for a number of years. H e r life and infiuence among the people have been a great blessing to the place. Heaven alone will reveal what she and her husband have done for the people of Tartoos. W h e n I went there the w o m e n of the near comraunity came toraeand pled with rae to give her niore money to keep her there. I told them she did not want money. That is something they would not believe at first I suppose because they themselves set such a high estimate on wages. O n one of the evenings during m y visit, Mrs. Juraidiny invited all the big girls and young w o m e n that had been her pupils to corae in and spend the evening. Instead of about eighty coming, according to the nuraber invited, the whole quarter of th^ town tumed out. A n d w e had about three hundred present. The school yard was full to overfiowing. This in itself was a high tribute to the estimate of the people of her work. She loved the work for the work's sake and for the Master's sake. T h e children that had the opportunity of sitting under her teaching never went away without a clear knowledge of the plan of salvation and the Psalms and Catechisms and a large portion of the W o r d printed on their raemories. T h e rest is for the Spirit. H e r going away leaves us two teachers, so that in the coraing year there will be but two rooras. O n e for the lady teacher and one for Mallim Khaleel, w h o has been serving the Church there for about twenty years. I should have said at thefirstthat Mrs. Juraidiny resigns for the sake of being with her children and also for a muchneeded rest. O n Sabbath raorning, after Sabbath school, the people gathered for a preaching service and the writer was rauch surprised to see an audience of about one hundred andfifty.This wasraorethan I had seen on either of m y other visits. This did not include the children of the Sabbath school, as they had been sent home, there being no place fo^ thera. Re-

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N e w s of ihe Churches. ourfirstbaptism in Arabic. The candidate was a boy of about ten years, the son of Jewish parents, w h o came into our fellowship a year ago, having moved there from Beirut. They seera to be loyal to the truth and rejoicing in the new life in the gospel. Great suffering has been their portion since they becarae Christians. Yet in theraidstof all, their faith never seemed to waver. W e arrived horae in tirae to say adieu to the McFarland faraily and Misses Elsey and Patton, w h o were going off to Guzne. W e were sorry to find that Miss Patton was not very rugged, and it was deemed best for her to try a change of climate. W e all hope that the change will be a great blessing to her. These days we are praying and preparing for the teachers' conference that is to be held here early in July. This is thefirstmeeting of its kind, and w e do hope that it raay prove a great inspiration to all that corae. Miss Edgar is already raaking preparations for her new-home and Miss Crockett's in the girls' school. Dr. Balph has gone to Gunaimia for Sabbath, and to see h o w the work of the new building is progressing. T h e new schools seem to be doing well so far, and the people rejoicing in the opportunity that we are giving to their children. W e were all rauch surprised to learn of Miss Wylie's illness, but hope that long ere this she is entirely well and able to carry out her plans. W e are n o w waiting anxiously to see the new plans of Synod for the advance work in China and Syria and Cyprus, as well as the widening out at horae. W e trust that great things shall be the result of this awakening. China, Tak Hin^.A letter from Rev.

meraber, all these people, with the exception of two families, are members of the Greek Church. I asked after the services about h o w m a n y of thera had been to the early service in their o w n church, and learned that about two-thirds had been there. It is hard to understand why, with all their knowledge of the truth, they still eling to the old rites. I suppose all of those that heard rae that raorning have been under the preaching of the late Juraidiny and the missionaries for over fifteen years, and yet during all that time none have come out on the Lord's side. If they have, they are following Nicodemus' example. This very fact is what tries the patience and faith of the workers in this field. Often has the writer wondered how m u c h longer we ought to give Tartoos of our strength and time. W e are giving the Greek Church there a good education and making better m e n and women, and if this is the work of the Church, then 1 suppose w e ought to go on with the work. But, if we must report converts and fruit to the Church, then we are unable to do it in this place. A n d if our success depends on this n u m bering, then there is no way to spell the results but in failure. I a m aware that there are those at horae who say that there is such a thing as working against providence. W h e n w e see such results as I have mentioned above, I suppose they would count that w e had done our whole duty to the place, and hence in the future w e ought to spend the Church's money some place else. This has sometimes been m y o w n feelings, but theraerabersof the Mission do not agree with m e , and I give thera the honor of knowing more than I do who have been here but a short time. There is no doubt about there being fruits, but whether you and I think these are enough is another question. At this morning's service we performed

N e w s of the Churches. J, K. Robb, dated M a y 16, 1910, contains an interesting account of the last C o m munion : Another communion season, with its duties, privileges and pleasures, has just passed. Yesterday was the high day of the feast. T h e time was set a week later this year than last, owing to the fact that some of our people had notfinishedtheir rice planting last year when coramunion time came, and so did not get to attend the services. W e tried to arrange the time this year so as to avoid any enforced absences on account of the date. A s events turned out, the later date seems to be more suitable. The attendance this year was a decided advance over that of previous years at the spring coraraunion. The weather, however, was very hot. I think w e never had such uniformly intense heat during any of our comraunipn seasons as during the one just closed. It was accounted for by the Chinese by the -fact that the rainfall this season has been very light, which is doubtless the true explanation. S o m e of them ventured to ask whether in our judgment the lack of rain is due to the infiuence of Halley's comet which w e have been able to see during the early m o m i n g hours for sorae two or three weeks, but w e did not venture an opinion. But whatever m a y have been the cause of it, the lack of rain m a d e the coinmunion season one of very unusual heat. The Chinese, however, bore the discomfort in their usual philosophical spirit and the rest of us did as well as w e could in trying to follow their example. The attendance, as previously remarked, was considerably above that of former years at our M a y communions. T h e chapel was wellfilledat most of the services, and on yesterday the audience was as large as could be accommodated comfortably. A t this communion the n u m ber of communicants present passed the

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one hundred mark for thefirsttime, the exact number being one hundred and one, eleven of these being foreigners. The accession was the largest in the history of the mission, with one exception, that being the communion in the fall of 1908, after a week of preliminary services. This tirae w e received into the church fifteen adults, and baptized two infants. The two sexes were very evenly represented, eight of the new raembers being m e n and boys, and seven being w o m e n and girls. One infant is a boy, the other a girl. The value of our schools as evangelistic agencies is also emphasized by the n u m ber of new raerabers who are n o w in the schools. T w o pupils from the Boys' School, five girls from the Girls' School, and two w o m e n from the Woraen's School, raake up a raajority of the total number w h o received baptisra. One of the girls had received baptisra when an infant, being the child of a Christian raother. So she was not baptized a second tirae. She has becorae a believer, however, since being in school. I think the fact of our. having an organization will m a k e for larger accessions. The special duties of communion seasons, such as the examination and admission of candidates, have been greatly lightened by the assistance of the elders. Their knowledge of the candidates, raany of w h o m were personally known to them as friends, and in sorae cases as relatives, their character, attainraents and m a n y other things that must be taken into account in determining their state of preparation, m a d e the assistance of the session most welcome. Then aside from the special work of the session in the exaraination of candidates, our elders are showing a most comraendable spirit in suggesting ways and raeans for reaching and helping some of our members w h o live at a great distance, and who but seldom get out to church.

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N e w s of ihe Churches. ing one. A n d he added, "None of us now know all the church raembers," and suggested that the merabers not well known be provided with slips of paper with some character written on thera, as a raeans of identification. T h e Session decided to try the pla.n, but provided not only the niembers not well known, but all the members, each with a slip of paper with the characters for "The Lord's Supper" written on it. This plan was an experiment only. Whether or not it will be m a d e perraanent remains to be seen. But the situation is n o w such as to m a k e it iraperative that we devise sorae plan for identifying our members when going to the Lord's Table. The reserablance between the plan employed by us at this time, and the distribution of tokens by m a n y of the churches at home, will be seen at once. I think no one here attached any other significance to the use of these slips of paper, than that of being a device by which w e could tell w h o were communicants and w h o were not. The elders distributed them during the hours between the afternoon and evening services. They also m a d e plain what their purpose was. Were it possible for us to recognize our raerabers here as readily as a pastor and his session at horae recognize their coraraunicants, our use of these tokens would have been entirely uncalled for. The merabers of the mission are all in usual health. W e were very sorry to hear of M r . Miller's illness. It is not given to raanyraento labor for the extension of Christ's Kingdora so long and so faithfully as he has done. The Church will feel in his reraoval from active service the loss of a most devoted friend to both her and her Lord. The time for the meeting of Synod is drawing near. W e are trasting that the Master of assemblies will be there, and

and whose opportunities for seeing other Christians are limited. It was a great pleasure to us when one of the elders suggested that w e devise some means for reaching these people, and help thera to further attainraents. A suggestion as to what plan to pursue is n o w under consideration, the method being one of the elders' o w n planning. The most gratifying feature of the whole matter is that the elders not only show that they recognize the need of weaker brethren, but their o w n responsibility for raeeting the need. W h e n we see this spirit showing itself aniong the officers of the church, the prospect of a Chinese Covenanter Church, governed by native officers entirely and carrying on the Lord's work araong their o^wn people, does not seera so reraote after all. These raen need a great deal of training yet before they can be safely entrusted with such responsible duties. But, on the other hand, they can do, and in some cases are n o w doing work that the foreign missionary can never hope to do so well as they. One rather curious circurastance came to our attention during the preparatory days. For some time past, in fact for a number of years, we would have to secure the help of two or three of our m e n who were best acquainted with the native Christians to assist us in identifying sorae merabers whora we do not see often enough to be able to always recognize at sight. AVhen the communicants were going forward to the Table, these m e n w h o m w e had previously asked to assist us, wo-uld stand at the head of the aisle and prevent any one not a m e m b e r from going to the Table. O n Thursday last, one of the raen w h o had so assisted us for several years came to m e and said that at the last communion he had m a d e a great mistake, by stopping araa,nwho was a Christian, and w h o m he did not at once recognize as be-

N e w s of the Churches. that His n a m e m a y be glorified in all the deliberations. Rev. E. C. Mitchell, writing same date, has also something to say about the communion and other matters: Yesterday was our communion Sabbath. The weather was very warm, the warmest any one has ever seen it here at this tirae of the year, so that w e had to make vigorous use of our fans through all the raeetings, but notwithstanding this, we had a very pleasant coraraunion season. The attendance was better than usual. Fifteen were received into raerabership. This was quite a large number for the spring coraraunion. One hundred and one, including eleven foreigners, sat down at the table. That m a n y out of a total merabership of a hundred and thirty-eight is a pretty good number to be present when a large part of the members live twenty or thirty miles away. This is the first time that w e have had three tables. The third table was not full, but there were too raany for two tables. There is something about the coraraunion here that is inspiring to one. I believe I have never written anything to you about the work at D o Sing. After Rev. W . M . Robb found that he would have to go home, the work up there was turned over to rae. Just at that tirae there was some trouble about the brick that were being brcught in and the work had been stopped three or four weeks. Rev. J. K. Robb went up with rae two or three times till the trouble was settled and I got the run of things, and since then I have been looking after it myself. Since then everything has gone along smoothly, but slowly. The house is nearing completion now. T h e plastering is done, the floors are down and they are working at the doors and windows and building the wall around the yard. The

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lower story will be used for a dispensary on one side and a chapel on the other. The upper story consists of four rooras, a veranda and two bath rooras. It is the plan for us to live in the upper story until a raore suitable location can be secured for a dwelling house, and then this house can be used for a school. Dr. Jean McBurney, Mrs. Mitchell and rayself will raove up there next fall. Everyone thinks it would not be wise to move into the house till the hot season is over. It will not befinishedtill the middle of the summer anyhow, so that w e will wait till we come back from our vacations. The cost of building here is a good deal higher than it used to be. The price of briclc has raore than doubled since the first building was put up, a little raore than ten years ago. Lumber is higher, too, so that I think this building is costing perhaps about twice as rauch as it would have cost ten years ago. There seems to be a good opening for work there. T h e people are friendly for the most part. Of course, sorae of the children call "foreign devil" after us soraetimes, but they do that everywhere, so that w e do not mind. That is the only n a m e that some of them know us by. The people call our house the "devil's floor," but we are trying to train them to call it the "foreignfloor,"as that is a more respectable n a m e for our property. W e correct them when they call it the v/rong n a m e in our hearing, and some of thera at least seem to be catching on that w e are not as well pleased with the n a m e they give us as w e might be. A letter of same date from Dr. J. M. Wright contains items that will be read with interest: The hospital work goes on about as usual, and this month there are several interesting cases. Regular trips to coun-

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N e w s of the Churches. of the carpenters working on the house asked M r . Mitchell if the people in America ate dogflesh,and was answered in the negative. Immediately the question was asked, "Well, what do you dp with them w h e n they die?" H e was informed that they were buried. F e w of the horses in this part of the country are larger than the Shetland ponies at home. T h e girls' school is full and several applicants have been refused. W e were glad to hear good news from Rev. and Mrs. W . M . Robb. They have surely been having their trials. Probably I neglected to sa.y in writing of Mrs. Wright that her illness carae on suddenly. The doctor advised that she reraain at horae all summer. She was feeling quite well when the ship sailed, although not very strong. I hope the voyage will benefit her and that the summer m a y restore her to her former health and strength. H e r address will be Albany, Ore., care J. E . Hamilton, R3. Lin T a n has been rauch opposed to foreigners, and w e are planning to see what can be done by way of dispensary worlc there. The following items, written June 14, 1910, are from Mrs. Mary Lena Mitchell: N o doubt the letters from here have mentioned our need of rain, which caused the failure in the rice crop. Some of our workers, in raaking trips to the country, found that in raost places the crop was a coraplete failure, while sorae few places where they have mountain streams, the people still had some hopes of reaping a sraall harvest. M a n y of the Chinese thought the comet was the cause of dry weather, and they were sure to have a famine. However, the comet is still in sight, and we have been enjoying some very heavy rains almost daily. The river is high now, and the water is coming in

try dispensaries are taken, and the results are encouraging. It is being planned to open dispensaries at several new places. At one place sorae of our members have planned to rent a house, to be used as a dispensary. This is gratifying, as it carae voluntarily. Our country travels give us a good opportunity to see how Chinese agriculture is being carried on. Rice is the principal field product. The fields are covered by water and are plowed while several inches of water covers the ground. This makes quite a "slush." It is a c o m m o n sight to see a farmer going to work leading or driving his buflalo and carrying the harness and plow. The grain is so^wn on a sraall plot very thickly. W h e n it has grown several inches high, it is pulled up and planted by hand in thefieldsprepared for itseveral spears to the hill and about one foot apart. While the rice is growing it is cultivated, by which is meant that the farraer and probably wife and family go into the field barefooted and tramp the weeds into the m u d , carefully tramping around each hill of rice. Where water is plentiful, two crops of rice are raised each season. It was decided by the Mission to secure a pony or two for itinerating worlc. This has brought us in touch with the Chinese horse dealer somewhat of late, and incidentally some things are to be learned even about one of these ponies. A m a n and his pony appeared early one morning. H e said he would sell the pony. O n being asked how old it was, he promptly said it was only sixteen years old. H e was asked if that was not rather old for a pony, and we were given a look of pity and informed that they lived to be sixty years old and were serviceable at that age. In the different parts of the world the idea of usefulness varies, or, rather, when usefulness ceases. A short time ago one

N e w s of th0 Ohurches. over thericefieldsnorth of us. W e hope the water will not get so high as to destroy what little rice is left.. M a n y people have written to us about the riot in China, of which they read in the home papers. It was far north of us, and although bad enough, I think the American newspapers have their statements somewhat exaggerated. Everything is very quiet here, and the people are friendly toward us. W e have reason for gratitude and encouragement in every departraent of the work. T h e chapel services are better attended and the schools have a marked increase in attendance. T h e girls' school is nearly full now, as far as boarding pupils are concerned. I went over ( . few minutes ago to see one of the little girls w h o has malaria, and I hadn't m u c h raore tlian room to walk between the rows of beds to reach hers. There is room for several more day pupils, but it is not good, according to Chinese custom, to have girls on the streets going to and from School, so w e have no hopes of getting many day pupils to attend school here. During the sewing hour, some of the girls are greatly interested in making shoes, but their interest is just as great in other departments of the work. The new girls have vei:y "hot hearts" to learn the doctrine, and plans have been raade to give them every opportunity to meet this desire. W e have four Bible classes now, and they are so arranged that each girl m a y have as m u c h attention as possible. ' The doctors are kept busy these days dispensing medicines, and are using the splendid opportunities given them to lead the patients to the Great Physician. A few -weeks ago a w o m a n came to the hospital to see if the doctors could heal her of what her people supposed was leprosy. If they could do nothing for her she was

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to be cast off by her people, and there would be nothing left for her to do but go to the lepers, which means a very degraded life for a young woman. For a while the disease seemed to be yielding to treatraent and w e had hopes that she was not a victim of that much-dreaded disease, but she is worse at times, and so there is m u c h uncertainty yet a to what her fate shall be. H e r people sent rice last week and said it was the last they would send. I don't know whether they are hopeless as to her being cured or whether it is their way, of clearing themselves of keeping her in food and clothes while in the hospital. She seems interested in the doctrine and tries to help others. The other day I; heard her teaching the commandments to some new patients. The doctors performed some operations not long ago which have been a source of wonder to the Chinese, and I think have had great infiuence in winning the oonfidence of m a n y people. Dr. Wright, Dr. Jean McBurney and Mr. Mitchell are at D o Sing again to-day. The people there are so friendly and we are anxious to be there and get the work organized. The building is slowly reachr ing completion, and w e hope to be able to move about the first of October. That will give ample time for the building to be thoroughly dry, which is necessary before it can be occupied. One of our Christians is in sorrow over the loss of his son. A m a n offered him employment in H o n g Kong. This is often too great an attraction to the young raen around here, and so it proved to be for this young raan. W h e n he reached H o n g K o n g he was not given employment as he expected,' but was sold and put on board a steamer for sorae distant port. The poor old father is alraost heartbroken over the loss of his only son. Last Saturday was the Dragon Moth-

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N e w s of 'the Cliurches. see the bright redfiagsand other decorations. T h e people up street are making some noise with fire-crackers. T h e missionaries are all well. W e miss the absent ones very much, but hope they will be able to join us again in the near future.

er's birthday. She is supposed to be buried at Uet Shing, a city which is about thirty miles from here. Thousands of people gathered there to celebrate her birthday. I don't know h o w long this celebration will last, but I see the special boat between Uet Shing and T a k Hing is still running. I can hear the music and

A X

H O M I
cide for Christ in our various missions, and who, because of sueh decision, are exposed to temptation and persecution. 3. That Dr. T. H . Acheson, Dr. R. J. G. McKnight and Rev. John Yates be elected as raembers of the Central Board of Missions. 4. That Rev. J. S. Thorapson and Dr. W . .1. Coleman, on behalf of the Central Board of Missions, and Dr. T. P. Stevenson, on behalf of the Board of Jewish Missions, be heard in connection with the adoption of this report. 5. That the proposed mission among the Southern mountaineers be established if sufficient funds can be provided for the purpose, and that the Board raake this known to the Church. Respectfully submitted,

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOME MISSIONS.

Your comraittee respectfully reports: T w o papers were referred to usthe report of the Central Board of Missions and the report of the Jewish Mission Board. These indicate, in general, that the Horae Mission work of the Church is encouraging, and that the workraen are faithful and zealous in times of discouragement as well as of encourageraent. The contributions of the Church have been quite generous and a substantial balance is reported in the various treasuries except that of the Domestic Mission, which reports a deficit. In regard to the Soutbernraissions,w e are glad to note that notwithstanding changes in the working force by the resignation of some and the appointment of others, n e w to the work, everything seeras to have proceeded satisfactorily, and your coraraittee expresse.-^ the hope that the n e w appointees m a y see their way clear to continue their services in the Mission. Your committee also would recoraraend: 1. Increased liberality on the part of the Church, especially toward the Domestic Mission, so that hereafter a balance rather than a deflcit raay be reported. 2. Earnest and continuous prayer on the part of the whole Church for all the workers, and especially for those w h o de-

R. C. Montgomery, J. R. Wylie, J. T. Mitchell, R. J. Cathcart, J. R. Dill. REPORT OF THE CENTRAL BOARD OF MISSIONS.
In making this, thefifty-sixth'annual report of the Central Board of Missions, w e have to record the death of Rev. Dr. J. W . Sproull, w h o for nearly forty years has been an active meraber of this Board and for nearly nineteen years its chairraan. H e was constant in attendance on our raeetings, when able to come, and took a great interest in the work of the

N e w s of the Churches. Board. The Board recorded a minute of its appreciation of his life and services. The Rev. J. S. Thompson has been chosen chairraan in his place.

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has been seriously ill and unable to continue her work. The Superintendent, the Rev. W . J. Sanderson, writes that "the work done this year has been along the same general DOMESTIC MISSION. W e have held twelve regular raeetings lines as in previous years. Religious induring the last year and one special raeet- straction has been faithfully imparted ing. The four quarterly instalraents of every day to all the pupils. During the the Doraestic Mission F u n d have been year there has been an average of 388 paid out regularly in accordance with the Bible verses and catechisra questions comreports of the Clerks of Presbyteries. W e mitted by each pupil. In all the grades have sought in each case to deal with ex- one-half hour has been given each day to act fairness and in strict accord with the this work, and one hour has been spent instructions laid d o w n by the Synod. In every Thursday morning in chapel in rethe case of Detroit w e have judged that citing the portions coraraitted during the the prospects there justified us in appro- week. Your superintendent has sought priating a reasonable s u m to help raeet also to m a k e sorae use of the opportunity the expenses of the work until its needs daily afforded by the chapel exercises to and possibilities could be reported to impart Scripture trath. T w o Sabbath Synod. schools have been held each Sabbath durThe Board followed the instructions of ing the year in the church, one in the the Synod with regard to the proposed morning and one in the afternoon. The mission a m o n g the mountaineers of the average attendance at the morning school Southland, but the response of the was 161 and of the afternoon 170. The Church did not justify the Board in in- C. E. Society 26. The Blakeslee systera augurating the mission. Was studied in the afternoon and 0. T. History from the division of the kingdom The receipts for the year have been $15,029.40 to the coming of Christ was gone over." The expenditures have been.. 14,440^10 In the industrial departraent the usual araount of work was done, except in cookBalance overdrawn $2,695.58 ing, for which no teacher was secured. W e request for this fund an appropria- Miss Fowler in addition to her regular classes gave lessons in this to the girls of tion of $12,000. the Senior Class that they might graduate SOUTHERN MISSION. K n o x Academy, the institution about with all the requirements fulfilled. The which our work in the Southern Mission enrollraent in the sewing departraent was 312, and 140 garments were raade in adcenters, opened Oct. 4, 1909, and closed the 23d of May. Thanksgiving D a y and dition to sraall - articles. Eighteen boys a week at holidays were the only vaca- received instruction in blacksraithing and tions observed. T h e total enrollment in seVenty-four in carpentry. The boys of the Academy was 601, and the average the lower grades were trained in gyranasattendance 361. The teachers were on tic exercises and raarching. hand for the beginning of the school and The work in music has been under the have enjoyed good health, with the ex- care of Miss Wylie and Miss Marshall. ception of Mrs. Robb, who was sick for Miss Wylie went to Selraa at the holia few weeks, and Miss Bess Wylie, who days and did excellent work until -she

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Neivs ofihe Churches. good work among his neighbors both in religious and agricultural lines. H e runs something Of a model farm and teaches farming to his people in the community^ Miss Susie L, Wier taught the school at Valley C a m p , which enrolled 20 with an average attendance of 14. The Sabbath school enrolled 39 and was conducted by Mrs. S. F. Kingston. The superintendent preached the first Sabbath of each month at Valley Camp, the third Sabbath at Pleasant Grove, each alternate Sabbath in the Selma Church and occasionally to outside audiences, and each Sabbath superintended the afternoon Bible ckss. The Rev. W . J. Sanderson has been chosen permanent superintendent of this mission. Receipts for the year $9,534.16 Expenditures 8,243.96 Balance $1,713.63 W e request for this mission an appropriation of $5,000. INDIAN MISSION. The work in the Indian School was carried on through the school year with good success, although the teaching force was new. Miss Orlena Aikin taught in advanced room and Miss A n n a McClurkin in primary room. Miss Florence M e a m s took charge of the girls and Mrs. Coulter of the boys. Miss Almira E. Kerr had charge of the school kitchen and^ Miss Minty Allen of the laundry. M r . Coulter assisted in the work of the farra. M r . and Mrs. W . S. Moore and Mr. Lloyd Ewing, w h o had been in the raission for years and had been of great service, went h o m e to Olathe. The school opened Sept. 14, 1909, and closed M a y 2. The number enrolled was 52. The number of Bible verses comraitted in the advanced room was 16,559 and in the primary room 3,838. In the advanced room the sermon heard on Sab-

was taken ill. Miss Marshall has been at work throughout the year. There is a possibility of doing rauch good for the school in this department. The work consists mainly in training the grades in vocal music and in giving private lessons on the piano. Prof. Bottoms has also brought up the brass band to a degree of efficiency which makes K n o x the possessor of the best band bf its kind in the community. It is expected that six will graduate, three young m e n and three young women. In addition to their diplomas the young m e n will receive certificates from the blacksraithing department, and the young woraen frora the sewing ^and cooking departraents. Most of the teachers visit the pupils in their horaes that they raay in this way gain the confidence of both parents and children and lead thera to a better Christian life. Miss Fowler has done good work in conducting Bible classes for girls after the regular school hours and also in holding meetings for mothers in the homes. Miss Frazier has organized her grade into a mission band and is training them to be interested in the welfare of others. Temperance oratorical contests have been undertaken this year among the pupils and are becoming a great success. Miss Hays has been appointed superintendent of this work and Miss Fowler assistant. This means m u c h work for them, and the results have not been small from any point of view. The enrollment in East Selma was 104 and the average attendance 68. There is Sabbath school each Sabbath with an enrollment of 140. The school at Pleasant Grove, taught by Mrs. L. Kynett, had an enrollment of 91 and an average attendance of 39. The Sabbath school numbered 40. Mr. Kynett is doing a

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bath was written out from memory. Be- ing the new ones according to law. There sides this several books of the Bible were is no part of the change from heathenisn;i carefully gone over in devotional read- to Christianity that gives rise to as m a n y ing. Special mention is m a d e of one girl, perplexing problems as the questions that Nellie Chiveta, w h o on her o w n motion arise with the home as a center. That committed and recited the book of we have always m a d e decisions that are Daniel. right would be claiming too much, but The superintendent, the Rev. W . W . that the session has been a unit in tryCarithers, -writes that "the increase in ing to reach right decisions has been true the congregation for the year has been in every case that has corae before them. ten and the decrease nine, and the con"The utter indifference of those putgregation numbers just 100. There have side the church to all appeals to them to been twelve baptisms, three of them live a Christian life has never been more adults. A number of the members are marked than this year. W h e n w e ha.d full of Christian zeal and activity and communion services there wo.uld be a never fail to improve all opportunities to large attendance of those that seemed to speak a word for Christ. T h e attendance have no interest in what was being said at church has been good all through the or done, and yet they gave quiet attenyear. The m o m e n t u m of the years that tion to m a n y of the services." are past carries its weight with it in putMiss E m m a McFarland continues ting the Indians further along. W e feel faithfully to work among the Apaches. this in the church work, in the school and Thisfield,as has been noted in past resee its effects in the homes. A t the com- ports, is a specially difficult one because munion just closed, for instance, the four of the fact that the Apaches are set in their old custoras, being utterly indifferIndian elders served the two tables and did it with as m u c h reverence and dignity ent to the clairas of the gospel, and the as I have ever seen in any congregation. ones that corae out are often not able to " W e have children in school n o w that stand against the pressure of the old cusare the children of boys and girls that toras. M r . Carithers says: "If consewere trained in our school, and they show crated devotion both to the people and the result of work done years ago in their to the Master and unsparing zeal will readiness to take u p things that children win, I see no way for them to escape, for from a heathen h o m e could not compre- she devotes herself to them and their best hend. They come frora homes that take interests seven days in the week and she papers and have prayers. Each one of is a great favorite with them." Mrs. Carithers keeps up her work the older Indians that gets the idea of thrift and progress is of great value in ampng the Comanches, who are more responsive. Their progress is wonderful, lifting the community around him and in commanding the respect of his white some of their homes being models of neatness and even elegance. In this work neighbors. " O n the other hand, the year has been she is assistant field matron under the one of a great deal of carelessness on the government. pari of a good m a n y of the Christian peoMission Sabbath schools were kept up ple. This is especially seen in the mar- during the summer at several points, riage relation, a number getting divorces some of which have had to be given up from their former partners and marry- on account of distance.

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News df the Churches.

.Many of the children of Israel Owing to the fact that there was an come in, and leam of Christ, the overdraft shown in the last report to Synod, and that quite an amount of stock Messiah of their fathers' faith and hope. Here they can find rest and safety for could be sold without seriously crippling the equipment, i t was thought best to do their faint and weary souls, pursued by all possible to wipe out the deficit. After sin, vengeance and despair. Eternity the running expenses of theraissionfor alone will reveal the joy awakened in the the year were all paid, there was a sub- hearts that have found Jesus in this place. While Israel, as a people, has not found stantial balance to tum back into the treasury. salvation, yet "the election hath found The superintendent bears witness to it." Like Paul, we may be assured that s a remthe heartiness and faithfulness of the "at this present tirae also there i nant according to the election of grace." workers throughout the year. A nuraber of individuals and congre- W e believe that God, in His mercy, guides the feet of raany to this house where we gations have contributed directly in aid s preachof the mission in supplies and money, believe the pure gospel of Jesus i and these have been of great assistance in ed and the way of salvation, through His carrying on the work. atoning blood, made clear. Rev. E. J. Feuersohn, the raissionary, Receipts for the year $12,088.42 Expenditures 8,306.79 has his dwelling in the mission house, Balance $1,719.84 where he and his devoted wife give to the W e request for thisraissionan appro- place an atmosphere of kindliness, earpriation of $6,000. nestness and fervent prayer, causing those The Board requests the Synod to ap- who corae in from the cold, faithless point the following additional raembei-f world to feel that they have entered into of the Board: Dr. T. H. Acheson, Dr. a sphere entirely different, where peace, R. J. G. McKnight and the Rev. J. C. love, joy and hope sweeten and brighten Slater. life. The other missionaries also do their good part in causing this mission to be J. S. Thompson, "as the shadow of a great rock in a very Chairman. weary land" to many a wandering Jew. A. C. Coulter, Many have been refreshed during the past Rec. Sec'y. W. J. Coleman, year in this mountain where "the Lord of hosts has raade a feast of fat things, a Cor. Sec'y. feast of wines- on .the lees"- for all who come through Jesus Christ. REPORT OF THE JEWISH MISSION BOARD. At one time you may see Rev. Mr. The Mission of the Covenant to Feuersohn sitting with one, or two, or Israel is a place of refuge to the Jews. more young men with open Bibles The Mission building, located in the "searching whether those things were so," heart of a Jewish community, on the at another tirae hanging over a class, southwest comer of Fifth and Catherine teaching thera the English and the gospei Streets, bears two large signs, one front- together; at another, tirae preaching m g on each of these streets, with the Christ to an earnest gathering of people, words, The Christian Mission to the who listen attentively, stand in prayer Hebrews. respectfully, and sing the Psalras just as

N e w s of the Churches. they can; and at another tirae going from house to house, where the neighbors come together to hear of Jesus and salvation through His blood. Mrs. Feuersohn also is devoted to the good work, doing faithful service in the classes, and among the people. Miss Bell, likewise, assisted by Miss Cupples, ministers the W o r d of etemal life to her forty girls, who corae to learn the art of sewing, while Miss Boyd goes from family to faraily, seeking the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Thus the work goes forward, under the hand of our Lord Jesus Christ, froiri year to year. A s a Board w e can report to the Covenanter Church raerely that w e endeavor to use their contributions to this raission, and guide their work among the Jews, with faithfulness, as Gpd gives discretion and power. Our single purpose is to bring the largest number of the sons and daughters of Abraham to Christ, their true haven of rest, having full confidence that ultimately "all Israel shall be saved." During the last year the attendance at the Sabbath services and Night School, including Hebrew visitors, aggregated 1,883; the attendance at the Sabbath School, 1,085; the attendance at the Sewing School, 1^853; faraily visits m a d e by the minister, 132; nuraber of private seekers after Jesus, 48. A number have avowed their interest in Jesus as their Saviour. N u m b e r of N e w Testaments distributed, 78; Bibles, 42. Large quantities of religious tracts were also distributedThe Board asks for $2,500 for the work next year. W e also ask the whole church of the Covenanters to m a k e intercession before God for Israel that they m a y be saved.

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Colorado, Greeley.-^-Mrs. Louella R o b b McMillan, a meraber of the Greeley Congregation, entered into eternal life April 6, 1910. Born near Sterling, Kans., July 9, 1877, and raarried to W . J. McMillan, of Evans, Colo., Peb. 14, 1900, her brief career wasfilledwith deeds and words of love. Though frail in body she was strong in faith and courageous in the performance of duty. W h e n failing health m a d e it evident that she must leave her husband and three little girls, she met the trial with Christian fortitude and was able to say, "It is all well." She was patient in all her sufferings, having her hope in Jesus Christ. A loyal wife, a faithful raother, a generous neighbor, a true Covenanter and devout Christian, she leaves a beautiful raemory and enters on a glorious reward. A sorrowing husband and three motherless children have the sympathy of a wide circle of friends and relatives. In glory she awaits their coraing, while rejoicing in the presence of her Redeemer.

J. M. W. Iowa, Morning Sun.Annual report

of the Ladies' Missionary and Aid Society of M o m i n g Sun, la.: W e have come again to the beginning of another new year in our society. God has shown His goodness and love to us in m a n y ways, yet we have felt and recognized His hand in chastisement, in that death has entered our ranks and taken away our beloved president and coworker. Miss Eraily Cannon. While our hearts have been saddened, yet we feel that this, too, is in love. W e have held twelve regular meetings during the year, with an average attendance of twenty. Our enrollraent is thirty-seven. W e have enrolled three new raembers during the year. W e have sent, during this year a barrel

J. C. McFeeters,
President.

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i \ ^ e ; 5 of the Churchas. Disbursements. Indian Mission H o m e work Freight to Southem Mission.... Thank Offering to salary of Miss Elsey Missions Balance in treasury.

of fruit to the Indian Mission, also two barrels of clothing and other articles to the Southern Mission. The Corresponding Secretary has received and read a nuraber of letters in the society from the different missionaries in the foreign missionfields.These letters were very interesting and were much enjoyed by the society. The ladies of the society were entertained at the home of Mrs. Trambull in November in honor of Mrs. McFarland, of Pennsylvania; also Mrs. S. E. McElhinney entertained the ladies of the society in April, and the afternoon was spent in piecing and putting together of a quilt for the Old Ladies' Home. As we begin the worlc of another year i ti s with the prayer in our hearts, "Let the beauty of our God be upon us, and establish Thou the work of our hands; yea, the work of our hands, establish Thou it." Mrs. Thos. Huston, Rec. Sec. Reportage Treasurer for 1909-10. Receipts. Balance in treasury $9.73 Dues 81.15 Donations , 1.81 Subscriptions 194.30 $286.99 Frait to Indian .Mission, value.. $23.85 Goods to Southern Mission, value 59.00 $369.84

$39.40 9.87 2.74 189.00 32.05 13.93

$286.99 Fruit to Indian Mission, value.. ^3.85 Goods to Southem Mission, value 59.00 $369.84 Mrs. R. W . McElhinney, Treas. Mrs. S. R. Wills, Treasurer of the Woraan's .Missionary Society of Pittsburg Presbytery of the R. P. Church, sends for publication a synopsis of her report from April 1, 1909, to April 1, 1910: Receipts. Salary account $1787.60 Contingent account .. 60.68 Thank Offering 84'l.l4 $2689.42 Disbursements. To salary of Rev. W . W . Carithers $1000.00 To expenses 19.76 Paid out Thank Offering 841.14 $1860.90 Balance in treas. Apr. 1, 1910.. $828.52

You raust be serving something, someone, that needs your help in order to really appreciate the divine care. It may be the parents' care of their children; the teacher and her scholars, the charity worker and the poor, the friendless, the benighted, i t may be friend helping friendin some way the life of loving service must be there as something out of which God can help us think of and value the care which infinite love bestows upon us.Julian E . Smyth. There are two theories of the Churchone that it i s a fort, the other that i t i s an army of conquest. The real problem of evangelizing the worid is not in India, China, Africa or South America, but here at home. There arefivehundred converts every day from heathenism to full membership in the Church.-^. Campbell White.

