Morning Calm v.26 no.143(1915 Jan.)
The Bishop's Letter. (To the Readers of MORNING CALM.) MY DEAR FRIENDS,-- My last letter was posted, I think, at Newcastle, an hour or two before starting on this rather adventurous journey. I am now trying to write this in the train, in which we left Petrograd three days ago and which will, I hope, in about another ten or eleven days bring us somewhere near Corea. I say “I hope,” because, although we have as yet done only a little over 1000 miles out of the 6000 which separate Petrograd from Seoul, we are already between three and four hours late! At nearly every station and siding we pass trains full of troops travelling westwards to the seat of war, and that naturally involves a good deal of dislocation of the traffic. The journey from London to Petrograd, travelling all the way round by Norway, Sweden, and Finland, took us a good ten days, instead of the forty-eight hours in which it can be done in time of peace, when the direct line from Ostend through Berlin is open. We had a perfectly horrible passage across the North Sea from Newcastle to Bergen in Norway. A violent gale was blowing from the south-east (where presumably all the German submarine mines were), the seas were literally “mountains high,” and as
- Posted near Ekaterinburg, Russia.
the little Norwegian steamer Vega, in which we were travelling, is only meant for coast traffic, it is not surprising that she got a good bit knocked about and arrived at Bergen nearly twelve hours late. Never was I more thankful to set foot on terra firma again, as for a good part of the journey I hardly thought we should reach the shore in safety. But, doubtless in answer to your prayers and those of our good patron, Saint Nicolas, God sent His holy angels to watch over us and to bring us unto “the haven where we would be.” (The Psalm for the 22nd morning was certainly never said by any of us in more appropriate surroundings !) There was one terrible moment, when the storm was at its height, which I shall never forget. We were all perhaps a little more nervous and “jumpy” about the possibility of running into a submarine mine than any of us cared to admit. And when we were still a good 100 miles from land, and the ship was pitching and tossing at its worst, there was suddenly a loud explosion, followed by the crashing and splintering of wood, iron, glass, and crockery. What exactly happened I do not know. The ship's officers said afterwards that she had been struck by a tremendously heavy sea, which stove in (or at least bent) the iron plates of which the side of the ship is built and apparently cracked some of the steel stanchions and supports of which its framework is formed. Anyhow, the noise was sufficiently terrifying under the circumstances. The cabin next to that in which Fr. Marshall was lying (we were all pretty sea-sick) was wrecked, and he himself got a nasty (though not serious) cut on the head in consequence. You can imagine, therefore, how glad we were to find ourselves safely ashore by Thursday midnight: and you must join your thanksgivings with ours that God brought us safely through it all. After all this we thought we were entitled to treat ourselves to a good night's rest and a day to recover our-selves ashore, in the interesting old Norwegian town of Bergen. Norway, of course, is a Lutheran and Protestant country. But in its churches it has retained much of the old externals of Catholic Worship. The interesting old church of St. Mary has a splendid old triptych, or reredos, over the altar (which is the old stone one), containing beautifully carved figures of Our Lady and the Holy Child, the whole surmounted by a fine Crucifix with SS. Mary and John, and surrounded by figures of a number of other saints. And in the sacristy the verger showed us the chasubles of crimson velvet and gold still used at the Lord's Supper, a lordly old medieval Chalice and paten of silver-gilt, and a little silver-gilt pyx con-taining the wafers used at Communion. And this in a Protestant Church! What would Mr. Kensit say? On Friday night we left Bergen by train for the twenty-four hours' journey across Norway and Sweden, which brought us to Stockholm (the capital of the latter country) late on Saturday night. We had not been able to book farther than this in London. So we had to go to a Hotel and make our further plans. We found it was not possible to cross the Baltic or Gulf of Bothnia into Finland, even in a Swedish ship, without running the risk of being stopped and taken prisoners of war by the Germans. So we agreed (the party con-sisting of Fr. Alfred Hewlett, going to Japan, and Fr. French, going to Petrograd, besides Fr. Marshall and myself) to start on Monday night and travel all the way up to the North of Sweden by train, right round the Gulf of Bothnia and so to cross the Swedish-Russian frontier near Lapland and get to Petrograd through Finland. It was a long and tedious journey, taking four days, involving one uncomfortable night in the Swedish frontier fortress town of Boden, and a drive (in a motor !) of nearly twenty miles, on the edge of the Arctic Circle, from the terminus of the Swedish railway at Karungi, to the Russian terminus at Tornea in Finland. But it brought us safely to Petrograd by Friday midnight (October 30), exactly ten days after leaving England. Before we leave Sweden, however, I ought to mention the extremely kind hospitality we received from the English Chaplain at Stockholm, the Rev. J. H. Swinstead, and his wife. There is quite a nice little English Church (SS. Peter and Sigfrid) at which we were able to make our Communions on Sunday morning and in which I had to say the inevitable “few words” on Sunday night. On Monday the Chaplain carried us all off on a never-to-be-forgotten visit to the interesting old Swedish Metropolis, Upsala, where we were cour-teously met and shown over the ancient (but rather over-restored) Cathedral of the Archbishop-elect, Dr. Sodenblom, and the Dean. Besides the beautiful old shrine, still containing the relies of St. Eric, and the interesting tombs of Gustavus Vasa and other Swedish monarchs, the Cathedral boasts a beautiful treasury, with a splendid collection of old medieval copes, mitres, and chasubles, besides the more modern ones still in use. The Swedish Church, though Lutheran in doctrine, claims to have maintained, as we do, the Episcopal succession. And the Dean pointed out to me, with pride, the grave of the last Archbishop of Upsala who received consecration in Rome itself, and who passed on the succession to the first reformed Archbishop, in the sixteenth century. The other great treasure of Upsala which we were privileged to see was the “Codex Argesteus,” or famous old Gothic version of the Gospels, written in silver letters on purple vellum, and dating back to the sixth century A.D. This is preserved in the University Library. and was most courteously shown to us by the University Librarian himself. Reaching Petrograd on Friday at midnight, we drove straight to the hotel, where I stayed with Fr. Cooper on our way through last June. But on Saturday the English Chaplain, the Rev. B. S. Lombard, insisted that I and Fr. Marshall should transfer our quarters to the spacious and comfortable premises of the English Chaplaincy, on the well-known English quay, which overlooks the river Neva. And here we stayed and were most hospitably enter-tained until we were able to complete our plans for starting on the long journey across Siberia on Wednesday night, November 4. Nothing