applications were, The help of the Spirit in Theology, in the study of the Bible, and in doctrinal investigation. He showed the need of the Spirit in Biblical criticism now so prominent, and expressed no fears as to the result.

The prevalent spirit of the council was devotional. From twenty minutes to half an hour of each of the three daily sessions was spent in devotional services. The part of the large church (Cooke's) not reserved for the Council was at every session filled with attentive listeners.

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Papers had been prepared by men proficient in the topics, on "The Protestant Reformation," its character and fruits; "on individual life;" "on the moral and religious condition of communities and nations; on their intellectual state and progress;" and "on their civil and political constitution; "" on our Reformed and Presbyterian Churches; their characteristics, missions; their strength and weakness; and their unsolved problems, and unemployed resources." These and the discussions on them filled to the full Thursday. Friday was given to the great topic of missions. The session began with the report of the Eastern and Western sections, recounting the progress of the work in both hemispheres. Papers, terse and brief, but full of instruction and impulse, had been prepared on "The Home Training of Missionaries;" on "Native Agents and their Training;" on "Native Churches and Self-support;" and on the "Relation of Native Churches to the Home Church." These papers and the discussions brought out the growing feeling that as soon as possible the native churches must be entrusted to native organization and native preachers.

A paper of great power on "A Century of Missions," was followed by papers on "The Gospel in the Dark Continent," the "Mission Work in the South Seas," "Among the Hindoos," and "The Celes

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tial Empire." The evening sessions on Friday were held in two of the largest churches in the city, and were crowded to their utmost capacity. The speakers were all men who know whereof they affirm by years of experience in the foreign field: Dr. McKichan, of Bombay; Dr. McLaws, of Livingstonia, South Africa; Dr. Paton, the Apostle of the Hebrides; Dr. Wilson, of India; and Dr. Mateer, of China. Saturday was given to an excursion to Niagara.

On Monday the theme, "Missions," was resumed and continued through the day and evening. Problems of our own which press for solution were discussed, such as the "American Churches and Their Work,” "Among the Negro Races," "Among the Indian Aborigines," "Among the European Immigrants," and "Among the Asiatics." The first of these was introduced by the Rev. D. J. Saunders, D. D., President of Biddle University, N. C., the only Negro present, who attracted universal attention by his ability and the zeal with which he pleaded the cause of his race.

These two days of "Missions" in the Councils, so instructive and so inspiring, suggested what might be in our own General Assembly.

Tuesday morning was given to a full and interesting report on "Work on the European Continent" among the scattered churches of Germany, Belgium and Italy, followed by a very practical address by Dr. John Hall, of New York, on the "Methods of Assisting the Continental Churches."

The afternoon was given to a free conference on spiritual life, under the heads of "The Work of the Holy Spirit," "Personal and Family Religion" and "Revival."

In the evening "The Relation and Duty of the Church to Outside Societies Doing Christian Work" was discussed, bringing out a recognition of the good done by them, and suggesting the closer

relation to the church as mutually beneficial. Drs. Burrell, of New York; Edgar, of Dublin; McKibbin, of Cincinnati; and Muir, of Edinburgh, took part in this discussion which excited great interest and called out quite divergent views.

In the course of the discussion on Missions, the ears of the Americans had been made to tingle by the declaration that the United States had refused to agree to the proposed action of Great Britain, Germany and France, in prohibiting the sale of liquor, firearms, powder and dynamite, to the natives of the New Hebrides, and so prevented the extending to the New Hebrides the agreement of the powers named, to prevent the traffic in these articles. But a telegram from Secretary of State Foster, put the matter in a new light, viz:

"In August, 1884, the British Minister brought to the attention of this Government proposal for an international arrangement to restrict traffic in firearms and liquors with the Western Pacific natives. Proposal was promptly accepted in principle, Aug. 22, 1884, and the plan of proposed joint action was invented. This plan has only very recently been communicated to this Government and is now under consideration."

Wednesday morning was given to the reception of a Deputation from the Methodist Ecumenical Conference, held last year at Washington. Fraternal greetings were exchanged with the heartiest expression of good will. One verse of Psalm 133, was sung as singularly appropriate: "Behold how good a thing it is and how becoming well, Together such as brethren are in unity to dwell."

The Biblical Idea of the Ministry," "The Minister as a Teacher," and "As an Organizer," were discussed in able and suggestive papers. So also was “The

[November,

Training of the Ministry," in view of the drifts of Theological thought in apologetics and criticism, "Of the Social, Mental and Philanthropic Activities of the Day;" "The Tendencies of Modern Educational Systems," and "The Demand for an Increased Number of Ministers, and Short Courses of Study."

Other topics discussed were, "Christianity in Relation to Social Problems" as "The Wage Question," "The Land Question," "The Opium Question in India," "The Drink Question," "The Church-going Question," and "The Recreation Question;" "The Aspects of Romanism," "On the Continent of Europe," "In Great Britain,” “In Canada," "In North and South America," and "In the Foreign Mission Field."