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M O N O G R A P H S . PICTURES FROM THE N E W HEBRIDES.

full surrender to the service is so clearly shown in leaving behind them two of A year ago last June we had the pleas- their children, T o m , age seven and a ure of meetipg Rev. David Crombie, M.D., half, in Melbourne for schooling, and for thefirsttime. A delegate to the Pres- Agnes, age three, with a sister in Scotbyterian Alliance, then in session at N e w land, on going, after a brief furlough York, and knowing that w e had been in- in the homeland, to a n e wfieldof labor. timately acquainted with the late Dr. The publication of his personal letter of M a y 3, 1910, is necessary, not only to explain the pictures of the natives, but also -to complete the picture of the missionary family: Dear Mr. Sommerville : You must have given up hope of getting a reply from m e to your kind letter. Though I may not have replied, you and your kindness to rae have been often in m y thoughts. When m y wife and myself left England i t was with the thought of returning to Wala. The copy of the Melbourne Messenger 1 sent you will have told you h o w our plans were altered. I have remerabered m y promise to send you some photos of the Islands and explanatory notes on them, I enclose six and give you sorae explanatory notes. They are nurabered on the back. No. 1.Here you have two of our teachers, Kaloris and Kalorib, with their wives and farailies. Both of them are -,from the Island of Efate, once a cannibal island, but which, through the devoted labors of Dr. J. W . Mackenzie, himself a Canadian missionary, and the Rev. Dr. Macdonald, has been transforraed, so that DK. CROMBIE, WIFE AND CHILDREN. 1 1 Jolm G. Paton for m a n y years and deeply j l it n o w sends forth torch-bearers of the interested in his work in the N e w Heb-jl gospel to other islands. It shows the rides, he called to tell us something aboutj reality of the change the gospel has m a d e the missions on the islands and of the in the hearts of these people that they are willing to leave their homes, their lands special work with which he was identified on Wala, North' Malekula. The readers and their friends, in order that they m a y carry to their fellow countrymen the of Olive Trees will be glad to have the good news of the unsearchable riches of pictures of Dr. and Mrs. Crombie, whose ,

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Monographs, around is scoured for these cherished animals. Girls are sold to m e n for so m a n y ' tusked boars. It m a y be that they are young girls, and the m a n to w h o m they are sold is old; but if he can pay the n u m ber of tusked boars her friends ask for her, they will compel her to go to him.. N o . 3.^A church at one of our outstations. W e have not only our head station, but also a number of out-stations in different villages, each of these being in charge of a native teacher. The building is not very imposing, but it means a great deal, nothing less than the kindling of a light in the raidst of heathen, dark-. ness, which will ultimately overcome and dispel it.

MO. I. TEACHEKS AND FAMILIES, Christ. Every raissionary depends upon his native teachers, they are like the fingers of his hands, reaching out into the regions beyond. Kalorib has been m y faithful helper from the beginning of our work on North Malekula. Kaloris is teacher at one of m y raost distant out-

--

1
NO. 3. HARRY CONN S CHURCH. No. 4.This is a "demij" or image, iff which the heathen believe the spirits of their ancestors dwell. A group of heathen, one of them a blind m a n , is standing in front of it. No. 5.This is one of our Christians with his wife standing in front of their house. T h e house is thatched with cocoanut leaves. Again and again, as I have seen our Christian people sitting in church and gazed on their faces, so changed from what I have once known them, I wondered if they were the same. The transformation accomplished by the reeeptioia of the gospel has been so great.

NO. z. EOAHS TUSKS. stations, and'most faithfully has he held his position. No. 2.Boars' tusks, as they are displayed in the Arail or square of a native heathen village. The tusked boar, specially bred for the purpose, is a sacrifice on North Malekula. They are sacrificed to the Demij or spirits. W h e n one of these feasts comes near, the whole district

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their bundles. T h e woraen do the greater part of the work in heatbenisra. One has to go to a heathen land and a heathen people to realize h o w m u c h womanhood is indebted to the gospel of Christ. In heathenism w o m e n are not the companions but the plaves of raen. Unloved at birth, unhonored in life, and unwept at death, describes the history of a woraan in heatbenisra. I gave you a packet of post cards, the -titles underneath describe what they are. I hope this letter finds you and yonr dear wife well. I shall always reraeraber

NO- 4. WALA HEATHEN DEMIJ.

9H^^^^ r lip

' t i 'IIbJK^^^^^I ^ ^ ^ 1

H
NO. 6 . HEATHEN WOMAN AND GIRL. your church and the exceeding great kindness I experienced from your people and yourself. Give them all m y Christian regards and love. T h e launch is on board. It has had the name "John G. Paton" given to it. A s I did not know until three weeks ago that I was going to Vila, and the launch at that time was ordered, I a m just taking it to Vila with m e . If a new

NO. 5. CHRISTIAN COUPLE. No. 6.Here are a couple, a heathen woman and a girl, both of them carrying

iQ2

Monographs. about myself. It was in the year 1902 that Mrs. Crombie and myself went as pioneer missionaries to Malekula. After m y conversion it was m y wish to equip myself for Christ's service. M y father advised medieine, so after five years of study I received m y diploma in 1900. It was M r . Frater, of Paama, w h o first turned m y thoughts to the N e w Hebrides. A t that time he was taking classes in medicine, to better fit him for missionary Avork. W e were both members of the Glasgow branch of the Students' Volunteer Missionary Union. Then came the opportunity for travel in the near and far East. Christraas of 1900 was spent at

m a n is appointed to Wala, I m a y possibly hand over the, launch to hira^that is, if I have not enough work for it at Vila. It is a beautiful raodel. The trial trip was a great success. W e shallflrstof all go to Malekula to bid farewell to our people there, then afterward go to Vila. ^What our work will be there, the paper I sent you describes. Give our united love to Dr. Stevenson, of Philadelphia, Pa., and all m y other friends. I hope to receive a letter frora you soraetiraes, ahd proraise you faithfully to reply to it. With love and affection and all Christian regards to Mrs. Soraraerville and yourself, I reraain. Ever yours faithfully,

David Crombie.
The Melbourne Messenger, to which Dr. Crorabie refers in the foregoing letter, as having been sent to us, contains a report of his address at a farewell meeting in Assembly Hall, Melbourne, April 22, 1910. To transfer this brief address to our columns is the best introduction w e can give the raan, his family and his work. A n d it should call forth-the prayers and practical sympathy of our readers: The N e w Hebrides of 1910 will never he the same to us as the N e w Hebrides of 1902. Vila will never be the same to ns as Wala, Efate as Malekula. Wala was ourfirsthome. Its people were the first natives we knew. There w e fought our early battles and w o n ourfirstconverts. It was love for the people of North Malekula, and a desire for their salvation, that made us eager to return. But the call has come to us as the children's missionary to Vila, and after prayerful consideration I feel I must obey. student days. Mr. Frank Paton has set m e a difficult task; he has asked m e to say something

WALA CHRISTIAN FAMILY. Vladivostock, in company of two missionaries of the Irish Presbyterian Church, who, with some of their converts, had been corapelled to fly from Manchuria. It was the time of the Boxer troubles, and this Russian town was underraartiallaw. Wherever I traveled in Russia, Japan, the Straits Settlements, the East Indies, India and North Africa, I made it m y business to become acquainted atfirsthand with what missionary work was doing, and if I had been a free agent I doubt if the Southern Hemisphere and the N e w Heb-' rides would have known m e . the call to n e w HEBRIDES. Eight months later I retumed to Eng-

Monographs. land. One of the first envelopes 1 opened was a telegram asking m e to meet Dr. John G. Paton in Glasgow. I find from m y diary I definitely decided to go to the N e w Hebrides on M a y 31, 1901. After this note is the remark, "I believe this is of God." T h e n followed the filling of several engagements and three raonths hospital work in London. T h e lady who was brave enough to go with rae to Malekula was trained in London. Having given herself to Christ, she was anxious to serve H i m with her best, and so spent four years in being trained in different branches of nursing, taking thefirstplace in herfinalexaminations. While I a m a native of Glasgow, Scotland, Mrs. Crombie is a native of Liverpool, England, so that two nationalities and two great cities have a direct link with the work at Vila. W e left England in January, 1902, in the SS. Omrah. M r . Hardie, then convener of the Foreign Missions Comraittee, was on the wharf toraeetus at Melbourne, and gave us a warra welcome to Australia. On March 18, 1902, I was ordained for foreign missionary work in the Assembly Hall, Melboume, Dr. Paton giving the charge. Dr. Currell, of Korea, was ordained the same night. W e sailed to the New Hebrides in April. O n our voyage we were privileged in having as fellow passengers Dr. and Mrs. John G. Paton. In October Dr. Paton visited Wala and baptized our baby boy, T o m . W e are giving sureties to Victoria in leaving our treasure behind us, our son Tom being left at school in Malvern when we go to take up our new work at Vila. the w o r k at VILA. That work at Vila raay be roughly divided into three divisions1. Pastor of the Margaret Whitecross Paton Memorial 'Church, a church built in m e m o r y of the late Mrs. John G. Paton by the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union of Vic-

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toria, and intended principally as a place of worship for the Protestant European population resident at or visiting Vila. 2. ]\lissionary to the native laborers from other islands, said to number several thousands, employed on the plantations of Efate. 3. Medical raissionary in charge of the John G. Paton Memorial Hospital, which is to be erected in two months' time. W e feel it to be a difficult position, but an^ honorable one, and we go forward in our Master's strength to serve Hira. It is most inspiring to think of working in the memorial hospital and church built to the memory of Dr. and Mrs. Paton, sup-' ported by the Victorian Sabbath school children. W e shall think w e hear thera earnestly singing "We'll worlc by our prayers. B y the offerings we bring. By small self-denials; The least little thing M a y work for our Lord in His harvest." W'e are glad to be yourraissionariesin these islands, so near to your o w n land, where the gospel has won so raany triura])hs, and where we believe it will win m a n y more. ALEXANDER MACKAY. Alexander Mackay was often called the "mechanic missionary." H e could labor with hands as well as with head and heart. H e could use trowel, h a m m e r and saw effectively, even when a boy. H e was the son of a Scotchrainister,and it is recorded of hira that when only four years old he could read the N e w Testaraent with understanding. H e had an indoraitable spirit, and would never give up. N o obstable seemed too great to be surmounted. It is related of him that when only five j^ears old he was sent to fetch a pick for the workman about his father's manse. H e mistook the directions, and was found struggling to bring a heavy six-foot lever.

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Monographs. that of giving the gospel to the people of Uganda. In U g a n d a he becarae, as he hiraself tells us, "engineer, builder, printer, physician, surgeon, and general artificer to .Mtesa Kabaka, of Uganda, and overlord of Unyoro." Araong the other wonderful things accoraplished, "he built an astonishing house, introduced a cart, raade a magic lantern, set up a printing press, constructed a raighty coffin for the king's raother, was tailor, boat maker, schoolteacher, baker, sawyer, weaver, and bridge builder." Persecutions arose. H e saw his converts burned to death, but they died loyally, chanting Christian h y m n s of praise. His o w n life menaced, he was driven forth into an unhealthy region, where he soon died. The date of his death was Feb. 8, 1890. Stanley styled hira "the modern Livingstone."The Young CJiristian.

which he had raoved for fifty yards "by dint of swinging it around end to end, two yards being gained at every turn." H e chose the calling of engineer, and was sent to Edinburgh and Berlin to receive the best training obtainable there. While in Berlin, the appeal of Henry M . Stanley for missionaries to Africa caught his eye and entered his heart. His raind was made up at once to respond. H e offered, was accepted, and in April of 187G, he sailed for Zanzibar. Like the brave Chalmers, his life was in constaut peril. T h e chiefs were cruel and treacherous, their subjects only too ready to do their bidding. Mackay had m a n y narrow escapes. There were, too, other perils besides those frora huraan enemies. Fevers attacked him, he was nearly drowned crossing swollen streams, poisonous insects and reptiles constantly threatened his life; but the courageous missionary never faltered in his raission.

In a recent speech the Bishop of Glas gow said. 'While in Johannesburg some years ago, I was struck by seeing huge pi les of 'tailings" in the goldfields. O n inquiry, I found that for raany years these ' t ailings' were regarded as waste products; they contained gold, but it was not worth t he trouble to obtain it. But a new proeess ealled the cyanide ])roccsswas discover ed, and those 'tailings' are n o w all passed through thefilterand the residual gold obtained. This, I think, was the case with Dr. Barnardo. H e utilized the 'tailings of the streetstliose poor, destitute children, about w h o m no one troubled or care d. B y applying what perhaps I m a y term the 'Christian-cyanide' process, he regaine d for the world the residual gold." Alas! we have "tailings'" in the streets of all o ur great cities, and our first need is to recognize the value of them; our second n eed is to k n o w the proeess of treatment, and our third to actually set it in opera tion. Can wo. sho\\' the gold which we have w o n ? T h e Messenger. T o be fellow-worker with God m a y appear to be too vast and irapossible an idea of the purpose of h u m a n life in this world; yet nothing is clearer and raore certain than that H e W h o m a d e m a n and sent him hero to work and labor until the evening has left raany things for raan to do in fulfilling liis plans and completing His works. D r . John Hunter. li you would convinee a m a n that he does wrong, do right.Thoreau.

Editorial Notes.

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EDITORIAL
Attention is called to the opening article in this number of Oli\'e Trees, on "Young M e n and the Gospel Ministry." It is frora the pen of Prof. R. C. Wylie, LL.D., and is a timely plea both for the Theological Serainary and the Foreign Missions. T h e youth of the Church and the parents should read it and ponder their responsibility.

NOTES.

ministers,fivephysicians, eleven teachers, two trained nurses and a hospital raatron. Tliese laborers should be the very best that the Church can furnish, educated, tactful, possessed of an evangelistic spirit, and fully surrendered for service anywhere. T h e need is pressing. M a n y for whose evangelization w e have raade ourselves responsible will be beyond the reach of h u m a n sympathy and succor in a little Olive Trees has great pleasure in anwhile. They must die without a knowlnouncing that arrangeinents are being edge of the only Saviour unless the made to coraraence with the September young m e n and woraen of the Church are number a "Women's .Department," which willing to go at once. T h e four queswill be under the direction and control of tions that the Spirit of God asked the the "Wo-men's Presbyterial Association of Romans, in connection with the thrilling Pittsburg Presbytery." T h e woraen of statement, "whosoever shall call upon thb the Refornied Presbyterian Churcli of n a m e of the Lord shall be saved," are as North America have always held a promimpressive and deraand an answer as inent place in itsraissionaryoperations. loudly at this hour as in the days of the W e think it m a y be said without any res- apostle: " H o w shall they call on H i m in ervation that they have accomplished W h o m they have not believed ? A n d h o w more, not only in words, but through raan- shall they believe in H i m of W h o m they have not heard? A n d h o w shall they jifold activities, for the work at h o m e and hear without a preacher? A n d h o w shall abroad than either the pulpit or any subordinate agency. Consequently their they preach except they be sent ?" The service for which the Lord is callco-operation is welcomed as essential to ing, through the Foreign Board, for volthe success of an advance missionary unteers, is arduous, requiring self-removement. nunciation similar to His own, when H e All raatter intended for publication in emptied Himself and became obedient this departraent must, for the present, be unto death for the salvation of a lost race. But then H e is calling for m e n sent to Mrs. J. K . M . Tibby, Ridge and w o m e n not to labor alone, but to be Avenue, Crafton, Pa., that it m a y be careworkers together with Himself. Once, a fully edited before reaching our office. N o items from any woraan, whether a boy said to his father, w h o had told him to,remove a stone from tlie lawn, "I have member of an L. M . Society or not, will tried with all m y niight and I can't lift be inserted in Olive Trees, unless they come to us with the approval of the ed- it." "No," was the reply of the father, "you haven't quite used all your raight, itor or editors of this n e w departraent. for you didn't ask for ray help; I ara part of your might and will always help you." On the authority of Synod the Board So the proraise of God to those who, conof Foreign Missions is calling for six

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Editorial Notes. N e w York Congregation. They expect to sail for China Sept. 20, and Mrs. K e m p f s mother, Mrs. Margaret Doig, will accompany them. It is also the present intention of Miss Rose Huston, of Elmo,-Mo., who was appointed missionary teacher Tuesday, June 28, 1910, to leave for heinewfieldof labor at the sarae tirae. And probably there will be others to swell the number of outgoing raissionaries. Pictures of all leaving this autumn either for China or the Levant, with brief references to their appointraents, m a y be looked for in Septeraber Olive Trees. Mrs. J. M. Wright, of Tak Hing, who was ordered home by her physicians for the summer, is at Albany, Oregon, with her sister, on a fruit and grain ranch, enjoying "the refreshing breeze that springs up every aftemoona sea breeze, though the ocean is sixtyrailesdistant," gaining strength and hoping to return to the field in October. She writes: "This is a delightful summer for m e , and our little boy, w h o is happy here with so m a n y things to see and do. But every day he asks when w e will go back to China and see papa, and he is no more anxious than I. It was hard to come away and leave so m u c h work for other people; but I a m sure it is for the best. W e will be glad, however, when sailing time comes.'' W e also had the pleasure of seeing Rev. and Mrs. W . M . Robb, at Bovina, N. Y., about theraiddleof last raonth. She continues cheerful under severe trial, evidently improving and looking forward to the time when, if it is the Lord's will, she and her husband shall be at work again on the West River. Miss Mattie R. Wylie, of Latakia, Syria, who soon after coming to America went into a hospital in Philadelphia^ Pa., is gathering strength at her brother's. Rev. J. R. Wylie, at N e w Galilee, Pa.

scious of personal insufficiency, hesitate to undertake the task to which H e is calling thera, is, "I will help you." His power is a part of the might of every one who, in obedience to His will, has given himself to His service. Those w h o are ready, on His call, to go to China or the Levant should be on their way not later than the middle of October. They should write at once for Apjilication Blanks to R. M . Sommerville, Cor. Sec, 325 West 56th Street, N e w York. Synod, at its last meeting, authorized the Board of Foreign Missions to appeal for $3,000 to coraplete houses in Gunaimia and Latakia, Syria, any balance to be the nucleus of a building fund. In the June number of Olive Trees we referred to the need of raoney for this purpose, and suggested that a few raerabers of the Church raight raake up this comparatively small sum without a formal appeal to the congregations. W e also wrote personal letters to sorae who are known to be devoted friends of the Foreign Missions, and in a few days received from one of these a check for $300. In sending us the money, he expressed the hope that nine would unite with him in contributing the whole amount asked for that the work might be done without unnecessary delay. So we do not hesitate to ask, who will unite with him to put these $3,000 into the Treasury before the end of this month, as we are quite sure there arefiftytiraes ten in the Covenanter Church w h o could give $300 each and not miss them from their current expense aceounts. Rev. Julius A. Kempf, one of our Tak Hingraissionaries,who has been in this country for a few months on furlough, was married Thursday, June 30, 1910, to l\Ii5s Mabel Doig, a member of Second

A Monthly Journal devoted to Missionary W o r k in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.

No.

SEPTEMBER, 1910.

Q U E S T I O N S

O F

T H E

H O U R .

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE MEDIATOR OUR AUTHORITY FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS.*

REV. S. J. JOHNSTON, N E W CASTLE, PA. The question of authority is ever an important one. T h e truthfulness of this statement is evident, it ma.tters not h o w it may be applied. W h e n here upon earth the Pharisees inquired of Christ, " B y what authority doest Thou these things? and who gave Thee this authority ?" W h e n questioned as to our authority for foreign missions m a n y of us simply fall back upon the c o m m a n d of Christ. "All power is given unto M e in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations." These memorable words Christ spake to His early disciples as H e was about to ascend into heaven. While they were spoken to them as a body, yef not to thera exclusively, to-day w e look upon them, and rightly so, as our autbority for foreign missions. It is behind this explicit command of Christ that w e entrench ourselves, and, if necessary, challenge "the worid, the flesh and the devil," if possible, to drive us from our entrenchments. Secure as such a position is, yet let us not stop at this point. Let us not be content with merely possessing such a * A n address spoken at the Foreign Mission Conference of ihe Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, at W i n ona Lake, Ind., Friday, M a y 27, 1910.

defense. Let us carry a little further our exaraination of the strength of this stronghold. W i t h the spade of investigation'in our hand, let us dig a little deeper into the soil of this coraraand of Christ. Just here these questions arise. W h a t right had Christ to so speak to us? U p o n what ground did H e stand in. giving forth such a comraand? History tells us that this same Jesus, some nineteen hundred years ago, was crucified between two thieves just outside of the city of Jerusalem. 'What right, then, h a d H e to issue a c o m m a n d , in obedience to which, if necessary, w e will go to the uttermost parts of the earth ? Briefly stated, w e believe that our subject satisfactorily answers- all of these questions. T h e sovereignty of the Mediator is our authority for foreign missions. In enlarging o n this subject let us state it this w a y : Christ's mediatorial authority over all nations ESTABLISHES THE RIGHT OF FOREIGN MISSIONS. To-day, as a Church, w e have our missionaries. S o m e are in Syria, in Asia Minor, in Cyprus, and ixL far off China. These devoted servants of the Church w e have sent out in obedience to Christ's comraand. O u r authority for so doing w e believe to be Christ's mediatorial dominion over all nations. T o our mind, it is this great doctrine which underlies that divine decree. It is the foundation stone u p o n which the temple of Christ's com-

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Questions of the Hour. tuous as all of the clainis of these false prophets are, yet so far as w e know, rione of them have been so bold in their wickedness as to set up such a claim. Christ's raediatorial authority over all nations FURTHERS THE END OF FOREIGN MISSIONS. Christ came into the world to save sinners. Repeatedly we have this brought out in the Scripture. T o Tiraothy, Paul said, "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus carae into the world to save sinners, of.whora I ara chief." Should any one desire additional proof of this, the life of Christ is full of it. Take the time when H e was feasting in the home of Levi. T o the sorely displeased Pharisees H e said, "They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Scripture also teaches us from whence these people shall come. It inforras us that they shall be taken out of every nation under heaven. T h e Jews thought that the proraised Messiah was intended only for theraselves. W h e n Christ came and began to offer His salvation to both J e w and Gentile alike, h o w insulted thej became. Little did they appreciate the scope of His earthly mission. In reading over the Scripture, w e find no people excluded frora the blessings of Christ's re- demption. It matters not our race, our color, or our condition. "They shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, andshall sit d o w n in the kingdom of God." The question n o w arises, W h a t has all this to do with the subject before us? W e believe that you have already anticipated us at this point. Sinee Christ is the only Saviour of m e n and since those saved are to be gathered out of all nations, how necessary, then, that Christ should possess

m a n d is built. Were it not for His mediatorial authority over all nations. H e would not have had the right tb coramand His early disciples and us to go forth. Just here let us consider an objection frequently raised. It will be admitted that w e are opposed to the circulation of any false religion. W h e n the devotees of sorae false system undertake to propagate their views among us, to say the least, w e are not pleased. Our righteous indignation is aroused to no sraall extent. B y the use of the press and the pulpit, w e seek to stir u p public opinion against them. W e do not cease frora our prayers nor rest frora our labors until reasonably assured that the influence of such a belief has been overturned. N o w the objection is, w h y claira our right to enter foreign countries with our religion when w e so feel and act toward all other systems of faith ? Y o u will at once observe that this objection rests upon a false basis. It takes for granted that all religions, our o w n included, stand upon the very same ground, that they are all entitled to equal consideration, that these false systems have as m u c h right as Christianity has through their ambassadors to propagate their o w n peculiar beliefs. In addition to that, this objection overlooks altogether the truth which we have already advanced. It is Christ's raediatorial dominion over all nations that underlies our foreign missionary worlc. It is this great doctrine that establishes Christ's right to send us as His ambassadors into any country upon the face of the earth. W e would like to raise this inquiry, T o which of the m a n y false prophets at any time did God, the Father, say as H e did to Christ, His o w n Son, "Ask of M e and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the utterraost parts of the earth for T h y possession"? Utterly false and presurap-

Questions of the Hour. such sovereignty. "There is one God, and one Mediator between God and m e n , the m a n Christ Jesus." W h e n H e became Mediator it siraply put Hira in a position to carry out His earthly mission. Aside from that. H e never could have brought it about. Christ's reception of mediatorial authority was not only the gateway through which H e had to pass, but also the highway along which H e had to travel in seeking the lost sheep of the house of Israel. In His intercessory prayer, speaking of Himself, Christ said, "Thou hast given Hira power over allflesh,that H e should give eternal life to as raany as Thou hast given Hira." Christ's raediatorial authority over all nations

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yet what have w e to do with them ? Only the Lord created such conditions. W e are in no wise responsible for them. It is not even our province to turn them for good. In obedience to his master's coraraand, a certain servant with shovel in hand goes out to work. H e does not dig very long until he strikes sorae stones erabedded in the soil. If he is a faithful servant, will he throw d o w n his shovel on that account? It is true that as a Church w e have sown in tears. N o one is more conscious of that than w e are, ourselves. But what has the Scripture to say about the harvest of such sowing? " H e that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Christ's mediatorial authority over all GUARANTEES THE SUCCESS OF MISSIONS. Assurance is ever an important con- nations is our blessed assurance. For the success of our foreign missions w e haii sideration. It enters largely into every phase of our life. If he were only as- the guarantee from H i m . It makes a * sured of seasonable rains, the farraer could difference into which land w e enter, Christ's authority is still over us. It is sow the seed with a better grace. Oftenirapossible to go beyond His dominion times it looks like taking food out of his since "power over allflesh"has been given own mouth to scatter it broadcast. G o into a bank 'with the intention of borrow- to Hira. Should w e as a Church see our way clear to send missionaries araong tbe ing a little money. It raay be needed to buy even the coraraon necessities of life. most down-trodden, theraostignorant, the If ydu are a stranger, the subject of as- raost despised race upon earth, w e could still claim Christ's blessing. W e could surance naturally coraes up. Before the still look to H i m for His co-operation, transaction is satisfactorily settled, you since His mediatorial dorainion is oyer are compelled to go out and appeal to the every race. W h e n Sherraan started in kindness of sorae friend. his triuraphant raarch to the sea, little To-day our Church is actively engaged did he k n o w of the outcorae. T h e best in the work of foreign missions. She is that he could do was only to hope. Alpushing this as never before. T h e most talented, the most consecrated of our thpugh surrounded by a Ipyal soldiery, yet there were certain conditions over whic'h young people, have given themselves to he had no control. Not so, however, is this work. It has been said that our Syrian fleld does not yield as w e bad ex- it with the Church and her work. If she - pected, that the soil in Cyprus is a little reraains true to Christ, sooner or later, harder than w e atfirstimagined, that in success will attend all her labors, "as China there are certain natural condi- certainly as the daylight coraes when the tions apparently adverse to mission work. night is done." In closing, w e have only a few words True or not, as these statements m a y be.

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Questions of ihe Hpur.

to say. Speaking of foreign missions, let distance from the border line of that Reus remeraber that the sovereignty of the public to which he had any claim. But, .Mediator is our authority for it. His friends, not so is it of the Lord Jesus dominion over all nations,firstly,estab- Christ in the Church's work of Foreign lishes the right; secondly, furthers the Missions. Having mediatorial dominion end; and thirdly, guarantees the success over all nations, through His ambassadors of foreign missions. Frora this, then, it Christ has a perfect right to go' to the must be evident to your minds that Christ ends of the earth. In so doing H e is not has a perfect right to send us where H e that lawless invader which some assert, pleases. W h e n Alexander the Great simply in conquest of more land, but crossed over into Asia, he was regarded as rather earth's only rightful Ruler, going an invader, and so he was. H e became out to claim what is His own. "Fair as that as soon as he had passed the Helles- the raoon, clear as the sun, and terrible pent. W h e n Louis X I V . entered Holland, as an army with banners," the Church of William of Orange looked upon hira as the Living God, at the c o m m a n d ol an invader; and so he was. His territory Christ, the Mediator, has gone forth into extended only to the banks of the Rhine, all the world, and shall continue to do so 'When Napoleon Bonaparte raarched upon until the "kingdoras of this world are Moscow, Alexander considered him as an becorae the kingdoms of our Lord, and invader; and so he was. H e was a long of His Christ." I remeraber once, in one of our great courts of justice here, attending a trial, a very celebrated trial, a dramatic point of thrilling interest, which depended upon the admission by the one w h o was being tried for a serious offence, the admission that certain docuraents had been written by him, and I shall never forgetit is one of those raemories that live with a m a n I shall never forget amid the intense silence there was held out to the raan the documents in question and the question was put; Is that your writing? Did you write that? A n d I hold these things up to you tonight as one w h o seeks to te Christ's faithful minister, and I say^ " M y brother, did you write that? Is that your record? Read it, face it up. There is little satisfaction to be derived from any other course. Read it, though you read it through tears which blind you. There is a godly sorrow that worketh repentance, and I pray God it m a y be ours to-night. Your record, it has been written as sometimes meu write to-day, in what they call invisible ink. Y o u have seen it, that chemical preparation which looks like water. Y o u m a y write with it, and it leaves no marks upon the paper, but hold it up to the heat, bring it close to thefire,and soon the' letters will begin to stand out in distinct clearness. A n d these records of ours, invisible to the eye of everyone save to our own inner sense, and to the eye of God, it is the heat that brings them out, the heat of temptation; and as a m a n acts then, so is his record revealed; the heat of the crisis, of the great day, which comes for us all. Holden. M y faith is that there is a far .greater amount of revelation given to guide each m a n by the principles laid down in the Bible, by conscience and by Providence, than most m e n are aware of. It is not the light which is defective, it is an eye to see it. N o r m a n Macleod.

N e w s of the Churehes.

201

N E W S

O F

T H E

C H U R C H E S .

A B R O A D . Asia Minor, Mersina.The following

items are from Miss Evadna M . Sterrett, writing July 7, 1910: Notwithstanding the fact that June was pleasant until within the past two weeks, the effort to keep the girls' school open until the end of the month did not prove satisfactory. Four of the boarders fell ill and some others had to leave at the usual time, when the poor people of Tarsus and Adana go out to the farm villages to work. They cannot leave the girls to go-out alone. Sorae of the most promising pupils are frora this class of people. Last week w e were m a d e sad by the news of the death by drowning of one of our school boys and Church raerabers Yakoob Melkie. H e had gone out with his mother, sister and' little brother to work at a village some distance from Adana, and it seems that he and another boy had. been detailed on that day to bring the dinner for the rest of the farm hands. O n being told that the food would not be ready to serve for a half hour, he suggested that they go and take a swim in the river' nearby, so he, the boy and a carriage or cart driver went. N o sooner had the other boy gone into the river than he called to Yakoob to save him from drowning. Yakoob immediately jumped in to go to his help. T h e carriage driver reached out his long-lashed whip to the boy, who caught it and was drawn out safely, but poor Yakoob disappeared and was not found until the third day afterwafd. H e was a good boy, and was well advanced in his studies, and naturally we were looking forward to "his being a 'useful helper in sorae portion of the field. A s our workers are few, w e feel this loss very keenly. H e entered school as quite a small boy, when Miss McNaughton had charge of the boys' school. His parents were merabers of our Church at Adana. His father died a few years ago. Just shortly before Yakoob's death he had written letters to friends here, and they came in the same post that brought the letter from our Adana evangelist telling of the death. It seeras strange that he should have been taken away just when he was about ready to be useful; but the Lord had another plan, and Yakoob's work was finished. There is m u c h sickness in town now, and, so far, very few people have had the courage to go to the mountains, owing to the unrest connected with the Cretan question. The two teachers, w h o are spending part of their vacation in visiting the villages around about Tarsus, report that they have been cordially received in every village visited. O n one occasion a company of some thirty people, w h o were working in afield,called them, as they went along, and asked them to stop, which of course they did, and spent a time reading and talking. Without an exception, every one, wherever they go, has manifested a deep interest. Every village expresses a wish to have a school, but some add that they are afraid to ask. They visited two villages where w e used to have schools, and the people remarked that the Americans had forgotten them. In some places they are offered liquor, and this gives them an opportunity to express our views on that subject. I

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N e w s of the Churches. O n Sabbath, June 26, Brother McFarland was present and preached in Mersina. The raarriage of Rev. J. D. Edgar and Zada A n n Patton took place in Guzne on June 29, at 4:30 P. M . T h e ceremony was perforraed by the writer. The bride was attended by Miss Elraa French and the groom by Dr. John Peoples. The American Consul from Mersina was present, as required by law. Mrs. Edgar was compelled to leave Latakia sooner than they had planned by reason of illness and came to Guzne, thinking that the change would be beneficial. She has been gaining slowly since coming, and if she could spend the summer here it would probably strengthen her greatly. Thus far, however, I believe, the plans for the sumraer are not completely settled. W e are very glad to have them with us thus long, and w e hope it m a y be possible for them to arrange to spend the summer here. W e have to record a very sad providence in the death of Yakob Milke. The past winter he spent in the boarding school in Mersina. His h o m e is in Adana with his widowed mother and two younger sisters. A t the close of school he went to Adana and began his summer's work in one of the gardens of a neighboring village. W e e k before last he came in to Adana to spend a day or two at home. 'While there, he went one day to the river to bathe and was drowned. It was two days before the body was recovered, the swift current of the river having carried it to the sea. Yakob was a boy who had awakened the expectations of all the raissionaries that sorae day he would be an efficient worker in the cause of the Master, Whose narae he had publicly professed. Bright and capable-in his studies; quiet and courteous in disposition, and faithful and diligent in his work, he gave unusual

think that these teachers are tactful and prudent in apprpaching the people, and we trust that their eff'orts will be blessed to leading some to a knowledge- of the truth and acceptance of the same. O n one or two occasions they were asked what they would do toward helping thera out of prison in case they accepted the "American religion." They evidently think that prison raust be the result for such accept- ance. It would be a great gain could raore of thera learn to read. Yet it is surprising how raany have managed in some way to learn. I suppose that there are more Mosleras going to be reached through the reading of the Bible than in any other way, and more than ever do I long to see schools in every village on this plain. Through the liberality of the L. .M. S. of Eighth Street, Pittsburg, we have been able to buy an interesting lot of literature specially suited for M o h a m m e d a n readers, and we hope and pray that this, too, will bring forth fruit. It is frora the Nile Press in Cairo w e have our tracts and books. Our Bible woraan here in Mersina is using some. She was telling m e yesterday that, no matter how busy a Moslem or Fellaha w o m a n is, she always seems to find time to listen to reading. 1 wish w e had raore suitable workers in this line. Writing frora Guzne, July 2, 1910, Rev. Robert E. Wilson says: Mrs. Willson and I came to Guzne on M a y 25. On' June 17 we were joined by Mrs. McFarland and Margaret and Misses Elsey and Pa.tton from Latakia, and Miss French from Mersina. The following day. Rev. McFarland, w h o had accompanied his faraily to Mersina, also carae to Guzne, reraaining a week and returning to Latakia by the Italian stearaer on the following .Monday.

N e w s of the Churches. proraise of a life of useful service. But "God's thoughts are not as our thoughts, neither are His ways as our ways." While we were planning for this life long years of helpful service, the Master was planning soraething better, and in His infinite 'wfisdom H e knows best. W e c o m m e n d to the prayers of the Church the sorrowing raother, w h o is one of our members in Adana, and the sisters thus bereaved, that they m a y be sustained in their trial, and that their faith fail not. The Mission circle are all in the usual health. In a letter dated July 19, 1910, Dr. Peoples, after referring to the sad death of one of the school boys, spoken of in the foregoing letter, continues: O n the side of encouragements, however, two of our teachers are touring the villages, using Tarsus as a center. They report that in every village, without exception, they are gladly received and hospitably treated. T h e people listen to thera as they read and talk to thera, and some of the villages have expressed a desire for schools. But where* are the teachers? Those w h o have ability leave the country in order to get away from the military service. One cannot blame them for so doing, but it .makes the work so much harder. W e are having very, unusual weather for this time of year. Rain at frequent intervals, which causes an increase in the humidity, and needless to say, an increase in the mosquito family. While the rain is at intervals, the mosquitoes give a continuous performance, and have a continuous feast, to which not infrequently the missionaries have to give their contribution. Mr. and Mrs. Willson and Miss French are in Guzne at present, and Miss Sterrett and I are in Mersina.

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W e are glad to hear of the good things from Synod in the mission line. M a y tlie little Covenanter Church keep a united front as she lines up against the forces that are "not of this world"; and raay she see to it that her "skirraish lines" and "outposts" are raade and kept-strong as they penetrate into the eneray's country. With greetings from one of these "outposts" in one of the enemy's countries. Another letter from Rev. R. E. Willson, written July 27, 1910, gives some additional items: I have time for only a line this afternoon to tell you of the new arrival on the mission field. W e welcomed a son into our h o m e yesterday. I a m happy to report that mother and son are both doing well. The mission circle are at present all ,well. Miss Sterrett is still in Mersina. The weather is getting quite warra there now. M r . McFarland retumed last Priday from Latakia, remained in Mersina over .Sabbath and preached for them there, and came on up to Guzne Monday morning. M r . and Mrs. J. D. Edgar left our circle last Wednesday to go over to Alexandretta. They expect to spend the rest of the sunjmer at M r . Kennedy's summering place near Alexandretta. Mrs. Edgar gained quite rapidly while she was in Guzne. W e trust the climatic conditions in the other place will be as suitable, and that she will soon be well and strong again. M r . Samuel Edgar has been having a round of fever, but at the last report, when Mr. McFarland came from there last week, he was better. Our Tarsus Evangelist had m a d e all plans to come with his family to Guzne, but they were afiraid of disturbances and have gone back to Tarsus. There has been considerable unrest and fear in connection with the Cretan-Greek question.

