Morning Calm v.18 no.114(1907 Oct.)

The Bishop's Letters. I.

CHONG DONG : SEOUL, COREA. May 1907. MY DEAR FRIENDS, --

My own thoughts this month, and those of many both in our own diocese and throughout China and Japan, have been turned towards Shanghai and Tokyo, where there have been meetings which are likely very greatly to influence the work of the Church of Christ in many ways. In Shanghai first there was held a great meeting of the Y.M.C.A., the work of which, as developed chiefly by the American supporters of the Society, is having, and in the future is likely to have, a very great effect upon the younger generation of the Chinese. In England the Society hardly takes the place in the life of the nation that it does in America, for with us the different departments of educational, social, and religious work are largely undertaken by different organisations, whereas in America they are all combined, giving the Society a really great position, which it uses to the benefit of large numbers of men untouched by it in England. Its work among the Chinese and Japanese and Coreans is on the American lines, and undoubtedly its influence is very great and increasingly great. While there are dangers that one sees in some of the methods adopted, one can only hope and pray that its leaders, devoted men, may be guided to so carry out their vast plans of educational and social as well as religious work that it may all tend to the Glory of God and the extension of His Kingdom.

Then in Tokyo there was a great gathering of the repre-sentatives of the World's Students' Volunteer Association, of which you will have seen accounts in the papers at home. You know something of the work that is being done by this Association to lead the students of all nations to realise their duty as Christians to take their place and do their share in the work of the evangelisation of the world. It must have been most inspiring to attend the meetings of so many members of different nations and Church organisations, gathered together with the one object of consulting how best to attain the end in view of leading others to the knowledge of the Faith they held in common, and of proclaiming to the world at large, and especially to the nation in whose midst they met, their own firm founded faith and their belief that in that alone can be found salvation for men, and that on that alone can be built up a true national life. God grant that many of those who attended and those who were influenced by the meeting may be brought to a true understanding of the force and power which brought all these men and women so far from their own country to consult together, and that their consultations may be fruitful, and may among other things tend to bring about that unity of the Body of Christ which is in the minds and hearts of so many of its members, and for which we are all praying now so earnestly when among all Christians the weak-ness of disunion and the blessing of unity are so fully realised.

I had hoped myself to go to Tokyo for that Conference, but I felt that it was even more advisable that I should attend the meetings in Shanghai, which were to be held a week or two later, There were three there in which I was especially interested. In the first my interest was only indirect, it was the Conference of the Mission Doctors of the Far East, to which Doctor Weir went over with his wife. It was delightful to have them with one on the journey and for part of my stay in Shanghai, though we did not see so much of each other as I could have wished, as they were at an hotel and I was staying with friends. The meetings I wished especially to attend myself were those of the representatives of the dioceses of our own Church in China, who were meeting for the discussion of many points of importance connected with the Anglican Communion in China, some of which were of importance to us in Corea too. They had taken this opportunity of meeting because in the next week was to be held the meeting of representatives from all the Missions in China except the Roman Catholics, and there were Certain of the subjects which were proposed for discussion which they wished to talk over before the greater meetings were held.

My stay in Shanghai was a most delightful one, and it answered the double purpose of giving me a holiday and change and of enabling me to see many old friends, as well as allowing me to take part, mainly a silent one, in the discussions on many points of the greatest interest. We had a full boat going over, and a slow and not very smooth passage. We were all going over to the meetings and were all missionaries, with five doctors to take care of us, and we were able to meet Together for prayer and Bible reading except on Sunday morn-ing, when most of us preferred to stay quietly in our cabins. We reached Shanghai a day late so that I missed the first meeting of the Church Conference; but I was able to attend all the others, which were held either at the Deanery in the town, or at Jessfield, the beautiful station of the American Church, some five miles out from Shanghai itself. I was staying with friends, who put their carriage at my disposal, and as their house is half way out of the town, I was in a most fortunate position. It was delightful to meet so many of whom one had heard so much, though one had never been privileged to meet them before, such as the veteran Bishop Moule, of Central China, whose resignation is so serious a thing for the Church out here. Then there was our old friend Bishop Scott from North China, and Bishop Iliff of Shantung, and Bishop Price from Fuhkien, whom I had met in Japan last year, and Bishop Cassels, who had taken a two months' journey from West China and his distant province of Sze-chwan to join us. The two American Bishops, Graves of Shanghai and Roots of Hankow (a place some 600 miles up the River Yangtse), were there of course; but we all felt sad to think that Bishop Hoare, of Hongkong, who had been so great a help in past Conferences, was no longer with us. I do not mention these names without intention. I hope that some of you at any rate will be able to remember them all from time to time in your prayers for the work of the Church out here, and from my own experience before I came out here I feel sure that there are many who know little of the work of the Church as apart from the work of the diocese in which they are especially interested, and even less of the work done by the daughter Church of America. So I hope that these names will not be forgotten, but that they will be remembered: and when they are thought of in your prayers that you will think too of the work that they are doing and the work which they represent, the work of the Church, whether its Bishops, its priests, its members are English or American, or Chinese or Corean.

One name I must not leave out, though he arrived too late to take part in the meetings. Bishop Corfe has been, as you know, helping Bishop Scott at Pekin. He came down the river from Hankow and the new line from Pekin in time to take part in the services at the Cathedral on the Sunday with which the Conference was brought to an end I was looking out for a chance of seeing him, and if he had not come down had intended to go and find him, as there were many things I wanted to talk over with him. Of this I hope to say more later. You can imagine how glad I was to see him, and how sorry I was that I could not induce him to go back to Corea with me. However, he wanted to get back to England, and some of you will have seen him and heard of him before you see this in print.

As to the subjects of discussion, there are many points of interest on which I should like to write something to enable you to understand our difficulties out here. The most important of all was that which I have mentioned in former letters, the organisation of the Anglican Communion in China. It will not be difficult for you to realise its importance; it may be harder to fully grasp the difficulties. It is hard, for instance, to understand how far apart the different districts of China are in point of distance, but Bishop Cassels' journey of two months to join the Conference will give you some idea of that. And still more is the difference in dialects a bar to organisation of any Church in one body; and this is so great in China that, though north and south, east and west men can communicate in writing, they cannot talk, and not infrequently you find that the medium for transacting business is "pidgeon English," as it is called. However, we hope that this late Conference laid the foundation of what shall be in future not merely a number of dioceses, each self-contained and each with its own customs and uses, but a Church with proper constitutional authority, vested in its own Synod, and all the dioceses working for one purpose and speaking with one voice. One great difficulty has been in the past the overlapping of the various dioceses in Central China, but we hope that has now been disposed of. You can see how greatly the power of the Church will be strengthened by fully combined action.

Again, a great advance will have been made if the resolution of the Conference as to combined action in printing and pub-lishing can be carried out; if one Church newspaper can be used for all dioceses: if the Prayer-books and hymn-books in use can be brought more fully into line ; if one set of terms for God and the Holy Spirit can be used in all our publications; and yet all this must be done with a full realisation that "the Church must adapt herself to local circumstances." It will require a great share of patience and perseverance, and much prayer.

