THIS number contains an unusual amount of matter from Micronesia, inasmuch as the annual mail from that island world has so recently arrived. In the Young People's Department, as well as among the "Letters from the Missions," will be found interesting items from the Caroline group. On account of the space thus occupied, we are obliged to put over Mr. Walkup's account of the Gilbert Islands till our next issue.

From Micronesia.

The Deputation

in China.

SINCE our last number was issued only brief letters have been received from members of the Deputation in China. After reaching Tientsin and visiting Peking, the deputation went southward along the Grand Canal, visiting Pang Chuang and Lin Ching. President Eaton was obliged to return early to the United States, and later on Colonel Hopkins was obliged to leave Secretary Smith to come home. Dr. Smith, after some further visiting in North China, will return by way of the Sandwich Islands, and may be expected at the Missionary Rooms in the latter part of July.

The Spanish
Mission.

THE hold which the mission in Spain has secured, both upon the students in its principal school and upon the people in general, is strikingly shown by the fact reported by Mr. Gulick that on the day when it became apparent that it was expedient to remove the mission from San Sebastian to Biarritz in France, there was not the slightest perturbation or hesitancy on the part of the students at the sudden movement, and not one of the parents of these Spanish girls desired to recall his daughter from the care of the mission or to prevent her from continuing in the institution, though it was removed into France. Mr. Gulick expresses great gratitude for the mercies accompaning their removal, especially in the finding of a suitable and commodious house at Biarritz for the fifty souls connected with the institute, at a very reasonable rental. The school, transferred on Saturday, April 25, had its usual holiday on Monday and commenced work at Biarritz on Tuesday. Reports received from the native evangelists at various points. in Spain show that they are quietly pursuing their work without molestation. DEATH has taken from earth Dr. Allen Hazen, long a missionary of the American Board in India, who of late years has been residing in the United States. Dr. Hazen was born in Hartford, Vt., November 30, 1822. After graduating at Dartmouth College in 1842, and Andover Seminary in 1845, he joined the Marathi Mission of the American Board in 1847, laboring at Ahmednagar, Sirur, and Bombay. The health of Mrs. Hazen rendering return to the United States necessary, he left the mission field in 1872 and subsequently served several churches in New England, always retaining a deep love for the work in India. So strong was this love that in 1891 he visited India with his daughter, and for two or three years labored in his old field at his own charges, greatly to the gratification both of the mission and those to whom he had preached in the early days. On returning to the United States, in 1894, he made his home with his son, General Hazen, at Washington, D. C., where he died May 12, greatly beloved and honored. A daughter of Dr. Hazen is the wife of Rev. L. S. Gates, of the Marathi Mission, now stationed at Sholapur, India.

Rev. Allen Hazen, D. D.

Financial.

WHEN it is remembered that we need $54,000 on the average each month, the following figures will show why we feel that it is a critical time for the work of the Board.

Aside from the above, there was received for the debt in May, $260; and within the nine months, $23,793.98, leaving a balance of about $22,000 on the debt account. The receipts for special objects in May amounted to $2,845-35; and for the nine months, $20,414.33. These sums of money are sent to the field as requested by the donors and do not pertain to the regular appropriations. The fiscal year of the Board closes August 31. It is imperative that these closing three months of the year be times of earnest rally.

There is need of at least $70,000 each month in order to meet the estimated expenses of the Board for the year.

We hope that our leaflet "A Message to the Lord's People" will be distributed in all our churches. As a leading pastor has written us: "It will kindle a spirit of benevolence. By faith in God, and earnest, honest effort we must bridge over these trying days."

REV. W. W. SLEEPER, of Beloit, Wis., formerly connected with the mission of the American Board in European Turkey, has prepared an eight

A Missionary
Service.

page program for a "Missionary Service" relating to Bulgaria. Three hymns are printed in full, with tunes based on Bulgarian melodies, and accompanying the program is a supplementary sheet containing interesting and valuable information concerning Bulgaria, its geography, history, its people and mission work among them. This sheet is printed in such a form that sections of it can be distributed to those who may take part in the service. Under skillful leadership and with coöperation on the part of the people, a most interesting missionary service can be secured by the use of this program. Copies may be obtained freely on application to Rev. A. N. Hitchcock, District Secretary, 153 Lasalle Street, Chicago, Ill.