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N e w s of the Churches. from Rev. A. I. Robb, dated July 11, 1910, closes with these words: I think the Synod as a whole must have been exceptionally good. The time given to missions and evangelistic affairs and the manifest interest in them and the harmony along these lines is good to hear about. I wish all our lines of work were as harraonious, and do not see w h y theyraight not be. Others will write you the news. W e are all in health, and in a short time will try to get to the coast. The Mitchells go this week, and others at the flrst of August.

There were raany ruraors of war between Turkey and Greece, a general boycott of Greek merchants and vessels in Turkish ports, and for this reason m a n y did not corae to Guzne as soon as they would otherwise have done, and sorae (Greeks) w h o had planned to corae, did not come at all. So far as I know, all is quiet now. W e were all glad to get the good word from Synod, and w e all trust this will be a fruitful year in the work in raissions. With greetings to all. China, Tak Hin ,A personal-, letter

A T

H O M I
York, N. Y.The members of the Woraan's Missionary Society of -York
Congregation desire to offer the following tribute of respect to theraeraoryof Mrs. Martha M c K e e , w h o for raany years was a faithful and consistent m e m b e r of our society, quietly passing in and out before us. She was possessed of a deep and earnest faith, of a meek and quiet spirit, and a love for the House of God, which gave her great joy in all of its services. Peculiarly afflicted for raany years, yet she cheerfully and patiently attended to the duties of the home. H e r children rise up and call her blessed. A s a society w e wish to express our sense of loss, but rejoice that she has entered into that rest that remains for the people of God. W e extend our sincere sympathy to the bereaved daughters, and commend them to our Heavenly Father, w h o will sustain all His children in tirae of trouble.

Kansas, Olathe.-In the Providence of God w e are called to note the death of our sister, Mrs. Margaret A. Robinson, w h o passed to her heavenly h o m e on the evening of June 23, 1910, aged eighty-nine years, eleven raonths and twenty-three days. She was the oldest m e m b e r of our society and she was also one of the charter merabers. Although called to endure great physical suffering in her last days upon earth,. she manifested great patience and resignation to the will of her Heavenly Father. W e can heartily testify to her great activity in the work of her Master as long as she was able, for she enjoyed nothing better than doing missionary work of whatever kind carae to her hand to be done. Our loss was her eternal gain, and as she loved and labored for her Saviour, let us emulate her example and recognize the admonition, "Be ye also ready."

Mrs. Atchison, Mrs. Robb, Mrs. Aiein.

Dora Guthrie, Martha Milligan,

Committee.

W h e n theflghtbegins within hiraself, a man's worth something.Browning

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M O N O G R A P H S .
Britain, in Aiperica, and upon the Continent of Europe. T h e first question discussed by these committees was, what shall be the character of the Conference to be held? It was acknowledged that after all the Ecumenical Conference of 1900 had not borne sufficient fruit, and all agreed that the plans n o w under discussion raust be looking toward a missionary conference whose discussions should be based upon the actual and general missionary experiences of its participants. It was also agreed that the limited space of asserably halls demanded that the nuraber of actual delegates should be between eleven and twelve hundred, and on account of this liraitation, it was decided that only such missionary societies should be represented which had had an annual income of $10,000 during the past three years, and that those with an annual income of $50,000 should be entitled to another delegate for every $25,000. T h e question about the sphere ofraissionarylabor to be discussed wasfinallyanswered to the effect that missionary work araong non-Christian peoples only should be discussed, so that missions to R o m a n Catholics and other nominal Christians were left out from the program, a decision which caused at once m u c h discussion and was m u c h regretted during the Conference, especially by American delegates. In 1908, an International Comraittee raet in Oxford and London. It was decided that the Conference should b held at Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1910, and eight Commissions were appointed for the purpose of preparing the material for the discussions at the Conference which were to be limited to eight general subjects unaniraously agreed upon. T h e meraber-

THE

WORLD MISSIONARY CONFERENCE AT EDINBURGH. PREPARATIONS FOR THE CONFERENCE.

Our readers will probably remeraber that the great Ecuraenical Missionary Conference m e t in N e w York in 1900. It was the largestraissionarygathering ever asserabled since the days of the apostles, for more than two hundred andfiftymissionary societies of the civilized world had sent about three thousand delegates. Its influence was tremendous, especially in the United States and Canada, where it had the two-fold blessed influence of largely increasing the missionary zeal of the churches and of bringing about a closer co-operation of the great missionary societies of the denominations. B u t the great Conference adjourned without raaking any provision for similar future gatherings, though m a n y of the delegates recognized the necessity and iraportance of such gatherings at stated tiraes, and it seemed as if the Ecumenical Missionary Conference of 1900 would thus reraain without any successor. Five years went by without further action. Then, in the beginning of 1906, Mr. Daly, the wide-awake secretary of the Livingstonia Mission, sent a letter to the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions in N e w York, in which he inquired if a world-wide raissionary conference ieemed desirable to its merabers. Speedily the answer came to Scotland, in which the great denominational Boards of Foreign ' Missions, whose headquarters are in N e w York, unanimously declared that they considered such a world-wide missionary conference raost desirable. T h e preparatory steps were immediately talcen and conunittees were organized in Great

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Monographs. talented Chinese, the Negro, the Korean, and representatives of pther races asserabled and during the meetings contributed their valuable speeches to the great number of those delivered by the representatives of the Missionary Societies from the h o m e countries. ITS MEETING PLACE. T h e World Missionary Conference had been called to meet at Edinburgh, Scotland, from June 14 to 23, in the great Assembly Hall of the United Free Church, which accommodates about 1,000 upon the ground floor and perhaps 1,800 more upon its four spacious galleries. Since the number of delegates was 1,200, the ground floor and one of the galleries were reserved for them, while the demands for tickets of admission to the other galleries were far beyond their seating capacity for every raeeting. Parallel meetings of a more popular ch.aracter than those in the Assembly were held regularly in the spacious Synod Hall, and occasional meetings wer^ held, especially in the evenings, in the famous and large Tolbooth Church, so that ample opportunity was offered to the iraraense crowd of visitors, especially frora Araerica, and to the people of the Scottish capital to enjoy the discussions of the great subjects before the World Missionary Conference by its ablest speakers. THE MEETINGS IN THE ASSEMBLY HALL. After a grand public reception, tendered to the delegates and visitors by the Lord Provost and the City of Edinburgh in the spacious museura, especially fitted up for the occasion, on the evening of June 13, the World Missionary Conference was called to order in the afternoon of June 14, by its president. Lord Balfour, of Burleigh. ' T h e prelirainary business was speedily transacted, John R. Mott being chosen chairraan of the business meetings and the recommendations of the busi-

ship of these eight Coraraissions was coraposed of the best instructed raen from all the world, w h o iraraediately set to work and gathered an immense mass of m a terial from missionaries of everyfieldand from acknowledged authorities and writers. This raaterial was carefully sifted and gone over by the Coraraissions which based upon it those carefully prepared and wonderfully interesting printed reports, which were laid in the hands of every delegate a few weeks before the raeeting of the Conference, and which forraed the basis of all its discussions. These reports, covering every sphere of missionary activity among non-Christian races, will be published, together with the addresses delivered at Edinburgh, in nine volumes, and will be a most valuable addition to the library of every Christian minister. T H E W O R L D MISSIONARY CONFERENCE. ITS DELEGATES. T h e principle of representation to which \te referred before was rigidly adhered to, BO that when the World Missionary Conference assembled at Edinburgh on June 14, 1910, a number of smaUer and weaker denominational and inter-denominational missionary societies were excluded because their annual income had not been $10,000 annually during the preceding three years. Yet, the nuniber of Evangelical Missionary Societies represented at the Conference was 158 (46 British, 59 American, 41 Continental, 3 South African, and 9 Australian), 'while about 1,200 delegates (500 British, 500 American, 172 Continental) were in attendance. Alraost everjr tiationality of the earth had representatives araong these delegates, because the great missionary societies had taken care to have the different spheres of their activities represented by their ablest m e n , regardless of race and color. Thus the little Japanese, the tall Hindu, the highly

Monographs. ness committee being accepted without discussion. Thus it was resolved to meet from 9:45 A. M . to 1 P. M,, from 2:30 P. M . to 4:30 P. M., and from 8 P. M . to 9:30 P. .M. every day, except the Lord's Day. The morning and afternoon sessions were to be given to the discussion of the printed reports of the eight Commissions, ' in the order recmmended by the Business Comraittee, while the evenings were to be given to special addresses by the most representative raen of the world. Thirty rainutes of every morningatfirstfrom 12:30 to 1:00, later from 11:45 to 12:15were to be given to prayer, and the speeches of delegates were limited to seven minutes each.

207

were persuaded that nothing but the gospel will cure the evils, lighten the sorrows, and bring peace to the restless hearts. Thirdly, because they were composed of m e n and w o m e n strong in faith. T h e assurance that the gospel must pre-. vail, that Christ will conquer and'be acknowledged Lord of All, was in every heart and became evident in almost every speech. Fourthly, because the atraosphere of all meetings was deeply spiritual. One reason for this wonderful fact is probably found in the thirty minutes which were given every day, in the midst of the busy m o m i n g session,-to prayer. Those thirty minutes were devoted to prayer. T h e leaders of the precious raoraents were selected by the Business Coramittee, noton accouift of their great eloquence, for there It is impossible to give our readers an were no speeches at that time, but on acidea of the meetings themselves, for our count of their piety and spiritual fervor. space is limited. T o us they were the They led the people in prayer, most of the most inspiring, the most instractive, and time in silent prayer, announcing simply the most helpful public meetings which in choice language the subject chosen for we ever attended. W h y ? Firsts because the day's hour of prayer by the Business they were composed of m e n and w o m e n Comraittee, and reading passages of w;ith but one purpose in their hearts, viz., Scripture containing precious promises the glory of God in the preaching of the and encouragements concerning the subgpspel to the non-Christian world. There ject. W e never before saw the blessing were no apologies for the enterprise of and the privilege of intercessory prayer missions. Every one took it for granted as in that great silent throng. The very, that Christianity is the one true religion, silence of these thirty minutes, broken .and that it is the duty and the privilege only here and there by the statement of the subject or the quotation frora the of the Christian Church to carjy the glad tidings of salvation in Christ to the W o r d of God, helped us to understand betuttermost parts of the earth. Secondly, ter the meaning of united prayer. It brought a clearer vision of the need of because they were composed of raen and w o m e n thoroughly familiar with every the whole world, of our own inability and phase of the great work. M a n y of these weakness, and of Christ's sufficiency. The delegates had gi-ven raany precious years meraory of those periods of soleranity of their lives, and health, and strength must abide with all w h o enjoyed the to active raissionary effort araong the privilege. F e w delegates absented themheathen. All were thoroughly conversant selves from them and the' crowds of with the great need of the gospel in the visitors and spectators upon the galleries were day by day as deeply moved as the lands under the sorrowful infiuence of delegates themselves. Thus the meetings heathenism and M o h a m m e d a n i s m , and all

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Monographs.

3. The s u m and substance of all the speeches was the Herculean task before the Church of Christ. T h e vastness of the undertaking to preach the gospel toevery creature was taught usraostimpressively, but also the fact that all these m e n were raen of strong faith, w h o were fully persuaded that the task can be accomplished. 4. The enthusiasm of the Conference was a -most impressive lesson. It was SOME IMPRESSIONS AND LESSONS. W e caimot enter upon a discussion of not the all-too-frequent kind of enthusiasin the particular meetings, as w e said before. whicii burns brightly for a m o m e n t only, but the enduring enthusiasra which is Let us simply give some lessons: 1. The bare fact of such a Conference based upon knowledge. If w e want to was an impressive lesson, but more im- stir up our churches to increased raissionpressive still was its remarkable unity. ary enthusiasm, w e must increase their W e did not all agree on all points, but knowledge of thefield,of the need, and generous respect was paid even to state- of the possibilities before us. Enthusiasm ments of views with which m a n y members of m e n raoved by sentiraent dies quickly, had little sympathy. This was especially but enthusiasm of raen w h o know and evident when some speakers, four in all, w h o m their knowledge stirs unto activity w e believe, recommended co-operation in will endure and will steadily increase. 5. The critical character of the situamissionary work with the R o m a n Catholic Church. There were no angry exclama- tion in heathen lands was deeply imtions, nofieryprotests. Quietly Dr. W . H . pressed upon us. Mohamraedanism is adRoberts stated that American Protestants vancing. Hinduism and Confucianismare not willing to give up the results of are trying to reforra theraselves. The the Reformation. The very fact that so heathen religions are crurabling to pieces. little attention was paid to these, to us M e n all over the world are in need, and quite unreasonable, views of co-operation that need is the unsearchable riches of with the Papacy proved most conclusively Christ. The call to service comes to the that this vast gathering had no syrapathy Church now. It must be answered now. with them, but that it was generous 6. T h e necessity of an increase of enough to respect the views of a few who spiritu'al life in the h o m e churches was had proved themselves eamest mission- impressed upon us with unprecedented ary workers otherwise. force and clearness. If w e desire to per2. The great ability of the conse- forra the task of preaching the Gospel crated m e n who were delegates and unto every creature, w e ourselves raust spealcers raade a deep irapression upon all. first know experimentally the love of The addresses were grand. T h e seven- Christ. W e must first know that H e minute speeches, without introduction and meets all our need, before we can offer without peroration, alraost without ex- H i m to others as the one w h o will meet ception evidenced the wonderful power of their need. the rank and file engaged on the field at T h e great lesson which the Edinburgh the present moment. World Missionarv Conference should of the ten days were to m e raost inspiring, raost instructive, -and raost helpful. That they were thus to raany others was amply proved by the fact that the three great halls were nearly always crowded by an enthusiastic crowd, that the interest increased as the days went by, and that on the last day there was not a vacant seat in the halls.

Monographs. teach us, w h o are at home, is that w e miist realize the world's need and our obligation to offer the all-sufficient Christ. Then w e must give ourselves to unceasing, persevering prayer, until w e rise unto a grander conception of Hira, to whora all power in heaven and on earth has been given. T h e n w e raust either go ourselves to do the work or supply the needs of those w h o go. ' T o the faithfulraissionaries,tired and worn, conscious of the immensity of the task before them, the Edinburgh World Missionary Conference called out, " G o forth with n e w confidencQ. It is the Lord's work thou art doing. Fear not, for H e is with thee with all His power. Thou art one of the reapers in the Lord's great harvest field."

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(Rev.) Louis Meter. WORLD MISSIONARY CONFERENCE. MESSAGE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH IN CHRISTIAN LANDS. Dear Brethren in Christ We, the members of the World Missionary Conference asserabled in Edinburgh,
desire to send you a raessage which lies very near to our hearts. During the past ten days w e havc been engaged in a close and continuous study of the position of Christianity in non-Christian lands. In this study w e have surveyed thefieldof missionary operation and the forces that are available for its occupation. For two years w e have been gathering expert testimony about every department of Christian Missions, and this testimony has brought h o m e to our entire Conference certain conclusions whicii w e desire to set forth. Our survey has impressed upon us the moraentous character of the present hour. W e have heard frora m a n y quarters of the awakening of great nations, of the opening of long-closed doors, and of moveraents

which are placing all at once before the Church a n e w world to be w o n for Christ. T h e next teii years will in all probability' constitute a turning point in h u m a n history, and raay be of more critical importance in determining the spiritual evolution of mankind than m a n y centuries of ordinary experience. If those years are wasted, havoc m a y be wrought that centuries will not be able to repair. O n the other hand, if they are rightly used they raay be araong the raost glorious in Christian history. W e have therefore devoted m u c h time to a close scrutiny of the ways in which w e m a y best utilize the existing forces of niissionary enterprise' by unifying and consolidating existing agencies, by improving their administration and the training of their agents. W e have done everything within our power in the interest of econoray and' efficiency; and in this endeavor w e have reached a greater unity of comraon action than has been attained in the Christian Church for centuries. But it has becorae increasingly clear to us that w e need soraething far greater than can be reached by any econoray or reorganization of the existing forces. W e need supreraely a deeper sense of responsibility to Almighty G o d for the great trust which H e has comraitted to us i i v the evangelization of the world. That trust is not coraraitted in any peculiar w a y to our missionaries, or to societies, or to us aa meinbers of this Conference. It is committed to all and each within the Christian family; and it is as incumbent on every m e m b e r of the Church, as are the eleraentary virtues of the Christian lifefaith, bope and love. That which makes a m a n a Christian makes h i m also a sharerin this trust. This principle is adraitted by us all, but w e need to be aroused to carry it out in quite a n e w degree. Just

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Monographs. W e desire to send you greeting in the Lord frora the World Missionary Conference gathered in Edinburgh. For ten days we have been associated in prayer, deliberation, and the study of missionary probleras, with the suprerae purpose of making the work of Christ in non-Christian lands more effective, and throughout the discussions our hearts have gone forth to you in fellowship and love. Many causes of thanksgiving have arisen as we have consulted together, with the whole of the missionfieldclear in view. But nothing has caused more joy than the witness borne from all quarters as to the steady growth in nurabers, zeal and power of the rising Christian Church in newly awakening lands. None have been more helpful in our deliberations than raembers from your own churches. W e thank God for the spirit of evangelistic energy which you are showing, and for the victories that are being won thereby. W e thank God for the longing after unity which i s so prominent araong you, and i s one of our own deepest longings to-day. Our hearts arefilledwith gratitude for a l l the inspiration that your exaraple has brought to us in our home lands. This example i s all the more inspiring because of the special difficulties that beset the glorious position which you hold in the hottest part of the furnace wherein the Christian Church is being tried. Accept our profound and loving sympathy, and be assured of our confident hope that God will bring you out of your fiery trial as afinelyterapered weapon which can accomplish His worlc in the conversion of your fellow countrymen. It i s you alone who can ultimatelyfinishthis work; the word that under God convinces your own people raust be your word; and the life which will win them for Christraustbe the life of holiness and moral power, as set forth by you who are

as a great national danger deraands a new standard of patriotisra and service frora every citizen, so the present condition of the world and theraissionarytask demands from every Christian, and frora every congregation, a change in the existing scale of missionary zeal and service, and the elevation of our spiritual ideal. The old scale and the old ideal were framed in view of a state of the world which has ceased to exist. They are no longer adequate for the new world which is arising out of the ruins of the old. It is not only of the individual or the congregation that this new spirit is demanded. There i s an imperative spiritual deraand that national life and influence as a whole be Christianized; so that the entire impact, comraercial and political, now of the West upon the East, and now of the stronger races upon the weaker, raay confirm, and not impair t^e message of the missionary enterprise. The providence of God has led us a l l into a new -world of opportunity, of danger, and of duty, God i s demanding of us all a new order of life, of a more arduous and self-sacrificing nature than the old. But if, as we believe, the way of duty i s the way of revelation, there i s certainly implied, in this imperative call of duty, a latent assurance that God i s greater,raoreloving, nearer andraoreavailable for our help and corafort than any man has dreamed. Assuredly, then, we are called to make new discoveries of the grace and power of God, for ourselves, for the Church, and for the world; and, in the strength of that firmer and bolder faith in Him, to face the new age and the new task with a new consecration. M E S S A Q E TO T H E M E M B E R S OF T H E CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN NON= CHRISTIAN LANDS. Dear Brethren in Christ

Monographs. m e n of their o w n race. But w e rejoice to be fellow-helpers with you in the work, and to know that you are being more and more empowered by God's grace to take the burden of it upon your o w n shoulders. Take up that responsibility with increasing eagerness, dear brethren, and secure from God the power to carry through the task; then we m a y sec great raarvels wrought beneath our o w n eyes. Meanwhile w e rejoice also to be learning rauch ourselves from the great peoples w h o m our Lord is n o w drawing to Himself; and w e look for a richer faith to result for all from the gathering of the pations in H i m . There is m u c h else in our hearts that we should be glad to say, but w e must confine ourselves to one further matter, and that the most vital of all. A strong co-operation in prayer binds together in one all the Empire of Christ. Pray, therefore, for us, the Christian coramunities in h o m e lands, as w e pray for you; remeraber our difficulties before God as we remember yours, that H e m a y grant to each of us the help that w e need, and to both of us together that fellowship in the Body of Christ which is according to His Blessed Will.

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the boys' dormitory, the b a m with its broom factory in the loft, and the great alfalfa barrack, come under your inspection. T o the north, fields of growing crops; to the west, the road; to the east, the caraping ground for the Indians; and to the southwest, the large pasture field with its carefully selected herd of cattle, which has meant so m u c h to the work and welfare of the Mission. A good, deal to raanage and a large responsibility, but the work moves forward with systematic precision. Economy and wise forethought are evident at every turn. T h e plant as it stands is a credit to any Church and a m o n u m e n t to earnest toil and executive ability on the part of our missionary. But, after all, these things are but stone, wood, hay and stubble, simply the equipment, the means to the great e n d the work. This is both extensive and intensive. Extensive, in that it covers an area of about forty miles in diameter; and in that three tribes, the Comanche, the Kiowa and the Apache, are receiving the rainistry of love. Besides the regular preaching services and the meetings in the chapel and in the Indian camps, there are services held and Sabbath schools established among the white people w h o have settled around and within ten miles OUR INDIAN MISSION. Not a n e w theme, but one that is ever of the Mission. M a n y of them are alfresh with interest and inspiring. T h e most as spiritually destitute as the Invisitor is at once struck with the size of the dians.plant. T h e commodious hospital, suggesFor eight months in the year a half a tively shaped like the red cross; the large hundred children are to be cared for, church with its recently added wing to body, raind and soul. D a y and night accomraodate the growing audiences; the they deraand attention, and the h u m of school house, which furnishes class rooras, worlc is heard in every department. The girls' dormitory, kitchen and dining hall, training the children receive is intellecand the p u m p houseall of stone, tual, industrial and religious. In the class roora under the new wing of the brought from the mountains and reared with hard toil and no doubt m a n y a chapel w e found Miss A n n a McClurkin prayer and tear. Then the missionaries' with patient kindness hearing the prihouse, the farmer's house, the laundry. raary pupils. O n the second fioor of the

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Monographs. the X-ray turned upon character and motive as w h e n dealing with children or the child races. W h e n satisfied that he has a true friend, the Indian knows well h o w to use him. Every hour in the day and often in the night, th6re is a call for help of some kind. But for it all, there is a gratitude and response that fully re-, pays. In every department there is and must be a diligent watch for souls, and w e found a happy band of workers, joyfully willing to be all things to all men, if by any means they might save some. Mrs. Carithers goes forward with her work as Assistant Field Matron with weariness and painfulness at tiraes, but with high hope, and is "the smile of God" to all with w h o m she comes in contact. Miss Eraraa McFarland has given herself in devoted Christian consecration to the Apache people, perhaps the lowest and raost destitute of the tribes. In her zeal to reach thera, she is acquiring the Apache language, a feat which no living white m a n has yet accomplished. B y sheer force of love and prayer and Christian service she is winning them. T h e results of the work are such as to cheer the heart of the Churcli and the raissionary. In material things, the condition of the Indian is m u c h improved. His carap life is transcendentally above what it was even eight years ago. Comfort, neatness and cleanliness and selfrespect have been inculcated. Their neat farais and comfortable homes are a long way jon frora the old roving life of the tepee and saddle. But the spiritual fruits of the work are oven more striking. W e heard the children recite whole chapters of the Bible with a rhythm that was pleasant and even musical. Hundreds of verses are learned by each pupil. Last year one girl comraitted over twelve hundred texts a record which any congregation in our

school building, Miss Orlena Ailsen was busy with the larger boys and girls, and Miss Florence Mearns as matron of the girls' dormitory, was finding ample employment in instructing the girls and attending to their m a n y needs. In the kitchen we found Miss Almira Kerr preparing the meal for her numerous faraily and instructing both boys and girls in cooking and dining roora work. In the laundry Miss Minta Allen had her host of willing workers around her, and in her quiet way teaching the boys and girls the essentials of neatness and cleanliness. If not in the laundry you would likely find her at the purap house overseeing the care of the railk and butter raaking. At the boys' dorraitory, Mr. and Mrs. Coulter were making home comfortable, looking after the boys' clothing, sorting sizes, darning and mending, and in multitudes of ways meeting the m a n y calls of the growing, rollicking, whimsical b o y s a busy place that. The writer once upon a time lived there a week. The farm and broom factory, by strict attention to business, has been made a source of income toward defraying the running expenses of the Mission. But it has had a greater reason than that for its existence as part o f the work. For a number of reasons the Indian of the not far distant future will find himself in poverty and without a home unless he learns to use the land he n o w has, to transact his business, and to save his earnings. T o raeet this the Mission has been striving. As a result, there are quite close to the Mission a nuraber of well improved Indian farms. The work is intensive. It is heart-toheart, hand-to-hand, personal soul winning. The Indian raust learn by what he experiences to trust the worker. This calls for unquestionable sincerity and a whole-souled consecration. One never has

Monographs. Church might be justly proud to duplicate. There is a congregation of over one hundred members, two-thirds of which are Indians. As you sit upon the platform you have before you m e n who were famous for their exploits in war, and who gave the United States troops m a n y a hard battle. B y the grace of God alone, they have been conquered. As you sit there reading to your audience, it is not difficult to discern those who have found the "Jesus road" and those w h o have not. Those on the "Indian road" have a look pf hopeless sadness, the lines of their countenances are all down. But those who have learned to know "the Hope of all nations," look out of eyes that sparkle with the light of God amd their faces beam with a joy unspeakable. That audience, could you see itsavagery before and after^would settle forever in your mind the m u c h mooted question, " D o missions pay?" But our desire to know what the "heart speaks" brought us into close touch with the people in their tents and beside the camp flre. The old m e n all told of a longing for light and life (for the Indians are by nature a religious people) and a seeking after God, if happily they might flnd H i m . T h e following from one of them is characteristic: " W h e n I was young I did not know the Heavenly Father. T h e old Indian road was very dark. I did not know what

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to pray for, but I wanted to pray and I prayed. But see, though I did not know the Heavenly Father, H e knew rae. H e heard his child crying and knew what he wanted and sent M r . Carithers to tell us about the Jesus road. Oh, how thankful I ara that the Heavenly Father let m e live until Mr. Carithers carae. N o w 1 know the road, now it is all right, now it is all light." W h o can estiraate the value of the gospel to the souls of m e n ? B y what law of grace or huraan kindness could we withhold such a blessing frora a benighted people ? Should not such a work receive our eamest prayers and heartyfinancialsupport? Yet there was a deficit in the offerings for this Mission last year. Perhaps I ought not to tell it, but the Church ought to know it. In the southwest corner of the hospital building we found a porch roora, fitted as corafortably as it eould be m a d e for Mrs. Carithers. The windows are so arranged that plenty of life-giving air m a y be had. There the battle goes on day by day, a battle for life with faith in God that it will be won. As I know the heart of the Covenanter Churc'h, I a m confident that she will not allow the discouragement of a deficit to add to the burden of and care of our raissionaries.

J. S. McGaw.
Morning Sun, la.

. ' Be generous with srailes and kindly w o -ds, if with nothing else. That which costs the least is pften mpst valuable in this strange world. A n d kind words and gentle acts of sympathy have a way of reflecting that m a n y and m a n y a time has rewarded the giver a thousand-fold. It is a great thing to remeraber peacefully at eventide that some burdened heart has blessed you during the day for a tiraely word of cheer or glint of encourageraent.^C/imiwn Work. If ever you get light it will be in this way: Christ must be a great light to you. Nobody ever found light by raking in his own inward darknessthat is, indeed seeking the-living among the dead.(7. H . Spurgeon.

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Women's Department

W O M E N ' S

DEPARTMENT.
niversary of the Women's Presbyterial ilissionary Society of Pittsburg Presbytery, which shall be observed in M a y , 1911, the members of the executive committee realized that the work was greatly handicapped by the fact that we lacked a m e d i u m through which w e could.easily reach all the auxiliary societies. Our only raeans of coraraunication is by letter to each society. This makes the work of the corresponding secretary laborious, and we are loth to put so m u c h work on an already busy housewife, and so raany opportunities for extra work are allowed to pass. Every one knows that better results are reached when the faraily can gather around the table to discuss pro and con the important "family affairs" than when letters must be written and replies waited for. Then it was that we came to the full realization that not only the w o m e n of the Pittsburg Presbytery need a magazine, or a Women's Department in a magazine, but the w o m e n of the^ entire Reformed Presbyterian Church need it.

OUR NEW DEPARTMENT.

Ofttiraes in our life we realize that our actions call for sorae explanation, perhaps n o w and again an apology is necessary to set us right with our friends and neighbors. A t this particular tirae w e feel that only an explanation is due those w h o shall, in tuming the leaves of the Septeraber number of Olive Trees, see for thefirsttirae the caption "Women's Departraent," and our hope is, that an apology m a y never be necessary. KEEPING ABREAST OF THE TIMES. T h e busy housewife, in her daily round of duties in the home, will realize that this or that piece of machinery, or utensil, will expedite her work and enable her to make h o m e more corafortable and attractive; the family will be better clothed if a sewing machine is installed, or by some new utensil or method in the kitchen, better food, more terapting viands can be prepared for the family. A s piece by piece is added, better methods adopted, she renders superior service to those w h o look to her as the home-maker. In short, if we wish to keep abreast of the tiraes in our homes, on the farm, in office, store or workshop, we must adopt up-to-date raethods and helps. N o less is this true in church work,

THE ADVANTAGE OF INTERCHANGE OF THOUGHT. One has said: "One raan is nobody; nor will poring upon a boolc in a corner accomplish a m a n so as reading and studying of m e n will. Wise and profitable discourse sharpens men's wits; and those that have ever so m u c h knowledge may, by GOOD BUSINESS METHODS. Good business raethods adrainistered in conference, have something added to the temporal affairs of our churches would thera." A n d let'us consider one another, work wonders. A n d w h y not? If w e are to provoke unto love and to good works. to be not slothful in the business in Our object in having this departraent is which we engage to m a k e our livelihood, that w e raay do better service for our are w e not reprehensible for slothfulness Master, in a more aggressive work for the in our church life? "Not slothful in bus- missions of our Church, by bringing the iness, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." w o m e n closer together in their work. Mrs. Robert A. M. Steele, OUR W O R K CALLS FOR IT. While planning for the twenty-fifth anPresident.

Wom.en's Depariment.

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500 N E W SUBSCRIBERS IN SEPTEMBER Nothing succeeds like success. With the help of the Lord, we wish to make this Woraen's Department a success. Ourfirstaim is to place Olive Trees in every home in every congregation. To accomplish this result, will each missionary society appoint one or two Magazine Secretaries, and let thera thoroughly canvass the congregation ? All Olive Trees subscriptions end with the calendar year. There remain three months in 1910. Have your Magazine Secretaries secure as-many subscribers as possible for October, November and Deceraber for 25 cents. Three months for 25 cents. Let this work be done in Septeraber.

Can the Women of Our Churcb Secure SOO New Subscribers for Three Montbs for 25 Cents in September ? Tell rae not in mournful nurabers N e w subscribers don't abound; 'Tis the canvasser that slurabers N e w subscribers can be found. These lines are quoted from Woman's Missionary Friend. Will you not appoint wideawake canvassers, who willfindnew subscribers? Canvasser.I want you to subscribe for Olive Trees for three months (October, November, Deceraber) for 25 cents. Church Meraber.Why do you wish m e to subscribe for Olive Trees ? Canvasser.Because Dr. Somraerville has allowed the women of our Church four pages of his valuable magazine, to be known as the Women's Department, and we wish to show our appreciation to the Doctor, and we wish to aid missions by adding 500 naraes to his subscription l i s t during the month of September. Church Member.How will subscribing for Olive Trees aid raissions? Canvasser.If you keep inforraed concerningraissions,you will be interested in them, you will pray for them, you will work for them, you will give to them. H o w can you keep inforraed without reading your own raissionary magazine? Church Member.Put m e down as one of the 500. What Congregation will be First on Our Honor List to Report, "Every Family in Our Congregation Subscribes for OLIVE T R E E S " ? Now, sisters, "A long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether" to accomplish this work. "Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God." Send all subscriptions to Dr. Sommerville, 325 West Fifty-sixth Street, New York. Send all reports of your work to Mrs. J. K. M . Tibby, Ridge Avenue, Crafton, Pa.

Mrs. T. H. Acheson,, Chairman Magazine Committee.

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Women's Department.

plished, and she would coramunicate at once with those having in charge this deW H A T THIS D E P A R T M E N T M E A N S . partraent, all societies would thus have Just what a Women's Department in the benefit. Coraing regularly once a Olive Trees is going to raean to the w o m e n of the Reformed Presbyterian month, the program for each society could have a place on it for readings from Church reraains to be seen. That will depend upon what use they raake of it. Women's Departraent in Olive Trees, and if there were any in the society not The natural thing is to be satisfied with taking the paper (which w e hope will not present conditions. W e becorae so accustomed to working with few or insufficient long be the case) they would get the benefit of what it contained, and by all havtools, the thought of changing for the ing before them the work of other socibetter m a y not occur to us. If sorae one comes to us offering improved facilities, eties, the sarae, where practicable, could the first essential is for the one having be undertalcen by others. T o becorae informed is one of the first requisites for such to create in us a sense of need for doing good work along any line. just such a thing, then w e inquire into It has been often said in ray hearing the cost, and if the desire for possession that the woraen of our sister denominahas taken hold, and it is within our reach, w e purchase the article. If by what tion, the United Presbyterian, far exceed the w o m e n of our Church in raission w e say, w e m a y be able to convince the w o m e n t h e w o m e n already interested in work, and in looking for an explanation of w h y such should be the case, w e found mission workthat better results could two reasons which we thought accounted be obtained, and our worlc done easier, by for that fact. First, they publish a having access to this raonthly medium of raonthlyraagazine,with a certain space information, exchange of thought, and given for information along all the difplans along raission lines, our object in writing shall have been accomplished. ferent departments of their work, each month giving fresh information, plans AVhat it will cost is within easy reach of of work, and news frora their mission everyone. W e take it for granted our w o m e n want fields. A n d second, they have their own to, do the very best work it is possible for boards, employ their o w n missionaries, and are responsible for their support. them to do. T h e w o m e n of our Church are scattered far and wide, so that a Keeping informed, and responsibility, Synodical meeting of our missionary soI found to be the secret. In a limited cieties has not seemed practicable. A sense, this opportunity comes to the w o m e n of our Church. D o you raean to few Presbyterials have been formed, and once a year at least, a limited number of embrace it? Are you willing to pay the w o m e n raeet together for a convention or price of co-operation and sharing the reconference. A brief report of these meet- sponsibility of running a Women's Deings appears from time to time in print, partment in Olive Trees? and an occasional annual report of some A letter frora sorae of our woraen in the local society, and that is the extent of the differentraissionfields,the wives of our information w e have concerning one an- raissionaries as well as our woraen misother's work. If a correspondent would sionaries, will bring all the w o m e n of our be a.ppointed in each society to raake note Church together once a month. of any special work planned or accomMrs. j. S. Martin.

Women\i Department. A LETTER TO T H E SOCIETIES O F T H E PITTSBURG PRESBYTERY.

217

REPORT OF BUILDINQ FUND. i*^

Araount previously -reported.. .$2273.68 June 3. Eskridge, Kans., Mrs. It i s a matter of history that Miss MatJ.G.Young 14.50 t i e Wylie, of Latakia, and Mrs. Stewart, June 14. Waukesha, Wis., Mrs. wife of the senior minister there, had the S.L.Mann 15.00 girls and- women organized and at work June 16. Wahoo, Neb., Mrs. L. for a number of years raaking lace, the E. Holraes 10.00 proceeds of which were to be applied to June 18. Morning Sun, la., Mrs. the building of a house of worship in R. W . McElhinney. 32.30 Latakia. Over $2000 were raised in this June 18. Winchester, Kan., Miss wfiy. N. A. French 25.00 June 29. Groton, Vt., Mrs. D. In answer to an appeal sent out to each C. Faris 15.25 missionary society in the Pittsburg PresJune 29. Brooklyn, N. Y., Mrs. bytery, the woraen, young women, and M. S. Davidson 10.00 children responded by raising $1941.18 June 29. "White Cottage, 0., for the huilding of this church. Miss E. Thompson. 15.00 In another column will be found how much larger this fund has grown by con- June 30. Blanchard, la., Mrs. M. Walkinshaw 58.50 tributions from "the women" all over our July 9. Winchester, Kan., S.S. Church. Miss J. French 30.75 ' In May, 1911, at Eighth Street, Pittsburg, will convene the twenty-fifth an- July 9. Third N. Y., Mrs. F. M. Foster 11.00 nual meeting of the Woraen's Missionary Society of Pittsburg Presbytery. Al- July 18. Bellefontaine, 0., Mrs. B. S. Guthrie 15.00 ready we are thinking of it, and we hope that each society will do raore this year July 22. St. Louis, Mo., Mrs. C. M. Pearce 10.00 than ever before.- Our entire Thank OfJuly 22. Bloomington, Ind., Mrs. fering last year was $2294.17. May our Henry Russell 31.20 Pather bless each one who helped to make July 26. Hetherton, Mich., Mrs. this offering a success, and so touch the Mary McKelvy 31.00 heart of each woman and child that they may daily add j x ) their "thank offering," Total.. $2598.18 thus proving their gratitude for His bounThe above report suggests much to tiful mercies. O n this anniversary ocevery wideawake woraan. The woraen casion should we not try to give more and girls and children in the horae church have recognized the efforts of than ever? What we have already done, was done those in the Mission in Latakia, and have in His name, and we have received His shown their appreciation of the faithful blessing. There is much to be done. "Let work done there in this substantial way. us press on toward the goal unto the prize The opportunity to join in this expression of the high calling of God in Christ of appreciation is s t i l l open, and it i s hoped that many will yet avail themselves Jesus." of the privilege of helping in their Mrs. j. R. Copeland, Thank Offering Sec'y. Father's worlc. Mrs. j. R. Copeland, Treas. Parnassus; Pa., July 26, 1910.

