They have a great passion for carrying arms and somewhat of a weakness for ornament and fine clothing. In mental ability they are at least the peers of any race in Turkey. Many of them rise to places of distinction in the Turkish government, and others become successful merchants. The few that have become Protestants are of marked ability.

Paul preached the gospel "round about unto Illyricum." Who preached it to those ancient Albanians? They do not know. Some suppose that Christians fleeing from the persecutions of the earlier Roman emperors settled in Albania and planted the gospel there. The Albanians received the gospel before the Slavic tribes did. Greece has Greek saints, Rome, Roman saints, and Servia, Servian saints, while the Bulgarians boast of their Slavic apostles; but I have sought in vain for the name of an Albanian saint, reformer, lawgiver, or philosopher. If you ask for heroes, you find a large supply, including Alexander the Great, Pyrrhus, and Iskender Bey.

The first book in Albanian was published near the close of the sixteenth century, a small catechism. Since then, at long intervals, small books have appeared, but as almost no one could read them they made but little impression. If the number of books has been very small, the number of different alphabets has been large enough to be a real curse. About fifteen years ago an alphabet of thirtysix letters was adopted. Since then there has been some literary activity, but it has had many difficulties to contend with. The Greek Church fiercely opposes all schools, books, newspapers, and preaching in Albanian, even when conducted by orthodox Greek Christians. The Turkish government, too, would like to have Albanian a dead language, and so frowns down on all publications and schools. Albanian, however, persists in being almost the only language spoken in Albania. Schools can hardly be said to have ever existed in Albania, except in languages foreign to the people. There are not more than five Albanian schools at present, and most of these are very small and poor. The Protestant school for girls in Kortcha is doing a good work for Albanian girls and is flourishing. Would that there was a similar school for boys.

The European Turkey Mission began work in a small way for this race about seven years ago. A preacher was sent to Kortcha, and he found quite a number of hearers. Lack of funds compelled us to withdraw him for a while, but he is now there and at work again. The colporters of the British and Foreign Bible Society, good Protestant Albanians, are doing a good deal as colporters, selling among other Scriptures the Albanian New Testament and six books of the Old. They report the people in many places as desirous of hearing the gospel in the tongue in which they were born. Many Moslem Albanians are desirous of having Albanian schools. They say there is no hope of elevating the common people except by schools in the mother tongue of the children. Some of these Moslems are very favorably inclined to our work and even press us to enter into it more fully. Some of them are restive under Turkish rule. There is no reason to think that bad as is the state of the country at present it would improve were the revolutionary schemes of some to be realized and Albania be given autonomy. Albania needs peace, schools, and above all the gospel. With these that fierce race, much like the ancient Saxons and Norsemen, may soon become sturdy Christians and a blessing to their neighbors.

A QUARTER CENTURY OF MISSIONARY WORK AT VAN,

EASTERN TURKEY.

IN 1872 a mission station of the American Board was opened at the city of Van, on the eastern shore of Lake Van, about 150 miles southeast from Erzroom. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the commencement of this work was celebrated at Van on Friday, November 12, and on the subsequent days. It was an occasion of special rejoicing in reviewing God's mercies during these years. The audiences were not as large as they would have been had it not been for a severe snowstorm, but the people of the city gathered in goodly numbers.

Among those present was noticed a priest from a neighboring Armenian church. At the services on the Sabbath, November 14, Dr. Raynolds gave a history of the work in Van, while at the noon service Mr. Allen read an interesting paper on the work of the American Board in Turkey, its objects and methods. On the next day the pupils of the two schools, including the inmates of the orphanage, gathered for a memorial service. During the sessions much gratifying and appreciative testimony was given to the beneficent influence of the missionary work, and gratitude was expressed to the missionaries and to the American Board and its patrons in America for their efforts.

During the twenty-five years five missionary families and five single ladies have been connected with the station; 105 persons have been admitted to the church.

Of the fifteen who have died, Mrs. Raynolds reports that "four swell heaven's martyr list, and died nobly."

In his retrospect of the twenty-five years, Dr. Raynolds speaks of the difficulties that have been connected with work at this station. The Armenian national feeling has always been stronger in Van than elsewhere, and anything considered inimical to the national church was especially resented. Moreover, this station was occupied later than others, and after the suspicions of the Turkish population had been aroused concerning missionary work, and hence the opposition has been felt more severely here than in other places. Yet Dr. Raynolds dwells upon the following signs of progress :

"Twenty-five years ago the Bible, especially in the modern tongue, was an almost unknown book. During these years more than 1,000 copies of the whole Bible, upward of 3,000 copies of the New Testament, together with 4,500 parts, have been introduced, and I feel sure that before the massacre considerably more than half the Armenian houses in the city were in possession of, at least, a New Testament, while hardly a village could be found without a few copies of the precious book. Many of these were lost or destroyed during those days of violence. I am sure that a large portion of these books were intelligently and diligently read, and in many instances brought a revelation of the truth, even without the living preacher's influence. Twenty-five years ago the doctrines of the new birth and of salvation by free grace alone were quite unknown, and the prejudice against evangelical preaching was simply tremendous. Personal conversations, the Sabbath preaching, the instruction in the schools, and the labors of colporters, evangelists, and Bible-women have effected an immense change in these respects, so that now the intellectual understanding of these vital doctrines is somewhat general, while we see much reason to believe that there is a considerable number of persons, not counted as Protestants, who have passed from death unto life. That the strong prejudice formerly existing has been greatly weakened is attested by the numbers frequenting our Sabbath services, often reaching 500, besides the children of the orphanage. It is attested by the respectful demeanor of school children and others, which has taken the place of the calling of Prote,' and other forms of abuse which formerly greeted us. when passing through the streets. It is shown, also, by a perceptible improvement in general morality, especially in a reform in the drinking customs of the city, and the decrease in profanity and impurity in ordinary conversation. It is shown by a marked elevation of the position of the female sex. It has been pleasantly emphasized this week by a polite letter of congratulation sent by the head of the Armenian community, in his own behalf and that of his people, anent this celebration."