could exceed the kindness of the welcome we received from Fr. Lombard, his colleague, Fr. Barns, and, indeed, all at the English Chaplaincy. The calendar in Russia is you know thirteen days behind that of Western Europe. So that, although, we, in saying our offices, had arrived at October 31, the eve of All Saints, they were only just keeping the Feast of St. Luke (October 18), which I had kept at St. John the Divine, Kennington, on the Sunday before I left England ! However, Fr. Lombard was good enough to put the altar in his beautifully appointed chapel at our disposal, and we were thus enabled to celebrate the feast of All Saints and the Commemoration of All Souls, which otherwise we should have missed altogether, as by the time we get to Corea and Japan, we shall be among people who use the western calendar again! We went to some of the beautiful (but rather lengthy) services of the Russian Church in the cathedrals of St. Isaac and Our Lady of Kazan. But the one which affected me most was, I think, Vespers in the beautiful little new church of “Christ walking on the waters,” built in memory of all Russian sailors who lost their lives in the Russo-Japanese war. The church is small but very lofty, and most beautifully decorated--the apse over the altar beng filled with a gigantic and most “sympathetic” mosaic of our Lord walking on the waves, while the rest of the walls are covered with memorials of the ships and their crews, lost at Port Arthur, etc. Many of these memorials consist of the actual “icons” or pictures of the Saints, rescued from the ships. In front of these, lamps are kept burning, and these, with the candles similarly placed (with a silent prayer for some departed soul) in front of the sacred pictures by a constant stream of worshippers--men, women, and little children--provide the only light in the sacred building, apart from the brilliant illumination of the sanctuary, with its life-like mosaic. The plaintive music of the Russian Church is rendered (without accompaniment) in beautiful harmonies by a choir of men's voices only, drawn from the naval establishment. It hap-pened to be (by our calendar, though not by the Russian) the evening of November 2. And I do not think I have ever realised so clearly the proximity of the Holy Souls and their share with us in the sheltering love of Christ, Who not only walked on the waters, but Who sitteth above the water flood and remaineth a King for ever. This letter is already much too long. Moreover, written in this jerky train, it will, I am afraid, greatly try the patience of the compositor! I must not, therefore, go on to tell you in detail of all the things the good English Chaplain at Petrograd, in the midst of his many avocations, found time to do for us and to show us. But I should like to ask you to find time to say an “Our Father” for him and his colleagues in their rather uphill task of ministering to the hundreds of our fellow-countrymen, scattered over Petrograd and its neighbourhood, especially as for some years past his con-gregation has been helping our work in Corea by maintaining one of the orphans under the Sister's charge in Seoul. And, side by side with this pastoral work among our own countrymen, it must be remembered that they are charged with the responsibility of maintaining friendly and correct relations with the authorities of this great national Orthodox Church of “Holy Russia,” with its splendid traditions of faith and worship and its eighty millions of adherents. For good or for evil one cannot help feeling that that Church has a profoundly important part to play in the future of Christendom--a part only second in importance to that played by the great Roman communion, which, powerful and ubiquitous as it appears to us in the countries of Western Europe, has (it must be remembered) practically no hold on Russia and Eastern Europe at all. Of the kindness of the Russians, across whom one comes in one's travels, it is difficult to speak in terms of sufficient warmth. Such kindness is doubly valuable when one is engaged in a journey, thousands of miles long, across a country whose language is a closed book to one. The thoughtful and unselfish assistance rendered by a Vladimir Vasilivitch on our way home last June has only been exceeded by that shown to us by a Peter Leonidivitch on our way back. And one can say so the more openly as neither of them is likely to see this. We are now well launched on our journey across Siberia. But of that I must tell you in my next letter, which will, I hope, be written from Seoul. Yours affectionately in Christ, *MARK Bishop in Corea. PS.--I cannot tell you how hungry we are for news. The last we have seen is October 26. November 7. 1914.
________________________________________ Home Notes. The Year's Work. AT such a time as that through which our beloved country has passed during the last four months, work for Foreign Missions, apart from the labour of prayer which, under no conceivable circumstances of stress, must ever cease, has, perhaps unavoidably, been less. Working parties have been reinforced, others have sprung into existence; everybody and any-body has turned to and made something for the men in the trenches and the men at sea. It is as it should be. Never before has a nation laid itself out to win in a great war by seeing to it that the men who fight lack nothing. The experience is invaluable. The lesson is patent and will be driven home. What has been done for those in tent and trench with such enthusiasm can and shall surely be done for those in the Mission Field. The parallel is too obvious to be missed or overlooked ever again. The Financial Position. Writing away from the telephone and the Bank of England, where our much valued Hon. Treasurer has been literally working day and night, since the war broke out, at the amazing intricacies of that high finance which is one of the most potent agencies for peace on the Allies' terms, one is not able to give exact figures for 1914. Of course the income is not up to last year's. No one could expect that, had the events of this year been even normal in their course. Reporting to the Executive Committee in December, Mr. Harvey wrote: “Our receipts are about £260 less than last year.” We know, of course, how and why we are saved from a worse report. Our sheet-anchor has been the challenge of the “Country Curate,” and others who backed it up and who initiated similar challenges. The “Crisis” of last year we can almost call providential. Had the realisation of our position and the publicity given to it come this year, what would have happened? But there is "corn in Egypt," and we thank God and acknowledge His directing hand.
St. Michael's College. The interesting letter from the Rev. Cecil Hodges--in another column--about the work of the Training College of St. Michael, Kanghwa, reminds us that we must not relax our efforts to secure the provision of more bursaries or studentships. Parishes or branches of A.P.W. may well consider whether their extra effort for Lent, 1915, could not take the form of raising the ￡16 a year necessary for the support of a student at St. Michael's. Sums raised in this way are easiest dealt with by the Organising Secretary if sent in complete. The Principal of the College, the Rev. Cecil Hodges, is anxious to be in personal corre-spondence and touch with the contributors to the Native Ministry Training Fund. By so doing he will keep the interest of the sup-porters of this particular and important piece of work alive and keen.