One more important question was the relation between the European and the Chinese Christians in the country. This was largely left over for further consideration. One wonders whether the suggestion I heard made will ever be carried out--that Hongkong should become a "Diocese of Gibraltar" for the Far East.

I am, yours sincerely,

ARTHUR B. TURNER, Bishop.

II.

CHONG DONG, SEOUL, COREA June 1907. MY DEAR FRIENDS,--

My last letter was concerned with matters far from home, and yet which touch our life over here too, closely, though we are naturally drifting farther and farther apart from our former close connection with China, and nearer and nearer to Japan. Now for a letter dealing with home affairs.

The most important matter in connection with the Mission is the departure of Mr. Badcock on furlough home. I have already said enough to show you how much we shall miss him, and how difficult we shall find it to get along without him and yet do the work that we have been trying to do for the last two years without letting anything go. There were so many strings which he held in his hands that his going has made certain changes necessary. I can only hope that those changes will not mean much loss of effectual working. That one can only see in the future; it can only be tested by results. Mr. Hillary has been instituted to the charge of the whole Island of Kangwha, with Mr. Wilson as his assistant. I went down to Kangwha, and we had our first public institution service. I felt that some public service was necessary, and we translated the service in use in the Diocese of Bloemfontein and summound all the people from the various villages to attend. Beginning with the Holy Communion early, we had the institution later when all had assembled, for we wanted all to take part, Christians and Catechumens. The service went very well, as almost all services do out here; the Coreans are always so reverent, even if they find it hard to understand all the new ways and words. After the service Mr. Hillary and I sat in the waiting room, and the men came in village by village, with their leader at their head, to be introduced, and the schoolboys stood outside in a line and saluted. Then we went down to the Sisters' compound, and saw the women for a moment before what we felt was a well-earned lunch. There is one thing above all that one finds necessary out here, and that is that one cannot hurry the people. They must be allowed to take their own time, and then everything will go smoothly. But for the smooth running of everything that day we have to thank Mr. Wilson especially, and Moses Kim, the Catechist, under him, for he had made all arrangements, and they went without a hitch.   While I was in the island I took the opportunity of going over to a village, some ten miles from the city in a westerly direction, called Song-San, or, as it is generally pronounced, Songsanny. They had for some months been preparing to build a small chapel for themselves, as the people found it impossible to go into the city every Sunday, and the room in which they had been accustomed to meet was too small for all that wished to attend. With help they had raised enough money to buy an old house and remove it to the village and to re-erect it there. We had to help them with part of the cost, but they did a good deal themselves, and the result is very satisfactory.

It would have amused you to see the procession going over. I led on a mule with a man leading ; then a string of schoolboys, from a school just outside the city, who mostly attend our church, struggling along manfully in the heat and tailing away to some very small boys of nine or ten years old ; then came a sumpter donkey with the food for our own party, who generally had a rider from among the smaller boys. Hillary's mafoo, or groom, led him by the bridle all the way, and Hillary himself rode behind on his own beast. Last of all came Sisters Margaretta and Cecil in their chairs. It was an imposing procession, needing many stoppages for rest on the way ; but we got there in good time to find Mr. Wilson going through the service beforehand and telling them all exactly what to do. He had it all exceedingly well arranged, and everything went smoothly as on Sunday, thanks to his efforts. I have included this chapel in the list on the first page of the magazine, as we have put an altar there it which the Holy Communion can from time to time be celebrated for those who, like the women, find it difficult to go so far from home as the city church. We hope on festivals all will meet at the one altar.

I have paid one more visit to a country station--namely, Tounpo, in Mr. Bridle's district. That was not so pleasant, for While the people there have expressed great zeal and determina-tion to build themselves a fine church, we found that they had run into debt to a considerable extent in expectation of our helping them out of their difficulty and had only got the materials, while the erection of the building would cost some ￡60 more, and this in spite of the fact that I had made it clear to their representative that we could do nothing more for them this year. I had to give them a little money to help them to pay the debt they had contracted, so as to save one of the leaders from becoming bankrupt. If I could tell you the whole story it would show you the difficulty there is in dealing with Coreans in business matters, but it would be long in the telling and I must leave it to your imagination. I have told them we may be able to help them a little next year if they will do their part. We shall see.

Of the Mission work generally there is not much to report as a rule during the summer. In the country the people are nearly all farmers, and they are too busy to attend to more than that during the day, and too tired at night to do any study or to wish for anything but to lie down and sleep. However, I can say truthfully and with thankfulness that so far as I can see and hear, in spite of difficulties caused by the political situation, all is going as well as one can hope for.

To return to Kangwha for a minute. I hope to tell you in my next letter something as to the changes made as to the work there, and I would only ask you to remember especially the difficulty and burdensomeness of the work that Mr. Hillary has taken on himself there. I hope sincerely that he will be given strength to do it. It will mean a lot of hard work, a great deal of moving about, and a power of organisation, which I believe he possesses, if the work is to be done thoroughly and as he would wish to do it. In Mr. Wilson he will have an excellent and energetic assistant so far as his knowledge of the language goes, and it is improving daily; and with his wife to assist him with the women's work in the south of the island and the Sisters in the north, he has a good staff to help him through on whose shoulders he will be able to put a good share of the burden ; and in addition to that he has three men in Mark Kim at Ankol, Barnabas Kou at On Sou Tong, and Moses Kim in the city who will be of the greatest assistance to him.

I am, yours sincerely,

ARTHUR B. TURNER, Bishop.

III.

CHONG DONG, SEOUL, COREA, July 1907. MY DEAR FRIENDS,

In this letter I must try and tell you some of the events of the last few days, and I put them in my letter because I want to show that they are my own words and not those anyone else; not that others could not write better about the but because, in view of the difficulty of writing on political matters at the present time, I would rather say what I have to say and sign my name to it, and I think it better to try and write without much comment on the facts, though naturally I shall see them in different proportions to other people. We all do.

First of all, you know that the Japanese have taken practical possession of the country, looking on it as necessary for their own safety politically, and as due to them as a reward for their victory over the Russians. As to their course of action in the government of the country, I will not discuss the question as to how far they have acted wisely or the reverse Opinions differ, and though in some ways I think personally they have done well, in others most people agree that they have made great mistakes. But whether their action has been right or wrong, there is no doubt that it has failed to gain the end in view--the peaceful and effective control of the people of the country. This has been largely due to the inherited dislike of the Japanese by the Coreans and the distrust felt by the latter as to their motives, and partly to the intrigues of the anti-Japanese party in the Court, and especially of the King himself. Both these obstacles were to be expected, but what has given both their power is the appearance of a patriotism which has astonished all who knew the Corean people. No doubt this patriotic spirit has been latent in them, but it has required the present troubles to bring it to the surface. Anyway, there it is, and it has been an unexpected difficulty for the Japanese in their work of reform and development. They seem to have felt that the lessening of the dislike and distrust could only be a work of time, that the patriotism could not be stamped out now that it has once shown itself, but that some steps should and could be taken to lessen the evils that arise from the Imperial and Court intrigues. The opportunity was given them by the mistaken action of the Emperor of sending Corean delegates to plead his cause at the Hague. I say mistaken, for he might have known beforehand, or his councillors might have told him, that it would be useless in view of the position taken by the foreign Powers. No one blames him or the Coreans for taking such steps as they can to protect themselves or to save themselves from their fateb; indeed, all praise to them for their courage and patriotism and loyalty, and no one blames the Emperor personally for mistaking the trend of foreign politics; but it is sad to see a fairly secure position, even if it is in many ways a humiliating one, thrown away for lack of a little good advice.