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Editorial Notes.

EDITORIAL
Attention is called to the "Women's Department," which begins with this number of Olive Trees. Articles and items, received before arrangements were completed with the Pittsburg Presbyterial, will appear in our columns, but in future all matter intended for publication must come to us through the Women's Editing Comraittee. A m o n g the attractive features of this n e w departraent will be a mission study section, and, as the Presbyterial "would be pleased to have all our w o m e n studying the sarae books," the Foreign Board has been requested to recoramend, araong other suitable textbooks, "Western Woraen in Eastern Lands," by Helen Barrett Montgomery. Olive Trees ventures to predict that m a n y of its 'readers will turn each month with special interest to the page'or pages of mission study. Rev. James S. Stewart, D.D., and family left for Syria Saturday, Aug. 27, 1910, on the Berlin, pf the North Gerraan L b y d Line. At Naples they hope to make close connection with an Italian or French steamer due at Latakia on the 16th or 25th of this raonth. -Miss Elizabeth Stewart will remain in this country to prosecute her studies, and Charles A., the eldest son, w h o has been in Araerica for some years at college, will return with the family to the Levant. H e graduated from Geneva in June, and on the 26th of the same raonth was appointed by the Board of Foreign Missions teacher in the school at Larnaca, Cyprus, where he will be associated with Rev. J. D. Edgar. M r . Stewart stood high at the' examinations, and on the testimony of professors and others whose names were given as references, seems well qualified

NOTES.

for the responsible position he has been chosen to fill. Take . two or three instances: " A faithful student, liis word and example always in favor of order and rightindustrious, always ready to lend a hand and conscientious in performance. I think he would be in his element in a foreign field that called for patient and steady attention to people and to things;" " H e has good judgraent and a good stock of c o m m o n sense. "His type of religion I would not say is devotional, but it is of the character that will win respect." "His

MISS A. LOUISE CROCKETT. manner iS not atfirstespecially attractive, but he gains by acquaintance, and seeras to have the qualities that wear well." In Dr. Stewart's party are Miss T. Evadne Sterrett,fianceeof Dr. John Peoples, medicalraissionaryat Mersina, Asia Minor, and Miss A n n a Louise Crockett, a meraber of Syracuse Reformed Presby-

Editorial Notes. terian Congregation, w h o was appointed to school work in Latakia, Sept. 21, 1909. In the judgment of her pastor and other intimate friends, she is eminently fitted for the service to which she has devoted her life. "She is not," wrote Rev. John Yates, "I a m sure, answering the call simply from a desire to do soraething, and there is no need that she do that; but because, as near as I can see, conviction of heart and of purpose cail her." Rev. Julius A. Kempf, who' has been on furlough for a few months, expects to sail for hisfieldof labor Sept. 20, 1910. His bride and her mother, Mrs. Margaret Doig, will accorapany hira. They are a contribution of the Second Reforraed Presbyterian Congregation of N e w York to the Mission at T a k Pling, China. M r . K e m p f came into the Sabbath school of this congregation when only a boy, making an open confession of Christ at the sacramental table when sixteen years of age. A n d he was a consistent member of the congregation . t i l l licensed to preach the gospel and commissioned to the foreign field in June, 1904. His work from that time is well k n o w n to the Church. Mrs. K e m p f was born and baptized in this congregation, claimed full privileges between fourteen and fifteen - years of age, and from that hour of affiance with the Lord has shown exceptional interest in all Christian activities. H e r mother was in the membership of the congregation before the writer had the honor of serving it in the gospel ministry. These facts link this devoted family by very strong ties to Second N e w York, and should make it more of a missionary congregation than it has ever been. with this family will go to China Miss Rose Huston, to be associated with Miss Jennie Dean as teacher in the girls' and women's schools at T a k Hing Chau. Miss

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Huston is a meraber of the congregation at Blanchard, la., a college graduate and a teacher of experience. She is highly commended by all her references as well fitted for the position: " A Christian w o m a n , well trained and grounded in the faith and principles of the C h u r c h honest, sincere, conscientious and devoted to the work of the Master"; "agree-

MISS ROSE HUSTON. able and winsome in raanner, devout and spiritual in her Christian life"; "has considerable originality in ideas and has often shown this in her college life-has m u c h tenacity and is so steady in working at any difficult task that she will carry through whatever she undertakes." Probably M r . David R a y m o n d Taggart, licentiate, w h o was appointed missionary to China, July 26, 1910, and his bride, a sister of Mrs. E . C. Mitchell at Tak 'Hing, will leave for the field at the same tirae, but, if not able to get ready so soon, will follow not later than the raiddle of October. That Mr. Taggart is well qualified for missionary service raay be inferred

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Editorial Notes. laborers and raoney to support them is a day lost in the service of God. Write for Application Blanks to R. M . Sommerville, Corresponding Secretary, 325 West 56th Street, N e w York. The $3,000 called for to repair and complete the buildings in Latakia and Gunaimia, Northern Syria, have not yet been contributed, although the s u m m e r is nearly over. Will not m e n or woraen who have large raeans put the raoney required for this purpose into the Treasury before the end of this month ? T h e Lord is only asking for a little of what H e has en- trusted to His people, to be used as His work requires. Read the eighth and ninth chapters of Second Corinthians once more, and after prayer for guidance in the raatter, malce your offerings. Then the God of limitless resources will recognize and abundantly reward' fidelity to the teachings of His Spirit. The C. E. Society of Hopkinton Congregation has recently forwarded to Dr. S. A. S. Metheny, Treasurer, twenty-six dollars, its half yearly contribution to the Mission to Syria.

frora the letters of his references. H e is spoken of, for instance, as "one whose life environraent has always been such as to prepare him for the great work. H e has always manifested a willingness and readiness to help when he was needed, irrespective of the question of . position." Another writes: "I regard hira as a good man, having natural talents of a high order, a literary style, a keen, subtle and philosophical mind well adapted to deal with oriental modes of thought." Take the testimony of one other: "While he raay not be as ready as some in hunting up worlc, his readiness to take suggestions from others would give promise that he will develop into a valued worker." Mrs. J. M . Wright, who was ordered horae for the suramer, is hoping it will be wise for her to return with the party in Septeraber. "The latter part of October," she writes, "is very pleasant in South China, and we. would probably not go up country for a week or ten daysnot till thefirstof Noveraber, to insure safety. I a m anxious to get back to ray husband and ray horae and be ready to help with the work. South China is h o m e to us, and we hope tp be spared m a n y years to help carry on the Master's work there. With the houses screened and the surroundings m a d e more sanitary, surely w e can keep in better health."

At the last meeting of the Board of Foreign Missions, a resolution was passed affectionately urging pastors, sessions and young people's societies to form one or For both these fields other missionaries more raission study classes the coming are required at once, and the Board of season, and thus widen interest in misForeign Missions unites with the necessi- sionary worlc. Rev. J. C. Slater was apties of the work in calling for an indefi- pointed Mission Study Secretary, and all nite number of ministers, physicians, correspondence in regard to forming teachers and nurses. A t least a score of classes, suitable text-books and all quesmissionaries should be on the way to tions relating to this subject, sbould be China and the Levant this auturan. Every sent to his address, College Hill, Beaver day that the Church delays to furnish Falls, Pa. H e w h o is rich for himself, laying up treasure for hiraself, is by so rauch robbing his real inward life, his- life in and toward God, of its resources.Alford.

A Monthly Journal devoted to Missionary W o r k in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. No, OCTOBEK, 1910. 10.

Q U E S T I O N S

O F

T H E

H O U R .

THE KINGLY PRESENCE OF THE MEDIATOR THE INSPIRATION IN MISSIONARY WORK.*

REV. M. II. PEARCE, ST. LOUIS, M O . I a m particularly pleased with two words in the stateraent of this subject. They are the word "kingly," and the word "the." W e recognize the importance of the presence of Christ in all Christian work; but the subject brings to view the importance of His presence as a King. And still further, no one could fail to recognize the importance of the presence of the King as one inspiration in foreign missionary work, but the subject emphasizes it as the great inspiration m the work. This is trae. There are three great raotives which have served more than any others to nerve raen to really great accoraplishraents in the past, and they are all three centered in the kingly presence of Christ in this work. Thefirstis the inspiration of loyalty; the second -the enthusiasm of confidence; and the third the strength of a great purpose. These three w e will consider. THE INSPIRATION OP LOVALTV. Prof. Royce, of Harvard, begins his book on " T h e Philosophy of Loyalty" with the proposition that the great im'*An address spoken at the Foreign Mission Conference of the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Ghurch ai Winona Lake, Ind., M a y 27, 1910.

perial raotive which explains all true character is the motive of loyalty, and that a m a n has not really begun to live until he has becorae loyal to something outside of hiraself great enough to be Avorthy of his devotion. This is true, and besides this, loyalty has that excellent quality that it is a raotive which in a peculiar way enables raen to do their best. Another professor of the same university says that the three great primary h u m a n motives are the raotives of fear-, anger and passion. They a r f i " the primary motives, and they are powerful, and they m a y become so strong that they will sweep away all restraints, and raaster a m a n ; but their wealcness is that m'bved by them a m a n acts at his worst. Anger is a powerful motive; but w h e n one straggles in anger, he is likely to egregiously blunder and to fight as one that beateth the air. Fear is a powerful raotive; but its first effect is to paralyze. T h e excellence of loyalty is, that it raoves one to his best; its actions are a raan's most splendid accoraplishraents. "When Napoleon was in the midst of hisfirstcampaign in Italy he carae to one suprerae m o m e n t w h e n his troops faced the bridge at Lodi. T h e bridge must be carried. B u t the Austrian guns swept it with an apparently impassable fire. Once and again the army charged, and each time was repulsed. N o w Napoleon m a y have beeii a monster; but at least he knew men. Accordingly

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Questions of ihe Hour. and works in the inspiration of a personal loyalty to Hira. T h e second greatraotiveis THE ENTHUSIASM OF CONFIDENCE. It is an old saying, "they can w h o think they can." It is the experience of raen that while discourageraent paralyzes, hope stiraula.tes, and confidence gives power. If David had been afraid w h e n he went to meet Goliath, the result of the battle would likely have been very different. It was his confidence that gave him the steady eye that measured the distance ancl the strong hand that sent the stone to the mark. Confidence is power. A n d that is a second inspiration that comes from the kingly presence of Christ. His cause is sure of victory, for " H e shall not fail, nor be discouraged, till H e have set judgment in the earth, and the isles shall wait for His law." A n d it has been true that the perseverance which that confidence in Christ has given has been part of the most touching history of missionary work. W a s it not Morrison who, when his niissionary board asked him, after years of fruitless labor, " W h a t are the prospects in your work," sent back the splendid reply, "They are as bright as the promises of God!" T w o missionaries were sent to Africa. After seven years of fruitless labor, a certain missionary society asked them if they needed anything, and they replied, "Send us a communion service, we shall need it by and by." A n d that has been one of the heroic features of our o w n missionary worlc. T h e Lord has assigned to us what has proved in the past one of the raost difficult missionfieldsin the world. It has been difficult not only for our missionaries, but also for other raissionaries in the sarae fieldthe raission in Syria. It has been over fifty years since Dr. Dodds and Dr. Beattie turned away from the ship that had brought thera there to face a people of a strange land and a

he put hiraself at the head of the coluran. H e knew what it raeant. O n e raan raight cross the bridge, or he raight not; but at least he had a chance. If he fell, the battle., was -lost; but if he crossed, he knew that there were not spears enough in the Austrian array to keep his soldiers back. H e crossed, and the army was at his heels. T h efirsttwo times they had all the motives that soldiers usually know to carry them; but the last time they had the finer motive of loyalty; and they crossed the bridge. T h e same thing is true in God's service in the world. "They that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." There is no other raotive that so enables a m a n to do his best as does the motive of loyalty. I think it was at the raeeting of Synod at Sparta that our senior raissionary in China, M r . Robb, spoke at the conference on the subject of the raotives which lead toraissionaryservice. H e began by speaking of the less important ones. H e said that in some cases the love of adventure m a d e missionary work in foreign lands appear attractive. Then after mentioning three or four others, he told of what they had seen at the Hawaiian Islands on their return voyage. T h e boys, he said, got out from the coast a little way on their peculiar rafts, and there they danced up and down on the w.aves. But occasionally there would be a large wave come rolling in, and then by a very skillful movement they would start their raft on the crest of the wave, and be splendidly cast high up on the shore by it. So, M r . Robb said, there is a time when the great love of Christ coraes swelling up in the heart, and when one gets on the crest of that wave he can be carried anywhere. I thought that was fine; and I do not believe one has gained the finest inspiration in missionary work until he has felt the kingly presence of his Lord,

Questions of the Hour. strange tongue. A n d during over half a century thatfieldhas been the scene of as consecrated labor as there has been in the world. Yet the visible results have always been small, and the time of the harvest has seemed to be far removed. Still the missionaries have toiled on. A n d it has been splendid, and their service has been < ^ 1 1 the more heroic because they have been sustained by an unwavering trust in Gpd. They have been able to hold on because they have k n o w n that there is no failure when one builds into the kingdom of God, and that H e will yet corae and overturn systems of injustice and tyranny and oppression, and the harvest will yet be gathered. H a s not God sent us there because H e wanted there missionaries who had a clear vision of the kingly presence of the Mediator, that they raight endure unto the end, and Syria be saved ? The third great motive is THE^VISIONIOF A GREAT CAUSE. M e n do nof do great things until they see great things to be done. Wilberforce was a conventional country gentleraan until he saw a vision of a great cause in England. John H o w a r d was an ordinary m a n until he undertook an extraordinary work. David Livingstone was a coraraonplace student and an ordinary preacher until he addressed hiraself to the task of opening up the dark continent to the light of the gospel of Christ. A great cause enlists all the latent possibilities that are in a m a n . It is so in the service of God, and it is the kingly presence of Christ that gives us a large vision of the possibilities in the foreign mission task. One- needs that vision. W h e n the disciples of Christ came back after their first missionary carapaign, w e are told that they returned with great joy. They had been able to do in Israel what they never expected to do; they had cast out demons from those possessed with them.

That was a great accomplishment. They might -well be gratified that they had been able to do such a thing. But Christ had far larger purposes for the gospel than tbat. T o relieve the distress of individuals in that little corner of the world was great, but Christ meant the gospel to sweep the world. A n d so, as H e counselled them not to rejoice that the devils had been m a d e subject to them. H e pointed them to a larger vision, and said, "I saw Satan, as lightning, fall from heaven." It was not that this had occurred while they were out in their campaign, but that H e saw in vision what the consumraation was to be, and H e would not have their enthusiasra to rest on anything less than that vision of a world redeemed, and an old demon cast into the bottomless pit. That is the vision which the kingly presence of Christ gives, and which we need to gain. It is a great cause, and it is worthy to enlist a raighty purpose. I believe that a growing conception of the majesty of the cause is one of the most encouraging features of the life of to-day. T o m y mind the most gratifying event in the religious life of our land in ten years has been the development of the Layraen's Missionary Moveraent. It is spiritual in its raotive; it is powerful in its appeal. It is free of selfishness, and it is led by raen of large vision. I have yet to find one w h o has attended its sessions w h o has not been irapressed by the fact that it is, in a raost reraarkable 'way, really awakening an interest among m e n , and awalcening it where that interest has been listless before; and the secret of its appeal is that it is making the vision large. It is presenting the work as a great world's task, and as something worthy of m e n and of God. It is the thrill of a great purpose that is catching hold on raen. It is the growing conviction that the world is the subject of re-

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Questions of the Hour. the parliament of man, the federation of the world." " A n d I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and H e that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness H e doth judge and make war. A n d the armies which were in heaven followed H i m upon white horses. clothed in fine linen, white and clean. - - A n d H e hath on His vesture and on His thigh, a n a m e writtenKing of kings and Lord of lords." T h e kingly presence of the Mediator gives the vision of a great cause.

demption, and that the kingdom of God In m a y be more than a dreara. They are seeing something more splendid than the poet saw when he said, " M e n m y brethren, m e n the workers, ever reaping something new, That which they have done but earnest of the things that they shall do. For I dipped into the future, far as h u m a n eye could see, S a w the vision of the world, and the wonders that should be. W h e n the war drum throbs no longer, and the battle fiags are furled,

"What dirty, dreadful, disgusting stuff," exclaims a m a n regarding that peculiarly unpleasant compound, the m u d of London streets. "Hold, m y friend," says Ruskin. "Not so dreadful after all. W h a t are the elements of this raud ? First, there is sand, but when its particles are crystallized according to the law of its nature, what is nicer than clean white sand? A n d when that which enters into it is arranged according to a still higher law, w e have theraatchlessopal. W h a t else have w e in this m u d ? Clay. A n d theraaterialsof clay, when the particles are arranged according to their higher laws, m a k e the brilliant sapphire. W h a t other ingredients enter into the London raud? Soot. A n d soot in its crystallized perfection forras the diamond. There is but one other^water. A n d water, when distilled according to the higher law of its nature, forms the dewdrop resting in exquisite perfection in the heart of the rose." So in the rauddy, lost soul of raan is hidden the image of his Creator, and God will do His best to find His opals. His sapphires. His diamonds and dewdrops. T h e Messenger.

N o huraan being has ever attained to such high standards of living that there was nothing higher to work for. W h a t a blessing this is! For there is no such joy in life as the reaching out after high standards and working toward them. Those who are content to live by any lower standard than the highest they can conceive of, know nothing of the real zest and joy of life, pf course. "Aren't your high standards sometimes a strain?" was asked of a m a n w h o was making an effort to move toward such standards. " N o , indeed," was the instant reply; "it's low standards that make the strain." Those who are closest to G o d show the least strain in their lives. The only real strain in life is the tug of pulling away from God. T h e more nearly we get into oneness with Hira and His will, the raore completely w e have God and the universe working with us instead of against us. It is the way of the transgressor that is hard. Christ's yoke is the only strain-easing harness w e can ever wear. But we can always discover ways offittingour lives into it more perfectly, and this is His neverceasing invitation to greater joy.The Examiner.

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A B R O A D . Asia Minor, Mersina.Writing from

Guzne, Aug. 18, 1910, Rev. R. E . Willson sends the following items: A letter from our evangelist in Tarsus tells of the death a couple of weeks ago of one of our members there, Melki Naami. H e was about sixty years of age, and had been for four years a member of our Church and a regular attendant for six years on the Church services. Although ignorant and unlearned, he had, by constant attendance on the preaching of the Word, laid up a good treasure of gospel truth, and in his last hours drew great corafort from it. Mallim Mikhail, w h o was present at the end, 'writes that he died full of trust in his Saviour. Mallim Mikhail also writes of a great amount of sickness in Tarsus during the summer. Miss Sterrett, w h o was there last week on a visit to one of the members, also speaks of the death' of three adherents and of the sickness prevailing in the homes of our people. The missionaries have all continued in usual health. But our teacher here in Guzne, Mallim Phillip, has not been well. H e has had repeated attacks of fever all sumraer. W e have had services in English here in Guzne each Sabbath since about the raiddie of June. There are fewer Arabicspeaking people here than usual, and w e have had no regular services in Arabic except a class in Sabbath school. In about a month n o w the company will be breaking up and going back to their respective stations. W e trust all will go back strengthened for the work of the coming winter. China, Tak Hin^.Mrs. Janet C. Robb, in a letter dated July 23, writes about the school work: O n the 20th of July the schools all closed, and the students, m e n and women, boys and girls, have scattered in all directions to their homes. I a m sure the change is welcomed by all, for it has been extremely hot and dry for several weeks t h e kind of weather that takes all a m bition out of pupils as well as teachers. T o some of them the change back to tlieir horaes will be hard, because of the difference in their o w n lives. They will have teraptations to meet that will not be easy to overcome, and they need our prayers and yours, that they m a y be kept from the snare of the evil one. W e are thankful that so m a n y horaes are being brought into contact with the .truth through the schools. There were girls frora six new homes this term, and we are hoping and praying that these l i i > tle ones m a y be the raeans of leading their people into the light. It is nice for the Churchraerabersto have their children in school, with its advantages, but Foon Yung's oase at D o Sing is an illustration of what it means to have children from heathen homes come into school. Foon Y'ung is n o w a member of the Church, and herraotherand brother have enrolled for baptism. 'If the girls have gotten as m u c h good as I have pleasure out of the term's work, they are a good bit ahead. A t home in a school or grade there are usually one or more there because they are corapelled to be there, and it takes m u c h energy and tact on the part of teachers to help such people, and also keep them frora hinder-

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N e w s of the Churches. but evidently keeps his eyes open, and m a y be a preacher some day. 1 have been glad to tide over the work until Miss D e a n has had her two years for study. She has made splendid progress, and will be ready for the work at the end of the year. She has taught two branches this term, and the way her pupils acquitted themselves at the closing exercises excited comment, and speaks well for the future. S o m e of our nuraber have gone to the Coast and we all hope to follow soon. Writing from C!heung Chau, July 26, 1910, Dr. Ida M . Scott has something to say about the holidays: T h e relaxation of a sunimer vacation is not conducive to interesting letter writing, although such a charming location ought to be an inspiration. Y o u perhaps remember Cheung Chau is the place where w e spent our vacation two years ago, and some of our number were here last year, too. It is a rocky little island, about ten miles from H o n g Kong. There are numerous islands about us, and though they lack the beauty of the wooded hills of Pennsylvania, familiar to some of us, one never tires of watching them. There are places, too, where we see nothing but water for such a long distance that sea and sky seem to meet, and at night the stars seem to come down to the very surface of the water. W e see the great ocean liners for India, Australia, Germany, and other points, go by. The delightful breezes we have alraost constantly are wonderfully refreshing after the heat we were experiencing two weeks preceding our departure from Tak Hing. A t present there are nearly fifty missionaries and children on the island, and there will be more during August. Sabbath evening w e had the pleasure of listening to a sermon by Rev. Simmons (Bap-

ing otheis. But that is not the condition here. The girls seera to appreciate that this is their opportunity, something they have not had before and a privilege that only a few n o w have, and are very diligent and faithful. One cannot be associated with them day after day and watch their development in their work and in tlfeir play and not learn to love them. They are just as interesting and dear as the (-hildren at home, even if their eyes are all black and their skins yellow. A n d w e know their souls are just as precious in His sight. If teachers at h o m e realized h o w intere.sting and pleasant the work is, you would not be calling for teachers, but selecting From a long list of applicants. The other day when the Chinese teacher was giving his lesson in writing and I was there simply because m y presence is necessary when a Chinese m a n is in the girls' school, ray attention was diverted by the play of two little tots outside. The f^mallest pupil in school, a little girl of six, and the helper's little boy, of perhaps five years. They were singing the Tenth Psalm. 1 stepped out where I could see but not be seen. They had sorae stools placed in a row. The boy stood still, but the girl walked around and seated herself on one of the stools. The boy, after t-alking a little, picked up a board with a lot of little blocks piled on it, walked along beside the stools and gave the .girl a block, put down his board and l)locks, took a bowl and went through the same performanee. After another tirae at singin.r;, it was over. W h a t they were playing was very evident, but that evening 1 was over in the yard and asked Iling Shui (the little boy) what he was playing. H e said, "I was Pastor John ( Rev. J. K . Robb) and we were eating the Lord's Supper." This little chap always sits well to the back of the chapel,

N e w s of the Churches. tist) of Canton, w h o has been in China about forty years. Perhaps he would not pass as an orator, but he said some very -praetical things based on the words, "Come ye after ile and I will raake you fishers of men." H e was led to choose this text because w e see so niuch fishing about us. H e spoke of the preparation necessary to be a good fisherman; when Ghrist called the disciples to befishersof men they receiyed three years' training. H c said if it were necessary for the disciples^ to have so long training to work among their o w n people, using their o w n language, h o w rauch more is it necessary for us to have long preparation to work among people using a, strange language. H e said, too, that physicians ought to have thoi'ough preparation before beginning active work as well as ministers and teachers. , H e gave us m a n y good things, as he was not speaking raerely to "occupy tirae." A s all to w h o m he spoke were young in the work compared with himself, we felt we could take heed to his message. - Some of the missionaries on the island are conducting a series of evangelistic meetings a m o n g the natives, which are being well attended (three and four hundred), and they listen well, which is not always the case in outdoor raeetings. W e trust the coraing of the missionaries to thc

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island will prove a blessing to the natives as well as the missionaries. T h e schools in T a k Pling all closed the (lay we left (July 2 0 ) , not any sooner than was good for the physical well-being of both teachers and pupils. The excessively hot weather probably had a part in causing siclcness among both. One of the girls, a Christian, went h o m e with dengue and wc feared for a day or two that Miss Dean was going to have it, too; but happily the disease was averted. The raedical worlc was raoving along in the usual way, but the itinerating will close with thc end of the raonth, and the hospital and dispensary raay close too for a while, except what can be done by native helpers. Dr. Kate McBurney has had sorae interesting experiences recently in visiting homes, but she will probably write of thera. All of our nuraber expect to be on the island during August, except Dr. Wright, and we hope he m a y come, too. The rest of us do not agree with him that the anxious weeks of waiting in H o n g K o n g during .Mrs. Wright's illness was sufficient vacation for hira. Synod news was read with unusual interest this year. It is an inspiration to those on thefieldto know the Church at h o m e is becoming enthusiastic over missions. W e hope some of the much-needed workers can come this fall. W e have every reason to believe that at least one will be added to our number this fall, whether the Board appoints her or not, although M r . K e m p f has not yet notified us that the great event has talcen place. W e do not fear that interest in raissions will die while Mr., Blair and M r . W . M . Robb are in the h o m e land. W e are glad to note that Geneva has bestowed honor upon our senior missionaries. W e send our heartiest congratula-

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News of ihe Churches.

China, and so we have oppcirtunity to renew former friendships, and to form new ones. The weather was intensely hot ' ' a k Iling, and had been so A personal letter frora Rev. J. K. when we left l Robb, dated Cheung Chau, Aug. 10, be- for two weeks or more before we left. In gins with the following sentences: fact, the present summer has been the You will see by the above address that hottest that any of us have seen in China, we are at the coast, near Hong Kong. W e and the extreme heat, so the Chinese say, s on account of the light rainfall. But, arrived here on Saturday last, and will be i here for the reraainder of the month, and in spite of the heat, the health of the misperhaps for a few days in September. sionaries has been remarkably good. W e There i s quite a gathering of missionaries have a nice cool 'place here, and are enhere from the different stations in South joying i t greatly. tions to Dr. Stewart through the columns of Olive Trees.

A T

H O M I

Ohio, Cincinnati.The Women's Missionary Society of the Cincinnati Congregation has recently lost by death Miss Sarah Huheey, a charter member and deeply loved and revered secretary for many years. Born in Baltiraore in 1841, and coming to Covington, Ky., in 1856, she early in/life joined the Cincinnati Congregation, and was a faithful and consistent member all her life. Her girlhood's noble arabition was to becorae a foreign missionary, but this she felt providentially called to give up, as well as her own young romance, to assume charge of her brother's motherless faraily. To them she becarae, as well as to many outside this family, araotherin Israel. Her love for God's house and His day, surpassed all other loves. To t i l e poor ones of the earth she was a peculiar blessing, and her presence in any horae was a spiritual upl i f t . "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." To the bereaved faraily and friends, we extend in behalf of the Women's Missionary Society, our loving sympathy, and

commend them to the Heavenly Father in their hour of sadness, and thank God that they sorrow not as those without the glorious hope in Christ. T h e Committee. Kansas, Sterling.The Women's Missionary Society of the Reformed Presbyterian Congregation of Sterling, Kans., desire to place on record their tribute of love and esteera for one of their members, Mrs. Isabel Sterrett, who entered into rest May 26, 1910. A n active l i f e of s e r vice for the master has closed, but we f e e l her quiet infiuence for good will go on. W e have lost a faithful and earnest worker, and we can testify to her patience and cheerful resignation to God's will. W e bear testimony to her beautiful Christian character. She lived a l i f e of humility and deep devotion to her God, W e extend to the sorrowing friends our sympathy, comraending them to our Saviour, W h o said. Let not your heart be troubled.

Mrs. Mattie Hutcheson, Mrs. Isabel Dougherty, Mrs. Rachel Adams.

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M O N O G R A P H S .
Christian lands, the Christian missionaries are the heralds of a n e w social order. W e desire to call the special attention They are laying the foundations of Chrisof your readers to the World's Conference tian commonwealths and nations, as well on the "Christian Principles of Civil as of Christian families and the Christian Government," to meet in Philadelphia, Church. These questions will in due time Xov. 16-20. Hundreds of delegates have becorae world questions. Strength and already been apppinted by various civic help will come to friends of the right in and religious bodies, and a m o n g these are all countries from comparison of views, missionaries from foreign countries. Both frora studying together fundaraental railroad and steamship companies have principles and the application of these granted reduced rates to those w h o will principles, and from united effort." attend. It is our earnest hope and prayer W e quote again: that this occasion will see a large number "The time seems auspicious for such a of God's people gathered together to con- meeting. T h e world is coraing closer. sider the relation of Christianity to the There is at last a world's public opinion governments of the world. and a world's conscience, and all civilized This Conference has a distinct and nations confess theraselves araenable, more vital relation to the work ofraissionsat or less, to these n e w tribunals. Interhome and abroad, and of course, to the national counsel and action are familiar whole work of the K i n g d o m of God. W e ideas. T h e Universal Postal Union inmust bear in m i n d that the K i n g d o m of cludes practically all nations. W e hear of God is one, and that each part has its re- International Sanitary and Medical Conlation to every other part and to the gresses which propose to unite all civilized governments in a c o m m o n effort to cleanse whole. It should also be remerabered that there is a close connection between the world frora infection and stay the national raorality and missionary work. ravages of disease. International exposiCivil governraent can raalce it easier or tions for the comparison of arts and inharder for missionaries to do their worlc. dustries are an almost annual occurrence. International law is a recognized power Witness the opium traffic ih China and the liquor traffic with heathen countries. in the raodern world, and an InternationNational moralityand imraoralityaf- al Court of Arbitration opens the prospect of universal peace. Is it not high time fect missions at h o m e and abroad. Evils performed or permitted by civil govern- for tlie Christian citizens of all nations to ments often stand right in the pathway of protest that the world's greatest interests ai'e moral interests; to insist that only the K i n g d o m of God. To quote from the call for this Con- obedience to the moral laws of the Chrisference:'"We perceive that the action of tian religion can raake secure the fabric govemment toward the weekly rest. Chris- of our material prosperity; and to avow tian legislation concerning the family, and our allegiance, as citizens of our several the relation of public education to moral- nations and of the world, to our Lord ity and religion are living questions Jesus Christ and our desire and purpose throughout Christendom. In other than to lav the world at His feet?"

CIVIL GOVERNMENT AND MISSIONS.

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Monographs. for us and the people.'' W e must not be selfish in our prayers and pray only for ourselves, but for the people. There are m a n y w h o have a claira on our prayers. M a n y reforms, missions, churches, states and nations. Our prayers are as valuable a gift as any w e can make. It is only by prayer w e can grow lilce Christ and keep in touch with H i m . In a sense, this is a mothers' raeeting. It is said that "It is a raother who lifts and holds the world." Then, if so rauch hangs oh a mother, we raust see to it that w e do our duty right. It is the duty of the Student "\^olunteer Moveraent to enroll raen from among the college students for the evangelizing of the world. Is it not our duty then to teach our children from infancy the love of Christ and the great need of workers, and to pray and talk with them with this in view, and thus fit them for the work when they are grown, or when they are in college and choosing their vocations in life? It is seventy-five years since the woraen wakened up toraissionwork. Now the m e n are waking up. Only a short time ago you never heard of a men's missionary meeting. Chicago was the seventy-sixth this year. Fifty years ago the prayer was that God would open the way to other nations for the raissionaries. To-day there is not a nation on the globe to w h o m the raissionary cannot go and find protection, but all are open and most of them are glad to have our missionary come. His infiuence is for good, and raany receive him for such. In the "Unfinished Task" w e read that Russia has not been considered a mission country. Recent history has shown that they are sadly in need of Christianity. M a n y Russians, knowing this, are urging the sending of niissionaries to them. Here is a large eountry, one-seventh of the surface of the globe. A population of 140 raillions and all are needing the

The Provisional Prograra is of course subject to change, but we find on it such themes and spealcers as: "British Administration in India," by Revs. Charles E. Parker and H . D. Griswold, missionaries in India of the M . E. and Presbyterian churches; "Political Changes in the Near and Farther East as Related to the Kingdora of Christ," by the Rev. C. A. R. Janriet, D.D., forraer missionary in India; "The English Speaking Colonies of Great Britain," by J. A. McDonald, LL.D., Editor of Toronto Globe; "The French and Belgian Nations and Christianity," the Rev. S. F. Scovel, D.D., LL.D.: "Christian Governments and Foreign Missions," Rev. Arthur J. Brown, D.D., Secretary, Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions; "Mohararaedanism and National Life," the Rev. S. M . Zwemer, D.D., missionary to Arabia; "Christian Governments and Their Representatives Abroad," by the Rev. James L. Barton, D.D., Seeretary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. These 'themes show the direct relation of the Conference to Missions. Let us pray for this convention, adverl i f c e it, and attend it, if we can arrange so to do.

T. H. A. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.*
The object of this meeting is to corae together for prayer and praise and to devise ways and means for the carrying on of Christ's work in the world. T o enthuse us for greater work and help us to understand raore about the work and how to do it. Let us then enter into this raeeting prayerfully and enthusiastically praying that God will help each one of us to perforra our part aright. One missionary says, "It is prayer w e need. Pray '*Puhlishecl hy request of Iowa Presbyterial, June 15, 1910, Hopkinton, la.

Monographs. raissionaries. Yet, until the last five years it wasn't even thought of as a mission land. South Araericatwo-tllirds of the population are pure heathen. South Araerica is open, is not hard to reach, even in the interior the rivers aft'ord transportation. W h a t is being done to take the gospel to them ? There are about 250 ordained Protestant missionariesone to every 152,000. This is a harderfieldthan either India or China, because th# pop-ulation is more scattered. It is estimated that of the 38 raillion, 34 raillion are unevangelized. Here is a work near at hand. Then the Mohararaedans230 raillions and rapidly increasing. Hardest people to reach on account of their bigotry. Here are three greatfields,the work only begun. T h e n think of the vast number in Africa unsaved. In China there are 100,000 every day going into Christless graves. W e have eight raissionaries in China to a field fifty railes square, representing one and a half raillion people. T h e Layraen's M o v e m e n t proposes to send outraissionaries,one to every 25,000. iVt that rate, w e would need sixty for our field in China, a field for which w e are responsible. India has 291 raillion people. T h e n think of the work at horae. I want to specially call your attention to the mountaineers of the South. These people occupy a part of our country 600 railes long by 400 railes wide and representing a population of fourraillionpeople. They live in sin and degradation, and we should feel especially responsible for them because they are our o w n flesh and blood, being originally Scotch Covenanter stocka fact which is very hard to realize frora their present condition. This makes it all the more important to us. T h e taking up of this work by two of our friendsfirstawakened our interest in these people. Later, two other friends

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from Wa.shington took up the work, and these four are in the United Presbyterian Mission, and have under construction a woll equipped industrial school; but the U. P. work rea'jhes only a few of these people. Therefore, w e who are more closely related to them should be willing to help in tho work. Cau w e afford to let go of this work and say the responsibility is not ours? Shall we, n o w that our prayers are answered. not do our part ? It is not the duty of all to go, but it is the duty of all to pray, and to give of our tirae and ineans for the support of the gospel. T h e wealth of the Christians of the United States ha.s been estiraated at 25 billions. W h a t a great worlc could be accoraplished if this fl'ere consecrated to God's service. Yet the amount paid annually to foreign missions is less than the cost of three battleships. Rev. G. A. Edgar, in Olive Trees, writes, " W e need a deeper conviction of duty. A conviction is a power that binds the soul with a sense of obligation and responsibility, that subdues the inclination of the fiesh to the ambitions of the spirit, that masters the energy and hitches them to the chariot of an all-consuming purpose. It generates enthusiasm; it intensifies the efforts. It directs the power of the soul toward the accomplishraent of that which w e are convinced is truth and duty." W e need renewing. Let us pray that our raission societies be revived. It is said the weekly prayer raeeting is the jnilse of the congregation. Is not the Women's Missionary Society also an indicator of the spiritual condition of the Church? If w e are lukewarm and indifferent and a feeling that we cannot afford the time, is it not tiine that w e exaraine ourselves ? Is it any wonder our raeetings lack interest ? Let us each pray and while we pray let us worlc, raaking a special effort that we will see to it that

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-others will come and that they will feel as a means to securing a successful and helpful meeting and promoting Christ's that they cannot afford to miss these meetings. If w e discontinue our Presby- honor and glory in the world. If w e are terials, it seeras to m e that it is the first faithful to present duties, God will prostepping stone toward breaking up of raote us to higher ones as soon as it is these congregations which we represent. safe to do it. Satan attacks us in front Friends, do w e want this, n o w when the and in the rear, but if w e are faithful in need is so great, so m a n y openfields,and worlc and prayer we will be victorious. so m a n y w h o have never heard of Christ ? A characteristic of our Church is beD o you think when you have paid a cer- ing very m u c h in earnest. Let us see to tain amount of your money you have done it that w e as a society are worthy of this all that is required of you? D o you not name. A s a Church w e pay more, prothinlc God requires part of your tirae for portionately, forraissionsthan any other service? D o you think when you give an denoraination, but w e are behind in evanafternoon once a month and a day or two gelistic work, especially the individual once a year that you are the loser? "Giv- work, and as Synod recommends a reing does not impoverish nor withholding vival in this, let us do each one all we enrich." But some will sa.y, if you will can to help along this work and hasten give the money you spend attending these the coraing of Christ's Kingdom in the conventions to missions it will do more world. good; but will you do it? Will you give Mrs. S. W. Hats. it to the missions ? Can w e determine in THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS AND MISdollars and cents the benefits derived SIONS.* from these meetings? "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together" is just I. AIM AND SCOPE OF THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS. as applicable to us as to any other service T h e Adult Bible Class, organized or of the Lord. " N o m a n having put his unorganized, is an integral part of the hand to the plow and looking back is fit Bible school' of the church with which for the Kingdom of Heaven." Dr. Chap- it m a y be connected and should be so reman, in a recent address, in speaking of lated; its indispensable text-book is the the young m a n whb lost his ax-head, said, Bible; and the aira of such classes should "Losing the ax-head was getting out of be to discover and perforra God's world touch with God. W e usually know just program, in His advancing Kingdom, for what got in our way, just as the young and through its members. Other aims, m a n realized his loss and confessed it. however iraportant, are secondary and "While m a n y Christians would have gone should be so treated. on pretending to chop wood when they 11. MISSIONARY ORGANIZATION OF THE ADULT only had the handle of religion left. Mere BIBLE CLASS. church membership or forra without realThere should be a missionary committee ity would never bring the world to of the Adult Bible Class to provide for Christ, nor raake any progress them- and direct theraissionaryeducation and selves." N o w let us realize the necessity activity of the class. T h e chairman of getting right with God and confessing '*A Report of the Conference on Misanything that would stand in our way, sionary Education in the Sabbath School and Avith God's help try to put such hin- in session at Silver Bay on Lake George, drances out of our life. Let us do this N e w York, July 14-21, 1910.