Mr. Frank Ward. We have not forgotten our splendidly organized and grouped tableaux, which have been a feature of our Annual Festival for the last two years. Their success was due, as readers of MORNING CALM know, to the care and trouble taken in their production by Mr. Frank Ward. We regret to learn that Mr. Ward has been seriously wounded in Belgium. He was in his trench, leaning on his rifle, tired out, when a shell detonated hear him. A large piece of shrapnel hit him on the back of the head. He has been brought to England and the piece of metal removed by operation. We shall pray for his recovery and complete restoration to health. Association of Prayer and Work for Corea. I AM very sorry to have to announce the resignation of our Portsea Local Secretary, owing to ill-health. Miss Colling has done much work for Corea and has kindly continued the Local Secretaryship till she could find someone to take her place, and for this we are most grateful to her. Miss Jane Becket is especially welcome to us as a former Local Secretary, and as one who already cares for Corea and A.P.W. I am, therefore, very thankful that, in spite of many difficulties, she has so nobly come to the rescue. Portsea is the only A.P.W. branch left in a neighbourhood which used to be such a stronghold for Corea, and I shall be so glad if any member (whether living in that neighbourhood or at a distance) can do anything to spread the work of A.P.W. either in or near Portsmouth. One feels that so large a centre should have many branches. We are sorry to have temporarily lost the help of Canon Mosse and of Miss Lewis, who have lately left the localities of Durham and Maida Hill. The numbers of MORNING CALM, which are being forwarded by some of our members to others, are being much appreciated, and our Battersea Local Secretary asks me to say how very grateful she is for the four copies which are being sent to her so regularly for distri-bution, and which go the round of the parish. Our last three months have been outwardly very uneventful, but one hopes that there has been much silent prayer and work, and that, during the coming year, there will continue to be a great increase among us of missionary intercession. Let us pray especially for the additional priests who are so much needed in Corea. The following report has been sent me from Wilmington: “Sister Constance Irene addressed the Girls' Guild, the Mothers' Union, and the Sunday Schools in both parts of the parish during the octave of All Saints, and, it is hoped, greatly quickened the interest in our own special Mission. On November 8, Mr. Cooper, from Corea, also preached twice for us. We are all agreed that it is wonderfully helpful to have among us real missionaries who come to us straight from the Mission Field, burning with zeal for the Master and the honour of His Name.” From Bath we learn that a small Sale of Christmas cards, calendars, curios, etc., was held on December 6, at the house of the Local Secretary, who has given us one more proof of her zeal for all Missions, especially for Corea. MAUD I. FALWASSER, General Secretary.
Needlework Report, October 1914. THIS year again a most satisfactory number of articles have been received by the Needlework Secretary, over 200 now being en route for Corea. Our very best thanks are due to all those who have contributed so generously, and to those who have organised such successful working parties. M. C. NEWMAN. ________________________________________ Children's Letter. DEAR CHILDREN,-- You will all be glad to hear that I have received a letter from Sister Nora with news of herself and the orphans. They had such an intensely hot summer in Corea, the hottest known for forty years, with a temperature night and day of 90 and 98 degrees. I wonder if you can realise what that feels like: so hot that it tried Sister Nora very much, and the Coreans also felt the heat very much, and the orphans found it too hot to play, and waited until sundown to go up their hill to look for air and then sat down to enjoy it! And the boys used to go with Fr. Bridle to bathe in a lake some four miles off. A priest, who has lately been out to Corea on a visit, and had to cut short his tour on account of the war, has kindly given me a description of his visit to Su Won for you. He travelled from Seoul to Suwon, a distance of twenty-five miles, taking two hours for the journey by train. Fr. Bridle met him and took him to the Mission compound [a compound is a collection of houses and buildings enclosed with a stone wall]. The compound is very prettily situated outside the walls of a fair-sized town on the lower slope of a wooded hill. The priest's house is a low square one, after the usual Corean plan, with a courtyard in the middle. One room is larger than the others, as it is part of a building which was used originally for a church. In the compound, besides the priest's house, there are the Church, the Boys’ and Girls’ School, the Orphanage, and the Sisters' rooms adjoining the Orphanage. In the morning the Corean Eucharist was at 6.30. After breakfast they went to the Boys' School. The boys are not all Christians, but those who are are fond of taking Bible names. Two little rascals, who used to steal the gooseberries, were called Paul and Barnabas! Another was named Isaiah, and several were called Timothy, and were perhaps followers of Paul. Then they had a delightful walk up the hill and by the city wall to the outer gate. The hill is covered with a kind of fir tree. The wall was formerly a strong bit of fortification, but now is collapsing. Then a visit was paid to the Sisters and their tiny chapel, and Sister Nora took them to see the Orphanage. It was nearly dinner-time, and the orphans were sitting on the maru--a sort of verandah--all looking very neat in their blue clothes, and some of them with their hair in tiny plaits. They were rather shy with the strangers. It being very hot weather then, some of the big girls slept at night on the maru, which is open to the air. This visitor thought the orphans looked such nice little people, and all seemed very happy. When Sister Nora wrote, the weather had changed, and the nights were quite cool, and even one night there was a hour frost;
SUSIE GOES TO SCHOOL.
so the Coreans had the excitement of making their winter kimchi ! Can you guess what that is? I guessed wrong. I thought it might be their winter warm clothes; but it is not. So you try and guess before you read on. Now I am going to copy the letter Sister Nora has kindly written, as it will give you a delightful picture of their life and doings. “Owing to the good rainy season there has been a splendid harvest, not only for rice, but the cabbages and turnips are double the size and quantity they were last year. The orphans look forward to these few days with great joy. Yesterday the amahs and work-ing girls--Betty, Jemina, and Katerina--were early pulling up and dressing cabbages in a field lower down the hill and tying them in bundles with straw rope. After school the others joined in with alacrity, carrying up the bundles on their heads and looking so picturesque in their red skirts and pinafores, and with their green bundles, as they came up the winding path. Some more cutting, and then all the spoil was carried down to the river for its first washing, then back to the yard to be re-washed, sorted, and put into large jars, over four feet high, which remind us of ‘Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.’ In a few days, sliced turnips, capsicurns, ginger, onions, garlic, etc., will be added, and then the cabbages are taken out and each head stuffed with the other things, and the leaves twisted up to hold them as they are replaced in their jars. “Corean cabbages are long-leaved, more like English cos lettuces, only larger and fuller. When the jars are refilled they are buried to the level of the ground and covered with the thick round straw mats, for frost would spoil the contents, which are ready for use in about a month, and last until the spring brings fresh green food--or even into the summer if not eaten up too soon: a usual occurrence, as it is highly prized. Yesterday afternoon a detachment of girls, and Lay-Sister Barbara, went up the hill to our upper garden and gathered the turnips, which are large and long. The largest ones filled one of the huge jars, and were thoroughly salted to keep through the winter and be sliced when wanted; the medium-sized will be used in the kimchi, and each child was allowed a small one to eat when she liked. After supper, I believe, was the hour they preferred, and in the meantime many hung the turnips round their necks to enjoy them in prospect and scent the odour, which is not pleasing to English nostrils. To-day the turnip tops are being carried down and washed, cut up, and made with some gai seeds into a kimchi, to be eaten at once. No part of cabbage or turnips is ever wasted. They have the pointed roots made into soup, and some part of the leaves are a special delicacy, boiled with rice into a kind of cake, resembling a tough blane mange!” So now you know what kimchi is. Sister Nora also writes that the children are wonderfully better for their country life and full of fun and frolic, which surprises the Coreans, as their children are, as a rule, dull; not stupid, for now schools are waking them up, and everywhere they show themselves decidedly clever, and their needlework and knitting are beyond English children of the same age. There are twenty-three children in the orphanage--a good many are between five and seven--and of some of these there is a picture on p. 12. Their names are: Magdalena, Margaret, Wi Maria, Dora, Phoebe, Meta, and the one at the back is Martha, sister to Maria. Six of the girls are hoping to be confirmed later, when the Bishop gets back. He had a very perilous journey, starting in October, across the North Sea. Such a gale was blowing that huge waves broke on the ship, and one struck her with such force that the ribs of the ship on one side were broken. The last we heard was that he arrived at Irkutsh, and it is hoped he is now in Corea. I am very glad to have a new branch of A.P.W. at Berkhamp-stead, and Mrs. Cockburn will kindly be secretary. Fr. Cooper kindly went to Battersea and gave the children there a delightful lantern lecture. There was a good attendance of the Guild, and they thoroughly enjoyed the pictures and descriptions Fr. Cooper gave.
