there would be confirmations, and feeling that the Star Theatre was not a very appropriate or dignified place, offered his church. He suspended his own service and came himself to ours, with most of his congregation. The choir also came, and had actually taken pains to learn the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis that we might have the service as we wished. They sang most sweetly, the organ being played by a teacher in the High School, whom I confirmed when she was a student at the State University. We had a crowded congregation, many standing. I have had no more reverent congregation anywhere. The good minister, who was most sympathetic in every way, expressed himself as much impressed with the confirmation. The people want a church badly. Next month I hope to get back to Harrisburg and even go further

afield. All I have seen is a great call to us to extend God's Church.

But

"Of course, where our people are only from one to six in number we cannot do more than offer an occasional visit. there are camps and camps here, where there are numbers of white and Englishspeaking people to whom God is only a name, and His love and law unknown. God help them!"

October 12th. "Leaving Harrisburg at 8:45, I reached Paris at 3:55, a distance of 154 miles. On this journey I passed but one place where we have a church. Three hours' wait at Paris and then thirty-eight miles to Mattoon, which I reached at 7 P.M., in good time for a service at 7:30, where I confirmed seven."

October 13th. "Ninety-nine miles home."

A

fero

"C

AN a nation be born again when it is old?" one asks with wonder when confronted by the great and surprising changes which have transformed China during the past few years. Here is a nation, intensely proud of its ancient history and civilization, with such reverence for the past that for long centuries its laws, manners and customs have been rigidly moulded by it, an empire the most stable and lasting the world has ever seen, and hitherto the most unprogressive. Is it possible that a sudden and radical alteration of the national character can occur to such an extent as virtually to constitute a new birth? Whatever be the answer to this question, there is no gainsaying the obvious fact that China is very different from what it was a decade ago.

For example, contrast the present and the former systems of education. "I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity and earnest in seeking it there." This was a saying of Confucius, who, be it remembered, lived in the sixth century B.C. During all the centuries since his day, the Chinese have been satisfied intellectually by little else than what he taught them, and the commentaries thereon. This narrow system of education has now been swept aside, and Western learning, in all its branches and most recent development, is taught in the government schools throughout the land.

from the Kingdom of God? Certainly the common people are more open to the teachings of Christianity than formerly, and the native churches are so strong as to be moving rapidly toward self-support and self-government. Yet, in the minds of many, it is doubtful if the nation as a whole has any strong leaning toward Christianity. Perhaps foreign nations have not made it very attractive. At any rate, the general desire seems to be to make China strong and respected, perhaps feared.

In Shanghai I heard an interesting address on this very subject at the annual meeting of the Missionary Association. The speaker pointed out that a twentieth century civilization was being precipitated upon a first century people, and while the Chinese, at present, were sitting with docility at the feet of their foreign teachers, no one could predict what their future relations would be. The cry was "China for the Chinese." Hence in the native newspapers the topics most discussed were measures for promoting the strength and unity of the empire under some form of constitutional government; the creation and development of national industries; the eradication of such widespread and obnoxious practices as opium-smoking among the men and foot-binding among the women; the fostering of the military spirit, notwithstanding its antagonism to the ethos of Confucianism. conclusion he urged the great importance, as well for the peace and progress of the world as for the welfare of China, of leavening this changing civilization with Christian ideals, whether the Chinese mean in the future to work out their salvation by themselves or continue to be guided by their foreign teachers.

In

It follows that, at this critical juncture, all forms of missionary work, evangelistic, educational and medical, should be vigorously pushed, and the

The low-roofed buildings in the foreground contained the examination cells, each a few feet square, in one of which, under the former system of examination, each aspirant for a degree was locked without food or water until the completion of the examination.

The

Thirty thousand students could be examined at one time in the stalls of this great hall. doing away with this system marks one of the greatest educational advances China has ever made.

necessity of carefully trained. men capable of becoming leaders in this transitional period, who shall lead their people wisely from the old to the new, must also be borne in mind. On the first day I entered Wuchang, I noticed a shop-sign with the inscription in English: "Foreign machine of weaning and spinning." Of course "weaning" is a mistake for "weaving." But weaning and spinning is no bad description of the foreigner's work. It must be constructive, yet necessarily there must be judicious weaning from all that is weak and false in the systems which have nurtured the nation in the past. Most of the weaning and spinning, however, must eventually be done by the Chinese themselves, and so, as we have already said, there is need of men whose training is above the average.

It is the policy of our mission to work on all these lines, with what measure of success, its marvellous growth bears witness. When I left China a few years ago, in what is now the District of Hankow, the number of our foreign missionaries could be counted easily on the fingers of two hands; now there are about forty, and churches, hospitals and schools have proportionately increased. In Anking one of the finest hospitals in China, if not the finest, has been built and opened and the church there has grown rapidly. In Wuhu, Kiukiang, Shasi and Changsha in the Province of Hunan, there are now strong native churches, where formerly we had no work at all and Hunan was a closed province. In Hankow, both in the native city and in the foreign concession, the work has grown by leaps and bounds, and its different forms are too numerous to mention. The same may be said of Ichang, where even the beggar boys are taken under the wing of the Church.

In Wuchang, Boone College is the largest educational institution in the centre of China and is rapidly outgrowing its present accommodations. The hospitals for men and women are doing a very large and important work. In

St.

the Divinity-school a number of first class youths are being exceptionally well trained for the ministry. Hilda's School for girls has its full number of pupils and is becoming selfsupporting.

One of the most encouraging features, both in Hankow and Wuchang, is the evangelistic and educational movement among women and girls of the higher classes, either started or supported by themselves. In short, the work is expanding in all directions. At one time our missionaries were so few, and the opposition or inertia of the people so serious, it required the faith which removes mountains to expect great and immediate results. Now, while doubtless many hopes to a greater or lesser extent have been realized, everyone, from the beloved bishop downward, is enthusiastically pressing forward, believing that under the blessing of God still greater results will be seen in the near future. Before reaching China, I was told many surprises awaited me. Like the Queen of Sheba, I hardly believed the words, until I came and mine own eyes had seen the changes, and behold, the half was not told me!

THE 1909 CHILDREN'S

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NUMBER

ANY people have been asking whether there is to be another Children's Number of THE SPIRIT OF MISSIONS. It is a pleasure to say that there will be and that it will take the place of the regular issue in February. There is every reason to believe that it will reach the high standard of previous numbers. It will be sold to Sundayschools in quantities in accordance with the usual arrangements. To regular readers of THE SPIRIT OF MISSIONS this special number is offered at the rate of three copies for twenty-five cents. They may be sent to different addresses if desired. It would be well to order copies at once. Address The Children's Number, THE SPIRIT OF MISSIONS, 281 Fourth Avenue, New York.