the presentation copy of the New Testament for the Empress-Dowager on her sixtieth birthday. It is to be printed from the largest size moveable type on foreign paper, with border of gold. The size of page will be 9 x 13 in., and every care has been taken to make the work attractive and suitable. Money is coming in from all quarters, and while we have not consulted the treasurer we have no hesitation in saying that all the funds will be needed that can be raised. Bis dat, qui cito dat.

Acting under a commendable impulse the British and Foreign and American Bible Societies have determind to issue conjointly with the foregoing an Imperial edition of the New Testament, printed with the same type, with the same size of page, but with vermillion

instead of gold border. The edition is not a large one, and doubtless will be readily taken up.

Ir is with great pleasure that we hear of the extensive revival work which has been going on in North China, notably in Pekin, T'ungchow and Tientsin. Dr. Sheffield gave a very interesting account of the work in T'ungchow in our last number. The Rev. C. F. Reid, of Shanghai, recently visited the north and came back with glowing accounts of what he there saw and heard. Professed Christians had been greatly aroused, while some who were only nominally Christians had been soundly converted; as a result many had been brought in from without. May there be like blessing in all our mission fields.

REVIVAL MEETINGS IN PEKING.

Hundreds of people have been greatly stirred in Peking by the simple Gospel story. No one here can doubt our duty to expect large things in the line of religious work. The providential agent is the Rev. J. H. Pyke, of the Methodist Mission, who has returned from the home land, bringing a great blessing with him. He himself has recently passed through a marked spirit. ual experience, by which he came out into the full liberty of the Gospel. His words are spoken with the conviction of certain knowledge, and his message comes with power. At the M. E., London, American and Presbyterian Missions he has conducted meetings on the general lines of such work at home, and great success has attended his labor. His simple, practical talks have wonderfully moved the hearts of the people. They have responded nobly to all his appeals, showing

great appreciation of the message delivered and developing a spiritual hunger, of which we little dreamed. The Chinese heart is certainly as susceptible as that of the AngloSaxon to the appeals which come from a warm, loving heart. Confession of sin followed. Old feuds were healed. Restoration of stolen property followed. The Chinese were worse than we had thought, but the entrance of living truth helped them to dump the whole vile mass and start out into the new life. It was a glorious sight to see. The Chinaman can be moved. Despair had almost atrophied our faith. The wheels of activity dragged. But thanks be to God the air is clearer now, and never was Christian work more delightful and the heart more buoyant. Has the time not come for us to expect general awakenings in our large centres of Christian work? Are we ready?

W. S. AMENT.

METHODIST NEW CONNEXION (ENGLISH METHODIST) MISSION

ANNUAL MEETINGS.

The annual meetings of the above mission were held in Tientsin on March 28th and following days; the Rev. J. Innocent being chairman and Rev. J. K. Robson secretary. The reports of the various circuits and departments of the mission were presented by brethren in charge of them and were forwarded by the secretary to the Home Board.

In the Tientsin circuit (Rev. G. T. Candlin, Supt.) special attention is being paid to school work; a large number of youths coming under Christian influence in the intermediate and junior schools; during the year there have been fourteen baptisms in Tientsin, and an increase of members is reported.

In the Shantung circuit (Rev. J. Robinson, Supt.) good work has been done; much itineration being necessitated by the nature of the field, which occupies chiefly the Lao-ling, Yang-hsin, Chou-hua and Hin-min-hsiens of Wu-ting Fu. 173 baptisms are reported from this circuit as the result of the year's work.

In the K'ai-p'ing circuit (Rev. F. B. Turner, Supt.) new ground is being broken up; the Churches are becoming more vigorous, and a new station has been opened through the gift of a chapel, rent free, for ten years by a local member. This circuit, which occupies the prefecture of Jung-p'ing Fu and adjacent districts, reports thirtyone baptisms during the year and an increase of thirty-five members.

In the Tientsin Theological Institution (Rev. J. Innocent, Principal) fourteen men have been studying during the year, and the results of their examinations gave great satisfaction to the meeting; the earnest labours of the late Rev. W. N. Hall, advocating the establishment of this Institution, are

now bearing fruit in the thorough equipment of men for the work of the ministry, almost all the members of the native preaching staff being graduates from this college.