Unfortunately another priest, Fr. Dallas, has broken down in health through overwork in Corea. Will you remember him in your prayers, and pray that another priest may go out to replace him? Believe me, Your sincere friend, MABEL SEATON. 61 YORK STREET CHAMBERS, BRYANSTON SQUARE, December 1914. Additional copies of this paper may be obtained by sending a stamped addressed envelope to Miss MERRI-MAN, 24, CLYDE ROAD, CROYDON.
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Supplications, Intercessions and Giving of Thanks FOR THE Diocese of Corea.
JANUARY 1915. SUPPLICATIONS. Grant, O good Lo
1. That during the winter work each Christian may realise the responsibility which rests on all to help. 2. Repentance to certain Christians who have fallen into grievous sin. 3. Health and strength for George Bri(Priest), who is now responsible for t Districts. 4. An increase of zeal and the love of so to the Catechists and Mission women. 5. Increase of energy and perseverance the Teachers in the Day Schools. 6. Faith, repentance, and perseverance to Catechumens preparing for Baptism. 7. Health and strength to the members the Mission staff now on furlough. 8. A blessing on Dr. Laws' work at St. Luke's, Chemulpo. 9. A blessing on the Theological students at Kang Hwa. 10. A blessing on the Sisters' Orphanage at Su Won. 11. A blessing on the work of Sister Edith Helena with the women Catechists.
INTERCESSIONS. Lord, be gracious. 12. All members of the Mission who are work-ing short-handed and under strain. 13. George Dallas (Priest) on sick furlough. 14. The Bishop, Clergy, Sisters and Catechists in their work of Evangelising during this year. 15. The Doctors, Nurses and Staff of the hospitals in their work of healing during this year.
THANKSGIVINGS. We thank Thee, gooi 16. For the health of the members Mission staff during the past year 17. The steady progress of the Mission in all its branches during the pas 18. All those who have been baptize confirmed during the past year. 19. The safe return to Corea of the Bish 20. The safe arrival in England of Dr.Mrs. Weir and their fellow travell St. Peter's Community foreign Missionary Association.
IN spite of the various claims on time just now, the Day of Inter-cession at St. Peter's Home was even better attended than usual. The Noon Service, taken by Padre Keable of U.M.C.A., was strikingly intense and helpful, and all members will welcome the notes of his beautiful address, which will be sent shortly with those of the meeting. Notwithstanding the lamented absence of the Organising Secretary, the meeting retained its usual character of cheery enthusiasm. Rev. A. C. Cooper's thoughtful setting forth of the importance of Corea, as a strategic point in the fighting line of the Church militant, was very telling--followed by the lighter vein of the Rev. Mark Carpenter-Garnier's breezy description of his recent visit to Corea, and of his experiences there, and deep impressions of the Catholic atmosphere of the whole Mission. The alms amounted to ￡12. The response to the appeal made in last issue of MORNING CALM for help to supply the deficit caused by the omission of any Sale this autumn has been just what one always expects and gets from members of S.P.F.M.A.--ready and generous--varying sums amount to £55. given in addition to subscriptions, &c.; and we have had no expenses, and a case of curios on hand. It is largely owing to this help that the whole of our promised ￡350 has been remitted for 1914, but it will be more difficult next year, as there is no balance to bring forward. SISTER HELEN CONSTANCE, General Secretary. The Orphanage. RECEIPTS FOR THE YEAR 1914. Hope Y. : Crus, Ester Mrs. Dat is Lor: . : SL Community. Es St. Swi Clapham Niss Stanky, siis Thalassi Ms J. Indepes: K ugby, po Wstroni Guildo St. Kate, PE Miss Wort, Torslet, 10.; A K Lydut, perister. .; M. D erson, T. A . Total.com We are very grateful for all monies received during 1914. In spite of the war, and the fact that one subscriber has given up. our total is nearly ￡8 greater than last year's, which is just splendid. Unfortunately this does not mean that all the orphans are adopted; there are at least six young people with enormous appetites begging for support. MARY SANDERS, Orphanage Secretary. ________________________________________ Hospital Naval fund. THE ninety-eighth meeting of the Executive Committee was held at the headquarters of S.P.G. (Tufton Street) on Wednesday, October 14, at 3 P.M. :-- Present: Right Rev. Bishop Corfe (in the chair); Rev. J. C. Cox-Edwards, Admiral Hon. Sir E. R. Fremantle, Capt. J. H. Corfe, J. R. Clark, Esq., C. E. Baxter, Esq., and Right Rev. Bishop Trollope. A letter of regret was read from Rev. S. H. W. Lovett. A letter was read from Rear-Admiral Patey, in command of the Australian Squadron, saying that there being a large field for missionary enterprise in Australia, New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands, they have a prior claim to subscriptions from the Australian Fleet. Bishop Corfe gave a hearty welcome to Bishop Trollope, and wished him God-speed on his approaching departure for Corea, via Bergen, Norway, Sweden, and Siberia. Bishop Trollope, in reply, confirmed the good done by our work in Corea, without which much suffering would go unrelieved. A very good parcel of curios was sent over from Corea; but as, owing to the war, there will be no Sale of Work this year, it is hoped that they can be held over till next year. As our Organising Secretary, Mr. Childs Clarke, is on active service with the fleet, it is hoped his closer acquaintance with the Royal Navy will serve him as our guide and help for a long time to come. C.E. BAXTER. Hon. Sec. Ex. Com. H.N.F. Japanese Work. The term “winter's work,” as denoting a period of renewed activities after the summer holiday, may not be a proper one for missionaries to use. We ought no doubt to be equally active all the year round. It remains, however, a sure fact that we cannot do quite so much in the summer time. Curiously enough, the people themselves, who ought to be accustomed to the hot steamy atmosphere, seem to be more upset by it than most of us; or if they are not ill, their children or other belongings are! So, when October sets in with cool re-freshing weather, we all feel very much invigorated; there is more opportunity also for work than in the summer season. There is now as much class-work as more than fills up the time of one woman-worker, when other necessary duties are added to it. I was therefore very glad when it was arranged by Rev. A. L. Sharpe, before he left for his furlough, that Kurose San should come here on October 30 to share the work. By this means she is able to widen her own experience by seeing a different side of things. Formerly she was working with Miss Pooley at Chemulpo. It may be necessary to remind readers of MORNING CALM that the Japanese work is far more intensive than work among Coreans. This of necessity, though the numbers in the former case seem pain-fully small in comparison. Time and energy have to be expended on reaching individuals which would suffice for a group of houses, or a large class. The woman-doctor on Deer Island, who, when I wrote last, had become an inquirer, is now a Catechumen and keenly in earnest. It is a very hopeful and interesting task to give her a weekly instruction, and she knows how to study for herself in between. On Saturday, October 10, we turned out in force to give Mr. Sharpe and his fellow-travellers a hearty send-off from Fusan. As time is short between the train and the boat, we got a room at the Station Hotel. The speeches (generally a great