questions that have practical importance. Doubtless we may give too much attention to this sort of numbering. King David once greatly displeased God that way, and brought severe chastisement upon himself and his kingdom.

Nevertheless there are legitimate and good uses of statistics. The number of ministers in our Church has steadily increased from year to year, advancing from 5,654 in the year ending April 1, 1887, to 6,331 in the last year. This is an average yearly increase of 135.

The number of churches has increased as steadily. The increase in five years is 772, or a yearly average increase of 154.

The number of communicants has also

had a yearly increase, advancing from 697,835 to 830,179, an average annual increase of 6,667.

The aggregate of contributions, for all purposes, quite steadily increased for four years, at an average rate of $817,377 annually, reaching in 1890, $14,368,131. But in the next year we fell back to $13,961,211, in the last year we advanced to $14,298,271, not quite up to the figures of two years ago, although our number of communicants was increased by 54,276 in those two years.

Has there been any such lack of business prosperity as accounts for this failure to make our gifts of money to the Lord's treasury keep pace with our advance in numbers? Are we expending less on ourselves, for comforts or luxuries, in the aggregate or the average, than in former years? We will not assume to answer these questions for the entire church, nor for its individual members. But these statis

[November,

tics do furnish occasion to each of us for himself to consider those questions carefully remembering that the omniscient Lord is "sitting over against the treasury."

On

FAREWELL OF MISSIONARIES. October 13, in Lenox Hall, 53 Fifth avenue, N. Y., a large number of earnest and sympathetic men and women, with some dear little children, were gathered to exchange parting words with missionaries "ready to depart on the morrow." They were Rev. and Mrs. J. N. Forman and child, Rev. J. N. Hyde, Miss Emma L. Templin, M. D., Miss Emma Morris and Miss M. Wherry, for India; Rev. W. K. Eddy and Mrs. Eddy and their three children returning to Syria. Mr. Eddy's young sister, Julia, who has been at school in this country, accompanies them. Miss Mary Eddy remains to complete her medical studies in New York.

Rev. Dr. Wells presided; prayer was offered; hymns were sung; earnest and affectionate words were spoken by Rev. J. N. Forman, Rev. Dr. Paton, Bishop Thoburn and Rev. W. K. Eddy. The missionary speakers emphasized nothing else so much as the need of the Holy Spirit's energizing of all missionary work, to be assured only by the united prayer of God's people.

The services were intensely enjoyed, and cordial hand-shaking and personal partings followed.

Such meetings are a great comfort to missionaries going away, and to those to whom they are dearest, from whom they are going. There is no sweeter or holier use that Lenox Hall can be put to.

386

men.

The children's picture in our October number is bringing ever so many pleasant

[November,

answers from children in different places. They are studying the picture and the question nicely. We will wait one more month for all to answer who wish, and in the December number they may expect us to print a number of the answers.

When we know how many there are, we will send the picture to them, and the CHURCH AT HOME AND ABROAD for 1893 to the three who give the best answers.

The family of Rev. Mr. Tameshiro were members of the Shinshiu sect of Buddhists. From early childhood he listened to the reading of the sacred books and joined in the worship of idols. It was then his ardent desire to become a priest, and when he became older he was greatly in earnest in his idolatrous devotions.

One form of worship consisted in dashing several buckets of cold, water over the body or standing under a waterfall when the weather was sometimes so cold as to

render the person insensible. This was to be borne when any member of the family was seriously ill.

Another form of worship consisted in going naked to some distant temple.

A third form of worship was to go up and down the rough stone walk in front of the temple one hundred times with bare feet saying "Nami yo hor eng eyo," hor eng eyo," and "Namu Amida Butsu," which means I adore Thee, O eternal Buddha. By such methods did young Tameshiro manifest his religious zeal and hope to secure favor from the dreaded deities.

In 1874 he removed to Tokyo and after a while concluded to go and hear Christian preaching by way of comparison. As the teachings were so unlike anything that he had previously heard he did not at first understand much of what was said.

After a while he married a Christian girl who not only led him to the church but also invited the pastor to visit and talk with him. At the same time she endeavored very faithfully to convince him that her religion was true and that he should give up the vain worship of idols. But he was proud and obstinate, and still clung to his old superstitions.

One day the preacher came and gave him a book against idolatry, and requested him to read it and ponder well its contents. As he read it and found it was directed against the idol which he especially worshipped his anger increased until at last he tore it into pieces and flung it into the fire.

Then he turned to his wife and said "Christianity is surely a destructive religion; and if one believes it he will lose his national spirit. And if we do not prevent its growth our country will be in great danger. Why do you try to make me accept it? You must give it up or I will persecute and punish you."

His wife replied that he did not fully understand what the teachings of Christianity were, and as for herself she could not give it up.