The medical work in Lao-ling, under the care of Dr. F. W. Marshall, continues to flourish, and is yearly overcoming more fully the prejudices of the people against Christianity; 10,059 attendances of patients have been registered during the year; a large number of serious operations have been successfully performed, and a new women's ward has been built and added to the hospital premises at a cost of $342 through the generous labours of Mrs. Innocent, of Tientsin.

The medical work at K'ai-p'ing (Tong-shan) has only very recently been opened by Dr. W. W. Shrubshall; action was taken at the last annual meeting with a view to commencing medical work in this place; by June drugs and instruments had arrived, and during the succeeding eight months during which the work has been carried on there have been over 4000 attendances of patients in the dispensaries or the adjacent hospital.

In connection with their medical work the mission is indebted to local residents in Tientsin and K'aip'ing for most generous assistance; in Tientsin the sum of $932 was subscribed towards the support of the Lao-ling Hospital, in addition to the amount raised by Mrs. Innocent for the women's ward mentioned above; in K'ai-p'ing local residents, both foreign and Chinese, have contributed in aid of the hospital work to the extent of $410, and the entire cost of the ward furniture, operating table, etc., has been met by the labours of Mrs. Turner, of Tong-shan. It should be mentioned that the whole initial expense for drugs, instruments, appliances and dispensary fittings was met by the generosity of an anonymous donor in England.

The Report of the Theological Committee showed the satisfactory progress of those who, under its auspices, are annually examined; fourteen preachers on probation, thirteen students in the Theological Institution and five candidates for the Institution or preaching staff were examined by the Theological Committee upon previously arranged courses of study, embracing amongst other subjects Christian Theology, Scripture History, Church History, Biblical Exegesis, Christian Evidences and Chinese Classics; the results were creditable ; preachers gaining an average of 68 per cent in all subjects, students an average of 73 per cent and candidates an average of 55 per cent.

Four new preachers were appointed to the staff of brethren on probation, three of whom are from the Institution, and three brethren were accepted as theological students.

It was decided by the meeting to develop and extend the school work in various parts of the mission and to effect the purchase of premises in two important stations where work is already going on.

Plans of Memorial Chapel to the memory of the late Rev. G. M. H. Innocent were presented to and accepted by the meeting, and it was decided to erect the building in the city of Yang-hsin, which stands in the midst of a cluster of Churches connected with the Shantung circuit.

Since the return of the lady agent to England, mission work amongst women and girls has been vigorously prosecuted by the voluntary labours of Mrs. Innocent, Mrs. Robinson and Miss Innocent in Tientsin, and Mrs. Hinds in Shantung; their efforts being supplemented by those of a number of female native helpers, several of whom are voluntary workers.

It is proposed to establish as soon as possible a Mission Provident

Society for the assistance of preachers laid aside by age or infirmity and to make some provision for widows of preachers on the death of their husbands.

Steps are being taken to establish a course of medical training for promising young men with a view to their ultimate appointment as assistants to our medical mission

aries or their designation to the charge of small local dispensaries in the various circuits.

It was a source of great regret to the brethren that the term of Dr. Shrubshall's first period of service in China will end in a few months, and a most hearty resolution was passed appreciative of his earnest and eminently successful labours in Shantung and K'aip'ing and wishing him a a safe voyage to England and a speedy return to this country.

In view of the furlough of Dr. Shrubshall the Local Committee in China and the Home Board in

England have for some months been endeavouring to make arrangements for the temporary supply of without his place, but as yet

success; it is hoped that means will be found of continuing in some way the very promising work in K'ai-p'ing during the doctor's absence.

The attention of the meeting was largely occupied with the careful consideration of a new code of rules by which some new elements are introduced into the mission administration; these rules were passed, and it was decided to translate them into Chinese and distribute them in all our Churches.

Appended is an abstract of the statistical returns of the Mission for the year ending Feb. 28th, 1894.