feature) had to be cut short; but there were a few words of earnest prayer for the safe journey of Mr. Sharpe and his companions in travel, and then the well-known strains of No. 209 in the Japanese hymn-book, “God be with you till we meet again,” heartily (rather than tunefully) ren-dered by the assembly, ought to have sent them off in good spirits ! It seems to have given great satisfaction that the rest of the party looked in for a few minutes, and did their best to make Japanese bows, though they were unable to converse ! On November 11 I am going on my first visit to Mokpo, where there are about four Christian families. It is the first time that any of the women-workers will have visited that place. It is about a day's journey by small steamer from Fusan. Of this visit I hope to send an account another time. BEATRIX ELRINGTON. Fusan, November 6, 1914. Local Notes. Seoul and Chemulpo. —There have been changes in the staff working in these two places. The Rev. A. L. Sharpe left on October 10 for England, on furlough. Miss Sakai, who was working in Seoul all last winter, and left, after Easter, to take an important piece of work in Japan, on the completion of her work there returned to Seoul in October, and is hard at work again. It is a great pleasure, as well as help, to have her back again. Chemulpo has, at present, no resident workers, as Mr. Miyazawa
CHURCH OF THE ADVENT, SEOUL.
lives in Seoul, Miss Pooley has moved to Seoul, and Miss Kurose has gone to give much needed help to Miss Elrington in Fusan, where the work is very heavy. But Chemulpo is not left entirely to its own devices. Mr. Miyazawa spends a part of every Sunday there, and also two days in the week, and Miss Sakai also goes down there weekly to do the work among the women. The Sunday before Mr. Sharpe left was a great day in the Japanese church in Seoul, as nine adults (2 men and 7 women) received Baptism. Two infant Baptisms also have to be recorded--one in Seoul, the day before Mr. Sharpe left; and one in Chemulpo, the previous week. There have also been two adult Baptisms in Chemulpo during the last quarter. It ought to be mentioned that the seven women baptised in Seoul were all the friends of a Christian lady here, who is most earnest in her endeavours to bring others into the Church. And we must thank God that her efforts are not relaxing, for she is now not only drawing others in herself, but is working up the true Missionary spirit among the newly baptised, so that they, too, are bringing their friends to be taught.
Kanghwa.--The eleven students in St. Michael's College are now in the middle of their second term. Bursaries of about ￡16 a year are still needed for several of them. The Rev. C. H. N. Hodges, the Principal, will give all information to any parish or individual who would like to undertake the support of a student. There are few new believers in these islands this year, but several Christians who had fallen away have been restored. The rice harvest is an exceptionally rich one. The most healthy features of local Church life at present are our schools and Sunday Catechisms. In another part of the magazine appears a letter from Miss France, describing her miraculous escape from drowning during a dreadful night of peril on the deep. Thanks be to God for sending Saints and angels to protect her! Daily we are praying for restoration of peace, and for the sufferers from the war. Every Monday at our Requiem Mass we commend to our Father the souls of those slain in battle.
Paik-Chun.--On Monday, August 10, there happened a flood which did an enormous amount of damage. During the previous night there had been very heavy rain, but no great anxiety was shown, as such downpours are very common at this time of the year. At about 9.30 A.M. the rain again began to come down in torrents, and continued doing so for a couple of hours. The lower part of the town became a lake, and the little stream which comes down from the mountain behind, and is only a few feet across in ordinary times, was turned into a river yards wide. It all occurred so suddenly that many people were only able to escape out of their houses just in time to save their lives. The first intimation we had at the Mission House that anything serious was happening, was when one of the house-boys, who had gone home to his food half an hour previously, rushed into the compound, carrying on his back his brother, and his sister in his arms. Their house had been washed away, and he and his family had only just got out of their house when the whole place collapsed. The building formerly used as the hospital was quickly turned into a place of refuge for women and children to shelter in, who had had to flee from their homes, and the woman-catechist worked hard to get them dry and warm. There were some pitiable sights. One poor woman was so drenched that her clothes had to be cut off her. The most distressing part of all was that children and mothers had in some cases been separated in the rush from their houses, and several hours elapsed before their mutual safety was known. The sheds and other available spaces in the priest's
THE REAP OF RUIXS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREAM: ALL THAT REMAINED OF A CHRISTIAN'S HOUSE AFTER THE FLOOD.
THE TRACK OF THE FLOOD. compound were filled with the goods and chattels of those whose houses were in danger of collapsing, and it was a most pathetic sight to see all this. Tied up near were an ox, a donkey, and a calf, which had been brought in for safety. In the afternoon the water began to subside, and one could then see what enormous damage had been done. Over eighty houses had been badly damaged, and ten (including the houses of three Christians) washed away. Only one life appears to have been lost; and we have indeed to thank God that the disaster did not occur in the night, for scores must then have been drowned. The city Christians suffered very heavily: for, besides those whose houses were damaged, others had their rice-fields destroyed. Those who were not affected by the flood have contributed liberally to help their less fortunate brethren. We have also to thank the congregations in Seoul, Chemulpo, Chin-Chun, and Kanghwa, who have had collections on our behalf. Much of the damage has now been repaired; but it is strange to see how the face of the mountain has been changed, huge rocks lying about as if there had been an avalanche. During the last few months the Angel of Death has been busy in our midst, for since the beginning of the year no less than fifteen souls have been called to rest. Out of these, two were most regular Communicants; two were children who had met with accidents. We kept our Patronal Festival on All Saints' Day. Deacon Barnabas Kou kindly came over from Kanghwa to keep it with us. It was his first visit to Paik-Chun, and his coming was much appreciated. He addressed the Communicants on the Eve of the Festival, and preached also at the Eucharist. The number of Communicants was quite as good or even better than one expects. At this time of year the men are busy bringing in the harvest, the women making their pickles for the winter. The classes for baptismal candidates were started this last month. We ask your prayers for those who are under instruction for Holy Baptism. Last but not least of all, we thank the anonymous donor who, by his generous gift, has made it possible to erect the longed-for and much-needed Church. ________________________________________ Acknowledgments. KANGWA.--With grateful thanks : Articles of clothing (for the Staff). from S.P.G Soup Tablets, from Honolulu. Set of Black Vestments (given locally).