Monographs. should be a raeraber of the missionary committee of the school. 111. METHODS OF MISSIONARY EDUCATION IN THE ADULT BIBLE CLASS. T h e follpwing methods are not mutually exclusive. They m a y be used separately or in connection with one another as m a y seem best: 1. Mi^sio'^ary environment, to be created by the use of such visible objects as charts, diagrams, pictures, raottoes, curios, bulletin boards, books and literature. 2. Investigation of local religious problems. There are religious probleras peculiar to the locality of every Adult Bible Class, which demand investigation, report and prayerful discussion in order to their soliition. 3. Informal instruction in connection with the Bible lessons. .(a) Introduction into the opening or closing exercises of h y m n s or Scripture 'with a niissionary significance and the use of definite prayer for missions. (&) Eraphasis upon theraissionaryinterpretation of a Scripture passage clear; ly permitting it. (c) T h e use of illustrations from present day life in the h o m e and foreign raission fietos. {d) Class reporters appointed to bring in items of interest from the raission fields and raention current events which have reference to the progress of the K i n g d o m of God. (e) Brief extracts from letters frora the mission fields. 4. Formal instruction, that is, courses of study on special missionary topics. (a) Suggested themes. T h e Biblical basis and warrant for missions, missionary biography, the study of particular fields, problems and phases of 'w^ork. There is provided an up-to-date list of courses on these topics, adapted to Adult

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Bible Classes. This list and the books referred to can be obtained frora the Denominational Mission Boards or from the Y o u n g People's Missionary Movement, 156 Fifth Avenue, N e w York City. (&) Suggestions for use. 1. T h e repori method, by which in successive order, resumes of the chapters of a text-book, or topics for discussion suggested in such chapters, are presented to a class from time to time by members of the class. 2. T h e text-booh method, by which a tpxt-boolc is in the hands of each student, and is studied for a period of successive Sabbaths. This involves the consideration of a portion of Scripture in its relation to the particular topic studied in the text-book. 3. T h e nuidweek study class method, by which the class meets at sorae designated time other than the Sabbath school hour. IV. ACTIVITIES. T h e Adult Bible Class should express its missionary spirit and purpose: 1. B y encouraging each meraber to cooperate with the other organizations in support of all the activities of the local church, and to give systeraatically and proportionately to raissions. 2. B y engaging constantly in some definite and practical raissionary activity (local, h o m e and foreign). See "Fifty(jight Varieties: O n e Better," 5 cents, to be obtained from the Denominational Mission Boards or from the Y o u n g People's Missionary Movement, 156 Fifth Avenue, N e w York City.

A MODERN HOME. I am quite well convinced thatraanyof the modern horaes are as thoroughly filled with the Spirit of Christ as ever the horaes of our fathers were; but I a m also per-

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Monographs. If our homes are to be as God wpuld have them, the mother must be true. She cannot be given to worldliness, and she raust be thoroughly consistent. Mothers have always infiuenced for good or evil in a mightier way than any other person. If our homes are to be as they should, then love must abide in every room. The atmosphere must be quiet and peaceful. T o cross the threshold of such a home would m e a n to enter into blessing. It is for such an abode as this I plead. If our homes are as God meant thera to be, then the raoral atmosphere of them will always be mighty in its infiuence. I was in Northfield one season, when 1 heard Dwight L. M o o d y pay this tribute to his raother. H e had a nuniber of his friends to go up with hira to his mother's house, and, calling her out on the lawn, he said, "Gentlemen, this is m y mo'ther. It was she w h o put her arms round us when father died. It was she who made it possible for us to have even the small coraforts of life, and when we were so poor that w e scarcely had food to eat or fire to warra us, it was she who protected us. All that is good in ray life, 1 think, has come frora her; and I have never corae near Northfield that I have not found myself walking nervouslj' up and down the railway carriage, anxious to reach home, that I raight see ray mother." There is no greater loss to an individual than to miss this out of his life, but if it has been missed, the case is not hopeless, for "when m y father and m y mother forsalce m e , then the Lord will take m e up." In England, years ago, there lived a woraan w h o was not cultured, neither was sho ignorant. She was fairly well acquainted with books; but one book she knew well, and that was her Bible. Her devotional studj' of the W o r d of God was never neglected. Three times a day,

suaded that what we need more than anything else is a better h o m e lifehomes in which the fathers are the priests of the household and mothers are saints in the estimation of their children. Give us such homes as these, and the cities will be better, the churches will be stronger, and the whole world experience a spiritual uplift. Years ago, when the English soldiers were fighting against their enemies, it was found that the Scotch laddies were dying in great numbers. The disease which carried them off baffled the skill of the best physicians, but at last they learned the secret in a strange way. It was found that the pipers, near by them, were playing the tunes that reminded them of the heather and the hills, and they were literally dying of hcimesickness. This is one side of the picture. The other is the story of the m a n who came to m e at the conclusion of a serm o n and said,"My mother died at seventysix years of age, and, so far as I remember, she never kissed me. I never knew what araother'slove was, and, in all ray life, I have never known the first touch of homesickness." There is no greater heritage for us than the m e m o r y of homes founded in the fear of God and strengthened by His abiding presence. If we are to have such homes, the fathers must exercise their priestly functions. It is not possible for m a n y m e n to be great; neither is it possible for very m a n y to be rich; but it is possible for every m a n to be good and true, and if he lives such a life in the presence of his children, that when he comes to the end of life's journey they can stand by his grave to say that they considered him mo-re like Christ than anyone else in the world whora they have known, then such a life is worth while. A n d it m a y be 3'ours and mine.

Monographs. morning, noon and night, she drew her children to her knees, and told thera how to live. W h e n she was dying she said, as they crowded about her bed, "Children, when I a m gone sing a song of rejoicing, for I a m going home." She was the mother of the Wesleys, and I would a thousand times rather be that mother and the m e m o r y she left than the one who, when a little boy went h o m e from our meetings and told her he had accepted Christ, and asked her to pray for hira, scoffed at hira. Years ago there lived a sweet-tempered, beautiful w o m a n , illiterate in a way, as raost of her neighbors were, but with all the virtue of a good raother. She did not know rauch about books, but she knew the Bible, and with her little boy upon her knees, she told him wonderful stories. She knew little of science and art, but she knew nature, and she talked to her little son about the glories of God in the world. She had no knowledge of philosophy, but she told her boy that the raeanest thing in the world was to be a liar or a hypocrite, and the greatest thing was to be a good raan. W h e n he was nine years of age she died, but that boy was Abrahara Lincoln, and he says that all he was he owed to his raother. A n d I would rather a thousand times be such a mother than be one whOj in the social circle of life, taught her boy to play cards, permitted him to drink, or was unmindful of her infiuence over him. I put these pictures over against the so-called raother who is devoted to the world and insensible to the approach of etemity, and ask, which will you choose and which would you prefer for your nieraory ? A boy was about to be sentenced to prison, and when the judge asked hira w h y sentence should not be passed upon him, said: "Oh, your honor, if I had only

235

had a raother!" It is true that raany a boy is supposed to have a raother when he is worse than raotherless. H o m e s are not what they should be until fathers andraothersrealize the value of the souls of their children. T w o years ago, in the West, a raan bought 243 acres of land for 40. In passing over it one day he found a crystal, which attracted hira, and when he took it into a neighboring city he found that it was a diaraond. H e sold the farra for 7000, but now you could not buy it for 200 an acre, so great is the value of it. For years it was in the possession of its owner, and he was insensible to its priceless worth, but this' is nothing as compared with the worth of an immortal soul, and pne never will be concerned about winning one's children to Christ until he realizes their value in the sight of God, and also that the only hope for thera is in Jesus Christ. M y text is for all without discrimination. None too rich and none too poor, none too wise and none too ignorant, none too young and none too old. A street preacher in London, speaking on the blessing of the peacemakers, who were the children of God, gave an invitation to all who would accept H i m to come forward, and a little street urchin, with ragged clothes and dirty face, pushing his way to the front, holding his mother by the hand, speaking in the vernacular of the street, said, "Say, guv'nor, I would like to be one of them chilluns of God, if I a m not too small, and"pointing back to his raother with his thurab"she would like to be one of them chilluns of God, if she is not too big." That is the beauty of it. The eternal life, Jesus Christ, is for all, and it is this that makes the home beautiful. The best way I know to teach m y lesson is to give the picture of two homes. One has an old-fashioned father, like the

9.3Q

Monographs. ary Convention, express it as our earnest convietion that, in preparing for the education of native physicians in heathen countries, especially in China, all sectarian lines should be set aside, and that a few large, well equipped and well endowed medical colleges should be maintained, rather than a number of weak denominational institutions. AVhile w e would have the colleges keep u p a high religious standard, w e would have each C o m m u n i o n train its o w n students in its o w n way in matters religious, leaving the strictly jiiedical teaching to the medical faculty. The day is passed when small, poorly equipped colleges can teach the medicine of the present time, and it is only by union that strong institutions can be equipped and proper instruction given. W e , t.herefore, earnestly urge upon the missionary boards of different churches to unite in medical education, and thus to build u p strong raedical colleges worthy of theraedicalscience of to-day. W e also urge that a number of m e n fitted for the work be employed by the united boards to translate medical literature for text-books, and to edit and publishraedicalraagazinesin native language, wherever they seera to be needed, believing that eventually such raedical periodicals will becorae self-supporting. Laymen's Missionary Movement. At the request of the Laymen's Missionary Movement, we publish the following announcement: The report of the Men's National Missionary Congress is now being sold at $1.25 a volume. With the understanding that the book is to be sold at that rate to individual buyers, it is offered to all Mission Boards and publishing houses at the uniform rate of $1.00 a copy, postpaid. This book contains a verbatim account

m a n who came into his boy's room when he was dying to tell hira that he would soon be with Christ, and the little fellow drew hira on his Imees beside the bed and said, "Father, don't you cry, for as soon as I see Jesus I will tell Hira that ever since I can reraeraber you sought to bring m e to Him." There is a h o m e where an old-fashioned mother presides like a queen. Thank God, some of us have, and others have had, old-fashioned mothers. Dear, oldfashioned, sweet-faced mother! Eyes in which the love-light shone, her brown hair threaded with silver, lying smoothly on the faded cheek; her dear hands, worn with rauch toil, gently guiding our tottering steps in childhood and smoothing our pillow in sickness, ever reaching out to us in year];iing tenderness. Precious m e m o r y of an old-fashioned mother! Itfioatsto us n o w like the powerful perfume of some fragrant blossom. T h e music of other voices m a y be lost, but the entrancing meraory of her will echo in our souls forever. Other faces will fade away and be forgotten, but hers will shine on until the light from heaven's portals shall glorify our own. So, parents, you had better turn to God. God will one day require your children at your hands, and it will be a sad thing then if you stand before H i m and are unable to speak well concerning thera and your infiuence over them.Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman, D.D., in Melbourne Messenger. UNION IN MEDICAL EDUCATION. At the request of Dr. M . D. M a n n , of Buffalo, we are sending herewith the text of the resolutions adopted at the Conference of PhysiciansMen's National Missionary Congress, M a y 4, 1910, as follows : " W e , the physicians attending the Physicians' Conference of the Men's Mission-

Monographs.

237

of the only National Missionary Congress members that it is possible to give it. We ever held in America, and should have the shall be glad to co-operate with you to widest possible circulation among church this end. A correspondent of the British Weekly tells of his visit to the little city where Spurgeon lived at the time of his conversion, and to the little chapel where the conversion took place. Artillery Street, he says, is raade up of coraparatively hurable buildings, and the Priraitive Methodist chapel is one of the good old type. It has a gallery running around three sides, and I suppose, raight hold three hundred people. But one's eyes are drawn to a tablet at the left side of the chapel near the door. This gives M r . Spurgeon's account of his o w n conversion in the chapel on Jan. 6, 1850: "Seeking rest, and finding none, I stepped within the House of God, and sat there, afraid to look upward, lest I should be utterly cut off, and lest His fierce wrath should consurae rae. Therainisterrose in his pulpit and read this text 'Look rmto M e and be ye saved all the ends of the earth, for I ara God, and there is none else.' I looked that raoment; the grace of faith was vouchsafed to m e in that self-sarae instant; and n o w I think I can say with truth: " 'E'er since by faith I saw the stream. T h y flowing wounds supply. Redeeming love has been m y theme. A n d shall be till I die.'" O n April 16, 1897, the memorial tablet of the incident was unveiled by Sir Weetraan Pearson, Bart. This was a fitting coraraeraoration indeed. For surely that day a raighty work was done. If I reraeraber rightly, Mr. Spurgeon told afterward h o w there was a congregation of only twenty on a snowy day; how the preacher was a plain, illiterate m a n ; how he turned hiraself to the youth in the back p e w and said, "Young raan, you are looking very miserable. Y o u thinlc you cannot do anything, but you can do thisyou can look. Look unto M e and be saved." If one had been there, it might well have seemed as if the day's work had been hardly worth doing. W h o would have seen anything to raagnify in the boy with the round collar walking up the hurable street through the snow with the song of deliverance in his heart? Yet in that youth were lodged forces which were that day liberated to the blessing of the world. I suppose the psychologists have now m a d e the serious consideration of the fact of conversion a respectable pursuit. B e it so. Let preachers study it. Let them believe that under the most adverse circumstances they m a y do a work that will tell on the universe forever. So raany sermons cannot possibly be intended to convert any h u m a n being. They would not convert a tom-tit. But it was a great thing to convert Charles Spurgeon, and w h o knows but he m a y have in the smallest and humblest congregation in the world some lad ^as well worth converting as he? Nothing is eternal but that which is done for God and others. That which is done for self dies. Perhaps it is not wrong, but it perishes. Y o u say it is pleasurewell, enjoy it. But joyous recollection is no longer joy. That which ends in self is mortal. That alone which goes out of self into God lasts forever.Frederick W . Bobertson.

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Women's Department.

W O M E N ' S

DEPARTMENT.
X o other stiid)^ so broadens the intelligenee and brings true culture, as does the study of missions. It acquaints us with all countries and nations, familiarizes us A\'ith their modes of life, interests us in the government that controls them and the political raovements that affect their religious liberty. Beyond this, it cultivates an interest in humanity. Ill a very special \vay God is to-day saying, ''Come, and behold the works of the Lord.' W e of the Reforraed Presbyterian Church should nuraber ourselves among the great host of " w o m e n that publish the tidings.'" H O W T O BEGIN A N D L E A D A C L A S S . H a v e the study period precede the business session of the raonthly missionary meeting. B e prorapt to open and close on time. During the period the attention must be kept conscientiously on the lesson, if any lasting results are to be accomplished. Better have a few thoroughly in eamest in the class than a good m a n y who will come n o w and then. Each m e m b e r should have the text boolc. Secure a leader w h o will be faithful in attendance and w h o will take a genuine interest in the course. She must read more widely than the class and be constantly on the lookout for missionary intelligence in religious papers, missionary literature, magazines, encyclopedias, and daily papers. She should decide upon the points to be ehiphasized in each lesson and plan for making special features of three or four truths. A teaching outline which w e shall aira to furnish raonthly m a y be helpful. Write it on the blackboard and refer to it during the class. A blackboard should be part of the class equipment, and a missionary map.

MISSION STUDY. Conducted by Mrs. F. M. Wilson. IT IS NOT HARD. Yes, we know you have been busy a l l
these yearsthe h o m e to manage, and the children to rear, sacrificing self that they raay have all the educational advantages possible, and when nightfall comes you are just too tired for anything. "Don't aslc us to study." B u t you surely read, don't you ? A n d you are interested in the progress of Christ's Kingdom ? Then you have all that is necessary to begin mission study. Y o u can remember that story in the Ladies' H o m e Journal, or the Woman's H o m e Companion; and didn't you enjo}- talking it over with Mrs. Brown that day she called ? Just put in one of these mission stud)^ books and see if you don't find it interesting. This new one, "Western Woraen in Eastern Lands," hasn't a dull line in it. Y o u could read a chapter a raonth surely, and talk it over with the other w o m e n of the Missionary Society at their meeting. M a n y societies hesitate to take up mission study because of a misconception of what it involves. Committing to memory is neither required nor expected. "But w h o will lead us?" Well, the leader is simply one to direct. She cannot be too' well informed, yet it does not require a sage or even an experienced teacher to raake a good leader. A n d it might even be possible to conduct a class without a leader if each meraber would hold herself responsible for a part of the lesson. Choose theraaintopics in the outline and then come together and contribute the selections in order. This would do quite well rather than omit the study for want of a leader.

Women's Department. Use pictures, photographs, curios, selections from books or periodicals, anything and everything that will add to the interest of the lesson. Enlist the help of the class in securing illustrative raaterial and use it at just the right point in the lesson. Question enough at each session to injure careful preparation and to m a k e the facts remembered. Questions should require thought and coraparison or provoke discussion. Merabers should be encouraged to ask questions of the leader. A <luestion plan written out in advance sometimes helps a leader. A i m to keep the class session as informal as possible, and raake the hour perfectly natural. Never orait the devotional eleraent. Prayer should be a part of the prograra. The work will be a failure unless used and blessed of the Holy Spirit. WESTERN WOMEN IN EASTERN LANDS. L E S S O N 1 C H A P T E R 1. THE BEGINNING OF THE WOMEN'S MISSIONARY MOVEMENT. 1. Its relation t o 1. Education. 2. Suffrage. 3. Abolition. 11. Forerunners in the Early Part of the Century. 1. W o r k and Contributions. (a) Dorcas societies; spinning, weaving and knitting societies; sewing circles. (&) Cent societies; egg money; butter money; rag money; legacies; dollar patches; consecrated coffee pot. 2. Prorainent W o r k e r s {a) Miss M a r y Webb, Sally Thoinas, A n n Wilkins, Mrs. Ropes. III. Pioneer Societies after the Civil War.

239

1. Union Missionary Society. ^ ) The appeals that led to its formation; M r . Abeel; the Baptist missionary's wife. (&) Commendable t]-aits. (c) H o w it led to the forraation of denorainational societies. 2. Denorainational Boards. (a) Early .difficulties. (Slow and expensive communication at h o m e and abroad.) (&) Varieties of organization. (c) Their contribution to cause of missions. 1. Showed the power of small gifts and services. 2. Developed and simplified organization. 3. Created leafiet literaturecheap, simple and attractive. HINTS F O R L E A D E R S . Read and re-read the chapter. T h e raain topics in outline are the points to be emphasized. Under I show God's providential preparation of w o m e n for the wider work of missions and the forces H e used to that end. Bring out under II, the spirit of earnestness and sacrifice that actuated the woraen of thefirstraissionarysocieties, and the power of a life devoted to God. Miss Mary Webb, Sally Thoraas, noble A n n Wilkins and the unnaraed heroine of the twelve patches furnish striking examples. Give particular attention under III to the formation of the Woraen's Union Missionary Society, and to how it prepared the way for each denoraination to assurae its share ofraissionwork. It is not necessary to enlarge on the various denorainational organizations, although interesting statistics are found in the table, at the back of the book. Their raain features are sirailar. S o m e send out raore raen than

240

Women's Department.

w o m e n , others send unraarried woraen especially delightful and fitting. The title is "Western W o m e n in Eastern only, and still others combine h o m e and Lands," and the author, Mrs. Helen B. foreign work. Montgoraery. It is a bird's eye view of M a r k h o w valuable to the cause of the woraan's moveraent in missions. It Christ's K i n g d o m to have the women's carries us from the first sporadic missocieties demonstrate the power of small sionary gatherings of the woraen of fifty gifts and hurable services. Also h o w the years ago, through the years of strugraission cause is indebted to thera for raisgling for a foothold in raany out-of-thesionary literature put out in attractive way corners of the world, down to the form at trifling cost. present, with its magnificent results, and Topics I, II, III (subdivided) could be assigned to class raerabers as subjects gives us a glimpse of the vast work yet undone. for short talks or papers. The study of this book ought to mean The reflex benefits that have corae to m u c h to all Christian w o m e n and to the w o m e n through these organizations, and the infiuence of the women's societies on cause of Christ. It is hoped that none of church life might be discussed by the the missionary societies of the Covenanter Church will lose the inspiration to be class. W O M E N ' S JUBILEE Y E A R O F M I S S I O N S . gained from the study of this book this The year 1910-11 rounds outfiftyyears winter. Suggestive outlines for study of woraan's organized raissionary work. will appear in Olive Trees each month. T h e book, which is published by the In celebration of this anniversary raany plans for the advanceraent of the cause Macmillan Corapany, m a y be purchased of raissions have been raade. Woraen's or ordered at any book store. The price conferences are to be held in twenty dif- is 30 cents in paper or 50 cents in cloth ferent cities, closing with a great conven- binding. There is a little book, also tion representing all denominations, to be written by Mrs. Montgomery, for use in Children's Mission Bands. It covers the held in N e w York City in M a y , 1911. Most of us- must miss the inspiration of same ground as the book for the older these great gatherings, but there is an- students. It is called "The Finding Out other way in which w e m a y come in touch Club" and sells for 20 cents. Supplementing this book is the new mission magawitti the work behind us and before u s through the printed page. The inter- zine for boys and girls, "Everyland." It denominational committee, known as the is published quarterly (price 50 cents a "Central Committee on the United Study year), and covers both h o m e and foreign of Missions," has for the past decade been missions, and philanthropic work of all preparing a book for study each year. denominations. The success of this series of books shows A n y one wishing to interest and eduthat there existed a real demand for this cate children in raissions will find this broader knowledge of the mission fields, little book and raagazine invaluable helps. the workers, problems, methods and reFor further information, address Mrs. sults. R. M . Pearce, 1835 Fourth Avenue, The volume for this Jubilee year is Beaver Falls, Pa. Aggressive work for the Master can alone keep the organization sweet, hale and spiritually athletic.Theodore L. Cuyl&r.

Women's Department.

241

POINTED QUESTIONS. Dear Sisters: H a v e y o u appointed a M a g a zine Secretary ?

REPORT O F BUILDING FUND. I am herewith inclosing m y report of collections for Latalcia Building Fund up to Sept. 1, 1910. The amount raised to this date is $3015.03. W e feel that the Lord has blessed our work greatly. And How many new subscribers with the help yet to come from many have y o u obtained? congregations and individuals in the C?3 Church who have not sent in their subIs every family in your conscriptions, but who have both a mind and gregation subscribing for O L I V E heart in the work, the fund will be largely TREES? increased. W e are thankful for His favor and the Remember, our aim is to sesmile of His countenance upon this work, cure 5 0 0 new^ subscribers for and we know what has been accomplished October, N o v e m b e r and D e c e m i s His assurance of His favor and of final ber for 2 5 cents. success in bringing the work to ultimate corapletion. Will-you please report before October 15 Mrs. j. R. Copeland, Treas. to Mrs. J. K. Tibby, Ridge Avenue, Crafton, Report of Mrs. J. R. Copeland, TreasPa., just what you have been able to accom- urer Latakia Church Building Fund: plisB, so that we may have a f u l l report for Araount reported July 25, 1910..$2567.18 November O U V E TREES? July 28. Hetherton, Mich, per Mrs. Mary McKelvey.. 31.00 Send subscriptions to Dr. Sommerville. July 28. Groton, Vt., per Mrs. Mrs. T. H. Acheson. D. C. -Paris, add^ 50 July 30. Third, Phila., Pa., per IMPORTANT NOTICE. Mrs. R. C.Montgomery 152.00 At'the suggestion of Rev. J. C. Slater, Aug. 1. Southfield, Mich., per Mission Study Secretary, the Board of Mrs. J. M. Henning.. 5.00 Foreign Missions recommends for mission Aug. 3. York, Linwood, N. Y., study "Western W o m e n in Eastern per Mrs. Niel Gillis.. 42.00 Lands," that the Ladies' Missionaries Aug. 23. Los Angeles, Cal., per have asked for, and in addition, "The Mrs. P. J. McDonald.. 25.00 Moslem World," by Dr. Samuel M . Aug. 23. Selraa, Ala., per Mrs. Zwemer, a volume which the Secretary Anna P. Kingston 30.00 Aug. 23. Santa Ana, Cal., per regards as especially valuable for use in Mrs. W m . Thursby... 10.50 our Church, "as it deals with questions Aug. 31. Utica, 0., per Mrs. that confront our missionaries in TurJennie Johnson ...... 148.50 key." For information in regard to these text-books and the formation of classes, Aug. 31. Content, Alberta, Canada, per Mrs. W m . E. congregations and societies should write Taylor 3.35 to Mr. Slater, 3526 Fifth Avenue, Beaver Falls, Pa. $3015.03 Olive Tkees.

242'

Editorial Notes.

EDITORIAL

N O T E S .

Olive Trees publishes in this numbei- voice the feeliiigs of the wbole Church
and ca-lls the attention of its readers to an article by Dr. T. H . AcheSon on the "World's Conference on the Principles of Civil G o v e m m e n t and the Practical A p plication of These Principles," to be held in Philadelphia, Pa., November 16-20, 1910. At the regular bi-monthly meeting of the Board of Poreign Missions, held in Philadelphia, Pa., Tuesday, Sept. .27, 1910, Rev. C. A. Dodds, after raore than a decade of service, tendered his resignation- as raissionary. In his letter he says: "I have hesitated for a good while about taking this step, but the condition of our little daughter's eyes seems to leave us no alternative. T h e doctor has forbidden her to use her eyes for close work for a period of two years, and what conditions-may require after that w e cannot tell." W e express our sympathy with M r . and Mrs. Dodds in their afHiction, and unite with them in the ho-pe that they "raay eventually take up work again in the foreign field." Df. Calvin McCarroll also, after serving the Chureh a little more than five years, tendered his resignation in these terras: " W e regret to have to say that w e feel it necessary to give up our work in the foreignfieldon account of the health of Mrs. McCarroll." After describing her physical condition and the steps taken for her restoration, he goes on to say, "The result of an operation, which w e hoped would relieve her, was not very satisfactory, and now, although she is some better than on our retum, w e still feel that it would be unwise -to- go back to the hot and debilitating cliraate of Cyprus, which would tend to invalid her." W e surely w h e n w e record our sympathy with Dr. and Mrs. McCarroll m the peculiar circumstances that have arisen to take theim away from the .work to which they had given their lives. A n d w e are glad of the assurance that they "shall continue to take a deep interest in the progress of the work" in Cypras "and support it as well as w e are able, both with our prayers and our means."

ME. CHAELES STE-WAET The interests of our foreign work dem a n d that these vacancies should be filled as soon as practicable; and the Board of Foreign Missions repeats its original call for TWENTV-FIVE ADDITIONAL, MISSIONARIES-

Editorial Notes. SIX MINISTERS, FIVE PHVSICIANS, ELEVEN TEACHERS AND T W O TRAINED NURSES. Write for Application Blanks to R. M . Sommerville, Cor. Sec, 325 West Fiftysixth. Street, N e w York.

243

eign Mission Board, occupied the-eha;ir, and in a characteristic address>.'full of niissionary fire, voiced the;, good- will of the audience. A n d after brief remarks charged with kindly feeling from others, one of the speakers claiming that Second N e w York, in giving these missionaries to In fulfillment of the arrangement anChina, was not losing a family from its nounced last month. Rev. and Mrs. Julius membership, but wideijing its boundaries, A. K e m p f , with her mother, Mrs. Mar- Mr. K e m p f infittingterms accepted from

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EKV. JULIUS A. KKMPF garet M . Doig, left N e w York Friday, Sept. 9, 1910. O n Tuesday of that week a meeting was held in iiie 123d Street Church, Manhattan, to bid them good-by. Owing to a severe storm and the fact that m a n y had not retumeid from their suilimer .outing, the gathering was small, but enthusiastic enough to indicate that they were in the heart of the congregation. Mr. Henry 0'Neili,'.President of the For-

MES. JULIUS A. KSMPf nee miss mabsl doiq his friends a small package of some intrinsic value, but chiefly valuable as a syrabol of their love, and closed with a short address, in which he declared his pleasure on retuming to his chosen work at Tak Hing Chau on the West River, and which could not fail to encourage those w h o heard him in their determination to support and enlarge the work in that field through their, contributioiis and prayers.

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Editorial Notes. steamer on. Saturday, Sept. 10, and they should be at their destination several days before the end of the month. T h e mis-, -sionary homes in Latakia would be in holiday attire to receive Miss A. Louisa Crockett, w h o has gone out to assist Miss Edgar in the Girls' School; the friends in Cyprus would have a welcome for Mr. Charles Stewart, w h o is to be associated

T h e following Sabbath was spent in Allegheny, Pa., where these outgoing raissionaries were on Monday evening the guests of honor at a large reception the Misses Caskey gave .at their horae in Myrtle Avenue. Another Sabbath was spent with the friends in Seattle, Wash., and on Tuesday, Sept. 20, they sailed from Vancouver, and are n o w well on their way to the other side of the Pacific, under the

I . EVADSA STEKEE1T MKS. MAESAEET M. DOIQ watchful care of H i m Whose they are and W h o m they ser^ve. Dr. Jaraes S. Stewart and his party arrived at Naples, Tuesday evenmg, Sept. 6, 1910, one day ahead of schedule time, after a pleasant vOyage from N e w York. W h e n he wrote from Italy arrangements had been raade to leave by, the French with Rev. I. D. Edgar as teacher in the School at Larnaca; and raore than a Chautauqua salute would mark the arrival of Miss I. Evadna Sterrett at Mersina, Asia Minor. ^ Will the Church kindly forward to Tl-easurer S. A. S. Metheny, M.D., 417 North 48d Street, Philadelphia, Pa., the THREE T H O U S A N D DOLLARS called for to enlarge and complete buildings in Northern Syria?

A Monthly Journal devoted to Missionary W o r k in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. No. NOVEMBER, 1910. 11.

Q U E S T I O N S

O F

T H E

H O U R .

A WORLD-WIDE RECOGNITION OF THE KINGLY CLAIMS OF CHRIST, AS MEDIATOR, THE AIM OR END OF FOREIGN MISSIONS.* Rev. j. M. Foster, Boston. The consummation of the foreign mis-

philosophers developed formulas > of thought, and their poets and phUologists perfected their language. A n d 380 yeaxs B. C , Hebrew Rabbies were called by Ptolemy into Egypt to translate the Hebrew Old Testament iiato Greek. This is called the Septuagint. The Jews sionary enterprise is the establishment of colonized after this and carried the Greek Scriptures into every nation of the mediatorial dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ over all the nations. H e the world, and read them in their synahas been invested with universal media- gogues every Sabbath day. So that all torial authority by the Father. H e rules the world was expecting the Messiah. H e in the midst of His enemies. A n d the used the Romans in bringing all nations aim of foreign- missions is to subdue the under one central government, in building roads for travel and commerce and rebellious, to raake them a willing people by the power of divine grace. "All ships to navigate the seas. So that a power in heaven and on earth hath been highway for the Apostles and evangelists was actually awaiting them on sea and given imto M e . G o ye therefore and land when they received their world-wide evangelize all nations." MIS PREPARATION FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS IS commission. N o w , what H e did by these three naWORLD-WIDE tions in preparing for the beginning of The inscription over the cross of Christ foreign missions. H e has done by one in was written in Hebrew and Greek and preparing for m o d e m missions. Great Latin: " T h e King of the Jews." H e Britain has the English language, the used the Hebrews. Unto them were comcombination of what is best in all and mitted the oracles of God. F r o m them destined to become world-wide. Great the Messiah came. F r o m them the Britain has an empire upon which the Apostles came w h o were Christ's witsun never sets. 'Wherever her colonies nesses in Jerusalem and Judea and are, there the Bible and Christian misSamaria, and unto the uttermost ends of the earth. H e used the Greeks. Their sions are found. B y railroads and stealiiships and telegraph and telephone she has * A n address ai the Foreign Mission made the world one nieighbothood. Conference of ihe Synod of ihe Reformed But the British Isles were too sttait Presbyierian Ghurch ai Winona Lake, for the Kingdom of our Lord. S 6 pifeInd., M a y 27, 1910.

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Questions of the Hour. A d a m sinned and the scepter fell from his hand. The tempter seized the scepter. H e is the god of this world. The whole world lieth in the wicked one. But God did not mean to allow a fallen angel to hold the power. T o realize the original design, Jesus, the second A d a m , appeared. In spite of Satan's temptations H e became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Y o u reraeraber the devil took Jesus up into an exceeding high mountain and showed Hira all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them in a m o m e n t of tima "Yonder is Babylon and Nineveh with their ancient glory in the East. There is Egypt, the oldest of Kingdoms, and the granary of the world. Over on the North is Greece with its poets, philosophers, artists, statesmen and warriors. A n d yonder is R o m e , with its armies and navies, its laws and courts, its commerce and trade. All these are mine. I know you have come to purchase them by death upon the cross. But I will surrender all to you on the easiest terms: only fall down and worship me." But our Lord refused his offer. H e came to destroy the works of the devil and wrest the Kingd o m from him. In His death H e destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil, and delivered them who through fear of death are all their lifetime subject to bondage., In His cross H e spoiled principalities and powers and raade a show of them openly. H e came from the cross with Satan chained to His chariot and His people brought back as His spoil. "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all m e n unto Me." H e has drawn all m e n without exception under His mediatorial scepter. " H e became obedient unto death. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted, H i m and given H i m a name that is above every name."

pared afieldin America. H e established here a free govemment of the people, by the people and for the people. H e brought here immigrants from all quarters of the earth. H e set up a system of free public schools, which is the alembic in which these nationalities will be fused into one composite organic people. F r o m this H e will eliminate secularism in government and incorporate Christianity in our national and political life. A n d with this object lesson before the world the Jews will be convinced and brought into the Kingdom. A n d then the fulness of the Gentiles shall be brought in. THE OOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM WHICH FOREIGN MISSIONS PROCLAIM IS WORLD-WIDE. A century ago the leading raotive was sympathy for the lostpity for the perishing world. Later the primary motive was obedience to the marching orders of the risen Lord; and that raotive will never wane. But of late years the thought of a Mediatorial King establishing His Kingdom over all the earth has dawned upon the Christian mind: just what the Covenanters have preached from the days of John Knox. Prof. F. G. Peabody, of Harvard University, has done a good service, in his book on "Christ and the Social Problem," in accentuating the fact that the gospel is not primarily to .save individuals, but to establish a Kingd o m . Our Lord and His forerunner, .^John the Baptist, preached: "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." More than one hundred times in the gospels this gospel of the Kingdom is announced. Our Lord died as a King and to purchase a Kingdom. H e was raised u p and exalted to God's right hand to receive a Kingdom. God's original design was that a perfect m a n should rale this world. To A d a m H e said: "Have dominion." But the condition of holding the Kingdom was perfect obedience.