Taking advantage of this mistake of the Emperor, and knowing that the foreign Powers would not interfere, they determined to take strong measures, and the Corean ministers suggested to the Emperor that he had better resign in favour of of his son, the Crown Prince. This he did after considerable pressure, and the new Emperor was seated on the throne. Another suggestion made by the ministers was that the Emperor should go to Japan and apologise to the Emperor in Tokyo. This was made public, though so far as we know no steps have been taken to enforce it, and the people, feeling strongly the insult to the nation of such a proposal, gathered in the streets and made a strong protest against such a thing being done. The result of this was some street fighting with the police and Japanese soldiers, with some deaths and many wounded on either side. In this fighting a number of the Corean soldiers took part, and it was by them that the Japanese were killed. Then the Japanese felt that for their own safety they must disband the Corean army in toto, and did it in a way that did not seem to us very wise. Anyway, the result was that the soldiers in the biggest barracks in the city refused to disband, their colonel committed suicide to escape the disgrace, and there was fierce fighting outside those barracks. The losses were not very considerable on the part of the Japanese, but the Coreans lost heavily under the fire of the gatlings that the Japanese brought to bear upon them; though, nevertheless, many of them escaped with their rifles and some ammunition. In addition to this, many men from the other barracks, when their fellows allowed themselves to be disarmed, walked out of the barracks with their rifles.

Now all is quiet in the city for the present, for the citizens can do nothing with empty hands, and their wall of defence--the army--has been broken down. There seems to me to be no danger of further trouble here, for the Japanese have brought in enough troops to quell any disturbance ; but one does fear that there may be a good deal of sporadic trouble in the country, for most of these soldiers are countrymen, and they will go out with arms in their hands and hatred in their hearts, and isolated Japanese may suffer wherever they are met with. I do not for a moment think that there is any danger for any foreigner. The Coreans have no feeling of dislike to a foreigner qua foreigner, and I think all our friends may feel quite at rest as to our personal danger. The only feeling the people have against us is that they have been led to expect that England or America, chiefly the latter, would help them, and they have been deeply disap-pointed at what they consider our lack of faith ; but this feeling is not strong enough to make them take any steps to injure us. Indeed, many of them know that, though we can do nothing to help them from a national point of view, we can, and do, do a good deal to save them from oppression in individual cases.

What, then, of the future? Who can say? My own feeling is that the Japanese here are face to face with a difficulty which will test all their powers, and will only be carried out if they develop certain powers of tact and sympathy, which they do not seem yet to possess, except in the case of some of their leaders, whose outlook is wider and whose experience is greater than that of their subordinates. If they could do all the work, as well as direct it, there might be some hope; but that they cannot do. However, while feeling the immense difficulties of any real fusion of the two peoples, I see how the troubles of the present have done much to develop unexpected strength in the Coreans, and I hope to see more and more signs of this. Ad-versity docs develop character, and taking into consideration, what I believe to be the fact that the Corean is no whit inferior to the Japanese physically, mentally, or morally, if they have full scope for such development, there is no need to despair, or to think that the nation will cease to be a nation, or that they will be swamped by the Japanese. One thing is quite clear--that now, more than ever, they need Christianity, first, to give them that firmness of character and purpose that they lack ; and, secondly, that they may learn in all these troubles to turn in strong and earnest faith to Him who sitteth above the water-flood and can save them even in their direst distress if only they will trust Him.

I am, yours sincerely, ARTHUR B. TURNER, Bishop.

Association of Prayer and work for Corea.

It is with much regret that we hear from Miss Wilshere, County Secretary for Hertfordshire, that she is obliged to give up her work owing to ill-health. She has worked for us for so many years that she will be much missed as County Secretary. Though this is never a busy quarter, fewer reports than usual seem to have been sent in. We hope it will mean that there will be more than ever in December. Local Secretaries will be glad to hear of three new Leaflets which have recently been published, suitable for distribution in Church or at meetings, &c., giving information about the Mission and the A. P. W. C. The first is a list of the Mission Stations and Staff, with paragraphs about the country and the working of the Mission. A second gives information re the Hospital Naval Fund ; and the third is entirely about the A. P.W. C., giving its objects, &c., and a list of County and Local Secretaries. All are single-page leaflets of a convenient size, and can be obtained from me at any time. Through the kind offices of our Local Secretaries at Clifton, the pulpits of All Saints' and St. John the Divine were offered to Bishop Corfe, who preached on behalf of the Association in All Saints', St. John's, and St. Anselm's Churches on Sunday, August 11. The Rev. A. S. and Mrs. Scott most kindly arranged for a Meeting on the following afternoon, when the Parish Room of St. John's was crowded. After the meeting the audience was entertained at tea in the Vicarage Gardens--the crowning act in a series of kindnesses for which we are very grateful to all who were so good as to confer them. A Missionary Exhibition is to be held in Manchester from November 21 to December 7, where we hope to share a Court with the Missions to North China and Japan. We trust that all members living in that neighbourhood who are able to do so will make a point of visiting the Court and trying to interest others in the Mission GERTRUDE M. SECCOMBE.

6 EDWARD STREET, BATH, September 5, 1907. DEAR MR. EDITOR, —

Sister Nora has written to tell me how much the Church in Corea is in want of altar linen and simple stoles, &c. for the many villages, now beginning to build their own first churches. I am hoping to send out a parcel later on, and shall be very glad to hear from any ladies who are willing to undertake embroidery and simple work, and I shall also be most grateful to receive any donations or subscriptions towards the cost of materials. Believe me, faithfully yours, (MISS) A. B C DRAKE.  

Children's branch of the Association of Prayer and work for Corea.

MY DEAR CHILDREN, -- The last time I heard of our little friends in the Orphanage at Seoul they were well and happy. In the early part of the summer all, except the two babies, were taken out for a long day in the country. They went three miles by electric tram to the Mission House at Mapo, and had lunch and tea in the verandah there. The Mission House is close to the river Han, so the children spent the rest of the day near the water, and had great fun running up the hill and scrambling over the rocks. Some of the elder ones went across the ferry, They left home at nine o'clock and did not get back till seven, so they had a splendid day and were all the better for it.

The electric trams are quite new in Seoul. A few years ago there would have been no room for them, as the streets were nothing but narrow, stony, twisted lanes; now they have been made wide and straight, and the shops and houses are much better than they used to be. The Coreans have lately used bicycles, which, of course, they could not do in the old days. There are more children in the Orphanage now, for some of the Christian people are so glad to have their children educated that they are sending them there to be taught for two or three years.

The elder orphans are many of them very clever at needle-work and are able to earn a little money by it. Anna, a new arrival, who is thirteen, does both plain sewing and Corean embroidery beautifully.