Wants. KANGHWA.--Two pieces of wash-leather, for sacred vessels. A gift of ￡200 to enable us to move the church, school, priest's house, catechist's house, and women's waiting room to a more central site (already secured). Two albs, length 66 inches.--Address: W.N. Gurney, Kanghwa, Corea. Correspondence. DEAR MR. EDITOR,-- Our first term closed with June and the beginning of our rains. Most fortunately two friends of mine were with me in the last week before the men went down. As these friends are priests working in two well-known English churches, and making a long tour to visit Mission work abroad, it was a great help to have them see what we were doing, and to know that they had seen us actually at work. They gave Corea a full month, and the first month, of their time; and so were able to go out into villages in Kanghwa, spend a couple of days with Mr. Bridle, and most of a fortnight at Chin-Chun, where I was sent as stop-gap for a fort-night in August. In July and August the school was closed; in September the majority of the students were used as helpers in the absence of the regular catechists, who came up for a short month's training. Fifteen catechists in all attended, the Training School meeting none of their expenses for food, travelling, or books. One catechist was too unwell to come, and one was not sent as it was not thought he would be able to profit by the course sufficiently. Of those who came, there were some obvious laggards, both in regard to mental capacity and probable general efficiency; but I made no effort to go slowly on their account, for the time was short and the majority able to take in as much as one hoped to give them. All through there was a very marked spirit of keenness to learn, in things spiritual and in things more purely educational--to draw a bad distinction. I took two subjects, the Life of Christ, and Isaiah i.-xxxix., trying to draw bold pictures and get them to grasp the whole big movement of the Incarnate Life and of that of the old-time prophet. One knows that at home there is failure to teach, and so to learn, along these broad, and essentially important, lines, and that attention is given out of all proportion to isolated details; and the failure is even more pronounced in the Corean, who has barely begun, if he yet has, to know what constructive thought is, or to contemplate any subject in much other light than as a series of happenings each complete in itself, and so each of equal value, and none with any vital or reasonable connection with another. Barnabas Kou took “God and Man in the Classics,” doing nothing more, I fear, than dictating, largely verbatim, the Chinese book with this title given him to use. Original thought and dealing with any subject in your own way, or illus-trating it from your own inner experience and reasonings and convictions--all this I have looked for and totally failed to find in any Corean yet. I know how very small my experience is, but I fear the centuries of drilling in the Chinese classics and the way that was done, as the one and only means of “education,” has laid a numbing hand on this nation's brain and most manfully crushed out the desire or idea of original thinking. But one hopes to see this power develop under any true education, for the Corean is anything but lacking in brains and mental power. It was made compulsory that the catechists all provided themselves with a “Harmony of the Gospels” and a “Reference New Testament,” both which books each ordinary student has. It was also com-pulsory that they were in chapel some time at least during a fixed half-hour each morning, before any ordinary work was begun, for private meditation in Holy Scriptures. I have felt it necessary to make this rule also with the students; if they have used their Bible devotionally earlier, they must still be in chapel during the scheduled half-hour, or part of it, and there read some devotional book. It jars on one to make rules as to a man's purely private religion, but, as I found in the opening term, if you make no definite rule and see to its being kept, these men do little or nothing. Talking plainly and frequently and advising strongly is insufficient. The Corean is a very weak creature, always wanting to get to the minimum at which it is possible to carry on in anything ; so that, to settle any good habits in him, you must employ definite rules, and then see and see again that he is keeping them. There are, of course, the one or two exceptions which go to prove the rule. One of the big efforts before us is to get our native teachers in any position to read their Bibles intelligently, using them for regular study and as their regular books of devotion. One knows that if you can get them to use the Bible as their chief text-book for study, their main book of devotion, their guide-book as to how to live and teach and work and meet the difficulties of their work, you will be sending out men, with whatever other deficiencies, quite admirably equipped to be workers for God and stewards of His Mysteries. The actual scarcity of other profitable text-books may, in this respect, prove a real gain. Barnabas also lectured on Ancient Civilisations, getting through Egypt and perhaps Babylon too. He used a Chinese book which deals with the customs and arts of the old-world powers. I hope this did what was intended of it, in enlarging their ideas about mankind. It was a strenuous three weeks, and a bit hard for teachers and taught, but a very good time. I must not run to greater length. One wonders whether those who generously promised to give support for a student will be able to do so as they hoped, now that the war makes such demands on those at home. I would wish to write personally to such as send support for a student, and give reports from time to time on any one particular man; also Mr. Smith would gladly send to such his quarterly letter and photographs. But, unfor-tunately, it is only one or two that I know of who definitely send money ear-marked for support of students. To such I have written; would others, who may see these lines, believe me it is not that I am careless or ungrateful for their help given in this way to our work in Corea, if I have made no personal acknowledgment. I am, Yours sincerely, CECIL. H. N. HODGES. THE TRAINING SCHOOL, ] ANGI WA, November 7, 1914. (To the Editor of MORNING CALM.) DEAR MR. EDITOR,-- Last Friday I went over to Paik-Chun to share in their Patronal Festival of All Saints. Barnabas Kou, our native deacon (who is on the staff of St. Michael's College), was to be the preacher on that occasion, and he accompanied me by boat to and from Paik-Chun. The journey occupies two tides and also necessitates a long wait at a certain spot for the turn of the tide. On our way thither we were caught in a terrible thunderstorm, which so delayed us as to render it impossible to make Paik-Chun that night. We halted at a place called Peeree, landing on a mud-bank with neither a light nor the sight of a creature--nothing to guide us, only the lightning flashes to aid us in stepping from stone to stone and so, at length, reach something like firm ground. There was nothing else to be done, so we stayed the night there, and I slept in a little room, eight foot square, with several chests, a large stock of grain, dried fish, etc., in company with a Corean woman. It was utterly impossible to turn over in the night, even if one desired to do so. On arriving at Paik-Chun next morning, after a walk of forty li (some thirteen miles), we found the Christians had walked out to meet us both on the previous night and also that morning, but had now given us up and decided that we must only be leaving Kanghwa that day. However, we soon put all doubts to rest by making our appearance about one o'clock and enjoying our tiffin. The Festival services were most inspiring, and the people turned up from great distances to join in the worship at their mother Church. We began our Festival Evensong, at 7.30 on Saturday night, with a solemn procession, singing “Hark the sound of holy voices.” Two banners were included in the procession, both of them beauti-fully worked by the school children, and very well indeed they looked. The church was well filled, both on the men's and women's side, so much so that Miss Borrowman had to take some of the older women with her to kneel in the