The Japanese and the Doshisha.

In view of the vigorous and wellnigh unanimous condemnation by the churches and the whole public press of Japan of the action of the trustees of the Doshisha in changing the basis of that Institution, it is not right to blame the Japanese people as a body for a fault which is chargeable to only a few. The Christians of America are not condemning the action of the trustees more strongly than are the Christians of Japan, and the secular press in that empire speaks with no uncertain sound in deploring the failure of the trustees to keep faith with the founders of the Institution. The Prudential Committee of the American Board has already taken action calling upon the trustees to restore the Institution to its original basis, or else to return the funds which were entrusted to them for the purpose of maintaining a Christian university.

Specially Supported.

Is there a lesson for us in America to be drawn from the successes of our brethren of the Church Missionary Society of England, in securing the support of particular missionaries by individuals, or by churches or groups of churches? That society can report that the entire body of its reinforcements within the past two years, as well as others already in the field, have been adopted, “and (as to their personal allowance) supported by the special contributions of individuals or associations, friends at home and in the colonies." The society, therefore, can say that within these two years the number of "Our Own Missionaries," a term used to designate those specially supported, has risen from 146 to 317. Would that the American Board had 317 missionaries specially supported by individuals or by particular churches!

EUROPE'S Scramble for Africa, about which so much was said a few years since, is well matched by her present scramble for China. The war with

The Scramble for China.

Japan, three years ago, revealed to the world the fact of China's weakness, and that she was in a condition that might well lead the eagles to gather together. And they have not been slow to do this. Russia, France, Germany, and Great Britian have each claimed a share, and are pushing their operations very effectively. On May 13 an English syndicate secured from the foreign office at Peking a contract for the building of a railway connecting Nanking, Shanghai, and Ningpo, and later on, May 21, the Russians secured an authorization for a railroad to reach Tai-yuen-fu in the province of Shansi, while the French and Belgian ministers are seeking authorization for a line to connect Peking with the Yangtze River. These movements in the interest of commerce foreshadow an immense change in the condition of China; and inasmuch as these railroads will pass through a densely populated region, rich in natural products, the nations of Europe will be swift to avail themselves of these commercial opportunities. In the meantime there are manifold signs that the power of the government on the people is waning. A letter published in the London Times from a correspondent who is spoken of as exceptionally well informed, says that "everywhere the conditions appear ripe for a rebellion; the country is honeycombed with secret societies, with anti-dynastic objects; piracy and highway robbery are rampant through many provinces. The government acknowledges that it is helpless and powerless, unable to maintain order within the empire, unable to resist a force of even five hundred foreign sailors, or to refuse any demand any foreign power may see fit to impose." Christians must keep in mind the fact that these ills of China will not be remedied by the opening of lines of commerce or by any internal reformations. She needs regeneration through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Dr. Griffith John, who understands the Chinese, has well said: "I have never known a heathen Chinaman in whose word I could place the least confidence. China cannot rise to true greatness without a complete change in the religious life of the nation. I believe in the advancement of commerce; I believe in saturating the Chinese mind with a knowledge of the arts and sciences; I believe in introducing into China railways, telegraphs, and all our mechanical inventions; but I believe also that China can never truly rise without Christ."

Armenian Relief
Committee.

We are glad to commend, as we have heretofore done, to the confidence of all philanthropists the work of the National Armenian Relief Committee, of which Brown Brothers & Co., 59 Wall Street, New York, are the treasurers, and Rev. George P. Knapp, now at Barre, Mass., is the secretary. This committee is especially devoting its attention to efforts to secure funds in behalf of the orphans of Turkey, and it has aided most efficiently in this good work. These orphans must be cared for, to some extent, till they are older and more capable of self-support, and it would be pitiful if, after having rescued them, they were now allowed to suffer.

The French

Evangelical Society.