I have been hearing about the games that Corean children play. They have blind man's buff, hide and seek, and ever so many ring games like drop the handkerchief. Besides these they play oranges and lemons; but the rhymes they sing are quite different to ours and their game is a much prettier one, with more turning and twisting and winding through and under one another's arms, whilst singing goes on the whole time. But though there are differences of this kind the Corean games are many of them very much like what you play in England.

I was very pleased to have money sent me some weeks ago by Charlotte, Olive and Marjorie for the Children's Fund, for it reminds me that though some of you are far away you are still remembering Corea in your prayers.

We have no new members this time, but let those of us who already belong to the Association be very earnest in our prayers for the Corean people. A good many are now being prepared for baptism.

On All Saints' Day, November 1, they are to be made "members of Christ, children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven," and I want you to pray especially for them that, through the help of the Holy Spirit, each one may continue "Christ's faithful soldier and servant unto his life'send."

I am, dear Children, Always your affectionate Friend,

MAUD I. FALWASSER. Ashurst, Winchester : September 1907.

CHILDRENS FUND.

Charlotte Taylor, 4s ; Olive and Marjarle Palete, 6d.Toeal 4s. 6d.

hospital Naval fund.

THE Executive Committee met at the Royal United Service Institution at 3 P.M., on Wednesday, July 10. Present : the Ven. Archdeacon Wood, Chaplain of the Fleet (in the chair); J. R. Clark, Esq., C.B., the Right Rev. Bishop Corfe, Captain J. H. Corfe, Rev. S. Kenah, Admiral the Hon. Sir E. R. Fremantle, and C. E. Baxter, Esq. Letters of regret were read from Commander A. Havergal, Sir A. J. Durston, Archdeacon Harris, Rear-Admiral James Startin, Captain H. Garbett, and Captain Henry Campbell. Bishop Corfe, who was warmly welcomed by all the members present, informed the meeting that he had come home by Bishop Turner's request to help all the branches of the Corean Mission in the work at home, and especially the H.N.F. It was decided that in future a copy of the Morning Calm should be sent each quarter to all the chaplains of H.M. ships in commission, in order that they may be kept fully informed of all matters pertaining to the H.NF. Bishop Corfe was elected a member of the Executive Com-mittee. Rear-Admiral James Startin and Rear-Admiral the Hon. S.C. J. Colville were appointed Vice-Presidents. Canon Corfe   resigns his appointment as Hon. Organising Secretary, as, since his acceptance of a canonry and precentorship at Truro Cathedral, he has not had time to devote to the work. The question of appointing an Hon. Organising Secretary to succeed him was left over till the next meeting.

St. Luke's Hospital, Chemulpo

Second quarter, 1907. It is well known that statistics can be made to prove anything, and it is always necessary to take many things into consideration when trying to draw a moral from them. This makes it very difficult to judge of the work of such a thing as a hospital when at a distance, and especially when there are not other similarly placed ones with which to compare it; but as it is needful to let those who give money for the work know how it is spent, an attempt must be made to show what the figures for the past quarter mean, as far as it can be done. A large number of facts must be taken into account if anything like a true understanding is to be arrived at, and even then it is by no means easy to judge of the value of each and its effect on the total result. In the first place the out-patient work was suspended, and the in-patients reduced as much as possible for about a fortnight to allow of a visit to Shanghai and attendance at the Conference of the China Medical Missionary Association. This was of great value from every point of view--professional, physical, and spiritual--and other important facts are results of the visit. These are that the out-patients are now seen only four days a week, instead of six as before, and one morning is devoted to operations. The sixth day is taken as an off-day, which may seem wrong, but it was found that, with services to take most Sundays, it was impossible to do justice to the work on the other six days of the week; and so, in the absence of any resident clergyman, it was decided that this was the only thing to do, and there are already signs that the work is being the better done as a result. Another thing which had some effect in hindering the work for a time was that when rebuilding the hospital three years ago one of the wards was lengthened, and since then the plastering has been gradually giving way at the line of junction. It was plain that the only thing to do was to replaster the whole ward, and shortly after coming back from Shanghai this was done, which involved keeping the number of in-patients low for a little longer.

In spite of this the average number of beds occupied daily for the whole quarter has been 14.88, which is a substantial rise ; and the number of admissions was forty, which exceeds the previous record by seven. In spite of absence, the numbers of operations were up to the average, though there has not yet been an advance; and of deaths among in-patients, there have only been two. This, however, does not mean more than that the patients coming have included a smaller number of hopeless cases than usual. As might be expected, there has been a fall in the number of out-patients, compared with the same quarter of last year; but both new cases and total attendances are higher than the quarter before and than two quarters of last year, being 567 and 1,592 respectively.

Taking these figures with the facts above-mentioned, it seems probable that the numbers of out-patients will be a little less than before as the result of the change, but not in proportion to the reduction in surgery days, and that the numbers of in-patients will be increased, and probably of operations. The main advantages are that more time can be given to the in-patients in every way, and there need no longer be delay in operating, as has too often been the case before ; but it is also hoped that the whole work will be on a better level of efficiency. The cause of the change is that it was clearly shown by the experience of others during the Conference that in-patient work pays in every way much better than out-patient work. Not only are they the more serious cases, and therefore the ones most needing attention, but it is possible to see that they get the treatment they need, which is by no means the case with out-patients, even in England, and still less in a country where people are quite unused to any rules of hygiene, and have to be given their instructions by a foreigner. If it is true that the medical work is of more value among the in-patients, it is still more true of the religious work. For those who know nothing at all of Christianity, and are inclined to regard religion as all very well for women, but not worth their while, and at the best as a thing consisting of a few empty ceremonies to be performed without any particular care, are not likely to pay much attention to the preaching and praying which precedes the morning's work ; and though there have been cases of men and women first hearing at these times, and going on to learn, the wonder is not so much that there are not more of them, but rather that there are as many as there have been. They do not care to listen, they cannot understand the real meaning of what they hear if they do listen, and all their ideas are so far from anything of a spiritual nature that even the simplest teaching finds little in them which can respond. The in-patients, on the other hand, are for some time placed in a position where they have little else to do but read the books placed before them, and have a good deal of teaching, much of which is of a more personal character, and at the same time see the lives of those who, however imperfectly, are seeking to show forth the life of Christ. This constantly reiterated teaching is much more likely to convey some meaning to these ignorant people than the casual visit to the surgery and what they hear there, and it may fairly be expected to bring forth fruit in due time. There are probably no two things more important in a Mission hospital than concentrating attention upon in-patients and fostering the Christian atmosphere in the whole hospital, and these are the things to which efforts are being directed.

Before, however, the fruits of the change are likely to be seen in the Church, another problem will have to be solved--namely, how best to get further with the in-patients. The out-patients mostly come from near at hand, and when one of them wishes to learn more he can easily come to church; but in-patents as often as not are from a long way off, for even if they are working in Chemulpo it is more than likely that their home is at the other end of Corea, and many come from far, especially for treatment. In such cases, while it is possible to teach, there is some difficulty in doing so to any purpose, as it is not satisfactory to offer the catechumenate, and still less baptism, to those of whose life and character no more is known than what can be observed in hospital, and who are quite likely on returning to their homes to be entirely out of reach of further teaching, and perhaps to find a home in which it is almost impossible for one young and weak in the faith to stand. Until, then, some means can be found of following them up or referring them to workers in other Missions, the work is not likely to show much result ; but it would be very faithless to doubt that, even though we do not see it, the preaching done under the favourable circumstances of the wards will bear fruit. The problem of how to meet this difficulty is one which calls for much prayer.