annex. The hymns were all sung most heartily, and a boy of thirteen played the harmonium. Solemn Evensong was followed by the usual preparation for next day's communicants, and Deacon Barnabas gave them an address. On Sunday morning, All Saints' Day, public worship began, at 7 A.M., with Litany in procession, followed by sung Eucharist, Mr. Wilson being assisted by the Deacon, who also preached an excellent sermon on following the example of the Saints. There was a very large congregation, of whom the majority made their Communion. It was a beautiful morning, and soon the sun began creeping in through every possible lattice and niche as if to join with us in lifting up our hearts in thanksgiving to God for His manifold mercies. Deacon Barnabas spoke again at the children's catechism after breakfast and inspected their exercises--both correcting and praising them, thereby giving much encouragement to all. Some of the men and women present at the Festival had walked in from a distance of over eighty li, i.e. more than twenty-five miles, proving thereby their zeal and devotion Monday, All Souls' Day, we spent at Paik-Chun, and early on Tuesday morning our return journey by water was started with every appearance of favourable weather. All went well until we came to the waiting spot at noon; after resting there for two and a half hours, we were just preparing to start when a sudden squall arose, and as we were then at a point where several currents meet, the open sea stretching out as far as the eyes could reach, you can understand how dangerous a position we were in. The boatman, seeing our peril, pluckily turned the boat round, made for what looked like a one-house island, fastened the boat to a rock and, with the deacon, began to clamber ashore through mud and half submerged rocks, to see if it was possible to obtain some kind of shelter for me, since we should not now be able to make a homeward move for some hours at least, the squall having arisen just at the turn of the tide. No sooner had they left the boat than the storm increased in its fury, the boatman turned back, but Deacon Barnabas struggled on. He arrived at the solitary house on that part of the island, only to find it would be inadvisable for me to go there, owing to its evil reputation; and then he turned to get back to the boat, but found it impossible. We were banged about then for an hour and a half, the rain coming down in torrents. By this time it was growing dark, and the dim outline of the mountains gradually faded from sight, the sea raging, the wind and the waves roaring horribly. Suddenly the rope snapped, the boat turned round, banged against the rocks, the rudder smashed, and away we flew, like a dart from a bow, at the mercy of wind and waves, with the desperate boatman and his terrified boy unable to do anything to remedy matters. The deacon witnessed all this from the rocks, and I quite think his agony must have been worse than mine--for he saw us going, as he supposed, to certain and sudden death. What happened afterwards I shall never forget as long as I live; how far we rushed out to sea I know not, the darkness increasing with the storm. The boatman shouted that we must inevitably be drowned. I said, “Let us pray to God to help us.” The boat-man was a heathen, and the poor boy was weeping loudly, so I commended us all three, body and soul, to God, and waited on His Will. Instantly our prayer was heard and answered (at that moment, knowing our danger, some Christians were praying for us in the Kanghwa City Church). From God came help: the boat had so drifted that the water was now shallow enough to cast anchor, which we straightway did, and once again were subjected. to much tossing and banging, but the immediate peril was past and we were truly thankful. In about two and a half hours the storm began to abate, and I begged the men, if it were possible, to pull us back to our previous waiting-spot, as I was sure the deacon would be very anxious; but they did not yet dare to move, and for six hours I had to endure it as best I could in patience, until we were able to crawl back to the rock on which we had left the deacon so many hours previously. He, with others who had witnessed our peril, had quite given us up for drowned, and when our man cried out from the shore (by this time it was past midnight) they thought it was some other men and boat bringing back our dead bodies. The joy of seeing me still alive was more than Barnabas could endure without showing signs of deep emotion; and, indeed, it was some time before any words were spoken on either side. By this time the wind had changed, and, thanks to God, Who had delivered us from such peril, we were now able to make tracks for Kanghwa, which we did, arriving eventually at about 5 A.M. next morning. We had spent twenty-two and a half hours in that open boat, bruised and drenched from head to foot. The next morning the special intention at Mass was of thankfulness to Almighty God for His love and goodness in delivering Deacon Barnabas and myself, and those who sailed with us--the man and the boy--and bringing us safely home again. Yours sincerely, EMILY FRANCE. PS.--I am thankful to add that Miss France soon recovered, and now seems none the worse for her agonising experience. Deacon Kou Barnabas, who was much moved, tells me she was most plucky and cheerful all through that long and dreadful night. There are sometimes certain things to be endured “at the front” in Corea as well as in the fighting west. W. N. GURNEY Priest in charge. KANGHWA, November 5, 1914. ________________________________________ The Spirit of Missions. THE C.M.S. Gazelle publishes in its December issue the following:-- PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS ON MISSIONARY HOME POLICY AT THIS TIME OF CRISIS. To many anxieties and perplexities, which the war has brought in its train, must be added the question as to the bearing it will have upon missionary efforts both at home and abroad. Already there are many inquiries from those who are occupied at the Home Base as to the right course to adopt with regard to organisation generally, and in particular with regard to the following up of the Forward Movement so happily begun a year ago. We are sending you the subjoined suggestions, which received careful consideration and endorsement at a meeting of workers from the Diocese at Worcester, at which the position of the Society as affected by the war was fully discussed.
I. Training in Prayer. The war has become to many a school of prayer. Can we not turn this new spirit of prayer to account in the world-wide extension of Christ's kingdom by definite training in missionary prayer? We suggest, with a view to increasing the volume of missionary prayer :-- 1. That a paragraph might be inserted in parish magazines, calling attention to the matter and giving hints on the lines to follow. 2. The use of the Prayer for Missions in time of war at services of intercession. 3. The use of this or some other similar prayer in Sunday and day schools. 4. The encouragement of the use at family prayers of the C.M.S. Prayer Cycle (1d.). 5. The formation of informal prayer circles in private houses. 6. The special observance of St. Andrew's-tide.
II. Missionary Recruiting. The spirit of personal service is now abroad in the nation. With-out diverting one man or woman whose duty it is to serve the Empire in this war, can we not press the urgent need for missionary rein-forcements. For the development of existing work the C.M.S. alone needs 170 additional workers. All the training around us suggests fostering the first thoughts of missionary service on the part of those who are not yet in a position to make a definite offer. We suggest:-- 1. That in each parish definite prayer be made that God will thrust forth labourers into His harvest from that parish. 2. That endeavour be made to bring the missionary call home to trained workers, doctors, nurses, educationalists (why not one of your day-school teachers ?). The Clergy Union is issuing a challenge for 100 of the younger clergy to stand ready. 3. That in respect to untrained workers a definite effort be made to get at least one person in each parish to join the Home Prepara-tion Union. For this purpose appeal might be made to Adult Bible Classes, Sunday-school Teachers, and Confirmation Classes.