THE Paris Société des Missions Evangeliques sends forth with a shout of joy the announcement that it has for the fourth time closed its financial year without a deficit. This is the more a reason for gratitude because its expenses have been greatly increased by the new mission to Madagascar. Over 168,000 francs were appropriated in 1897 to this mission alone. It is estimated that its annual cost will be in future at least 350,000 francs. So that for all the work of the Society it appears that by the opening of the twentieth century its receipts should reach a million francs. This sum seems to the directors enormous, for the total receipts of last year were only 738,570 francs. However, they gather courage from the very stress of need and are sure there is a latent ability in their churches which only lacks development. The Journal des Missions gives as an illustration of what may be done the story of one of their churches, which in 1892 gave 1,944 francs, but in 1897 rose to 7,400 francs. "Whence comes this advance?" asks the Journal. "From this: that the church has had at its head pastors who were friends of missions? Yes, without doubt. From this, that God has touched hearts? Again, yes. But God can give us such pastors in even greater numbers. He can touch and open hearts so that men shall rise and put their hands to the holy work. . . . The one condition is that the churches accept with all their consequences the new proportions which God has given to the work of missions. These proportions many churches and many Christians have as yet neither comprehended nor accepted. The part which they give to missions in their engagements and their expenses is without any proportion to the work par excellence of the church, the conquest of the world, and the establishment of the kingdom of Christ. May the hand of God touch hearts! But is it not our prayer which inclines that hand of God? Let us ask and receive, that our joy may be full.'"

6

A LADY missionary in Japan sent home a photograph of the school building in which she taught. It was a very cheap building, and whenever it rained

Not Luxurious.

heavily yards of the mud walls fell off, and the place was most uncomfortable, especially in the winter. But when the photograph was taken it was covered with luxuriant vines and had an attractive appearance. When the picture reached America a lady who saw it exclaimed, "Hereafter I shall give no more money to support such luxury." If she could have lived in that building a few weeks she would have known that nothing of luxury and little of comfort could be had there.

THE treasurer of the American Board has received a letter from China inclosing a contribution of twenty taels, about $14, for the general work of

A Chinese Contribution.

the American Board, from the first church of Peking. The following was the direction on the envelope: "Submitted to superiors. American Congregational United Society. Rise and read. From China, Peking, inside the city sent." We have been furnished with a close translation of the letter: :

"RESPECTFULLY GREETING:

"All the brethren of the American Congregational United Society: the grace, protection, and peace of the Lord be yours. We, though each in our own abiding place very far apart, yet, because our heart-purposes are in accord and we depend on one Lord, feel as if not far away; also because the Way of the Cross has made us all one, with no distinction of East and West. We have never yet had a word of conversation nor a look in the face; but because of the Way of the Cross, all you brethren, without ceasing, pray for us, spend your heart-energy, and year by year send much money to help China in the great matter of saving men from sin, so that we can fully see your love like waves rolling even to China. Assuredly, so strange a report has never been, even from the ancient time. We know for certain that it is for Jesus' sake that all you brethren do thus. As we look at it, your faith in the Lord has excellent testimony, in that we have for so long been receiving the love and virtue of the united society, without any way of reaching out (i. e., expressing) our thankful feelings. We have accordingly determined to take twenty taels of contribution money and send to the treasury of the united society, to be used according to the convenience of the united society, as showing to some extent our gratitude.

"Hoping and praying that the reception may be providential, and most earnestly desiring such a report, we have for this reason spread out the matter (i. e., in this letter). Please give reply.'

The signature to this letter is as singular as is the address :

It is, "Peking, East City, north of the four arches, opposite Sixth Street. Jesus Chapel. All the last of the Church respectfully present this writing." The humble designation of themselves as "the last of the Church" is a reference to their being the last in the church.

May the Christians of America take this message of fellowship from those who are very far away and find in it, as they may, an occasion of great hopefulness for the progress of the Kingdom of God in China.

Another Debt
Cancelled.

WITH utmost heartiness we congratulate our brethren of the Presbyterian Foreign Missionary Board in the entire wiping out of their debt, which a year ago was reported as amounting to $97,400. Two weeks prior to the close of its year, May 1, the Presbyterian Board reported its financial situation as very grave unless the receipts for the month of April should largely exceed those of previous years. It is a great joy to know that the friends of missions rallied to the support of the cause, and that the year closed so auspiciously. Will not our friends pray to God that a like blessing may come to the American Board by the close of its financial year?