There have been no changes in the staff, foreign or Corean, since the beginning of the quarter, as the most recent event was the arrival of Miss Lillingston at the end of March. She is getting on well with the dispensing, and working away at the language energetically.

Turning to finance, there is a balance in hand only a few yen less than that at the beginning of the quarter ; but the expenses have been about ￡20 less, so that it is plain that the funds would be the better for some increase, as the reduction in expenditure is due to the absence of large bills for drugs and dressings, and is not one which we can expect to maintain. The fees received from hospital patients have again risen a little, owing mainly to several Chinese in-patients who paid well; but even allowing for them, there seems to be rather more coming in from the Coreans, and it may be hoped that they will continue to pay more as time goes on.

HUGH H. WEIR.

St. Peter's Community foreign Mission Association.

THROUGH the kindness of the Rev. F. Wilson we are able to print photographs in illustration of two of the main objects of the S.P.F.M.A.—i.e., the Fund for Native Biblewomen and the Girls' Orphanage at Seoul.

The first is a group of Biblewomen and women who help in teaching, who were assembled from different Mission stations at Kangwha in October, 1906, and were allowed to join the classes given by the Bishop and priests to the catechists, &c. The names of some of them are known to the members.

First Row (reading from right to left): Sarah Ye, Elizabeth, Maria, Sarah Pak, Salome, Eunice. Second Row (seated): Lydia, Agatha, Deborah, Elizabeth Song.

Since the photograph was taken Sarah Ye died suddenly last winter, and in her the Mission has lost a very zealous helper. Since her husband died she gave most of her time to teaching the women in the little village of Hongi, where she lived, and, helped by her daughter Miriam, held classes and meetings every Sunday. There are very few houses in the village now where the women are not learning. She used to come in to church on Saturday afternoon to be at Evensong and Preparation and the evening class, and on Sunday morning go home very soon after the Celebration to be ready for the

in getting thither and hither in the smallest and oiliest of Japanese coasting steamers.

I did a churchly round, nearly squaring the circle by a zig-zaging route, and will give some account of my wanderings   in the Mission stations of Manchuria, North China, and Shantung. Saturday, June 22, at daybreak we reached Dalny, and I broke fast at the Tōyō Hotel. Here I had but four hours; very hot and dismal. This is a well-laid-out and finely built Russian town, now occupied by Japanese. The solid stone houses are a great contrast to the match-board erections put up by the latter people in Corea. There is an imposing church in the centre of the city-now, alas! used as a heathen school. Between the elevens--A.31 and PM--I travelled on a very slow railway to New Chwang, and reached the hotel-some miles from the station--at midnight on Saturday.

Next morning I found my way to St. Nicholas' Church, where Mr. Sprent, the priest-in-charge, was celebrating. Afterwards he kindly insisted on my removing to his Parsonage, and entertained me delightfully till I went away four days later. All I saw of China was surprisingly flat and uninteresting after Corca. I saw no rice fields, barley, or forests, very few flowers, and only an odd mountain or two in the distance.

New Chwang itself is as dismal as may be, but I found the foreign community as jolly as possible and cheerful under the most depressing circumstances of flatness, dust, and heat. And here is the broad-bosomed Liao, a mighty river, but muddy withal. Mrs. Sprent was unfortunately away, though I had the happiness of meeting her and their jolly little boy Philip a few days later at Pei-tai-ho. The Parsonage is a good house, standing in a large garden, which includes the church and Charlesworth Hall the latter built in memory of our dear old friend, Henry Charlesworth, of this Mission)

Mr. Doxat gave the site and built the house when he was priest-in-charge of New Chwang, Manchuria, from 1892, having been included in Bishop Corfe's jurisdiction until 1902, when it was transferred to Bishop Scott, of North China. On Thursday, June 27. I left by train for Shan-hai-Kwan, which is as far as the railway can carry you in one day. Her appears the great wall, running into the sea.

I stayed the night at a good foreign hotel, the manager of which proved very friendly and a keen Churchman. Mr. Williams, the chaplain of these parts, being on furlough, I was able (by Bishop Scott's kind permission to be of some use.   On Friday morning I left for Pei-tai-ho, forty miles on, rode five miles on an excellent ass up to the foreign settlement on the seashore, stayed with some very friendly people for the night, and celebrated next morning (St. Peter's Day--ten com-municants), and preached on their verandah.

The same day, Saturday, I returned to Shan-hai-Kwan, and took services on Sunday in the nice little church there. Monday, July 1, I quit for Pekin, being all day on board a very comfortable train. This time I indulged in a saloon ticket, as the conductor most kindly insisted on granting me military fare. It makes all the difference on an all-day, intensely hot and dusty journey. besides which it enables one to get a good tiffin in the train. Mr. Mather, chaplain at H.B.M. Legation, met me at 7.15 P.M., and we went straight up to his house. Sir John and Lady Jordan (formerly of Seoul) appeared genuinely delighted to see a Corean again, and made us dine with them, straightway, in their glorious old Chinese palace.

I stayed in the historic compound, where few traces of the ghastly but gloriously-sustained siege of 1900 now remain, for two days and three nights. I fear I was disappointed in the "Temple of Heaven," the chief sight of Pekin, but perhaps I expected too much.

The heat was horrible--111° in the shade one day--and the south wind felt like a blast from an iron fumace. The heavens were obscured by storms of dust, and rain was sadly wanted. One night we dined with Bishop Scott at the Mission com-pound, several miles from the Legation. Here I had the pleasure of renewing my acquaintance with Miss Scott and hearing some of her excellent singing, and also of meeting Mr. Partridge and Dr. Aspland. There is a fine new church in building, but it was too dark to see much and too late to go over the hospital. We walked back on the top of the huge wall surrounding the Tartar city.

On Thursday, July 4. I left at 8 A.M. by train for Tientsin--another great storm-centre in 1900--and spent the twelve hours between the two elevens (A.M. and P.M., once more !) in exploring that city.

I dined with Str. Sedgwick, the chaplain, and his wife, who entertained me right royally. We said evensong in the splendid Church of All Saints. At night I got on to a steamer again, and we made Chefoo early on Saturday morning. Here I stayed for five happy days as Mr. Jones's guest, in the same house with Bishop and Mrs. Iliff, of Shantung. The   Rev. Frederick Jones is doing a valuable work here ; he is head of a training college for Chinese catechists, and it is delightful to see the zeal and enthusiasm with which these good fellows (two of them absolutely blind) work under his able and vigorous direction. I hope Mr. Jones and Mr. Sprent are both going to return my visit very shortly. Boarding my ship for a last cruise on Thursday, I got back to Chemulpo on Saturday afternoon, having been delayed for fourteen hours by fog outside the islands.

alsw be here again, and I feel as if I had been away three months. It is wonderfully good for one to see something of the work being done under other conditions, by other methods, and in other countries. Of course, I did not see anything of the real Mission work in China; that appears, as here, to make most headway in the country.