* [This collect can be obtained on a small card from the Publishing Dept., C.M, House, free of charge.] III. Encouraging a World Outlook. The war is world-wide in its scope and effects. Men are being constrained to take world-wide views and to look deep into spiritual principles: it is surely possible to relate this to missionary work. We suggest :-- 1. Special meetings of Communicants at which an address should be given on the war and Missions. 2. A lantern meeting at which should be shown a set of slides especially prepared for use at this time--Side Lights on the War from Mission Lands. 3. Addresses might be given at Sunday or week-day services and at meetings of the C.E.M.S., on such subjects as :-- The religions of some of our native troops. Missions and the war. The loyalty of native races at the present time. The growth of Empire due to Missions. Medical Missions and the war. 4. The insertion of a paragraph on “The War and Missionary Work,” in your parish magazine. 5. The circulation amongst your workers of the pamphlet, “Christian Missions in Time of War” (1d.). This will well repay most careful study. Some clergy are making it the basis of a course of Advent addresses. 6. That an effort be made in each parish to organise work amongst children and young people on modern educational principles, with a special recommendation of the Sunday-school Ticket Recognition Scheme. IV. The Alleviation of Suffering. The war is compelling us to think of the problem of human suffering, and the interest now being taken in Red Cross Work affords an opportunity for evoking interest in the work of Medical Missions. We suggest :-- 1. That the members of the C.E.M.S. or choirmen might be asked to organize a meeting for Medical Missions to which a deputation might be sent. 2. That a Medical Mission representative might be appointed in each parish who would circulate Mercy and Truth (1d, monthly), which gives particulars as to the need for recruits, the Wants Department for the supply of bandages, etc. It should be remembered that C.M.S: Medical Missions are supported by a separate Medical Mission Auxiliary Fund. V. The Inculcation of Sacrifice. The message of the Swanwick Conference that the only way to meet God's call is by a deliberate limitation of personal expenditure has been heralded to the nation on a gigantic scale by the war. We suggests:-- 1. That we point out that we cannot righteously turn away from keeping our missionaries supplied. We have an opportunity for pointing out the solemn responsibility resting upon all professing Christians to share in full measure the sacrifices of the missionaries at the front. 2. That if such an effort as a sale of work cannot take place, a day of prayer and gifts might be substituted. We hope you will receive these suggestions in the spirit in which they are sent. We believe we have to-day a great spiritual and a great missionary opportunity. As spiritual leaders there is laid upon us an intense responsibility at such a time as this that we set before our people true ideals. The Secretary of the S.P.G. has issued the following interesting statement :--
THE SITUATION. There is deep cause for thankfulness for the note audible to-day throughout our nation and Empire. We are too much moved to make much noise. It is the Englishman's way to be the more silent the more he is stirred. The best sign of it is that all are asking themselves, “What can I do? I want to give of my best.” I hate to feel that I may be considered to be doing nothing? What can I do?” A great many of us have had the honour of giving of our best to the army or the navy. The Secretary of the Society and his wife are glad to be among that number. Mothers' hearts are sure to be torn, but underneath all there is the comfort, “I am giving of my best at my country's call.” Some families have given to both army and navy. All who will be anxious about sons, relatives, friends--and there can hardly be a family not so included--will remember the spirit shown by Japanese parents and stay-at-homes a few years ago in war time. There is also a feeling in our hearts when we are asked whether, as Christians and missionaries, we believe in war, to answer that there are worse horrors than the horrors of war, namely, the horrors of peace--of peace without honour, of peace by not keeping our promises. Better to fight than be dishonoured; better to lose our best loved (for awhile) than to forsake the weak who look on us for pledged protection. Further, if God gives our Empire and our allies the victory, then we are once more in danger, lest, that is, we be proud or imagine that it is by our own might we have overcome. Success humbles the Christian more than aught else—"Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” So much for the general question. What next, for us of the S.P.G.? Let us ask the same question, “What can I do? What more can I do? I do not ask what others are doing. What can I do?” Much the same answer comes to us as above— "We must not break our promises to those who look to us for support." We, too, are engaged in the Lord's battle. If the House of Commons votes supplies amounting to hundreds of millions in ten minutes, we, at least, must see to it that what we have already promised to collect for the remainder of this year, and for the whole of next year, is paid into our treasury. Let us quicken our imaginations. We are sending army and navy abroad in this time of war with prayers and blessings. But we of the S.P.G. are always engaged in sending the Lord's soldiers abroad, women as well as men, with prayers and fervent good wishes; we lay hands on them, we assure them that they will never be forgotten. Now at last may come the test for us. Times are bad, we must give up something--what shall it be? Our answer is clear—“Anything but the promises we have made to the men and women in our fighting line.” Everything must go sooner than break those promises. Living as our missionaries do on the free-will offerings of tens of thousands, having no power (yet) to assess or tax the Church at home for the Church abroad, our men and women missionaries are, some of them, anxious whether they will be compelled to starve. They have heard stories of the way in which some people at home cut down expenses, commencing with their subscriptions to Missions, hospitals, poor relief, etc., and keeping intact to the last the sums spent on drinks and cigars. These are dreadful imputations. It is an insult to-day even to hint that anyone would desire to shirk his war tax or keep back his son from the war. It is all the other way now. It gives one also a special thrill to read of the deserters returning to the ranks of the army and navy--“We cannot stay away.” No, indeed. So when we, as S.P.G. people, ask ourselves, “What can we do?” we answer, “You can take it as certain as anything can be that I shall not drop my S.P.G. responsibilities. I am thinking of those brave fellows, those noble women over there, whom I have promised to support. I would rather come to bread and water myself than let them starve. Why, they are fighting the Lord's battle for me. Do you think I am going to be a malingerer? No, indeed.” And I suppose there may be some who read these lines whose con-sciences may smite them. “I have been a deserter these last months or years. I can be one no longer.” Times of peril and deep responsibility in any direction help us in every direction. The whole character is purged. We are brought up standing. We look at ourselves: No—we at S.P.G. House have no fears We shall not let our men and women abroad starve. Times may be very bad. We shall suffer at home, but they shall not suffer out there. You will see--the Treasurers will acknowledge all the same sums as before. More than that, you will see that those Treasurers will sometimes say: “It is remarkable, but some of the old sub-scriptions which we had lost of late have now returned. Isn't it wonderful at such a time?” No, not wonderful; we are all deepened. We remember our omitted duties; all duties are being better done. And the Lord looks down upon us--the Prince of Peace. He will bring us peace in good time. Before it comes He will strengthen us to fight the battle of life spiritually all the better. “What can I do? What more can I do?” Do your full duty. Keep your promises to others. Give of your best to country and Church and be glad, be thankful you can do it. Don't give up what are your responsibilities to others. Whatever you give up, don't cease to support those who depend upon you. And the Lord bring you through the storm into calm water again. H. H. MONTGOMERY (BISHOP). Secretary.