Questions of the Hour. The Epistle to the Hebrews quotes the Sth Psalm and remarks that as a matter of fact w e see that all things are not subject to m a n in his present state. But we see Jesus, for a little m a d e lower than the angels, and as a reward for His perfect obedience to the precept and His endurance of the penalty of the broken law, exalted far above the angels and invested with universal dominion. Because the death of the incarnate Son of God m a d e the pardon of sin and the restoration of the sinner consistent with and gloriously illustrative of the perfections of God, the majesty of the divine law and the stability of the divine govemment, therefore Jesus has been exalted far above all principalities and powers and might and dommion, and every name that is named not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. "For the suffering of death H e has been crowned with glory and honor, that H e by the grace of God should taste of death for every man." During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln insisted that he was President of the Confederate States, and that it was his duty to compel them to submit. T h e Lord Jesus Christ is King over all the earth: the Governor among the nations. H e has received authority to rule in the midst of His enemies. A n d H e must reign until all His enemies are m a d e His footstool. Foreign missionaries are His ambassadors, going into rebellious nations and calling upon the people to acknowledge their Saviour King. T h e same fatal comproraise that Satan offered our Lord on that high mountain he is offering the churches today. A federation of the Reformed Churches and a secular government are Satan's counterfeit of Christ's mediatorial dominion. There never was a time when the testimony of the Covenanter Church was needed so m u c h as at the present

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time. The fact of Christ's Headship over His church, that H e is her only life-giving, governing and protecting Head, the Head of her doctrine, discipline, worship and government, and that the Psalmsinging, Covenanting, Presbyterian, witnessing church is according to the pattern shown us in the Mount, needs to be proclaimed in thunder tones. A n d the fact that the trae Christian state is the chrlstocracy^ that Jesus Christ is the Law-giver and King and Judge of the Christian state, the ofi&cial Head of the legislative, executive and judicial departraents of government, needs to be trumpeted frora everyraountainand hilltop. H e has raade His witnessing church strong in America, because their testimony will be sounded out into all the world from this land. H e has planted His witnesses in Latakia, Asia Minor and Cyprus, the gateway between Europe and Asia and Africa, that His mediatorial claims m a y be trumpeted in the ears of those continents. H e has planted His witnesses in Tak Hing Chau, China, that the Malay peoples of China, Japan, Thibet and B u r m a h m a y hear the full gospel of the Kingdom. THE ADMINISTRATION OF FOREIGN MISSIONS HAS BEEN CONDUCTED BY THE REIGNINQ MEDIATOR ON A WORLD-WIDE SCALB. During the middle ages the churdni was corrapt, and foreign missions werenot thought of. But when the Reformedl churches separated from R o m e , they im,raediately responded to God's call, anS the m o d e m era of foreign missions began. Note the providential working! About the same time KJnox appeared in Sootland; Bradford, Ridley, Latimer and Cranmer in England; Luther in Germ a n y ; Calvin in Switzerland; Savonarola in Italy. In 1453 Constantinople fell before the Ottoman power, and the Greek scholars came west with their Greek Tes-

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Questions of the Hour. awakened moves, there was a third. Praying bands were formed simultaneously in Scotland, North Ireland, Wales, England, Holland and the American colomes. Take one illustration: Jonathan .Edwards, in 1747, issued a pamphlet calling upon all Christendom to join in prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In 1784, Olney, Sutcliff and others reissued Edwards' pamphlet and urged the setting up of a monthly concert of prayer for the conversion of the world. Sydney Smith sneered at the idea of converting the world. "It is the dream of a dreamer, a m a n dreams that he has been dreaming," was his characterization of missions. I wish it were possible for him to be here now. In October, 1906, the centennial of the Haystack prayer meeting was held in WiUiamstown, Mass. A marble shaft marks the spot where a few students met once a week near Williams College and prayed and conversed about foreign missions. Out of that meeting came the American Board in 1810, and they have a chain of missions reaching around the world. The promoter of that Haystack meeting was Samuel J. Mills, w h o repeated over and over: " W e can do it if w e will." President Capen, of the American Board, changed that motto: " W e can do it and w e will." Mills was sent to Liberia on the west coast of Africa. His report led to Robert Moffat's mission in South Africa. This led to Livingstone's journey into the heart of Africa. This led to Stanley's journeys after him. A n d these led'to the Congo mission and the Uganda Pentecost. (CONCLUDED NEXT ISSUE.)

taments and entered the universities of Europe. This led to the translation of the Bible into various languages. About the same time the art of printing was discovered. B y and by steam was harnessed to the printing press and to railway trains and to ships. So the Book of God was multiplied and now goes everywhere. The British and Foreign Bible Society was organized in 1804 and the American Bible Society in 1816. These two have printed 250,000,000 copies and translated it into 300 trunk languages, spoken by 1,200,000,000 people, and parts of it into 300 more tongues, leaving less than 300,000,000 without the Scriptures in their native dialect. Out of the ashes of Huss, who was burned at the stake, arose the Moravians. They adopted the magnificent motto: "Every believer is a witness for Christ; wherever he can do the most for Christ is his home, and his cross is self-denial for Christ." One out of every sixty of their raerabers became foreign missionaries. Their zeal led to the organization of the "Holy Club" of Lincoln College, Oxford. John Wesley was a student there then. The motto of the club was: "Holiness to the Lord." John Wesley visited London, and one Sabbath he found a few poor people in a private house gathered for prayer. They read Luther's commentaries on Galatians. A strangefireburned in Wesley's heart. Returning to Oxford he persuaded the "Holy Club" to add to their motto what raade the watchword of the Methodist Church: "Holiness to the Lord and service to men." In addition to these two divinely

W e are tested by our duties. W e do not begin to realize h o w m u c h depends upon our faithfulness in the comraon days. T o fail in our testing is to come unready to great crises, W e say God does His o w n work in the world. Yes, but not without us. Our faithfulness is essential to the carrying out of the divine purpose. J. R. Miller.

N e w s of the Churches.

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N E W S

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A B R O A D . Syria, Latakia.Writing from Alexandretta, under date of Sept. 21, Rev. S. Edgar sends interesting items: As you perhaps heard from others, I raade a trip from here to Suadia. Rev. J. D. Edgar and Miss French came along to see the faraous valley. W e had a very pleasant trip, save that Rev. Edgar and myself carae horae a little under the weather. B u t in a few days we were well again. Found the worlj in Suadia about as usual. T h e school was closed for the usual raonth's vacation. T h e Bible woman's report boolc showed that she had taken the gospel to 280 woraen in the month of August. About 170 of these were Fellaheen and quite a nuraber of Mosleras, the rest Greek Orthodox. This shows, I think, what a useful branch of spreading the gospel w e could have in the house-to-house work were it well superintended. But no one can raake a visit to Suadia and examine even a little into the work without seeing that it needs an overseer of some kind. A n d , personally, I believe, until sorae one persuadesraeto the contrary, that a physician and lady superintendent for the school is the solution of the present conditions. Preached twice on Sabbath. In the morning had an audience of about sixty-five, in the afternoon about thirty-five. I enjoyed the work and trast the Lord blessed m y feeble efforts in presenting the gospel. I went d o w n to Alexandretta last Saturday to welcome Dr. Stewart and family, also Miss Crockett. Found all in good' health after a pleasant joumey. Thanks for your care over Dr. Stewart. All the honors- heaped on h i m do not seem to spoil him, though there m a y be undercurrents that are not visible on the surface. Thanlcs for such a strong, healthy, cheerful-looking lassie as Miss Crockett. Trust that some young raan's covetousness raay npt corae in and rob us of her. I ani sure the-ladies in our station will be grateful to get a glirapse of the new raillinery departraent, or perhaps it raay make them homesick when they see the great things they are being deprived of. Found Miss Elsey and Miss Fattal on the steamer, returning frora Guzne. Both seeraed rested and ready for their trying duties in the hospital. M r . Sadik Fattal was also in the corapany, returning frora his vacation. We expect to return on Monday next. W e have had a pleasant suramer here, thanks to Rev. Kennedy for his kindness in sharing his sumraer house with us. W e have had preaching here every Sabbath, the ministers taking turns. Dr. Martin and faraily are getting rested after the trying experiences of the past year. W e are glad to see the Doctor in such good health'. W e were glad you had such afinevisit with Brother Robb and wife. M a y the Lord bless their experiences to the enrichment of us all. Our hearts are heavy as w e read of the resignations of Dr. McCarroll and Rev. C. A. Dodds. Just when w e think' our stations are ready for work here come the disappointments. M r . Dodds is a m a n whose judgment will be m u c h missed on the wholefield,and that of his good wife also. Our sympathy goes out to them and to the Mersina field. True, Mersina has a good m a n in M r . McFarland, but tbat

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to be a gathering place for people to discuss religion, and the w o m a n reads and tells stories to the w o m e n and girls. W e have had a number of pupils from that village, and most of them .came to see me. They are nice, kind people, and I only wish that our working force were large enough to allow sorae one to be on the road raost of the tirae. I was interAsia Minor, Mersina.In a letter to Mrs. Soraraerville, dated Sept. 6, Miss ested in the arguments a young Fellah put Evadna M . Sterrett reports sorae iteras up in favor of Protestantism against a Greek. H e used to be in school, but I of general interest, which we have perhad not k n o w n that he knew enough to mission to publish: A few weeks ago I spent two days at debate as he did. T h e Greek also had Tarsus and a village near, where we have been in school as long as the Fellah had two Church members. I spent the night been, and had the same chance to know and understand. 0, h o w I long for the in Tarsus, and it was a great treat to be present at such a full prayer meetinga time when all w h o believe in the right good m a n y over a hundred. I visited a way will have liberty or courage to come goodly number of our people with our out and profess their faith. Our doorway here this suraraer has evangelist. I notice that he seeras to be preacher, doctor, counselor and judge for been a great place for debates on religious the whole neighborhoodnot only for subjects. It is a nice, breezy place all the Protestants, but for Catholics and Greeks. time, and a great variety of people sit Just while I was there several different down to enjoy the cool breeze, and I do cases were brought to him for help and not think a day passes without arguinents. advice. S o m e one here in Mersina was W c have one m a n teacher, a lady teacher telling one of our members that in Tarsus (Madeleine) and the doorkeeper and our any person who couldn't manage his af- girl (Maroo-m). These do not lose an fairs or was walking in foolish ways was opportunity to testify to what they bebrought to M . Makhiel. T h e question lieve. Catholics ( R o m a n and Maronite), was asked, "Can he cure crazy peo-ple?" Jews, Greeks, Fellaheen and Moslems have "No, but he knows how to direct them been araong our door guests, and I trust and advise them in such a way that they that soraebody has been benefited. There become sensible." is an Englishraan w h o believes in keeping The reading room is rarely without the seventh day of the week instead of people in it. Wherever we went he seemed thefirst,as the Sabbath, and he is coming to be looked up to with love and respect. occasionally and trying to advance his As we passed through the streets. Chrisviews. I discourage out workers from tians, Moslems and Fellaheen greeted hira debating with him, because I know he has in the most friendly way. I really think all his arguraents studied, whereas they he is doing good work. His wife and have not had occasion to study, especially daughter are a great help, too, in the on this subject, and I do not want them work. to be worsted. Madeleine sent word to I was delighted with the visit to the hira by his brother to go and teach his village. The home of our members seems doctrine to the m a n y people who kept no doesn't help Latalcia much. Trust the Lord m a y soon send recruits tofillup the ranks. W e are rejoicing with the China brethren in the new force and with the n e w workers in the great blessing the Lord is giving them.

N e w s of ihe Churches. Sabbath at all. She said that ours tried to keep one. Perhaps she told him herself, for I saw him here Saturday, and she was armed with her Catechism with proofs, and I overheard her telling him that it would be a good thing if everybody would agree to keep one day of the week as a holy day. The young raan is a very religious fellow, and goes about among the towns and villages, but I notice he tries to get hold of the very best people, w h o are the fruits of the labors of others. This I do not like in him. M r . C. A. Dodds preached a good sermon on the subject last winter and at the tirae I told him I wished it could be printed. W e will have to give ourfiocksspecial instruction on this point. I have written too long a letter. Perhaps you can pick out a little about the work that will be of use to Dr. Somraerville for Olive Trees. I had wanted to write to him just after m y visit to Tarsus. Cyprus, Larnaca. Writing from Soukoluk, Syria, at the close of the sumr mer holidays. Rev. J. D. Edgar sends us interesting items: W e rejoice very m u c h to know that a suitable teacher has been secured, for it will raean so rauch to the work in Cyprus. We trust and pray that he is one w h o has the spiritual qualifications for such a position. I a m very sorry that I did not have the opportunity of meeting M r . Stewart in America, to form his acquaintance. But, owing to his father's high qualifications and long experience in mission work, I a m sure he will be able to take up the work with vigor and address rauch like an old hand. Mrs. (Patton) Edgar has improved in health considerably since coming to Soukoluk. I regret, as do all the friends here, that w e cannot remain here for another

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month, that her condition niight still improve. But duty calls us back to Larnaca to school work. W e expect to open school on Sept. 26. Mr. Jordani, one of our teachers, a very devoted Christian young m a n , writes from Larnaca that the prospects for a -good school are bright. W e have received applications from a number of Greek ahd Moslem boys to corae into the boarding departraent. W e are receiving boys between the ages of eight and sixteen years. The price for boys in the boarding school is 15 sterling for the school year. Besides this, each boy must furnish bedding for an iron bedstead and pay for booksand washing. W e h a v e some very poor boysin view, w h o m w e would like very m u c h to receive, but owing to the fact that w e have no way of supporting thera, we areafraid w e raay not be able to receive any of thera. One of these boys is a very proraising boy, and I think will sorae daybecome a very efficient helper, if he has an opportunity to advance. W e are very sorry to get word that Dr. McCarroll has resigned. So far as I was able to learn, in the months I was in Cyprus during the last school year, he was getting a splendid hold on the people by his quiet, kind ways and good medical ability. It seems a pity, for every raan has to gain confidence for himself, it seeras. One cannot take up the work where ' another lays it down, but raust raake his o w n beginning and gain confidence for himself. O n Wednesday, Aug. 31, Rev. S. E d gar, Miss French and I started on a trip to Suadia. Mr. S. Edgar's -object was to preach the word to the brethren and to visit the schools and note the progress of the work. Miss French and I wished to make ourselves acquainted with the work and the brethren in Suadia and Antioch, and visit the ,sites of ancient Seleucia and

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Daphni. W e had a very pleasant trip. M r . S. Edgar preached two sermons in Arabic on the Sabbath, which warmed the hearts of all who understood. T h e brethren seemed to appreciate his raessages a very great deal. There were about sh-cty present at the niorning service and a sraaller nuraber at the afternoon service.

place in their prayers. Not having visited the congregations of the West before it was a surprise to rae and very refreshing to find two such wideawake and earnest congregations as Clarinda and Blanchard. It cannot be said of them that they are churches of w o m e n and children only. It was good to see the way the m e n turned out, not only on Sabbath, but on the In a letter frora Aspinwall, Pa., dated Iireparation days as well, even though it Oct. 11, Rev. Walter McCarroll pleads for was a busy season for the farmers. It the work in Cyprus: showed that they believed in placing first It does not appear to be the usual thing things first. It was an inspiration to forraissionarieshome on furlough to preach to such appreciative hearers, and write anything for publication, but I shall I a m sure that Brothers McConaughy and venture to infringe on the unwritten law, Johnston are to be congratulated that the and tell of some of m y raoveraents since lines have fallen to thera in such pleasant coming home. places. W e arrived at Pittsburg on June 1, Returning East I enjoyed sweet fellowjust as Synod was closing its raeeting. It ship with the brethren of Dr. Acheson's was a great disappointraent to m e to raiss congregation. Eighth Street, Pittsburg, in the raeeting of Synod, but as our tickets their comraunion season on thefirstSabhad been booked by a certain route and bath of October. O n the Wednesday evenstearaer before learning of the change in ing preceding, there was a social meeting date of meeting of Synod, I was compelled of the Men's League, after which I was to forego the pleasure of being present at given an opportunity to speak on the its meetings. work in Cyprus and enlist the hearers in It was m y expectation that I would be raore definite and specific prayer for the able to present the work in Cyprus to a work there. Earlier in the summer I aslarger part of the Church than I have sisted Brother Elsey in Hetherton, Mich., reached. This is probably due to m y inand preached a few times in Detroit and experience in dealing with such matters Southfield. In all, it has been m y privior lack of a "manager" to arrange an lege to speak about the work in Cyprus to itinerary for me. As it is, it has been m y fourteen different congregations up to privilege to meet some of the peo;^le in a date. number of congregations in the Middle W e take it as an answer to prayer that West. O n a trip west to assist Brothers another teacher has been sent from AmerMcConaughy and Johnston, I spoke to an ica to teach in the school in Larnaca^ and elect few in the following congregations: we are grateful that M r . Charles Stewart Chicago, Morning Sun, Sharon, W y m a n , reached thefieldin plenty of time to take and Washington, la. It was a pleasure up the work w h e n school opened. But to meet with the brethren in these places, still w e are not satisfied. It is not suffiand, though the number present in each cient that w e have the machinery, and place was sraall, yet those present raani- that the Bible be faithfully taught every fested a deep interest, and I ara sure that day. W e need not only the teaching 'of the work in Cyprus will have a larger the Word, but a spiritual atraosphere in

N e w s of ihe Churches^ which the W o r d will take root. M u c h , if not everything, depends upon the atmosphere of the school spiritually. If it is surcharged with the divine dynamics, then souls will be changed and saved. W e want a spiritual revival in that school this winter, and w e ask the Lord's intercessors in the h o m e land to unite with us in this definite and specific prayer purpose. Is it too m u c h to expect that fifty souls, inside and outside of that school, will be brought into saving relations with Jesus Christ this winter? It is our expectation to sail for Cypras again about the end of Noveraber, but between n o w and then I hope to present the work in Cyprus to as raany congregations as opportunity shall afford.

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number ofraissionarieshave built houses so as to have a place to rest in summer. Most of the first few houses built were destroyed by a typhoon, but those that are now erected are thought to be able to withstand the storms that occasionally sweep over the place. The houses are mostly sraall cottages, but have to be built of stone or concrete, as nothing of wood is supposed to be able to withstand the eleraents and the white ants. Dr. AVright and M r . Mitchell have put up sraall cottages. In Mrs. Wright's absence they kindly allowed us four "KooNeungs" to occupy the Wright cottage. It has been a boon, for it is a very difficult raatter to- rent rooms on the island. The main attractions here are sea bathing and the absence of conventionalities, with the opportunity of meeting with workers China, Tak Hin^.A letter from Dr. Kate McBurney, begun Sept. 1, will be frora other missions, renewing old acread with special interest. quaintances and making new ones. T w o N o n e of us went to Macao this year for of our fellowraissionariesfrom a neighvacation. Only a few frora any of the boring mission were raarried during the Missions seem to care to go to that his- vacation, and the Tak Hing raissionaries toric place. I wonder if the Portuguese were all invited. The cereraony was permiss us. Perhaps the East Indian trader forraed in H o n g K o n g and the company from w h o m w e purchased our annual- was served with excellent home-made cake and real ice cream afterward. It was a supplies of dry goods will miss us as m u c h as any one else. H e was very nice pleasant occasion. The South China Medical Missionary to us, and always tried to have us buy Association held a two days' session on the more than the amount of raoney w e took with us, saying he had never lost a cent island whicii was very helpful. ' A t the close of this conference a general picnic frora a raissionary. Speaking of hira in the singular . i s not intended to convey the for all missionaries on the island, together with Sergeant Gordon and family, was idea that there was only one of him. The secret of our neglect of Macao is held in the shadow of one of the cottages. Sergeant Gordon is the only foreign m a n that w e n o w prefer to live on an island w h o belongs to the island.' H e is responunder the control of the British Governsible to H o n g Kong, but is really almost ment in H o n g Kong. The island is in two divisions, with a narrow neck be- an absolute monarch here. H e keeps the tween. It is for this reason sometiraes islanders under good control, and I think called Durab-Bell Island. The handle of they must like him, judging frora the inthe durab-bellor neck of the islandis fiuence he seeras to have over them. O n e thing is certain, he is a very popular m a n low, not m u c h above sea level. The two among the missionaries. Every one has a ends are very steep and irregular. A

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N e w s of the Churches. would have had unusually hot weather. Here it is very hot in the sunshine, but there is usually a cool ocean breeze, which you can enjoy if you do not have to go out of doors. This week has been what is called typhoony weather. The typhoon balls and other signals have been up in H o n g Kong, and there has been a falling barometer. Yesterday the island launches were ordered h o m e from H o n g Kong early by the harbor master, as the indications were rather threatening. Dr. Wright did not oome over from Hong K o n g last night, and we suppose he did not k n o w that the boats were to leave early. H e has been spending a month in the study of tropical diseases and their bacteriology. W e will look for him home this evening. Poor raan! Notwithstanding he has gone to the trouble of erecting a cottage (the word trouble is not used inadvisedly), he has nowhere in it to lay his head. The Mitchells have taken pity on him and allow him to spread a pallet (or, properly speaking, a cot) on their dining room floor, which he takes up in the morning. H e takes a - bite ancl a sup with the Koo-Neungs before he leaves and another on his return, and thus his days are spent. H e seemed imraensely happy the other day, and it turned out that he had a letter from Mrs. Wright, saying she would leave for China early in October. W e are also happy in the anticipation of Mr. K e m p f s early return with his bride and the other new people w h o m we expect to accompany him. According to the sailing schedule they are to arrive during the week after the third Sabbath of October. Our preparation services for comraunion will begin on the first Sabbath of October if present arrangeraents are carried out. These are to continue through the following week and comraunion is appointed for October, second Sabbath.

good word for Sergeant Gordon. A n d , indeed, they should have, for he shows us every Idndness and attention within his power. H e is lawyer for . ' u s w h e n we wish to know H o n g K o n g law in its application to us here, and it never seems to bother him, no matter how m a n y calls w e m a k e on him. H e is a Scotchman, and no doubt came of the old Scotch Covenanters. Mrs. Gordon is his worthy helpmeet in his genial ministrations. She is an intelligent and accomplished lady, and knows how toraalcefriends feel at horae in her house. It was she who with her husband sheltered four of us Tak Hing missionaries from a threatened typhoon two years ago. They have two fine little sons to cheer their home. Without these good people the island would not be what it is to the raissionaries. T w o series of preaching services of a week each have been held for the islanders since we came. Meetings were held each night in the open air. The attendance was very good. T w o m e n professed conversion. There were a few conversions before, and there is some work being done by the Baptists; but no resident foreign worker is here to oversee it. W e have had English services every Sabbath. It is good to hear. The second Sabbath, Rev. E. C. Mitchell was invited to preach. Last Sabbath Dr. A. I. Robb preached. Rev. J. K. Robb and faraily had been on the island but a few days when Margaret developed measles. T w o weeks later Joe followed suit, and on the week following Metheny succumbed to the same malady. 'Lawson has so far escaped, but it has meant quarantine for the whole family instead of the daily plays with other children and friends and the social intercourse, to which they looked forward with such keen anticipations. The one comfort is that they got away from Tak Hing when thoy did. Otherwise they

N e w s of the Churches. Dr, and Mrs. Robb left for Tak Hing this week. W e trust the threatening wea.ther has not hindered thera. It will no doubt help to break up the intense heat that has continued up West River. I neglected to say that, besides Chinese, raissionaries and Sergeant Gordon's faraily, this island is inhabited byfiies,mosquitoes, cockroaches and centipedes. Several of us have been bitten by the latter. They are not so large as those they boast at Cache Creek Mission, but just w.ait till we have been here as long as they have been at Cache Creek. A t any rate, w e can beat them by long odds when it comes to mold, rust and mildew. A death occurred in Tak Hing that will probably not be included in our annual statistics, so I will tell you of the case. A middle-aged Chinese w o m a n came occasionally to the dispensary, w h o had a cancer of the face. While it raight have been reraoved, she was unwilling. W h e n it was too late, she becarae urgent to have an operation. H e r husband is Recorder of Deeds, I think, at the Yaraen. H e carae in person one day to plead for an operation, but it was too late. Dr. Scott offered to dress the face daily for her relief, but she had to corae in a sedan chair, and coraplained that the jolting hurt her so she had to quit coraing. Dr. Scott asked if she would like to hear the gospel. She said she would, so the Doctor asked if I would call. I asked for volunteers to go with rae, and always had one and sometimes two. W e went daily for about a month. Occasionally one of the foreigners went, but always one or two Chinese w o m e n went with m e . One of the assistants in the hospital, the teacher in the girls' and women's school, one of the wash w o m e n , or a w o m a n from the school would gb along. W e sang a Psalm, read a chapter, talked awhile and prayed with her. She was very grateful, and always

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thanked us. One day w e had talked particularly of sin. She seemed m u c h interested, and asked, "Is Jesus willing to forgive ray sins?" M a n y times w e wonder if perhaps when w e tell new inquirers of sin, they m a y simply learn from us that they are sinners without any special realization of the fact. But she seemed to see several things more plainly than some of the w o m e n do. She professed belief from thefirst,and drank in hungrily everything we could tell her. Eleven of the w o m e n of her household were more or less regularly present, and three of these said, without our asking, "I believe this doctrine." One day the Chinese reported her death the previous night. "She died for two hours and came alive again." W h e n we called early in the raorning she was dressed in burial clothes and her face was covered with a handkerchief. She could not speak nor open her eyes. W h e n asked if she were relying on Jesus she nodded her head. W e were surprised to find her able to speak in the evening, and she could tell all that happened. Her throat seeraed to have been paralyzed teraporarily. She lived over three weeks after that and astonished the Chinese, to say nothing of ourselves, with her vitality. To the very last of our visits before coming to the coast, she was steadfast. She said she prayed and that her heart was at peace. Her death occurred shortly after w e came here. She died tn the faith, but her name is not on the Church roll. In a personal letter, dated Sept. 3, Rev. A. I. Robb reports return to Tak Hing: I ara able to -write again from Tak Hing, as m y wife and I returned home in the middle of the week. Our steamer left H o n g K o n g two hours ahead of schedule tirae to escape an approaching typhoon. After w e had been an hour

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N e w s of the Chiirches. eye just as Rev. R. A. Blair, only this raan had raalaria very badly for months and refused medicine for that and would not allow medicine to be put into his eye that the oculist might examine it. M y brother's children took the measles immediately after they reached the island for their vacation, and they had to be in quarantine the whole time, and are not yet out of it. They hope to retum home next week; but if one of the children who has not yet talcen it should develop the disease, they will have still further delay. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell came home yesterday. Dr. Wright and Drs. M c B u m e y hope to return next week. Miss Dean will stay a few days longer.

under way we ran into a hard blow that lasted long enough to raake us think w e had been unwise in starting, as the stearaer on which w e were has already been sunk twice in typhoons. However, the blow soon passed over, and w e had a nice trip home. S o m e of the others expect to come next week, and some will probably reraain at the coast until M r . Kerapf arrives. A t least, that is the present announcement. Writing again Sept. 10, he gives other items: I heard yesterday that a meraber of the Christian Alliance Mission, who carae out two years ago, has lost the sight of one

A T

HOIVII

Pennsylvania, New Alexandria.It i s

with sadness the Ladies' Missionary Society of N e w Alexandria Congregation place on record a tribute of love and respect to the memory of Mrs. B. A. Milligan, w h o died July 27, 1910. She was an active, cheerful member. She had strength of character, good judgraent and Avas ever ready to do her part in extending Christ's Kingdora in the world; could see no discouragements, but trusted in her Saviour for strength to overcome them. In Mrs. Milligan's death our society has lost a faithful worker, a liberal giver, and eaeh one of us a friend and coun-

selor. W e cherish the memory of her consecrated life, and profit by her exaraple. W e extend our sincere sympathy to the bereaved family and enter this expression of our esteera upon the minutes. Committee. Minnesota, Glenwood.The Missionary Society of Reno record a tribute to the meraory of Mrs. J. K. Elsey, their president, w h o was called horae July 10. She found pleasure in working for her Saviour in the home and church. The husband and seven children miss a loving counselor, and w e a friend. Committee.

Dr. Guthrie once met a child in the Cowgate of Edinburgh, a stunted little creature, struggling along with a baby in her arms nearly as big as herself. H e patted her on the head and asked her if her burden was too heavy for her. "He's no burden," she replied; "he's m a wee brither." Love m a d e her burden light. A n d how raany a burden does love lift in this world until it becoraes no burden! If we only get raore love in our hearts there will be fewer and lighter burdens in our hands and on our shoulders. Love for Jesus Christ malces all His burdens easy and His yoke lightThe Preshyterian Banner.

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M O N O G R A P H S .
which the fact bf such a connection m a y be established. T o this end they labor to overthrow our Sabbath laws, to banish the Bible and all religious exercises from our public schools and to prevent the This country is yours. It is the land acknowledgment of God or of Jesus Christ of your birth. It is the birthplace of in any public act or declaration. O f all your fathers; perhaps of your remoter the reports to be presented at this Conancestors. Y o u have been watchful ob- ference, there will be none probably of so servers of every step of her progress^her great intrinsic interest or so momentous vast and growing wealth, her expansion in their practical bearings as the reports over n e w territory, the development of on the relation of Christianity and govher industries, the increase of her popu- ernment in the United States. lation. W e have been glad and have reIt is hoped and desired, therefore, that joiced over all this material progress. this Conference will be m a d e the occasion W e have been proud of ourfiag,and proud of a great demonstration of the American of the noble inheritance w e shall shortly people in support of their national Chrisleave to our children. tianity. The evidence which establishes A t the same time w e are not unaware our claim to be in some real and imporof the evils which have developed in our tant sense a Christian nation, as found in national life. W e have seen or have read our history, our laws, our judicial deof the corruption whieh prevails in some cisions and govemmental usages, will be of our State and municipal governments. marshalled and arrayed in suitable reW e have grieved over the ravages of the ports, addresses and publications as never liquor traffic, over the families broken u p before in the history of the nation. W e under our divorce laws, over the increas- hope to put ail end to the misrepresentaing desecration of the Lord's Day, over tions by which the- United States is conthe spread of profanity, unchastity and stantly referred to abroad as an example lawlessness a m o n g the people. of a nation and government without any In the presence of these evils the pro- religion, and w e hope to fumish an posed World's Christian Citizenship Con- arsenal from which the friends of our ference, ta be held in Philadelphia, Nov. national Christianity will be able to draw 16-20, has a special interest for American invincible weapons for years to come. W e hope, moreover, that this Confercitizens. T h e subjects with which it will be concerned are subjects which are ear- ence will be of profoundly religious innestly, and are to be yet raore eamestly, terest; a great step toward a genuine rediscussed in the United States.. There is vival of national religion and toward a a portion of our citizens w h o are opposed true turning of the nation to God in reto any connection of our government with pentance and reformation. In a design Christianity, and w h o axe constantly striv- so reasonable, so patriotic, so beneficent, ing to divorce the nation from any con- w e believe w e can rely on the sympathy nection with the Christianity of her peo- and co-operation of Christian citizens generally and on the favor and help of the ple, and to obliterate all the e-ridences by

WORLD'S

CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP CONFERENCE. TO CHRISTIAN CITIZENS OF AMERICA. Fellow Patriots:

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Monographs, Christian nations are seeking material prosperity rather than "the Kingdom of God and His righteousness." Even Christian raen are swept along with the powerful currents of the national life. There is danger that the great nations of the Orient, awakening now from the torpor of centuries, will be swept into the stream of a purely material civilization. The voice which would call all nations to recognize the higher ends of national life must be, for the present, "a voice crying in the wilderness." This mighty task must not be essayed in the wisdom or the strength of the fiesh. Only one Power can give success. That Power is the Spirit of the Living God. His help is promised in answer to prayer. It can only be obtained by prayer. It will surely be withheld from those w h o do not pray. Tberefore this appeal. 4. In view of the sure promises of ultimate and glorious success. W e know that all nations whora God has raade "shall come and worship before H i m " (Psalm 86, 9 ) , and that "the nations shall be given to Christ for His inheritance" (Psalm 2, 8 ) . In past years most governments of the earth have been wielded by Satan as his chief instruments of opposition to Christ and His cause. Our Saviour wasfirstsought by the sword of Herod, and died at last by the combined action of the Jewish and R o m a n powers. Is it not time that H e should have the active service, in their proper sphere, of the powers which have so long opposed Hira ? A n d will not God "be inquired of by His people for these things to do it for them" ? Moved by these considerations, will not Christian citizens, before whose eyes these words m a y come, pray for the blessing of God on the approaching Conference; for special guidance in completing the arrangements for it; for a blessing oti the

Spirit and the Providence of the Christ. M a y we not, therefore, appeal hopefully to you to w h o m these words raay corae to make an earnest effort to be present at this Conference? Our country needs you. The cause of good government needs you. It cannot succeed without you. C o m e and cast the weight of your presence and your personal infiuence on the side of your country's welfare, in behalf of the cause of Christ, and for the good of the uncounted millions, who will be involved in the destiny of this nation in future years. S.F. Scovel, D.D., LL.D., Pres. Nat. Ref. Assn. T. P. Stevensok, D.D., LL.D., Corresponding Secretary. AN A P P E A L FOR PRAYER. Those who are arranging for the approaching World's Christian Citizenship Conference appeal for earnest, importunate and persevering prayer by all friends of the undertaking. 1. Because this Conference is the first of its kind in the history of the world. There are no precedents to follow, no programs of previous assemblies from which suggestions raay be drawn, no foundations laid on which future progress m a y be -builded. 2. Because the ends sought in this Conference are strictly biblical or scriptural ends. It is foretold that great voices shall yet be heard proclaiming "the kingdora of the world is become the Kingdom of our Lord and/ of His Christ," and that "all kings shall fall down before H i m , all nations shall serve Hira." This Conference is called to consider the principles on which this mighty change is to be wrought out in huraan society, and how Christian effort in all countries raay be raost wisely directed to this result. 3. Because of the difficulties of the task. The secular idea of civil government widely prevails. The so-called

Monographs. words which shall be spoken, on the decisions which shall be reached, and on the reports which shall be published. A n d shall w e not also pray that the eyes of m e n m a y be opened to see in the W o r d of God, in all the languages into which it has been translated, the Christian principles of civil society; that Christian citizens in all countries m a y stand more firmly and more intelligently for these principles, and that the norainally Christian nations m a y learn to illustrate better the meaning and results of Christian civil governraent, and its consistency with individual and social liberty and with all huraan welfare.