The kindness of everybody in Mission stations, seaside places, hotels, railways, and steamers was almost overpowering. Warm hearts are certainly developed in the East.

I hope the bond between Chinese and Corean Christians and workers may ever strengthen--they have always been good friends. In praying for us, do not forget the triple alliance of supplication--for "Corea, China, and Japan."

Yours sincerely, WILFRID N. GURNEY.

II.

ENGLISH CHURCH MISSION, SEOUL, COREA . July 17, 1907. DEAR MR. EDITOR, --

The Bishop has asked me to send you a summary of our proceedings of the fifth Conference, held at Seoul on June 4, 1907. The Bishop, clergy, and doctors were all present with the exceptions of Mr. Laws (at Philadelphia) and the Rev. Stephen Cartwright (on sick leave in Japan). We had two sessions, and the chief businesses of the Conference consisted in piling up work for the members of it over against the next (second week in October).

The Bishop made a statement on the political situation, with particular reference to the Japanese reforms in relation to education, rights and transfer of property, and other matters affecting the Mission; and proceeded to voice the members of the Conference in expressing a warm welcome to the new workers on the staff--Sisters Edith Helena and Cecil, Miss Elrington, Miss Grosjean, and Miss Lillingston. The unavoidable absence of the Rev. S. H. Cartwright, through sickness, was deeply regretted. The Bishop said how sorry he was to lose the assistance of Miss Jephson, for whose valuable help he was sincerely grateful. His Lordship then went on to deplore the Rev. J. S. Badcock's temporary withdrawal, and especially the circumstances which necessitated it. One of the consequences was that the Printing Press must be closed down for a time.

The Rev. J. S. Badcock thanked the Bishop and his fellow-workers for their invariable kindness towards him--"a most important factor," he said, "in the Mission field." A discussion, lasting ten minutes, then followed on points arising out of the Bishop's speech.

Then we came to the Agenda, and the appointing of Com-mittees to do and report their business. The chief of them were as follows: -- Education.--The Bishop nominated the Revs. F. R. Hillary and G. A. Bridle, with Sr. Margaretta and Mrs. Hillary, to act with himself. Hymen-Book.--The Rev. G. A. Bridle to present a revised edition to the Bishop at Michaelmas. Mission Literature.--The Bishop, the Rev. F. R. Hillary, and Sr. Margaretta. Paper.--The Rev. F. R. Hillary was asked to be responsible for a monthly paper from November next, containing a course of Sunday lessons, Gospel commentary, &c. Monthly Intercessions.-Sr. Edith Helena was asked to com-pile and distribute these. Finance Committee was re-appointed for a year. At the next Conference, to take place (D.V.) in the second week of October at Seoul, the ladies of the Mission are also invited to be present to hear the annual report from each station read, and the reports of the various committees as appointed in June. The Bishop celebrated in English on the day of the Conference, and the members dispersed on the following day. The Bishop hopes hereafter to hold a spring and autumn Conference annually.

Yours sincerely, WILFRID N. GURNEY, Secretary to the Conference

III.

ENGLISH CHURCH MISSION, SEOUL. May 31, 1907. DEAR SIR, --

On Whitsun Tuesday the Bishop and I broke fast in Seoul at 5 and quit at 6 by train (2 1/2 hours) for Pyeng-Taik. Pyeng-Taik (Corean cannot be transliterated into English, but it sounds more or less like this) lies some 25 miles south of Su-won, where Mr. Bridle lives. For some time it has been one of his chief out-stations, and now the people there have purchased (with assistance from the Mission) a large house and formed it into a church, guest room, priest's room, and catechist's house.

The Bishop went down to dedicate the church. We were met by some of the “Doctrine-men" at the station, and walked about 3 miles to the church compound. Hence came the priest and a good crowd of people to welcome us into the town, many of them having come from far. The “town" is really but a small village, with its bustle and market every fifth day. The Bishop, who had been sadly sick on Whit Sunday, partook plainly of some cold rice and boiling water, and after greetings, &c., the procession was marshalled and we sang an immense metrical litany as we circumambulated the whole compound.

Somebody bore the Cross in front, and a Christian from Seoul (Richard Yi--pronounced "E") was thurifer ; the Bishop followed, his magnificent white cope supported by two of the local catechists, then the rest of us two by two. Outside the church the usual order was observed; we formed a large semicircle without the western doors, and the Bishop advanced, knocking with his staff, and claiming admittance in God's Name.

Everyone had a copy of the Order of Service, and, while devotion and enthusiasm prevailed, dignity and order were not wanting. Mr. Bridle had already offered the Holy Sacrifice at the new altar early that morning, so the Bishop simply dedicated the church and altar (there is no font yet), and invoked God's blessing on all who should celebrate any of the Sacraments of the Church in that building and on all who should receive the same ; also in regard to the preaching and hearing of God's Word, and all public worship within the walls. There was a short interlude while two men were admitted to the catechumenate, and much singing of hymns; prayers-some book, some extempore; and several short addresses. The priest-in-charge spoke first, and admonished his flock as to how they ought to behave themselves in the House of God.

After the dedication his Lordship gave a short, affectionate address; and then dear, gentle, old Mr. Yi (“E”) Toma, churchwarden of Seoul, conveyed the brotherly greetings of the Christians in the capital and expressed, in his faltering but really charming way, his earnest hope for great things in these parts.

After more hymn-singing, Chyen Iohann and Kim Paulo Preached short sermons--one on the Holy Spirit, the other on thankfulness; so, with a collection (taken in half a dried gourd) for church mats--woefully wanted--and another merry hymn, the Bishop's blessing brought a long and worshipful service to a close. Heavy rain now began to fall and gave us a slippery walk back to the station. We were, however, none the worse, and devoured much bread, as well as the major part of a boiled ox-tongue, in the train.

The little church, which would hold about 27 people in England but 130 Coreans (who have no use for chairs, desks, alleys, &c.), was dedicated to the Glory of God in the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The building is shaped like the church at Su-won--an aisle for women at right angles to the altar.

Mr. Bridle hopes to be there for three or four days every month, and the dedication of the new chapel should be a great encouragement to all concerned. This includes readers of Morning Calm, who, while they are asked to give God thanks for His gracious help hitherto, must by no means sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for the spiritual fabric--still in an early stage of development. Mr. Bridle needs all the encourage-ment he can get, as there are many adversaries, and it would be a shame indeed for us Christians to be outdone in zeal and activity by the devil and his angels. Will you reward me personally for telling you this much about Mr. Bridle's work by sending to us both a large number of the "oleographs" mounted on linen he asked for (but has not yet obtained) in the April number of Morning Calm ? They can either be sent (unframed, of course) direct to us respectively at the English Church Mission, Su-won or Seoul, or addressed to St. Peter's Home, Mortimer Road, Kilburn, N.W., whence they will be forwarded to Corea, free of charge, in due season. I would specially ask for Mowbray's (or other similar) publications of such pictures as The Annunciation, Visit of the Magi, Crucifixion, Resurrec-tion. Ascension, and Descent of the Holy Ghost.