In the paper of Rev. Mr. Allen he speaks especially of the educational work, and of the fact that other educational schemes adopted by the Armenians had failed, while the mission schools remained and prospered as never before. He says of them:

"Aside from the fact that they give daily instruction to more than 500 pupils, they are also serving as an incentive and example which the Gregorian schools are glad to follow. A certain national pride prevents these schools from imitating us too closely, but in certain essentials the drift is in the same direction. In a

word, our schools, once so poorly attended and so despised, are second to none in standing, are overflowing with pupils, and they occupy in the eyes of the people the highest position of leadership in the matter of a truly Christian education."

Of his associate, Dr. Raynolds, Mr. Allen says: "One of the most noteworthy facts connected with the history of the Van station is the peculiar way in which Dr. Raynolds has been identified with it from the beginning. He has held to his post through all weathers and all changes. He has been called to witness war, pestilence, famine, massacre, and to pass through dangers of all sorts. Often at most trying periods he has been absolutely alone. To his unswerving loyalty and indomitable perseverance must be attributed the fact that a missionary station exists here to-day, and that on a basis so firm and enduring."

As to the future of the station Mr. Allen says: "Van's danger and misfortune under all circumstances have been her isolation from the large centres. On all sides swarm hordes of wild Koordish tribes of men. The remoter districts have been for years at their mercy. The result is to-day that Christians have practically abandoned these districts, while in the nearer regions and the city, emigration and the sword have decimated the population in fearful proportions. How long will this steady depopulation and impoverishment go on? A practical extinction of the Armenians in this province is possible as in no other part of the empire. It is going on even now at a rapid pace, and nothing is being done to prevent it. The very life of our work depends on the answer to the above question. If this process continues for twenty-five years, it is difficult to imagine how a missionary station can be needed here beyond that time. If, however, the hand of oppression is stayed, there is much to be hoped for and a great work is in prospect. Beyond political difficulties, I see few real obstacles. I believe we shall always have opposition from the Gregorian body. Let not those who hear of certain concessions imagine that Gregorianism is fast crumbling, and that evangelicalism will soon take its place. The body is strong, old, deep-rooted, and will exist as long as the nation. But the important thing is that the real evangelical movement, which has already begun, is the spirit which the Gregorian Church cannot and will not resist, and which will, by the grace of God, eventually bring to her what she needs a new life."

No record of this station should fail to make allusion to the relief work done at Van during these twenty-five years. The famine of 1879-80 called forth the energies of the missionaries, and, in connection with the British consul, relief to the amount of $12,000 was then distributed. In the same connection, during the massacre of 1895 and subsequently, no less than $168,000, contributed in Europe and America, has been devoted to the relief of the sufferers. The industrial work conducted by Dr. Grace Kimball and her associates forms a part of the good accomplished at this station.

THE SIXTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF FOREIGN
MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.

THE Sixth Annual Conference of the representatives of the Foreign Missionary Boards of the United States and Canada was held in the Methodist Building, New York, on January 11-13 last. The Conferences which have been held

during the past few years have been of more than ordinary interest, the prime object being the consideration of questions of administration pertaining to foreign missions. The membership of the body is confined mainly to the executive officers and committees of the Mission Boards, though foreign missionaries who may chance to be in the country and can attend the meetings are cordially welcomed and may become corresponding members. These meetings should not become, in our judgment, popular meetings, but rather places where the officers of our Boards may come together and compare notes upon methods of operation. It is certainly no place for legislation, nor could such a body commit any of the Boards to any course of action. It has, therefore, been deemed wise that the Conference pass as few resolutions as possible, and do as little legislative work as possible.

At the Conference which has just been held forty-six members were present, representing twenty-one missionary societies, and some fifteen corresponding members were invited to sit in the assembly. As a result of this and previous meetings, good progress has been made toward securing a uniform statistical blank, from which the facts in regard to foreign missions may be easily gathered. The question of self-support has been carefully considered, and papers relating to its principles and methods have been sent out to all the mission fields, with most beneficent results. The Student Volunteer Movement has been the subject of most kindly consideration, and all the departments of that work have been reviewed in a friendly and sympathetic way. Questions relating to comity and to unoccupied fields have taken much of the time of the Conference, and while no rule has been submitted for acceptance by all the Boards, yet the acquaintance, one with another, has been of great moral influence; and it is hoped in the near future that the forces of our American societies may be more economically distributed, and that there may be practical advance in coöperation, especially along the lines of higher education.

One of the most important documents presented at the late Conference was in regard to the Ecumenical Missionary Conference to be held in New York in 1900. The committee in charge have received most cordial responses from nearly all the Foreign Mission Societies in the world, and it is expected that this Ecumenical Conference, lasting for ten days, will be one of the most important assemblies of the kind ever held. All friends of foreign missions may well look forward with prayerful interest to this great gathering.

"The Relations of the Editors of Religious Journals to Foreign Missions" was the subject of an important paper. This paper was read by an editor of one of our prominent journals, in which he took the ground that it was the editor's business to keep in close touch with missions, not only for the sake of giving proper information to the churches, but also in order to make correct judgments in regard to significant movements among the nations of the earth. "The Relation of Foreign Missions to Young People" was discussed by one of New York's earnest pastors and brought forth much fruitful thought.

One whole session was given to questions concerning the treasury, dwelling chiefly upon the methods of receiving money from the churches and transmitting the same to the missions. Questions also were raised in regard to exchange and salaries and the management of legacies. These officers, thus meeting