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casions him little or no thought. H e is dealing with the superfiuities, with the mere selvedge of the web. But he has one child, the pride of his heart, the hope of his life. A n d one day a strange fire is kindled in the lad's heart, and a strange light comes into his eyes, and the lad knows himself to be called of God to the foreignfield."Father, I want to be a raissionary." A n d the light fades out of the father's sky, and the hopes of a life turable down like teraples built in drearas. "I want to go away!" "Take now thy son, thine only son, whora thou lovest and offer him for an offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell you of." That is the experience which shatters. SACRIFICIAL GIVING. "Jesus sat down over against the treas- That is where experience ripens into life. ury, and beheld h o w the multitude cast The guinea was given, and nothing with money into the treasury." A n d they were it. The lad was given, and a life went all unconscious of the Observer. with hira, and there were blood marks all O n what principle,firstamong others, along the way. It is the things w e can't does the Master shape His judgment of spare which raake our offerings alive. our giving? Mere living becoraes real Y o u hear a call to service. A n appeal life when it becomes sacrificial. W e be- is made for workers among the children gin to operate with vital force when w e of disadvantage and want. Y o u say you cross the border into the land of sacrifice. had no tirae to spare. Perhaps if you had So long as w e remain among the super- rauch tirae to spare the Master could not fluities w e are in the shadowy realm of use it. I mean that if you had superexistence, and w e have not begun to live. fluities you raight treat them as superfluiW e do not come within the range of the ties and they would be irapotent for serheavenly standards until all superfiuities vice. "I can easily spare half an hour. I have been peeled and stripped away. T h e shall be delighted to offer that!" N o , things that w e can ill spare carry part of it's the half hour we can't easily spare ourselves, and are alive. " H e that spared for which our Master is hungry. not His only Son," the O n e H e could not Y o u say you have been "teaching all spare, gave Hiraself with the gift, and in the wealth of the sacrifice our rederaption the weelc," and it would be "hard lines" and just because it would cost you somewas born. Here is a m a n w h o can spare a guinea thing, and just because the offering would for the foreign field. H e has no hesita- be blood money, it would tell tremendoustion about the offering. Nay, he can even ly in the treasury of the Lord. It is when you get h o m e from your relegate the matter to a clerk, and on work at night, and there's the promise of the recurring days the amount is paid with the regularity of the sunrise. It oc- slippered ease, and inviting music is at

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Monographs.

hand, or an alluring book at your elbow, and you feel the fascination of it all, and then you hear the cry of huraan need, like a raoaning wind d o w n a dreary street, and you rise, tired, though you are, with honest work, and you put on your coat again and you go out into the cheerless night, and to a still raore cheerless slura, to take Christ and cheer to the victim of nightit is then you begin to live and to raise others from the dead. It is the hour cut out of the vital day, it is that piece of time cut right out of your sweet h o m e life, and given to the poor, that will be the season of rairacles, for "if a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it bringeth forth rauch fruit." It is when our giving, whether of raoney or strength or tirae, touches the quick that it becoraes vital, and existence passes into life, and w e share the travail of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.Rev. J. H . Jowett, D.D., in The Christian World.

to prove the sincerity of your love"), you are to observe the same rule which I have already given to the churches of Galatia. This rule, extended from Galatia to Corinth, is also extended to us, as given by inspired apostolic authority. A n d it ought to have the same authority with us as the equally definite instructions given in this same Epistle on marriage. Church discipline, and the Lord's Supper. It is evident that the general impression about this rule is, that it is good but not authoritative for us, a matter of choice, rather than of Christian obligation; and m a n y think that the c o m m o n way is good enough, and m a n y raore do not think about it at all. W e need only reply, that since the rule is intrinsically good, since it is based on the well-settled obligations of riches, since it has general Scripture support, and since it nourishes pure liberality, it has sufficient authority in itself to be an obligation. W e need not hesitate to bind the conscience by the Apostle's words, "/ have given order." T h e adTHE BIBLE RULE FOR GIVING. vantages of the rule will endear it in prac"As I have given order to ihe churches tice. A n d it is because the authority of of Galatia, even so do ye. U p o n the first the rule has been so m u c h disregarded, day of the week, let every one of you lay that the evils have walked in as through by him in store as God hath prospered open gates. Doubtless it will seem strange him."I. Cor. 16 :1, 2. to raany to read so - wide a charge of Here is the language of authority"I neglect to comply with a rule which has have given order." It is a coramand. the authority and blessing of a comW e must note, however, that the commandraent. But the charge is fairly m a n d did not concern the collection itself, raade. A n d it is our special object to into which he referred, but it concemed the fluence and confirra m e n in a better way. m o d e in which they were to raake it. T h e Note next, that this c o m m a n d is for collection itself was a Christian obligaevery one. "It is not the rich only that tion. H e therefore took it for granted that are commanded to give of their abunthey would in some ivay coraply with it. dance, but the poor of their poverty. If But the m o d e of making it was a benevolence is a duty, all raust discharge proper subject for apostolic direction. it. If it is a privilege, all are entitled to N o w , concerning this collection, he says its enjoyraent." If w e are not faithful ("for which I do not m a k e a commandin that which is least, what shall we be, ment (II. Cor. 8, 8 ) , but speak by oc- should God give us more? D o w e not casion of the forwardness of others and provoke Hira to take away even that

Monographs. which w e have? Let all then, rich and poor, talce part in this grace cheerfully, and as G o d hath prospered them. Note next, that the collection was to be m a d e every Lord's Day. It is not said directly that the collection was to be m a d e in the church; yet, this is a necessary inference, for the Apostle wanted to avoid gatherings w h e n he came, and this would have to be done if .each one kept his weekly gift at home. T h e fact is, that collections are not an intrusion on Sabbath worship. They rather belong rightfully and appropriately to the day. " W e must not only worship God, but 'do good on the Sabbath.' T h e Sabbath celebrates the most joyful event in the history of the world, the resurrection of the Son of G o d ; h o w appropriate, then, that deeds of charity should raingle with songs of praise to our risen Redeeraer." 'And since benevolence is a religious exercise, a grateful tribute to God, the time best suited to it is the holy day and the joyful convocation, when the affections are raost elevated, and the heart raost sincere. These collections were thus directed to be m a d e weekly. But m a n y persons in these days of extended enterprises cannot tell week by week h o w God has prospered them, that is, they cannot tell the state of their business, and the amount of their gains for such short periods.' Sorae can only do it by the raonth, the quarter or the year. T h e spirit of this part of the law will then be fulfilled by selecting some such convenient and stated period, devoting a certain proportion of all its gains to the Lord, and giving it out as H e calls for it. "It should be frequent enough to keep pace with his earnings. It ought to be stated, that it m a y not be forgotten." Note lastly, that this passage directs, with divine authority, h o w w e are to determine the amount of our gifts to the

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Lord, during any stated period of time. There are two kinds of claims upon our substance; the one belonging to ourselves, our farailies and our business; the other, belonging to the Church, the poor and the world at large. They are both rightful clairas. But the one raay be called our o w n clairas, the other the clairas of God; the one the claims of nature, the other the clairas of grace. N o w , h o w m u c h shall be given to the claims of grace, and of G o d ? There is but one right m o d e of determining. T h e passage authorizes but one. It therefore forbids the comraon and uncertain raode of leaving it to the so-called "dictates of Providence," or the liberal feelings of the raoraent. It is this coraraon m o d e from which the comraon evils discussed before have sprung. The m o d e authorized and directed is that which is familiarly called tithes. A definite amount is to be given, in a stated tirae, to all God's causes put together; this definite araount being a certain proportion of your incorae for that tirae. In this way only do you give "as God hath prospered you." Let rae restate it. It is raade your duty in this year to give to God's glory a certain {not an uncertain) amount of money. A n d this certain amount is to be ascertained by its being a definite proportion (or percentage) of all God's blessings to you. T h e total amount being thus deterrained, then God leaves it to your intelligent judgment to divide it. If you have a fixed incorae, you know in the beginning of the year exactly h o w m u c h you are to give away in it. If you are in business, you can base your charities on estimates. Every good business m a n can estimate at any tirae h o w he is succeeding; and at the close of the year, he, too, can m a k e his account with the Lord exact. -Presbyterian Trad.

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Women's Department.

WOMEN'S

DEPARTMENT.

Mrs. T. H . Acheson and Mrs. J. S. Martin, Editors.

MISSION

STUDY.

Conducted by Mes. F. M. Wilson. WESTERN WOMEN IN EASTERN LANDS. LESSON II.CHAPTER I I . The lesson deals with woman's l i f e in the Orient. Make the lesson a contrast between
w o m e n of the West, where "ladies first" prevails, and those of the East, where "ladies last" is the rule. Use the tests recoraraended by Dr. Dennis, on page 46, and determine .the status of the Eastern w o m a n by (1) the estimate put upon her; (2) the opportunity given her; (3) the functions assigned her; (4) the privileges granted her, and (5) the service expected of her. D o not fail to make clear that we of the West are what w e are because of the religion of Christ, and that they of the Bast are what they are because of their religion. The wrongs and abuses of Chinese, Hindu and Moslera w o m e n are sanctioned by their religion and are the natural outgrowth of the teachings of the founders of their faiths. See this in 1. W h a t Confucius taught: M a n suprerae; woman's three obediences; her business; divorce. 2. W h a t Buddha taught: Woraan's iramortality ; customs of comraon life araong Chinese, Japanese, and Korean woraen. 3. W h a t M o h a m m e d taught: Moslem theory and practice; Moslem testiraony; Missionary testiraony. 4. "What M a n u taught: Seclusion; child marriage; enforced widowhood; consecrated prostitution; religious obscenity. Contrast the teachings of Jesus as pre-

sented in the Bible, showing (1) the prominence assigned to woraen in the Bible, (2) the tone of raoral purity that pervades the Bible, and (3) that in the Bible are enunciated principles which will lead to the coraplete eraancipation of women. Answer the objection sometiraes made that in Christendom, too, w e have the white slave traffic, the red light district and other forces degrading to womanhood by pointing out that in non-Christian lands these wrongs -and injustices are sanctioned by the people and are unashamed, because embedded in their religion, while in Christian countries they are recognized as sin, and known to be contrary to all religious standards and practices. The hope of Oriental womanhood is the gospel of Jesus Christ. D o not overlook our share in the realization of that hope. Have a season of prayer for heathen womenthose of Syria or China, perhaps. Five w o m e n impersonating a Hindu, Chinese, Moslera, Japanese and Korean could each tell of woraan's life in the country she represents,- from facts given in the book. They might dress in costume. Trace on the m a p during the raeeting "The Empire of the Mother-in-law," India, China, Japan, Korea and the Moslem countries. Contrast with "The .Mother's Empire" in Christian lands. H a n g side by side two large circles drawn on paper or muslin; one entitled "Where they have family meals," the other "Where the wife talces what is left." One includes all Christian coun-

Women's Depa/rtment. tries, the other all non-Christian. Write the names of the countries in each. Note the contrast. M a k e a chart, showing the relative number of Christian w o m e n in the world. Paper or muslin, three -yards long and half a yard wide. Leave six inches at top, and print " T h e World's Woraen" across it. With a margin on either side m a k e six two-inch columns. Beginning at the left, head the colurans "Christian," "Japanese," "African," "Moslem," "Indian," and "Chinese." In column one put 45 little gold seals or wafers. Each seal represents 1,000,000 women. Japan gets 25 blue seals, Africa 55 black, Moslem lands 100 green, India 146 red, and China 210 yellow. If seals cannot be had, use dots m a d e of different colored crayon or water colors.

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THE WOMEN FOR WHOM WE ARE PRAYING. I have been asked to write something abput the women of China, and while I
do not pretend to be an authority at all on this vast subject, perhaps sorae of the things observed during a very brief stay in that land raay help to m a k e our prayers for our sisters there more intelligent. T h e people a m o n g w h o m w e work are mostly poor, and the horaes are bare of comforts and even what w e call necessities. O n e of our lady physicians w h o was lately called to the h o m e of the official in T a k Hing, wrote that the wife had little to m a k e her comfortable, and that our lady missionaries were quite well enough clad in calico wrappers to call on her. It is trae that in coast cities m a n y of the Chinese have good homes, but this is, at least indirectly, on account of contact with the foreigner. A w a y from such inflnence, their homes are dirty, uncomfortable, unventilated, and unattractive in every particular. In m a n y cases one room

serves as sleeping room for the fainily, the pigs, chickens, and such other live stock as they possess. T h e Chinese w o m a n seems to have no idea of horae-raaking and house-keeping. But sadder is her social position.-Everywhere she is kept in ignorance and is treated as inferior to raan. She is not even allowed to eat with her husband. Even araong the wealthier classes, where her life is one of comparative ease or idleness, she is kept in ignorance; such ignorance, that she is stupid and does not even know that she is capable of being educated. W e knew of an educated Chinaman, in anotherraissionfield,w h o was friendly to the inissionaries, but whose wife was so ignorant that he was ashamed of her and would not allow the missionaries to raeet her. Woraan's position is even worse than that of the beast, for the Chinaraan is kind to aniraals, but he is not kind to his wife. W h a t a raessage of life and joy w e have for these poor woraen. M a n y Christian woraen have hard lives and trials that are too heavy to bear alone, but they have the never-failing help of our loving Saviour, while these poor, down-trodden sisters have nothing but darkness and ' despair. Their rainds arefilledwith horrible superstitions and sin. A n d there are about 750,000 of these woinen and girls for whora, as a Church, w e are responsible. This great corapany of woraen and only one school for girls, which can receive only about twenty-five, and one school where w o m e n are taught to read the Bible. A n d the girls' school, so far, has always been taught by the wives of ourraissionaries,or by 'those appointed to other duties. M u c h has been done in other parts for woraen. They have been lifted from the darkness of ignorance and prepared for positions of influence. Already in other

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Women's Department. nurabers bf thefirstclass challenges us to answer w h y these foreign-born have corae? Frora our standpoint w e answer that the relation between industrial activity and immigration has invited them; but frora God's standpoint we think the answer is that they might find the Christ. W e have not taken H i m to them, so they have come to us. Certainly no missionary society within whose territory these strangers are placed will ask, "What shall our work be?" Formerly the work has been to send the gospel, but surely God is showing us an added duty to give the gospel. H o w shall it be done? Following is a brief outline of the work as planned in Beaver Falls: First, to secure from Rev. Losa, a converted Bohemian minister w h o has an institute both in Coraopolis and Pittsburg, a m a n to investigate thefield,findingout the different nationalities and number of each. A s a rule, there are Italians, Magyars and Slovacs, which includes Croatians, Lithuanians and Slovenians. Work taken up a m o n g one nationality means the exclusion of other nationalities, as they do not work together. Second, to have classes, either day or night, Bible and industrial. It is the plan to have two or raore merabers of the raissionary society take charge of the work for a week in t u m . Might this not be m a d e one of the strong departments of the work of all of our missionary societies, and thus add to that great multitude w h o shall "sing a new song," saying "For Thou wast slaia and hast redeemed us to G o d by Thy blood, out of every kindred and toiigue and people and nation. Blessing and honor and glory and power, be unto H i m that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Larab forever and ever."

parts of China woraen are coming to the front. They are editors of woraen's papers, leaders in women's work, physicians, nurses, teachers, etc. They are proving bright and efficient. W e wish to and can do as rauch for those in our o w n field. A beginning has already been raade. Our first convert was a w o m a n . W e have a dear Bible w o m a n , one of the most influential m e m bers of the congregation, and one w h o is doing m u c h good. Quite a number of girls have been in the school for a longer or shorter tirae, and there is a little company of w o m e n w h o are Christians, some raaking their profession in the face of great persecution. To-day, in spite of the belief that w o m e n should not or could not be educated, more girls are coraing to our school than can be received. W h a t a cry for help those 750,000 sisters send out to us. H o w gladly w e should respond with our prayers and efforts.

Mrs. R. a. Blair. COMING TO US FOR THE GOSPEL.

There is perhaps hardly araeraberof the great reading public w h o has not been appalled at thefiguresthat have been given us in the recent census reportninety and one-halfraillionsof people in the United States!ninety and one-halfraillionsof living souls! W h o are they ? A s w e look at the classified statistics, before our mind there comes a more or less shadowy irapression of an instreaming Christless immigrant horde that has filed in through our ports, and has scattered here and there, taking up the fight for an existence with the hope that in n e w quarters the struggle raight be against fewer odds. Side by side with these are counted the native-born rich and poor, educated and ignorant. Christian and non-Christian. T h e presence in such wonderfully vast

Dell Walker.

Women's Department.

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P R O G R A M M E O F MISSION CONFERENCE. REPORT O F LATAKIA C H U R C H BUILDTO BE HELD IN THE ING FUND. 8th Street Church, Pittsburg, Pa., Amount reported to Aug. 31, '10.$3015.03 at 2:30 P. M., Nov. 10, 1910. Sept. 6, Rev. J. S. Martin, Mrs. R. a. Steele to Preside. Supt. Nat. Reform.. 25.00 Praise Service 2:30 to 3:00 Sept. 16, Mankato, Kans., per Conference on Mission Study 3:00 to 3:30 Mrs. B. W . McMahon 17.00 1. "Why Encourage Mission Sept. 16, Kansas City, Mo., per Study Classes ? 3:00 to 3:10 Mrs. Mary Lowe... 25.00 Sept. 19, Clarinda, la., per Mrs. 2, "Who Should Belong to Miss'n Study Classes.. 3:10 to 3:20 .Margaret McKeowan 60.00 Open Parliament 3:20 to 3:30 Sept. 22, Denver, Colo., per Miss Conference on Mission M . J. Carswell 25.00 Band Work 3:30 to 4:00 Total to Sept. 30, 1910 $3167.03 1. H o w to Organize and Mrs. j. R. Copeland, Conduct a Mission Parnassus, Pa. Treasurer. Band 3:30 to 3:46 2. Results to be Attained in Mission Band Work. 3:40 to 3:50 EDITORS' NOTES. W e are happy to announce to our readOpen Parliament 3:50 to 4:00 ers that Mrs. R. A. Blair has Icindly conConference on ThankOffering 4:00 to 4:30 sented to take charge of a page in the Women's Department, specially adapted 1. What Constitutes a Thank Offering 4:00 to 4:10 to young people's work. She will, from time to time, give fresh news from our 2. H o w Increase our Thank Offering 4:10 to 4:20 different missionfields,of special interest. Open Parliament 4:20 to 4:30 Having spent some time in the foreign Conference on Literature.. .4:30 to 5:00 mission work, she knows the needs, and is 1. Our Literature 4:30 to 4:40 willing to lend a "helping hand" to create a deeper interest araong. the youth 2. Our Women's Dept. in Olive Trees 4:40 to 4:50 of our Church in doing mission work. Send direct to her any suggestions you Open Parliament 4:50 to 5:00 Adjournment. Social Hour. have found helpful in your societies. Address College Hill, Beaver Falls, Pa. Evening Session. Devotional Exercises 7:45 to 8:00 Address, Miss Mattie Wylie.. 8:00 to 8:30 Psalm 67 S.M. Address, Mrs. W . McCarroll.8:30 to 9:00 Psalm 72:15-16 C M . Benediction. (Visitors ( K i l l please bring lunch.) Bxecnitiva Committee of the Women's Presbyterial Missionary Soeiety of the Pittsbui'g Presbytery w i l l meet at 1:30 P. M., Nov. 10'. We desire to call special attention to Mission Study conducted by Mrs. F. M . Wilson. W e consider ourselves most fortunate in being able to secure Mrs. Wilson to do this work from month to month, and trust that the woraen of our Church will show their appreciation of her service by carefully following her suggestions for study each raonth. Let us have the best year yet in Mission Study.

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Editoriai Notes.

EDITORIAL At the meeting of the Board of Foreign Missions, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 1910, Miss Annie J. Robinson, a member of Brooklyn (N. Y.) Congregation, was appointed to Talc Hing Chau, China, to be connected with the hospital there as trained nurse. W e publish the following sentences from m a n y recoraraendations

N O T E S .

Miss Annie J. Robinson

to apply;" "It would be hard to find a person, of more deeply religious and spiritual life than I have always found her to be, and mingled.with.it is the sturdy North of Ireland pluck which has marked her career;" "I have the deepest regard and respect for her in every way, and consider her in m a n y ways a wonderful w o m a n in what she has accomplished. She makes m a n y . friends on account of her sterling qualities and kind heart;" "1 would regard, her appointment, as a very decided gain to the missionary force of our Church." Miss Robinson.left N e w York Monday, Oct. 10, intending to sail on Wednesday, the 19th of that month, from Vancouver on SS. Empress, of India for H o n g Kong. She carries with her the good wishes of m a n y friends, and will have .their prayers for her success in the foreign field. . The appointment of Rev. D. Raymond Taggart, of Beaver Falls, Pa., as missionary to China, was announced in Olive Trees for September, with extracts from m a n y testimonials to his character and special fitness for foreign service. M r . and Mrs. Taggart left home Monday, Oct. 3, 1910, and sailed from San Francisco for H o n g K o n g on the SS. Asia, the 10th of that month. They -will have a place in the prayers of the Church.

presented to the Board that the churches The following card from Rev. Dr. J-as. raay know her qualifications for so iraS. Stewart will be welcome news to the portant a position: "Peculiarly fitted Church: for the work,first,because of her spiritual "10 P. M., Sept. 24, 1910. life, and, secondly, because of her pro" W e are n o w under way for Latakia. fessional efficiency;" " A young- woraan W e have seen and called on the missionof refineraent and of a high type of aries at Larnaca and Mersina, and Revs. Christian character, she can be depended S. Edgar and Jas. Martin called on us on to faithfully fulfill the requirements to-day at Alexandretta. Our voyage could of any position for which she m a y see fit not have been more pleasant. W e hope to

Editorial Notes. worship with our brethren at Latakia tomorrow, and give thanks for our Father's gracious care." Dr. John Peoples, medical missionary at Mersina, Asia Minor, met his fiancee. Miss I. Evadna Sterrett, on the arrival of Dr. Stewart's party at Beirut, and a cable received at Philadelphia, Pa., dated 9/28/10, 8:30 P. M., read as follows: "Married Wednesday.Peoples.''''

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2. Mrs. T. H. Acheson, 117 W. Mclntyre Avenue, N. S., Pittsburg, Pa., and Mrs. J. S. Martin, College Hill, Beaver
Falls, Pa., will act as editors of the "Women's Department," and articles intended for publication in this department m a y be sent to either address. 3. A t the request of the "Women's Departnient," all new subscribers for Olive Trees for 1911 will also receive the December nuraber for 1910:

Mes. D. Raymond Taggabt Special attention is called to the following announcements: 1. T h e priee of "Western W o m e n in Eastern Lands" is 30 cents in paper or 50 cents in cloth binding; or by mail, including postage, 35 cents for paper cover and 57 cents for cloth. Persons ordering the book through the Mission Study Secietary will please inclose postage.

Kev. D. Raymond Taggabt THIRTEEN NUMBERS FOR ONE DOLLAR. But, in order that this plan may be successfnlly carried out, it will be necessary for us to know the approximate number, and, if possible, have the names of new subscribers before the first of December, that the edition for that month and the following year m a y be sufficiently large to meet the demand, and yet not so far run over the demand as to involve us in unnecessary expense.

. Mrs. Robert M. Pearce, 1835 Fourth Ave., Beaver Falls, Pa.

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Editorial Notes.

the remaining 40 per cent, of our Church members, together with as m a n y adherents TWENTY-FIVE ADDITIONAL MISSIONARIES : MIN- as can be enlisted. W e call very serious attention to what w e regard as a great ISTERS, PHYSICIANS, TEACHERS AND and fundamental raistake, viz., for the TRAINED NURSES. heads of families to subscribe for their The official report of action "taken with whole families, instead of each member great heartiness and unanimity" at the of the family being led to m a k e a definite Laymen's Missionary Conference, held at personal subscription,, to the work of Greensboro, N . C , Oot. 3 and 4, contains evangelizing the world. T h e grace of givthe following statement: ing and the habit of giving should be cul" W e find, on careful examination, that tivated and developed in every individual even now, after the special efforts of the life. This grace and this habit can be developed far more easily in childhood past year, not over 60 per cent, of our Church members are systematic contribu- and youth than in maturer years. W e , tors to the work of missions. For the therefore, set before ourselves the purpose sake of our Church members themselves, of enlisting absolutely the whole Church as well as for the sake of Christ and the membership as individual, systeraatic and needy world, w e believe that our efforts proportionate givers, according to the should be eamestly and prayerfully direct- Scriptural principles enunciated in I. Cor. ed to securing definite subscriptions from 16, 2." The Board of Foreign Missions renews its original call for

Through the efforts of the W o m e n ' s Department eighty subscribers have been secured for Olive T r e e s for the three months ending December, 1910. The first Congregation to report this missionary monthly taken in every family is. Cedarville, Ohio.

A n advance m o v e m e n t in foreign missionary work demands not only a large increase in the number of laborers, but a large increase in contributions for their support. ThefirstSabbath of December is the date on which the offerings are to be m a d e for the Missions in the Levant, and the full appropriation of $17,500 will be required to meet salaries andfieldexpenses. The Board solicits the hearty co-operation of ministers, elders and people in this matter. The m o n e y that w e handle belongs to the Lord, and, in answer to prayer. H e will certainly put it into the hearts of His servants to provide the necessary funds to cover present deficits and carry forward the work of the year without incurring any debt.

A s w e go to press the mail brings us, from Student Volunteer Movement, N e w York, " The Decisive H o u r of Christian Missions " by Mr. John R. Mott. Notice will appear next month.

A Monthly Journal devoted to Missionary W o r k in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. No. DECEMBER, 1910. 12.

Q U E S T I O N S

O F

T H E

H O U R .

A WORLD-WIDE RECOGNITION OF THE KINGLY CLAIMS OF CHRIST, AS MEDIATOR, THE AIM OR END OF FOREIGN MISSIONS.* Rev. j. M. Foster, Boston. the administration of foreign missions has been conducted by the reigning mediator on a world-wide scale.
(CONCIiUDED FEOM PAGE 248.) A student in Yale College was so enthusiastic in religious meetings that the faculty suspended him in his senior year. That was David Brainard. H e becarae araissionaryto the Indians. H e threaded the N e w England forests in midwinter, going from one camp to another, slept in huts and a . t e the plain food of the Indians. At last he took consumption, returned to the house of Jonathan Edwards, to whose daughter he was engaged, and died in the arms of Dr. Edwards. H e had kept a diary. Dr. Edwards published it. It fell into the hands of a cobbler in England and -he became a pillar of fire. Let rae introduce you to a meeting in the parlor of the widow Wallace, at Kettering, where twelve obscure Baptists gathered and listened to William Carey. H e agreed to go to India if they would raise enough money to pay the fare of himself '~~*An address at the Foreign Mission Conference of the Synod of the Beformed Presbyterian Chureh at Winona Lake, Ind., M a y 27,- 1910.

and his wife. That was October, 1792. H e was sent. H e became an indigo manufacturer and cleared $450,000 by the enterprise. All went to the mission. H e mastered the Sanscrit language and became Professor in the Royal College at Port Williams at $500 per month. This also he gave to the mission. H e translated the Bible into the language of Bengal. His letters h o m e led to the organization of the London Missionary Society in 1795. That society has a chain of missions girdling the world. But the hand that was pierced is still more manifest in the preparation of the workers for each field. T h e ball and socket of the bones of the joint are not raore perfectly adapted than was Cyrus Hamlin to wrestle with the Sultan of Turkey and secure permission to build Roberts College on a hill overlooking the Bosphorus, or Hepburn to translate the Bible into the Japanese language, or Adoniram Judson to translate the Bible into the Burmese, or Morrison to translate the Bible into the Chinese language. But the hand of the Mediator is specially conspicuous in preparing thefields.Rev. C. A. R. Janvier, w h o was b o m in India, educated in America, and spent fourteen years as missionary in his native land, spoke at Northfield in 1906, on "Oppoirtunity in the East, Responsibility in tlie West." H e directed attention to Syria, Arabia, Persia, Afghanistan, Hindostan,

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Questions of the Hour. his book, "The Awakening of China," mentions five Acts of the Drama. The first was "The Opiura W a r " of 1839. T h e Emperor discovered that the opium brought by British vessels from India was destroying his people. H e issued a decree forbidding its importation and seized a vessel loaded with the drug, destroyed the cargo and dismantled the ship. T h e dignity of the British nation was touched and war was declared. The outcome was Great Britain seeured a large concession from China, the WeiHei-Wei coalfields,and opened the ports to her Indian opium product. The second Act was the "Arrow War." A Prench vessel, sailing under the British fiag, was seized, the cargo of opium emptied into the sea and the ship dismantled. This was casus bellum again. T h e outcome of this was more concessions to Great Britain and treaty guarantees for the security of the opium traffic. This is the eternal shame of our Christian civilization. The third Act was "The French War" of 1885. The outcome of this was large concessions made by China to the French Government. N o wonder China was alarmed. The fourth Act was '"The ChineseJapanese W a r " of 1895. The Japan vie-, tory was complete. She asked the possession of Korea as the frait of her victory. But Russia had built a railroad down through Manchuria and fortified Port Arthur. A n d the protest of Russia in the councils of the powers was heeded and Japan was denied Korea and given the island of Formosa on the south. This engendered the spirit that produced the confiict between Japan and Russia in 1904. Japan destroyed the Russian fleet and drove their army out of Manchuria. T h e fifth Act was the "Boxer Uprising" of 1898. T h e causes of this are not

Siam, the Philippines, China, Japan and Manchuria. These lands contain almost half the world's population. T h e two great religions are the Hindoo and the M o h a m m e d a n . The one is pantheism, the other fatalisra. Both produce moral and spiritual death. For ages these nations have been like the dry bones in Ezekiel's valley of vision. But since the advent of the missionaries there has been a noise and shaking among the dry bones. Since Dewey's fleet entered Manila Bay, there has been a stirring change in the Philippines. Since Perry's fieet entered the Japanese harbor in 1854, that island nation has been a rising star in the east. The Boxer cataclysm in China was teriible. A t least 40,000 converts were slain and a great company of missionaries. But these were the pangs of a new birth for that Kingdom. It has subdued the hearts of China to the obedience of Christ as nothing else could. Thibet, in the heart of Asia, has always excluded the missionaries. But General Younghusband forced his way into L'Hassa, their sacred city, and compelled the Grand L a m a to sign a treaty with Great Britain. A n d now the missionaries are in Thibet. A n d recently the Emperor of China compelled the Grand L a m a to flee from the capital on pretense that he favored them. The Sultans of Turkey and of Persia and the Czar of Russia are limited by free constitutional assemblies, representing the people. Edward VII. was Eraperor of India and ruled over more Moslems than the eastern despots. A n d the United States have as strong a missionary force in India as Great Britain. W h o does not see in this the opportunity of Great Britain and the United States to reach half the world's inhabitants with the gospel? Look at the Mediator's worlc in China I Eev. Dr. W . A. P. Martin in

Questions of the Hour. far to seek. T h e seizure of territory by the powers created alarm in official circles. T h e Jesuit priests, w h o were simply and only politicians, exploiting the political and governmental forces of the empire, created a deep-seated hatred to all missionaries on the part of the untaught masses, w h o did not know the difference between Protestant and Catholic. A n d the traders, w h o practiced every fonn of chicanery in robbing the people, and by their vice and crime outraged their sense of justice and decency, were a more potent factor in producing it. T h e cry, "China for the Chinese," and "exterminate the foreign devils," arose in divers places at once. The siege of Peking, the martyrdom of 40,000 Chinese Christians, the massacre of several hundred missionaries and the destruction of millions of property are familiar to all. But "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." T h e pause in mission work caused by this cataclysm has been followed by a harvest of souls. There are n o w -200,000 Chinese communicants. T h e Methodist Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian, Congregational and Baptist churches have each a university with theological seminary attached, all contributing to the uplift of China. A s a result of their work the Chinese costume is being replaced by the American dress. T h e army and nary and the boys and girls in school wear American clothing. This will secure "the dress reform" in the near future. T h e shaving of the forehead and wearing of the queue are gradually becoraing unpopular and destined to eease. T h e practice of polygamy is n o w discouraged and m o n o g a m y recognized as the better way. A n d soon they will be abreast with the United States which prohibits it by law, but tolerates the existing polygamous marriages in Utah. T h e practice of domestic slavery

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is fast passing into disfavor and will ultimately disappear. The education of w o m e n has brought about a change in the attitude of society, and it is becoming popular to recognize a Christian w o m a n as the equal of a Christian m a n . A n d the abolition of foot binding for girls has and is doing m u c h to imbue the Chinese mind with the truth that God m a d e the raan and the woraan to stand on the same social and moral and spiritual plane. These secondary reforms are the byproducts of Christian missions. T h e order frora the throne to diminish the importation of opium until it shall be abolished in ten years is the result of Christian forces, which blind heathenism could not achieve. T h e acceptance from Japan of their "civil service reform" and the promise of a constitutional govemment are more of the by-products of Christianity. "The Awalcening of China" is taking place under the hand of the missionaries and is the work of the Spirit sent forth by the reigning Mediator. THE CHRISTOCRACY IS THE TRIUMPH OF FOREIGN MISSIONS. Rev. Edwin M . Bliss, in his book, "The Missionary Enterprise," relates that a well-known missionary entered the office of a Poreign Board secretary and asked: "What is your plan for the conversion of China?" The secretary replied by stating what their society had done in the Flowery Kingdom. Again the missionary asked: "But what is your plan for the conversion of China?" Then the secretary replied: "I suppose the different churches must follow Nehemiah's plan in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem: 'Everyone build the wall over against his o w n house.'" T h e missionary facetiously remarks; " W e parted, each thinking the other a crank." Then the author observes: "The Missionary Ecumenical Council in N e w York in 1900 reoom-

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Questions of the Hour. Worship." A n d let this Psalm singing. Covenanting, Presbyterian witnessing church be held up in all heathen lands as the Scriptural model after which the converts are to organize their churches. Moreover, let all Christian citizens unite in a general National Reform Movement, to m a k e a constitutional recognition of God as Sovereign, Jesus Christ as Ruler, the Bible as supreme law, and the true Christian religion as the nation's life. A n d when that consumraation has been reached in our land, a model of the true Christian state and the trae Christian Church will be ready for Christian patriots in heathen lands, who desire Christ's kingly claims to be recognized in theif o-wn country. That is the plan for the coming Edinburgh Conference. The triumph of foreign missions is: "The Kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole heavens shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High." The consummation is: "The Kingdoras of this world are becorae the Kingdora of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

mended the Nehemiah raethod as the most feasible one to be adopted by the Reformed Churches in their foreign missionary operations. A n d this method of each branch of the Church having its o'wn territory, undisturbed by any other, has been observed with Christian fidelity. But the coraing World's Mission Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, in June, 1910, must take an advance step and answer the question: 'How can the Reformed Churches co-operate in the foreign field, so as to unify the work, increase its efficiency and set before the world the ideal of one church doing the one work of her one Lord and Saviour ?' " A n d he anticipates that the answer of the Council will be: "Let the Reformed Churches at home be federated, and let the foreign missions be co-ordinated with a view of establishing a native church in each nation, the creed and polity and worship to be fashioned after their o-wn choice." But this is to surrender the Kingdora. The reply of the Covenanter Church is: Let the Reformed Churches return to the original basis of the Westminster "Confession of Faith," "Form of Church Government" and "Manner of

If w e are to have clean governraent, if w e are to have honestfinance,not raerely in Wall Street, but in any part of America, if w e are to enjoy those rights inalienable with which our Deelaration of Independence says that our Creator endowed us, we must get back to deflnite religious teachings as a part of our children's education, in the h o m e and elsewhere. Not billion-dollar Congresses or gigantic crops m a k e for the true advance of a people. N o w , as ever, righteousness exalteth a nation. W e have had enough of quack religions and political cure-alls. Let us get back to the T e n Commandraents and the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. T h e Wall Street Journal. T h e need of our time is the earnest pursuit of Christian life. N o t one of us was meant to be an echo of another m a n or another w o m a n . G o d grant that every one of us raay be the expression of His divine mind through to the end; following in the path that H e has marked out for us; and responsible to H i m . That spells progress. M a y God give us of His graee in this day of His power, to be willing.J. Douglas

Adam.

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A B R O A D .

Syria, Latakia.Dr. J. M . Balph, writ- and some of the pupils were absent on ing Oct, 20, tells us of the work in Gunaccount of it being the busy season, but aimia, and other matters: the schools are both doing very fair work. I a m sorry that I did not get time to I inclose you a photo of the teacher of write you as I had intended doing iraraediately after our return from Gunaimia. But the preparations for opening the work, and other things, crowded it out. W e spent about a month there, aiid were very comfortable in the n e w house. Although w e have not yet put glass in the windows, it was not m u c h inconvenience to us, as the weather was w a r m enough not to call for it. W e have sent up glass and frames for one window in each room that we hope to get put in before winter, so that anyone going up can have some light and be protected from the cold. Thecost ran something over what I had estimated, owing to the fact that w e finished TEACHER HANNIB HASHOO AND PUPILS. it more substantially than w e atfirstinthe girls' school with sorae of her pupils. tended, and consequently w e were not able to put in all the windows this year. W e had two Sabbath meetings, and Sabbath School every Sabbath, and the midweek prayer meeting, all of which were well attended, although m a n y of the people were working at such a distance that they could not always be present. Our audiences always numbered over a hundred, and at the prayer meeting there were seldom less than fifty. Miss Edgar conducted the Sabbath School during the time she was there. O n e of our Latakia teachers, M r . Jebra George, spent the summer there and rendered good help, conducting the Sabbath ser-vices, and was very acceptable to the people. The two schools conducted there had only half day sessions while w e were there. SOMI OF GVNAIMIA BBETHBEN AND FAMILIES

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N e w s of the Churches. patients. T h e schools are both going ahead with about the usual nuraber of pupils. W e raiss M r . McFarland and family very much, and are sorry to hear that M r . Dodds has resigned, and w e fear

all that w e could get together at the time that the picture was taken. W e also atterapted to get a picture of the boys' school, but it was a failure. T h e group consists of a number of raerabers there and their children, and while this is only a sraall part of the whole nuraber, it is a representative picture. The pictures of the house are not very satisfactory, as owing to the situation of -it, it was' difficult to get a picture that would show raore than one side of the building.

, - SIDE V I E W , SHO-WING ENTEANCE TO UPPER STORY. it will detain M r . McFarland in that field. W e Were very glad to have Mr. Stewart and family with us again, and to have our nuraber increased by the coming of Miss Crockett, w h o is n o w busy at work at the language. All our circle are well. Asia Minor, Mersina.Writing Oct. 7, 1910, Miss E l m a French sends a few END VIEW OF GUNAIMIA HOUSE. iteras: A very pleasant summer's vacation has As I have reported before, the house come to an end, and w e have begun the is 30 by 20 feet, the lower or ground floor worlc of another year. Our Mission Cirbeing the roora used for preaching sercle spent the s u m m e r in Guzne, exeept vices. Miss Sterrett. W e hoped to do m u c h The second story is divided into four studying, but our teacher had fever, rooras, which will accommodate a small family very nicely. T h e Araerican craze which returned about every ten days or seems to have struck them, and w e have two weeks. It was a disappointment to had six of ourraerabersthere go to South us because it is difficult to study m u e h America this fall. It is unfortunate, but and superintend a sehool in the winter, seems to be hard to prevent. especially w h e n -we have to teach part of The hospital was opened about the first each day. Responsibility does not cease of October, and has at this tirae seven during the school year.