We want them for the chapels and rooms used for prayer meetings in every village where we are at work ; if we get 200 it will not be too many, and there is nothing of the kind to be abtained out here. Hoping for many contributions,

Your very sincerely, WILFRID N. GURNEY.

COREAN MONUMENTS AND BUILDINGS

(continued).  (5) This is a very handsome stone pagoda. Made in four sections, each about five feet high, and it is five feet wide at the base. On each of the plain surfaces are carved figures of the Buddha. The pagoda stands in a small park in Seoul, and is one of the things (one might almost say the one thing) best

Worth seeing in Corea. It is often thought that the pagoda was brought here from China, but this is, I believe, a mistake, the truth being that is was made by the Coreans about 1460. When the Japanese invaded Corea at the end of the sixteenth century, in the time of Hideyoshi, The ruler who expelled the Portuguses missionaries from Japan(no the mans who carried   on the persecution), the invaders intended to carry the pagoda to Japan, and took the top off, but for some reason they abandoned the design, either because the undertaking was more than they had bargained for, or because they had to retire hurriedly. At any rate the dismounted top was left, and still stands at the bottom where it shows a little to the left in the picture. (6) This stone slab stands in the same enclosure as the pagoda, and about thirty yards from it. The slab stands on a stone tortoise, the constant emblem of long life in Buddhism, on the back of which is a lotus leaf slightly curled at the edges, another Buddhist emblem, the Buddha being always depicted as sitting on a lotus leaf in Paradise and meditating. At the top of the slab is a fine carving of dragons, in relief. This stone is probably of the same date as the pagoda, the history of which is said to be engraved on the slab.

The Spirit of Missions.

EFFECT OF CHRISTIANITY ON CASTE—“Canon Robinson, Editorial Secretary of the S.P.G., was at Allahabad in Christmas week, and spent two days at the C.M.S. Oxford and Cambridge Hostel for Hindu students attending Allahabad University. He wrote thus in the Mission Field: ‘Thirty-five of the fifty students are Brahmins. The following recent incident illus-trates the effect of the Christian influence on the students. Mr. Holland (the head of the Hostel) heard that a servant belonging to the sweeper caste was ill. On going to see him he found two of the high-caste Brahmin students in his room. He found that they had been waiting on him. Neither student professed Christianity. Such a story provides a strong argu-ment in favour of continuing Christian Colleges or Hostels, though they do not apparently lead to baptisms taking place.’ Canon Robinson had just been to Delhi and Cawnpore, and he said of what he had seen at the former : ‘The conviction grows as one goes from one piece of work to another, that the work is being done on the best possible lines. It is inspiring to watch it even as a mere spectator.'"-(C.M. Intelligencer.)

"IN Missionary work there can be no real peace except in entire obedience. To understand the life we need to forget ourselves and the ordinary way of looking at things. To be   interested in it, to be of value to it, we must be preoccupied with the things that bring the soul into contact with God." --(Central Africa)

CHINA AS IT IS " An influential committee in London, consisting of both Churchmen and Nonconformists, sent out delegates to the Centenary Conference at Shanghai, in order that they might report on the significance of the civil and religious movements now taking place in China. Lord William Gascoyne Cecil, who is one of these delegates, sends his first letter to the Times (September 14). He describes the eagerness of the Chinese for Western knowledge. Monsieur Jarlin, of Peking, quoted the saying of a Chinese gentleman: ‘Before 1900 every Chinaman was convinced that he was Superior to a European ; after 1900 every Chinaman is con-vinced that he is inferior.' Mr. Polhill, of the China Inland Mission, told how the people in Szechuan were so anxious to hear the Gospel that they paid for rooms themselves, and invited missionaries to preach. Bishop Roots, of the American Episcopalian Church, said he had more converts to prepare for baptism than his staff could undertake.' 'China will learn. Already thousands of pupils are coming and going from the Tokyo University, hundreds to the American universities, and some few are coming to England.' 'In company,' says Lord William, ‘with that eminent missionary, Dr. Timothy Richards, I saw off a party of students going to England from the Shienso University. . . . Will they learn Western knowledge, and add it to Chinese morality, or will they accept our moral standards, and the religion on which these standards rest ? The message the West should give to China, both by the mouths of mission-aries and statesmen, is that Western knowledge without Western ethics will only show the heel of tyranny,’”

A MISSIONARY PROBLEM.--"Pioneers of the white races scattered over vast spaces in America, Australia, and parts of Africa compose the food which has covered, or is covering, them. They are the most virile members of their nationality, with aggressive force developed at the expense often of spirituality, by the life they lead. The point of the spear is likely to be hard. But a race once Christian, if it falls back into materialism, is not the same as one which has never received the Gospel, and it may be the chamber swept out, which has received evil spirits worse than those that dwelt there before. Consequently no mission work in the world is more important than the work of the Church in following the flock scattered over these vast regions, the precursors of a nation of the future. The call may not be so romantic when it points to work among prosaic farmers and miners of our own race, but the problem is one of infinite importance, for the pioneers come first in contact with weaker races, and may destroy them, or give Christendom an evil name, which it may take a century to eradicate. If possible, the first pioneers in such lands ought to be those of whom it may be said that they come not only for their own gain, but for the profit of the original inhabitants."--(Pax Anglican Papers : Bishop Montgomery.)

OPIUM TRAFFIC--A GREAT REFORM.—"Turning to the Far East, the deaths of two bishops and the retirement of Bishop Moule, have combined with a still more important event to fix our eyes on China. That event is the astonishing change in the public mind of England regarding the opium traffic, and the prospect at last of its early suppression. When the House of Commons by a unanimous vote brands the trade as 'morally indefensible,’ when the Secretary of State for India expresses approval of Great Britain making ‘some sacrifice to put an end to it,’ when the Calcutta Government confesses itself able, in time, to do without the revenue, and when journalists even range themselves alongside the men they have so long smiled at as faddists and fanatics, surely the hour is near for the great wrong to be righted. The sincerity of the Chinese, indeed, is questioned; but it is hard to see what the Peking Government could do more than they have done in the way of drastic regulations ; besides which, the people themselves are proving their earnestness in manifold ways. When a CMS Medical Missionary is invited to stay at one little town to cure all the opium smokers, about eighty in number, the great majority of whom are found to be still abstaining six months after ; when the Mandarins of Fuh-Chow promote an Anti-Opium Asso-ciation, which a great public meeting welcomes with enthusiasm; when four enlightened viceroys memorialise the Throne against the toleration of the drug, and appeal to Great Britain, as a ‘friend of China,' to assist the Chinese Government to stamp out the evil, and when we find that these are merely examples of an apparently universal uprising of national feeling, we may well hope that China is in earnest."--(C.M.S. Year-Book.)   REVIVAL MOVEMENTS.—"Some of these, having manifest signs of a genuine work of the Holy Spirit, have been witnessed in several C.M.S. congregations in India and Ceylon, in one case through the preaching of an S.P.G. missionary. The native Churches are showing distinct signs of spiritual life ; and the welcome spectacle was seen in Lahore Cathedral, on the Day of Intercession, of the services being conducted--for Indians and Europeans together, the Bishop and Chaplains being pre-sent--entirely by five Indian clergymen of the C.M.S., once Hindu, or Sikh or Moslem, and one of them an Afghan." (Ibid.)