A warm vote of thanks to the hosts who kindly entertained the delegates, and also to the chairman, brought the proceedings to a conclusion,

night to night till the weather cleared and the attendance was large, when there was not room for all who desired to kneel at the altar.

Several nights as many as fifty were seeking either pardon or purity, so when the altar and surrounding space were filled others kneeled at their seats. Prayers of confession and earnest pleading for mercy were heard in all parts of the room, several praying at

once.

When opportunity was given for testimony no time was lost. Sometimes five or six would rise together, and I had to indicate who should speak first. The last night was a jubilee service, at which ninety-two persons spoke in thirtyfive minutes; besides, there was considerable singing interspersed.

One hundred and seven persons were reclaimed or pardoned, and the evidences of genuineness were as great as could be desired, a joyous, happy face and definite testimony as to what had been wrought in their souls. There were several cases of bitter penitence which, I think, is rare among the Chinese. With some the struggle lasted only a little time, when peace and joy would fill the heart; with others it lasted several days, with sleepless nights, but at last the clouds would burst and the sun-light of God's redeeming love would flood the waiting soul.

That the work was thorough is more and more evident as the days pass by. In my daily intercourse with the theological students, and the exceeding joyfulness with which they tell the good news to others, it is easy to see a great change has taken place in many of their hearts. But no greater work was accomplished than among the students of the Anglo-Chinese College, some of whom were among our brightest Christians before. Since the meetings closed the older students have special services for

the instruction of new students in Christian doctrine. Sunday afternoons they have Sunday schools for heathen children in the various Churches and day-school buildings. They also do considerable preaching in the villages, and in order to be better prepared for these services they have invited Mr. Miner, one of the professors in the college, to give them special instruction in the preparation and delivery of sermons.

It will doubtless be a surprise to many to know that most of these persons were members of the Church, and some recognized as among our best Christians, and more surprising still that not a few were theological students. Some professed to be reclaimed, having grown cold and lost the evidence of pardon, but the majority testified they had never been forgiven, and were ignorant of the joys of salvation. I must confess it was a surprise to me, and yet I was somewhat prepared, since in similar meetings last conference several preachers found great joy such as they had never experienced before.

I fear a great many Church members in China have only renounced idolatry to accept Christianity as a system. It has been a change of head, and not of heart; having failed to realize it as a new life and power in the soul. We often hear it said the Chinese do not have such sorrow for sin and joy in salvation as appear in Christian lands, and the explanation usually given is that in the absence of truth they ignorantly worship idols, and when they accept the Gospel they do it as little children, and hence are not conscious of being great sinners in the sight of God. In so far as we have neglected to show them they are rebels against God, needing repentance and pardon through Jesus Christ, our work has been a failure. What many of our members need is just such preaching and exhorta

tion as nominal Christians and sinners need in the home lands. There is a great work to be done in the Church as well as out.

REV. J. H. WORLEY, Ph. D.

COPY OF MEMORIAL PRESENTED ΤΟ THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON OPIUM BY BRITISH MISSIONARIES IN CHINA OF TWENTY-FIVE OR MORE YEARS STANDING.

We the undersigned British missionaries representing different societies labouring in nearly every province of China, and having all of us had for many years abundant opportunities of observing the effects of opium-smoking upon the Chinese people, beg to lay before the Royal Commission on Opium the following statement of facts in reference to this question:--

(1) We believe it to be a fact established beyond possibility of reasonable doubt that the consumption of opium in China is exerting a distinctly deteriorating effect upon the Chinese people, physically, socially and morally. Statements to this effect have been repeatedly made in Blue Books and other official documents on the authority of British officials of high standing, and they are entirely corroborated by our own personal observation. The Protestant missionary body in China has twice, by its representatives assembled in conference, and including men of various nationalities and of many different Churches, unanimously passed resolutions condemning emphatically the use of opium by the Chinese for other than medicinal purposes, and deploring the connexion of Great Britain with the opium trade. (See "The Records of the Missionary Conference held at Shanghai " 1877, and ditto 1890).

(2) It is a fact which cannot be reasonably disputed that the conscience of the Chinese people as a whole is distinctly opposed to the opium habit. It is continually classed in common conversation