Then he said "From this day I forbid your going to church. Do not dare to let a preacher enter the house again!"

1892.]

She replied, "I can do nothing but obey now, but God will change the situation for the better by and by."

Then he gave himself up to all manner of wickedness and for four years lived the life of a drunkard and debauchee.

But God heard the prayers of his devoted wife, and did not leave him to perish in his sins. After a while he began to feel contrition for his wrong doings and left them off.

His faithful and loving companion was quick to observe the change in his life and his consequent sadness, and she at once began to urge him to repentance and belief in the goodness and power of God. The preacher was also invited to visit him and came freely as at first.

Then he bought a Chinese translation of the Bible and read it faithfully for three months. But all the reading and instruction failed to bring him to a decision that he would accept Christ as his Savior, and cast in his lot with His people.

Then he was brought very low in sick

ness.

Terror filled his heart as he realized that he was so near to the eternal world and a judgment which he was unprepared to meet. In deep anxiety of soul he asked himself" If I die now what will my future be? What also will be the punishment of my many sins?"

These thoughts filled his soul with terror, and in agony of soul he cried out, as did the Apostle, "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"

He remained in this condition about two weeks when his sickness began to leave him. He then thought if he had died in that state what would have become of his soul. He decided at once that now was the time to repent; and if he delayed any longer he might never have an opportunity again.

In this state of mind he was greatly helped and encouraged by his wife and the

387

preacher. But there was one thing that he could not understand, and that gave him trouble. It was the doctrine of the resurrection.

Soon after this, as he raised his head one morning from the pillow, he saw by his side a little tract entitled "Short Explanation of Christianity," and taking it up he read page after page. As he proceeded his difficulties all vanished; at the end was just what he wanted, an explanation of the doctrine of the Resurrection.

In his own words, "At that moment light came down from heaven and lighted my dark heart." The doubts all fled away; and at once he cried out with unspeakable joy, "O this is the truth!"

His good wife was at his side engaged in earnest prayer; and in surprise asked what was the matter. He replied that now the truth of Christianity had become very clear to him and from this moment he believed in God. Then he cried out, "O God, save this poor sinner."

With her eyes oyerflowing with tears of joy, his wife said, "My prayers are heard at last." With all her heart she

began to give praises to God.

From that moment not only did great peace fill his heart but all his former illness passed away. "Thus," said he, "I was saved from my sins, and became an heir of salvation. Where sin had hitherto abounded grace did much more abound; and there is not in the wide world a happier man than I. Once in the bottom of hell, I am now a happy child of God."

From that day he began a life of prayer and has been consistent and faithful in the discharge of all his duties. It is now the one burden of his heart to lead other lost sheep back to the fold of our loving Heavenly Father. And so he has been led on from step to step until he is now an earnest and successful preacher of the gospel.

388

"The Alliance of the Reformed churches throughout the world, holding the Presbyterian System," held its fifth General Council in the City of Toronto, Canada, September 21-30, 1892.

The Alliance was formed in London, England, July 21, 1875, by a conference. of delegates chosen by the General Assemblies, or Synods of twenty-two churches in Europe and America. By its constitution, "Any church organized on Presbyterian principles, which holds the supreme authority of the Old and New Testaments in matters of faith and morals, whose creed is in harmony with the consensus of the Reformed confessions is eligible for admission into the Alliance."

The General Council of the Alliance meets every four years and is composed of ministers and elders, as far as possible in equal numbers chosen by their respective churches in a ratio proportioned to the number of their congregations. Its object is, to seek the welfare of the churches, especially such as are weak or persecuted, to gather information concerning the kingdom of Christ throughout the world, and to promote the work of evangelization in every way. It claims and exercises no right or power to interfere with the exist

[November,

ing creed or constitution of any church in the Alliance, or with its internal order, or external relations. It has faithfully adhered to these principles. But it has shown in what it has been enabled to do for the weak and scattered churches of the Reformed Faith a working model for an idea, steadily gaining ground, of a federation, rather than a union of churches of the same faith and polity. At the first General Council held in Edinburgh in 1877, forty churches were enrolled as members of the Alliance, representing the continent of Europe, Great Britain, the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Queensland, New Zealand and Ceylon. [See summary below.]

The fifth General Council was opened September 21, by the Rev. Professor W. G. Blaikie, of Edinborough, the president of the Alliance for the past four years. The key note of the Council was struck by the Rev. W. Caven, D.D., Principal of Knox College, Toronto, in a sermon of great power on John 16:13, "When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth." His points were: The Spirit taught the Apostles; He unfolded the teachings of our Lord; He revealed new truth; He teaches all believers.

His

Grand Total......

Deacons.

Licentiates.

Theological

Students.

Communi

cants.

Sabbath

schools.

Sabbath-school

Teachers and

Officers.

Attendance,

Sabbath-school