A NEW DOOR OPEN.—" Sir Mortimer Durand, the late British Ambassador in the United States, in addressing the Student Volunteer Conference there last year, said that Persia, where he had previously represented this country, would rather have Christian missionaries there than not have them, and that he, as a Government official, felt exactly the same. The Com-mittee trust, therefore, that their venerable friend Bishop Stuart, who has gone back to his latest mission-field in the fifty-eighth year of his missionary career, may find in Persia a door more and more open, and the hundred Moslem converts quickly multiplying tenfold."—(Ibid.)

A WARM WELCOME—"The late Mr. Fry was asked by the Egbado Church Council to superintend the work in the Egbado district, and had to visit a place called Tshagga, where so many Christians had been captured or sold as slaves in the Dahomeyan invasions that religion had apparently nearly died out. In spite of this they had a very warm reception. Mr. Fry relates how he met fifty of their elders in the market-place, and how their spokesman said : ‘You have offered as the Word of God ; the four kings in Abbeokuta have accepted, and so, by God's help, we will too. In olden days there was a church, a white man, and a teacher here, and if the white man wishes us to rebuild the church we are ready to do so at once.’ Then they led them to the old site, and as they looked upon the ruins of the church and the mission-house, and realised that for forty-four years there had been no witness for Christ in the place, they were cheered at the bright prospect of the work being started again."--(Ibid.)   A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN KASHMIR.--"The Rev. C. E. Tyndall-Biscoe's school at Srinagar is conducted on original lines. The Kashmiris are naturally lacking in manliness and in sympathy with the sorrows of others, but his boys have learned to do real hard work in the service of their neighbours. Many of them have got hold of the joy of service, and understand why they were taught athletics. Their school motto is, ‘In all things be men,' and the school crest also contains two paddles crossed in a heart, the paddle meaning strength, the blade heart-kindness, and the crossed paddles self-sacrifice. So they are getting hold of the citizen idea"-(Ibid.)

MISSION-WORK IN CHINA.—“Archdeacon Wolfe, who has had more than forty-five years' experience of Mission-work in Fuh-Kien, tells us that the people are now more friendly to Christ, though more hostile to foreigners, than in former years. An intelligent native Christian said to him: ‘The people are now beginning to look on Christ as no longer a foreigner with Whom they have no concern, but as the Saviour of the world in Whom all have an interest.' A distinguishing characteristic of the work in Fuh-Kien has always been that the Gospel has spread so largely through the instrumentality of the converts themselves." --(Ibid.)

REVIVAL IN JAPAN. --"Remarkable meetings took place in the C.M.S. schools for girls in Osaka. Miss Shaw, one of the teachers, writes: ‘The girls have stood well in their Buddhist, or non-Christian, homes, and through the testimony of their lives and words have so shown the power of the Lord Jesus that in many cases at least one member of the household has asked to be taught. The girls have felt their responsibility to lead their home people to a knowledge of the living God, and have tried to win them by love and patience and unselfish living. One mother said to me: “I had heard about Christianity before, but I am a Buddhist, so I would not listen, but my daughter has changed so since she became a Christian that I want the same power in my life."'"--(Ibid.)

AMONG THE INDIANS, N.W.CANADA.—"The Rev. J. Hines of Prince Albert, writes: ‘Drink is flooding the country every-where, and the natives so easily fall a prey to it. Our work, around Prince Albert is simply paralysed through its effects The influx of white men to labour in the lumber camps is very great, and a very large proportion of these spend nearly all their earnings in drink. Quite recently a number of men came into town from a four months' job in the bush. They each had ￡60 upon them, but I am told on good authority that they spent it all inside of three days at the saloons and their environments. . . . Our Indians come into town to do business ; they see these men, and do likewise. It is simply heartrending, when one remembers what has been done for our Indians in the past, and how loyal they were to their religious teachers, to behold them now, throwing away their religion, despising their teachers, and glorying in their newly acquired habit of getting drunk. Honesty was a common trait in the Indian character in bygone days ; now they will steal and lie--in fact do anything to be able to procure strong drink. And this falling away is not peculiar to the men; the women are just as bad. We need much prayer during this fiery trial that is besetting us on every hand. . . . Among the whites there is also a lamentable disregard of the Lord's Day, and when the Indians are reminded of the duty of observing Sunday, they reply: "You teach me God, Who made one law for all mankind alike. If wrong for Indian to work, it must be wrong for white man to work. Stop white man working, and then Indian will stop too."’”--(Ibid.)

WHO WILL HELP?--"The Diocese of Rockhampton, Australia, was never adequately endowed. Debts have loomed large, and larger, especially during and since the terrible long-lasting drought. The clergy, workers among workers, in addition to the spiritual care of those dwelling in the many and scattered towns and townships, spend their energies and strength in the endeavour to travel round their huge parishes, ministering to shearers, miners, carriers, squatters, farmers, selectors, boundary riders, and workmen of every description. Sick die unministered to. Dead are buried by the nearest neighbour able and willing to conduct a service. Little children grow up without religious teaching. Babies grow into men and women before they can be received into the Church. Communicants long in vain for Church privileges. The lapsed-lapse further. The godless become more ungodly. No blame to the Bishop ! No fault of the clergy ! Heartsore, struggling men all ! What are they among so many?"--(Australian Bush Leaves.)   "In 1906 striking revival scenes were witnessed at Aurung-abad; though the movement began among the children of the orphanages it spread to others as well. The Rev. C. W. Thorne wrote in June : ‘The revival begin in April with the visit of the Mukti-praying band from Pandita Ramabai's Mission, and is now going on as gloriously as ever. The Holy Spirit first of all came in mighty power on our orphanage children, and from them the sacred influence spread to the men and women present at the melas. A great number of these persons were the preachers and schoolmasters of the Mission, who, with their wives, had travelled in from the out-stations to be with us at the meetings. The sound of all these people praying aloud was like the music of the ocean in a gale of wind. This was followed by a spirit of repentance, and many stood up and confessed their evil deeds before God and the Church, and asked their fellow-Christians to pray for them. The result of this was not only a great cleansing of heart and life, but, as quarrels were made up and old preju-dices and wrongs removed, a spirit of brotherly kindness, of love to God and man, was engendered. There was no settled programme, but as we were led of the Spirit we sang and prayed and preached. There was no unreal excitement, but there was gladness and blessing and joy. The meetings lasted for hours. The Scripture teaching at all these gatherings was full of help. This was one of the great features of the Mission.'" –(C. M. Year-Book.)

Since going to press we have received an anonymous cheque for £300, to be distributed as follows: -- £100 towards the work among the Japanese. £100 towards Church or Mission Rooms in Sou Won or district. £100 towards Church or Mission Rooms in On Sou Tong and Kangwha generally.   Vol. V. AUGUST, 1907. No. 56. CHARCH ABROADS

Published by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospels Foreign Paris. The Progress of Christian Missions in S. India. THE Bishop of Madras, writing in a recent number of the Nineteenth Century, says: -- "In the Telugu country to the north of the Madras Presidency the number of Christions increased from 19,132 in 1871 to 222,150 In 1901. Here we have an increase of over 200,000 in thirty years, or