N e w s of the Churches. The vacation was most pleasant, but it seems good to be at work again. Sehool opened Tuesday. There are twenty boys in the boarding department and raore will be in to-raorrow or M o n day. The Fellaheen are not yet in because they wanted to reraain at horae with their friends until after their feast, which ends to-day. I can tell you more about the work later, after w e get well started. I was invited by Miss Vaughn, one of the Hadjin missionaries, to take a trip to Namroon, in July. I was very glad to accept and had a raost pleasant tirae. W e left Guzne Wednesday morning and arrived in N a m r o o n that afternoon about four o'clock. It is only a seven-hour ride on horseback, but w e did not hurry. I would tell you which direction w e went if I could, but I think the only way to give you an idea is to say we traveled north, south, east and west, and alraost straight down and then up again. Nararoon is about a thousand feet higher than Guzne. W e ate our lunch beside the Cydnus River. It was a beautiful spot, but what a descent to get to it and then the steep mountain w e had to climb after crossing the water. I saw some of the most beautiful scenery I ever saw. It was alraost equal to Ireland. I have never been able to find words to describe Ireland, and I feel so about the scenery I saw on this trip. W e reraained in Nararoon a day and returned to Guzne the third day. O n Aug. 23 I carae to Mersina, and the following night went to Alexandretta. Rev. J. D. Edgar raet rae there and took rae to Soukluk, where he and Rev. Samuel Edgar were spending thesumraer. The following week the two ministers and I took a trip to Suadia. I had often wished I could go to Suadia and Antioch, and was glad of the oppor-

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tunity. S o m e of our pupils come from there and it does rae good to meet the children in their homes. Suadia is a beautiful place in the dry season, but they say it is not such a pleasant place when the rain comes and the m u d is deegi. Mr. S. Edgar thinks w e Kansas raissionaries ought to be sent there because we are used to wading in raud. I do not know that w e like m u d any better than those w h o are used to paved streets. The thought carae to rae n o w that he, too, was used to m u d in Ireland. A s I looked over the country I could not help thinking what a pity it is so unhealthy, and that the people do not know how to use such a land. W e arrived there Thursday A. M . about half past ten o'clock. After dinner a few of the native brethren called on us and told us it was the afternoon of their weekly prayer meeting. A t four o'clock we went downstairs to the chapel. Friday w e rested and entertained callers. Saturday morning we went to visit the ruins of Seleucia. The day was very hot, but we enjoyed the visit. As we walked through the large, long tunnel, we wondered how long it must have taken to raake it, and why it was there. A n d as we looked at the tombs and ruins of old walls and buildings, we thought all the architects do not live to-day. Some died centuries ago, but the rains of their works still live. W e visited the pier frora which Paul is said to have sailed to Cyprus. I ara sure it does not look like it did in Paul's day. Sabbath, Rev. S. Edgar preached twice in Arabic and the rest of us listened. Monday we visited the sick and sorae of the brethren. W e called at Daphni on our way home

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N ^ w s of i^e Churches. associated in Adana in the relief worlc, among the suffering after the massacre, assisted. The evening of the wedding the newly raarried couple rode to Guzne, returning the following Tuesday evening. This is the second wedding w e have had in our Mission field this suraraer. W e were very glad to have Rev. and Mrs. J. D. Edgar with us for a time, and to have the honor and the privilege of attending their wedding. Y o u raight be interested in a story which I heard last week. A little girl of ten years entered Miss Sterrett's school more than twenty years ago. She came last week to-Mersina thefirsttime for sixteen years. She brought with her a little daughter to put in the school -where she had been educated. This is the story she told us. Just after the massacre of 1895 she becarae engaged to a Syrian Protestant minister. H e gave her a little gilt-edged Testament. Last year when he was preparing to leave for Adana to attend the annual meeting of the American board of missionaries and their native helpers, which was in session w h e n the massacre began, he said to his wife, he wished he had a small Bible to carry with him. She gave him this little Testaraent. H e was one of the ministers who were killed. The widow reraerabered the book and wished that some time she might have it. One day a m a n from Kessab saw a m a n selling books in the streets of Adana and thought he would look at them. H e saw this book, and opening it, recognized the writing of the minister in Turkish and of his wife in Arabic. H e bought it and gave it to the widow. Her heart was filled with joy to get it, and n o w she takes great delight in showing it to her friends. Her mother has been Rev. Kennedy's Bible w o m a n for sorae years, and n o w she is in Alexandretta Mission.

on Tuesday. The Arabic n a m e for this place is "House of Water." The water seems to start near the top of the raountain, but branches out all over its side in strearas. It is a beautiful'sight, and ere it reaches the foot of the mountain the water is rushing and making a great noise. It fiows into a river below. The water flows through a mill house, which is about half way down the raountain. Perhaps one who has been in this country long enough to have becorae accustomed to almost everything could eat the flour made here, but to one who has not, it would take away the appetite. W e rested here about two hours, and ate our lunch. W e then started for Antioch, where we spent the night, both going to and coming from Suadia. Dr. Martin and faraily were in Soukluk, but they gave us perraission to sleep in their house. The following day we left early for Soukluk. The whole trip was raade in comfort for me, but the gentlemen both carae back ill. Rev. S. Edgar was able to come to Alexandretta a week later. I returned to Mersina Friday raorning, Sept. 16. Rev. J. D. Edgar and wife came two days later. , , W h e n I reached Mersina I heard that -my steamer had passed one in the night on which Miss Sterrett and Dr. Peoples were sailing for Beirut to meet the French stearaer which was bringing the missionaries to our field. They returned on the French steara. er a week later. The following Wednesday Dr. Peoples and Miss I. Evadne Sterrett were married in Miss Sterrett's sitting room in Mersina at 11 o'clock. The wedding was a very quiet affair, only the circle here and the Adana and Tarsus missionaries (Dr. Christie, of Tarsus, and Rev. Chambers and wife, also Miss Webb, of Adana). Rev. R. E. AVillson performed the ceremony. Rev. Chambers, with w h o m Dr. Peoples was

N e w s of the Churches. China, Tak Hin^.The following letter from Rev. J. K . Robb, written Oct. 14, is brimful of good news: Our week of special services carae to a close on M o n d a y morning of this week. In general the plan followed in these services was similar to that of previous years. That is, on each day w e had a morning prayer meeting for a half hour, two preaching services, one forenoon and the other afternoon, and an evening meeting. T h e details have varied some this year from those of other years. T h e morning prayer meetings were siraply for prayer and praise, very few reraarks being madethose that were m a d e being simply explanatory of the topic for prayer. T h e chief services, those of the fore and afternoon, consisted this year of a study of the gospel according to Mark, two chapters a day. T h e purpose was to bring the life of Christ as a whole before the minds of the people, and thus assist them to a more clear understanding of the gospel message. T h e evening raeetings were soraewhat varied in character. O n several evenings''^e discussed such topics as the foUo-mtig: Christian Beneflcence, Sabbath Observance, Christian Work, and on the reraaining evenings w e discussed matters of a more spiritual character, such as would assist in preparing for the observance of the Sacrament. T h e attendance at our meetings was good, quite as large, I think, as at any previous meetings of this character. T h e weather was delightful, not hot, but w a r m enough, or cool enough to be pleasant, and to prevent undue drowsiness during service, exeept in chronic cases. Here, as elsewhere, there are some w h o seem able to compose theraselves to sluraber under almost any circumstances. A few matters connected with the services seera to merit special attention.

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First, I would mention the attendance at the Sacrament itself. Ninety-two Chinese and ten foreigners sat down at the table, the largest attendance that we have ever had pn a sacramental occasion. T h e reverential spirit shown by the whole audience during the sacramental hour was beautiful to see. A solemn quiet pervaded the place, and it was so raarked that the foreigners and sorae of the natives reraarked about it afterward. The going to and from the tables was very orderly. This m a y be accounted- for partly by the fact that our members are leaming better h o w it should be done, and I think that as they come to know more of the real significance of the Sacrament itself, they acquire more of the spirit of reverence in the celebration of it. W e are thankful for the increase at this tirae. Three m e n , three women, and a little blind girl were baptized. This is not so large an accession as we have had at other times, and is not so large as we had hoped for. But it was large enough to assure us again that there are m e n and woraen ready to confess His'name bef ore the world. There were a number .of applicants for baptism w h o are not yet ready. M a n y are seeking the light, and the promise for larger accessions in the future was never better than at present. Perhaps the most significant occurrence of the whole week, as it certainly was the raost gratifying to us, was the definite proraise m a d e by a large number of our members to do soraething during the next year to bring others to the knowledge of Christ. One evening was devoted to getting this matter before our people. A few of the best posted m e n talked briefly about the work in Korea, and the great results that are being seen as the fruit of the people's o w n efforts

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N e w s of ihe Churches. of doing business. For exaraple, in the exaraination of candidates for baptism, the elders ' take the leading part, the raoderator simply asking about matters that raay have been overlooked by thera. This plan is an advantage to both candidates and to the raoderator. T h e elders know more about thera, their manner of life, and what their attainments are than the raoderator can possibly know. Then the candidates reply raore freely to questions put to thera by raen of their o w n race than w h e n questioned by a foreigner, and I think usually acquit theraselves more creditably. T h e clerk of session takes the names of .all candidates for baptisra, their place of residence, learns whether or not they are married, and if married, h o w m a n y children, and whether the ehildren are boys or girls, together with a long list of questions that in some places would be considered as entirely out of place, but which m a y be asked here with perfect propriety. One question always aslced n o w is, " W h o taught you the gospel?" The replies to this question will enable us to keep tab on w h o is doing the work. Before w e had an organization it had not occurred to m e just h o w greatly the presence and co-operation of the elders would assist in doing what had grown to be a rather arduous piece of work, naraely, the examination of so raany candidates. The assistance of the elders has also served to add m u c h to the dignity of sacramental occasions. Until the time when w e had elders, assistance in serving the tables was given by the ministers present w h o were not conducting the service. W e did not know until w e saw, h o w m u c h the native elders did to m a k e the scene both attractive and irapressive. A native pastor to conduct the service would m a k e the scene complete. One circumstance was regrettable.

to spread the gospel. Three lines of work were then suggested to our people, and those w h o were willing to do something along these lines were asked to stand and have their names taken. T h e first query was, " W h o will be willing to open their houses for services, and thus give their neighbors an opportunity to hear the gospel preached?" T o this query seventeen raen and w o m e n responded. T h e second query was, " W h o wfll proraise to spend a certain time during the year in selling gospels, this service to be given free ?" T o this there was a response from seven raen, most of thera promising to spend two days each month in selling gospels. T h e third query was, " H o w m a n y will try to bring one person to Christ during this year?" A n d to this there was a response from fifty-four m e n and w o m e n , boys and girls. Then the free-will offerings this year are larger than those of last by almost a half. W e have a few members w h o tithe, and others w h o are working toward that proportion, though the progress in some cases is not very swift, it must be admitted. The subscription this year is not at all the raeasure of the .people's ability, and we had hoped beforehand that it would be larger than it has proven to be. But there is growth in this grace also, and m a n y of ouf people are giving as nearly according to their ability as are sorae of our merabers in the h o m e churches. Another matter has been the cause of great satisfaction to m e personally, perhaps because it affects m y work raore directly than it does that of the other missionaries. The manner in which our session takes hold of its work is very fine to see. This session is unique, not only in that it is tlie only (Chinese session of whicii the Covenanter Chureh ean boast, but also in that it has some, original methods

N e w s of ihe Churches. Just a few days before the services began, an old m a n , one of our members, died. Several of our native workers were closely related to him. His death made it necessary for two of them, m e n on w h o m w e were depending for substantial help during the services, to be absent during the greater part of the week. Rev. A. I. Robb had not been well enough to attend to his o w n work for a while, and his assistance during the week was missed. So extra- work fell on those w h o had not been given m u c h opportunity for preparing, and so the work done was not so well done as if the original program had been carried out. But the Chinese are not hypercritical, and imperfections were overlooked. W e start in on our winter's work with m u e h to encourage us. T h e rough places are not all m a d e plain and sraooth, and we have raany things to face that w e wish raight be otherwise. But the obstacles are within quite as often as with-

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out, and those within are sometimes harder to surmount than the ones that are without. W e need the prayers of the Church at h o m e that w e m a y be m a d e "sufficient" for the great task that confronts us, and that seeras to grow greater as w e come to know raore of what it really is. W e hope and pray, and desire the horae Church's co-operation in our hopes and prayers, that our plans for work during the coming year m a y not corae to nought, but raay rather be for the furtherance of the gospel in this land. The health of theraissionaries,with the exception of Rev. A. I. Robb, is good, and he is hopeful of an early recovery. Dr. Ida Scott has not returned from her vacation. W e hope that her lengthened stay at the coast will give her complete restoration to usual health. Our out-coming missionaries are expected in H o n g K o n g on Tuesday next. W e will give them a glad welcorae.

Our missionaries who sailed frora Vancouver, September 20, 1910, including Rev. and Mrs. Julius A. Kempf, Mrs. J. M . Wright and her son Paul, Miss Rose Huston and Mrs. Margaret Doig, reached H o n g K o n g October 18. All well and infinespirits.

A X

HOIVII

Massachusetts, Boston.The Ladies'

Missionary Society of Carabridge, Mass., held an all-day session on Nov. 3. As it was the annual businessraeeting,officers were elected for the coming year. The Treasurer, Mrs. A. A. Spragg, read a report, which showed the finances of our society to be in a very satisfactory condition. W e have at present an enrollraent of twelve, eight of whora are active raerabers.

W e are hoping that others will feel it to be their duty, as well as their privilege, to joiu our ranks, and give of their time and means to the good work. At present we are raaking garments for the Southern Mission, and hope ere long to have a box on its way. As a society, w e acknowledge God's goodness in perraitting us to have a part in the great work of Missions.

Mrs. T. B. Fenwick,
Rec. Sec'y.

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Monographs.

M O N O G R A P H S . FOR THE CROWN OF OUR LORD.

Every one who reads the Bible and thinks on what he reads raust admit that it emphasizes the mediatorial supremacy of Christ in civil as well as ecclesiastical affairs. It asserts that His authority, wide as the universe, is a dominion that shall not pass away, and His kingdora a sovereignty that shall never be destroyed. This trath, dear to the Christian heart and central in the teachings of Scripture, shall yet be an established fact in the history of the world. N o proof of the statement is necessary. It is the constant therae of prophecy, certain of fulfilment because resting on the repeated assurance of Hira W h o cannot be false to His word. N o r is there wanting cheering evidence that the tirae is at hand. Recently there was held in Philadelphia, Pa., a World's Christian Citizenship Conference, to consider the claim of Christ to the allegiance of nations. For five days this question was discussed in papers of varying excellence from a literarjf point of view, but all of them ringing true to the keynote of the convention. There was no controversy, for the delegates were of one mind and heart, standing shoulder to shoulder in contending for the great truth that nations are moral entities and, as the responsible subjects of God, are under obligation to confess His authority as the nioral governor of the universe, and that allegiance and worship can only be rendered to H i m in the person of His Son. There was no discordant note. T h e interest in this unique gathering was seen in the large attendance not only of delegates, but of visitors. Even at the raorning session, w h e n it is more inconvenient than at any other part of the day to attend a publie meeting, it would be a conservative estimate to say that half of the seats in a spacious church-edifice were occupied. O n Thursday evening the A c a d e m y of Musie was filled with an enthusiastic audience of probably more than 2,500 people. Perhaps thefirstthing that impressed one was the presence of so raany thinking raen. There were araong its delegates, w h o took a prominent part in the exercises, presidents, and professors of colleges, secretaries of influential societies, representative missionaries resident in foreign countries, editors and rainisters of the gospel. These m e n carae frora widely separated parts of the United States, from the Dominion of Canada, and from across the seas, and are the educators and leaders of the coraraunities where they live. Under the influence of their teachings spciety will come to-d?hink with them on this question of- -'ever-present interest and importance. O n e Sabbath m o m i n g a young m a n , a Unitarian, living in a rural district where there was no Unitarian organization, dropped into a little Covenanter Church not far from his home. Pleased with the sermon, he determined to go regularly, receiving, as he said on relating his experience, what he believed to be true and rejecting what was contrary to his preconceived ideas of the truth. B u t as the preacher was a raan of an irapressive personality and a trained logician, he soon found that he would either have to give up attending the Covenanter Church or accept the teachings of its minister. Wisely deciding to remain, he became convinced

Monographs. that Unitarianism was not Scriptural, avowed his faith in the Supreme Deity of Jesus Christ, was reeeived into the membership of the congregation, and afterward served as an elder, highly esteemed to the day of his death. Hence the importance of having as the leaders and educators of society m e n w h o are thinking along right lines and have correct views of revealed truth. If they put honor on Ohrist, those w h o are under their instruction will be led to feel and manifest similar respect for His character and claims. One naturally recalls the children of Issachar when that tribe came to Hebron, with other representatives of the nation, to make David King. Their leaders were raen that "had understanding of the times to k n o w what Israel ought to do." Though numerically few, only two hundred m e n , their good sense enabled them to grasp the situation and perceive the course that should be taken; and "all their brethren were at their commandraent." Another thing that irapressed the writer was the magnificent faith of the m e n who- took a prominent part in the conferepee. A little more than a generation ago a few m e n . Christians and patriots, and patriots because Christians, met and organized an association to advocate three great truths, interlinked and inseparable, God the source of all power, Christ the King of Nations in His mediatorial capacity, and the Bible the rule of national as well as individual life, and to secure, if possible, an embodiment of these basal principles in the Constitution of the United States. A s the result of their witness bearing, m a n y have joined their ranks. Contrasted with the multitudes that favor the secular theory of ciyil government, they are still comparatively a feeble band. But with splendid self-effacement they con-

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tinue to avow their fealty to Christ as -King and to maintain, as was declared raore than onee during the conference, that the United States raust either consent to have H i m wear the crown that the eternal Father has placed upon His head, or suffer the fate of other nations that were forced in the history of the past to m a k e way for His coming. As some one has written, there is absolutely nothing in the philosophy of politics or in the nostrums of sociology to save the nation. It m a y be asked, what can so few do in the presence of an enemy that is desecrating the Sabbath,fillingthe land with vice and immorality, causing the Holy N a m e to be blasphemed in countries with which w e have comraercial relations and even making pulpits false to' their trust? T h e answer is, they can believe in God and preach the preaching that H e bids them. W h a t ean so few do? W h e n Jesus would convert the world. H e -set apart a few m e n , destitute of h u m a n learning and secular influence, put the gospel into their hands and told - V ^ m to go and m a k e disciples of all 'simions, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever H e had coraraanded. W h a t was the result? The truth took root and grew, and no forra of opposition could destroy it. W h a t can so few do ? Araid the darkness and corruptions of papal ascendancy in Europe, Liither and his associates proclaimed the gospel in its purity, and the Reformation of the sixteenth century triumphed gloriously over all adversaries. W h a t can so few do? O n the morning of June 22, 1680, twenty m e n rode up the High Street of Sanquhaf, and after prayer and praise, their leader, Richard Cameron, read aloud frora the raarket eross of that ancient burg a declaration, deposing the reigning monarch as "having forfeited

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Monographs. writer, and that was the reverence for G o d that raarked the convention. Every session was prefaced with a season of prayer. It is on the knees that results are accoraplished and victories won. It was w h e n the disciples continued -svith bne accord in prayer and supplication, that the Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost and a work of grace begun that is to issue in the conversion of the world. It is not to the reasoning of Peter but to prayer in the upper room that w e are to trace the conversion of three thousand under one sermon. A n d so it has been all d o w n the history of the Church. Every season of Reformation and of revival has begun in the closet and the social prayer meeting. Every one reraembers the thrice-repeated petition of John K n o x , "Give m e Scotland or I die," and he was honored to effect a mighty revolution in that kingdom and to leave the impress of his'own mind and heart on its institutions. David Livingstone spent his last hours in pleading for Africa, passing into the very presence of G o d with prayer upon his lips, and that is the reason that Livingstonia is to-day a veritable garden of the Lord. Prayer is power. Editorial.

several years before all right, title or interest in the crown of Scotland." H o w childish, one says. Yet that declaration set in motion a series of political changes in the nation, and in 1688 the act of Cameron and his loyal followers was repeated on a grander scale, and historians write it d o w n as the "glorious revolution." The Covenanters, hunted as partridges on the mountains, their lives in perpetual perU, sacrificed all that was dear to flesh and blood rather than be false to the Crown of Christ, and it was their earnest contendings that gave birth to civil and religious liberty. W h a t can so few do? They ean believe Christ, w h e n H e says, after inviting the whole world to Himself as the only Saviour, "I have sworn by Myself, the word is gone out of M y mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto M e every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." God bless these Reformers in their self-sacrificing efforts to enlighten the intelligence and quicken the conscience . of this great nation, that it raay be led to bow at the feet of Hira W h o is the Prince of the Kings of the earth. T h e Lord increase their faith. Yet another thing impressed the

N o h u m a n being has ever attained to such high standards of living that there was nothing higher to worlc for. W h a t a blessing this is! For there is no such joy in life as the reaching out after high standards and working toward them. Those who are content to live by any lower standard than the highest that they can conceive of know nothing of the real zest and joy of life, of course. "Aren't your high standards sometimes a strain?" was asked of a m a n who was making an effort to move toward such standards. "No, indeed," was the instant reply; it's low standards that raake the strain." Those who are closest to God show the least strain in their lives. The only real strain in life is the tug of pulling away from God. The more nearly we get into oneness with H i m and His will, the more completely we have God and the universe worlcing with us, instead of against us. It is the way of the transgressor that is hard. Christ's yoke is the only strain-easing harness we can ever wear. But w e can always discover ways offittingour lives into it more perfectly, and this is His never-ceasing invitation to greater joy.Examiner.

Women's Department.

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WOMEN'S

DEPARTMENT.

Mrs. T. H. Acheson and Mrs. J. S. Martin, Editors.

MISSION

STUDY.

Conducted bt Mrs. F. M. Wilson. WESTERN WOMEN IN EASTERN LANDS. LESSON III.CHAPTER IH. Agencies eraployed: I.Schools.
1. Difficulties in establishing them; language to learn; buildings to provide; pupils to secure; confidence to win. 2. Progress. 3. Importance. a. Great evangelizing agencies. b. A lever for overturning wrong ideas and customs concerning women. c. Educating girls the quickest method of elevating home life in the East. d. Agencies for postponeraent of marriage and physical betterment of girls. e. Train leaders for the future. II.Horae work. 1. Zenana worlcorigin and development^methodsimportance; Zenana parties. 2. Bible w o m e n training advantages. III.Medical work. 1. Need ofraedicalmissions. a. Oriental medicineneeds of women. 2. Call for w o m e n physicians. a. First response; beginnings in India; appeals to America; pioneer medical missionaries. 3. Hospitalstrained nurses native woraen doctors. 4. Value of medical work. a. It softens native prejudice. b. Elevates status of women. c. Inculcates higher ideals of home life. d. Demonstrates Christianity. e. A n evangelizing agency.

I V . ^ W o m e n evangelists. V.Philanthropic agencies. 1. Leper hospitals and homes. 2. Orphanages. 3. Schools for defectives. 4. Schools for mutes. 5. Training in sanitation. 6. Lady Dufferin hospitals; origin; object. 7. Literary work. HINTS FOR LEADERS. So m u c h in Chapter III that several lessons could be made of it. If you wish to emphasize the facts in the chapter, have them woven into talks by six women, w h o could each choose one of these subjects: 1. W h y I decided to be a missionary teacher. 2. W h y I became a Zenana worker. 3. W h y I chose to go out as a medical missionary. 4. W h y I would like to be a trained nurse in China. 5. W h y I becarae an evangelist in the mission field. 6. W h y I believe in pushing philanthropic forms of mission work. The friendly rivalry by which each tries to emphasize the importance of her form of work will keep the society awake. A member gifted with a good imagination could describe a visit to some mission -with a school and hospital. Get pictures of mission schools and hospitals, if possible, and display them. The society might divide into two forcesone ready to maintain that schools are a more powerful evangelizing agency than hospitals; the other, the reverse. A number of minute speeches could be made on the points in outline under "3. Importance," and "4. Value of medical work." This lesson gives opportunity to con-

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Women's Department.

centrate on our denominational work. Charts will help here. After a word of explanation, they can talk through the entire meeting. O n the raap raark our schools and hosjDitals by a tinyfiag,a star or a pin. Copy the sections for schools and medical work in our Chinese Mission frora Mr. K e m p f s chart in Olive Teees, July, 1910, page 159. O n a large sheet of paper show the number of missionaries ten years a g o Minutes of Synod,. 1900, page 102and the number to-day. The ratio raay be shown to the eye by strips of paper pasted on or by heavy lines drawn, one inch representing one niissionary. The point to emphasize is whether there has been growth and how rauch. T o illustrate the dearth of physicians in non-Christian lands, get an outline m a p of the United Statesany schoolboy can draw itand paste thirty-six small stars on it to represent the number of doctors we would be entitled to if our proportion was no better than theirs, one doctor for every two and a half millions. In India 35,000,000 young people are of school age. Only 5,000,000 have any educational facilities. Indicate this by an oblong, 7 inches one way by 5 the other. Mark in squares, each representing 1,000,000. Color five squares red. Leave the others blank. Have a season of prayer for the workers and the work.

R E P O R T O F LATAKIA C H U R C H

BUILD-

ING F U N D . Amt. reported to Sept. 30, 1910.$3167.03 Oct. 1. Northwood, 0., per Mrs. Mary E . Q u a 26.00 Oct. 3. Topeka, Kans., per Miss Elizabeth Smiley" 10.00 Oct. 13. Bovina, N.Y., L. M . Society, $10; Bovina Sabbath School, $22.52; Total per Mrs. W . G. Robb, Treas.; 32.52 Oct. 14. L. M . S. of Almonte, Canada, per Mrs. J. Waddell. 5.00 Oct. 15. St. Johns, N . B., Can., per Miss G. D. Morrow 15.50 Oct. 19. S. S. of Old Bethel, 111., per H . S. Walker, Treas 25.00 Total to Oct. 31, 1910 $3281.05

Mes. j. Rl Copeland,
Parnassus, Pa. Treasurer.

MISSION STUDY DIAGRAM.

o o '

>

Our Thank-offering Secretary, Mrs. J. R. Copeland, has been compelled to resign on account of continued i l l health. I9n-i3 Jfjyif ilii-if i9n--ot She is at present in Columbia Hospital, undergoing treatment. Miss Emma Slater, of Wilkinsburg, has been chosen Growth in membership of mission study to take up the work so ably begun by Mrs. classes based on the sale of textCopeland. books.

Mes. Wm. J. Waed.

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285

cially, perhaps, to these .fellow-missionaries, i t was a delight to see the great About one raonth ago, Anna, the five- improvement in the health of the guest year-old daughter of Rev. and Mrs. R. of honor, which gives good proraise of A. Blair, was stricken with infantfle her return to Latakia, where she has paralysis. There has been some im- been stationed since 1875. provement in her condition, but both E. Metheny. limbs are s t i l l paralyzed. W e ask for The girls' school building in Latakia is them the prayers of the entire Church three stories high, and the apartments in this added affliction. May the.Lord for the ladies in charge of the school are grant full restoration to health and on the third fioor. It i s a delightful place up there. The air i s pure, the strength. scenery beautiful, the rooms large and On the afternoon of Sept. 6, Mrs. pleasant. From every room can be seen Henry Easson and her daughter, Mrs. both mountain and sea. Yet people are Wilson Merriman, of College Hill, gave never quite satisfied. It i s a weary climb up the long stairs to reach that third a reception in honor of Miss Mattie R. story. Sorae of the raissionaries have Wylie, our senior missionary in the Syria, Asia Minor, field. There were talked about an elevator for a long time, t would not sorae seventy-five guests, representing but always decided that i our three Beaver Falls eongregations. work. At length a German architect t could be put in i f we The afternoon passed away very pleas- from Haifa said i antly. Mrs. Easson has always been could find one that could be worked by known for her hospitality, and Mrs. hand. A returnedraissionaryand some Merriman has not only inherited her other friends interested themselves in mother's character, but i s the heir as finding such a machine. Another kind friend, hearing of the need, sent the well of a father whose memory is held dear araong the people of Northern money for it. It was purchased and sent Syria for the sincerity and quiet' good- out, reaching there after 1 left last ness with which he ministered to them March. I have learned from the missiont has been put in. As long through yea'rs of toilsome and discourag- aries that i as the school building stands, the narae of ing sowing of the "precious seed" of the the donor, Mrs. Mary A. Brown, of New gospel. Alexandria, will be held in loving, grateMrs. Merriman, assisted by Mrs. J. V. ful reraembrance. W e wish in this way Downie and Master Donald Martin, s done served her guests with the dainty to publicly thank her. Whatever i to help the workers for Christ,- H e conrefreshraents that she had prepared. A m o n g those present were the fol- siders done for Him, and H e will give to lowing missionaries, retired or on fur- such His reward. Mattie R. Wtlie. lough : Mrs. David Metheny, of Latakia A conference of the Women's Missionand Mersina; Mrs. Walter McCarroll, of Geelong and Larnaca; Miss Lily Mc- ary Society of Pittsburg Presbytery Knight, of Apache; Mrs. R. A. Blair, of was held in the Eighth Street Reformed Tak Hing Chau, and Miss Metheny, of Presbyterian Church, Pittsburg, Pa., Nov. 8. The program for the afternoon Alexandretta. To all those present, but more espe- consisted of helpful papers on Mission N E W S ITEMS.

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Women's Department.

Study Classes, Mission Band Work, Thank-offerings, Our Literature, Our Woraen's Departraent in Olive Trees. Each paper was followed by discussion. A t the close of the prograra the "Soeial H o u r " filled an iraportant place in the rich feast of the day. T h e evening prograra opened with a praise service led by the young people. W e were favored by having two of ourraissionarieswith us. Miss Mattie Wylie, of Syria, and Mrs. Walter McCarroll, of Cyprus, each of whora gave an irapressive address. Miss Wylie told of her work and answered a number of questions of special interest to the Church. While listening to her enthusiastic words, one could not but be impressed with the thought that she had "fuel for her missionary zeal." She said that after her thirty-five years of labor by which she had obtained experimental knowledge of the trials and difficulties that fall to the lot of araissionaryin the foreignfield,if she were given the privilege of again choosing herfieldof labor, she would choose Latakia. Mrs. McCarroll, in her characteristic raanner, gave her first irapressions of Cyprus, when, seven years ago, she, with her husband and children, reached Larnaca after a journey of five raonths frora Australia to this newfieldof labor. She told of the cliraate, the people, the raanner of life, the work of the missionary, and the difficulties encountered. She spoke of the trials of converts to Protestant Christianity. W h e n a native gives up his religion he loses his nationality, and most of them are patriotic enough to wish to retain this. Profound interest was manifested by the audience throughout the conference, and the feeling prevailed that n e w visions had been obtained of the work in the foreignfieldand of our responsibility for its support. Mrs. R. C. Wtlie.

IN B E H A L F O F " O L I V E TREES." W e desire to m a k e a special appeal to all the women's missionary societies, and to all the woraen of the Reformed Presbyterian Church to aid us in an immediate and vigorous effort to enlarge the subscription list of Olive Teees. First.It is the special missionary magazine of our Church. It is replete with important missionary articles and with news from the field at h o m e and abroad. It connects the h o m e and foreign field to the great advantage of both. Second.Dr. Somraerville, the editor and publisher, has not only given m u c h time and effort to the noble work of issuing this magazine, but has evidently m a d e greatfinancialsacrifice in its publication. Is it not clearly our duty, and is it not our desire, to co-operate more fully and practically with him ? ThirdOlive Trees has n o w a Women's Department, which affords us particular opportunity for expressing our views, for developing a special missionary interest a m o n g w o m e n , and for guiding our efforts in this great field. This departraent in the magazine has encouraging possibilities for us. F o u r t h . N o w is the time to secure subscriptions. Dr. SommerviUe requires all subscriptions to end -with the calendar year. T h e price of the magazine is one dollar, and those w h o subscribe at once will receive thirteen issues, including December of this year, for one dollar. Will you not take this matter up in your society at once? Aslc your pastor to malce a careful and full announcement. Write it out and put it in his hands. Yours in behalf of the Master and His needy fields.

Magazine Committee.

Editorial Notes.

287

EDITORIAL

N O T E S .

Olive Trees has had registered as i t s raissionaries, and these official papers,
cable address: "Olivtrees, N e w York." A n y one in the foreign fields having an item of special interest to coraraunicate to the churches, such as arrival of raissionaries, number of n e w converts at a given communion, serious illness, or any other matter that should not have to wait for the monthly letter, m a y use this address and charge expense to the account of Olive Trees, which will remit through the ordinary channels. Correspondents will kindly remember to send their messages "Via Commercial." which are within the reach of every congregation, should be carefully and prayerfully studied. If each settled rainister would raake himself thoroughly acquainted with the facts recorded in these papers and present a compact statement of them to the people under his pastoral care, a week or two previous to the collections, even those w h o do not have tirae nor perhaps inclination to read raissionary reports and articles could not fail to be interested, and, their interest once awakened, they will gladly contribute to the support and extension of the Missions. It is hearing rather than reading that secures results. It should not be difficult in this way to awaken enthusiasra throughout the churches sirailar to that manifested on the floor of Synod, when the question of an advance movement was introduced and receiv(!d such splendid endorsement. T o do what Synod has authorized the Board to do means at least 100 per cent, increase in the annual offerings for the current year. A n d that means a revived sense of responsibility for the spread of Christianity.

The following Circular was mailed early in November to every settled minister and to a representative in every vacant congregation: T h e Boards of Foreign Missions once more solicits the co-operation of ministers and elders in securing the full appropriation of Synod for the missions under its supervision. According to the Minutes, $18,500 are aslced for the work in the Levant, with its three important centers of operationNorthern Syria, the Island R. M. Sommerville, of Cyprus and the adjacent parts of Asia Corresponding Sec'y. Minor, and the First Sabbath.of DecemN e w York, Nov. 7, 1910. ber, 1910, is the date named for the congregational colleetions; and $8,000 are asked for the work in China, with T a k About the same date the Treasurer sent H i n g on the West River as the center out the following announceraent: But Jesus said: Give ye thera to eat. of a field flfty miles square, and the Nearly two thousand thousand souls in First Sabbath of January, 1911, is named as the date for the collections. T h e con- our two foreign missionfieldsare wholly tribution of this comparatively large s u m dependent on the Covenanter Church for of money will be necessary to meet pres- the Bread of Lifea raultitude alarment deficits and carry forward the mis- ingly great to be intrusted to the care of sionary work in thesefieldssuccessfully. such a sraall church. But Jesus said: Give ye them to eat. In Olive Trees for June and July, Unless the Covenanter Church arise, and 1910, will be found the Report of the supply the Bread at the c o m m a n d of Board, and detailed statements from the

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Editorial Notes.

Jesus Christ, these hunger-bitten raen, w o m e n and ehildren with hands outstretched to us in a most pitiful appeal, must perish or be supplied frora sorae other source. But Jesus said: Give ye them to eat. T h e means should be supplied with all possible haste. The urgency brooks no delay. Waiting for a more convenient season involves a fearful reckoning. With m a n y of these poor souls it is n o w or never. Ere the next annual collection sixty thousand of them will be in the grave and forever beyond our reach. But Jesus said: Give ye them to eat. Our ability m a y seera utterly inadequate. M a n y questions will arise to discourage the heart. F r o m what source the thousands and tens of thousands of dollars needed for such extensive operations? Whence shall we buy bread for these two raillion, that they m a y eat?' W h o is sufficient for these things? But Jesus said: Give ye them to eat. T h e appeal is to the ten thousand Covenanters. Let the ten thousand arise and enter into the foreign mission service, and shall w e not see wonders ? Ten thousand Covenanters in the foreign mission service, on collection day, each with an offering worthy of the giver, worthy of the work, worthy of the Lord, and with faith, love, prayer and gifts in the Holj Spirit, every day of the year, will assuredly reap a great harvest. 0, that the heavens raay witness the outgoing of such spirit and energy among the ten thousand - Covenanters ! Then will we see what the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform.

study edition, cloth, 50 cents; paper, 33 cents. This is a book of exceptional value. Frora a wealth of material within his reach the author has drawn illustrative facts, at once impressive and significant to show the present religious condition of the world.' In the opening chapters he emphasizes the changes that are taking place in non-Christian nations: the "tendencies, raovements and infiuences manifest in various countries which are not only tending to close these nations against Christianity, but are placing in danger their moral and religious future," and "the rising, spiritual tide" challenging attention in every part of the non-Christian world, as an appeal to Christianity to press forward in the- work of evangelisra and take possession of the world in this hour of signal opportunity. In the judgraent of Dr. Mott what is required to meet the responsibilities of the present situation is a plan adequate in "scope, thoroughness and strategy"; the Chureh at h o m e united and fully consecrated; an efficient force on the field, missionaries well trained intellectually, established in their belief of the fundamentals of the Christian faith, raen and woraen of spirituality governed by a passion to serve others, and "established securely in those habits on which the maintenance of an expanding spiritual life depends," and native congregations under the leadership of an aggressive native ministry; and above all "the superh u m a n factor," the power of the Spirit of the living God, in answer to 'what Dr. A. H . Smith has characterized as "the OliVe Teees is indebted to the Student deeply buried talent of intercessory Volunteer Moveraent, N e w York, for a prayer." copy of This volume should be in the library The Decisive Hour of Christian Mis- of every rainister and in the hands of sions. By John R. Mott. 230 pp., illustra- every raission study elass. tions, m a p . Lihrary edition, $1. Mission