The very mention of all these topics shows how earnest and how practical is the aim of the Alliance in its General Councils. Regret was felt that in the number and importance of the topics and the limited time allowed to each, so little opportunity could be given for discussion. The papers will all be published in the volume of proceedings, and will furnish a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the intensely practical subjects considered by intensely earnest men, most of them workers in the wide field covered by the Alliance.

Toronto outdid, if that were possible, all former entertainments of the Councils of the Alliance. Its hospitality was regal, and obviously from the heart. It is grateful to know that its Presbyterian people felt themselves amply repaid by the spiritual impulses given to their homes and their churches by the devotional hours, and the earnest addresses to which they listened so faithfully.

Their guests carry away only pleasant memories.

Travel in China involves some novelties and some "unpleasantnesses." I decide to visit Tsi-ning, our new station. What's the distance? "One hundred and thirtyfive miles," says one native; "one hundred and forty," says a second; "add five to that," says a third; "yes, and five more to that," says a fourth.

The season is hot, I am unacclimated, the people along the route are perhaps turbulent, so I decide to travel by cart, which offers the minimum of exposure.

But carts being not easy to hire in I-chou-fu, my starting-point, it is necessary to dispatch a man on the search three days before my proposed departure. After half a day's search he returns with the word: "No empty carts to be found; but some loaded ones have just come in from Wei-hien; perhaps when they unload one may be secured for this trip."

Meanwhile coines in to call on me the self-sufficient landlord of our mission premises, Mr. Chang. "OI can get you a cart," says he confidently, "the man you sent is a stranger, while everybody knows me."

Assured of the great obligation he will place me under he departs, only to return after some hours with the advice: "Take a wheelbarrow. A cart cannot be found.”

Meanwhile one of the Wei-hien carters has come around, offering to take me to Tsi-ning for fifteen dollars, but eleven cents a mile being too much for my purse, in spite of the style and other advantages proffered by the cart, I am constrained to accept Mr. Chang's advice.

He hires me a double-handled (one pair in front, the other behind) barrow for four dollars and a half.

It is Saturday afternoon and everything must be put in readiness for an early start Monday, so I order the barrow to be brought around, an awning of bamboostrips and reed-matting to be purchased and constructed for it, and all things to be made ready for the early start. Unfortunately while this is being done I am away keeping an engagement at the house of a neighbor. Unfortunately-because I return to find the men gone, the job completed, the awning carefully stretched over a barrow of the ricketiest kind, looking as if would try it exceedingly to run ten, not to speak of one hundred and forty miles.

Hence the necessary exchange of barrows and consequent reconstruction of the awning makes our Monday morning early start give way to a late one.

The custom here is for all barrows to be

Barrow

hired at one of the various inns. men coming in from other parts repair to an inn and wait for the landlord to find

them a job. job. While waiting they are charged nothing for board and lodging, but when the new job is secured by the landlord he keeps back as much of the money agreed upon as he chooses, generaily leaving as the barrowmen's share meagre wages indeed.

On this Monday morning the landlord was present with the contract all written out on red paper ready to be delivered into my hands the moment I should deliver into his one half the sum which I was to pay for the trip. Thus in this instance only two dollars and twenty-five cents. were allowed to the two barrowmen for a five days' journey; of which sum I was, according to contract, to pay by the way twenty-five cents a day, and the balance. at the journey's end.

The rapacious landlord, still not content, exacted of me another dime for his assistance in loading the barrow.

The load consisted of a box of cooking utensils, a basket of clothing, writing materials, etc., my cook, Yung Ping, and myself, with our bedding.

The cook and his implements are for use in Tsi-ning where I purpose making some stay.

The promise of an extra dollar if we get through in four days starts the men off at the rattling pace of three and a half miles an hour. But the day is hot, perspiration streams from their faces, once, sometimes twice, an hour they are compelled to rest. This, too, despite the relief Yung Ping and I give them, by walking half the time.

Soon our road enters the hills where for four days progress is more or less impeded by steep grades, gorges, rocks and

stones.

Our food by the way-mine being almost precisely the same as that of the

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men, and generally partaken of in front of one of the numerous food-shops by the roadside-is of the simplest kind. Strips of dough made into a kind of noodle-soup, saltless, yeastless bread, milkless, sugarless tea, eggs, rice, and chopsticks make. up the bill of fare.

The inns are on an average, the worst I have seen in China-which statement contains a lot of meaning to any one acquainted with the Chinese inn ordinary. In none of these is a bed, or chair to be found, seldom even a bench.

We eat from a dirty little table one foot high, sitting on little stools six inches high; we sleep on reed-matting spread on a thin layer of cornstalks resting on the bare, earthen floor. One night "there was no room in the inn," so spreading my bed in the open court I slept calmly under the moon and stars.

The people along the route proved to be friendly instead of turbulent, as we had feared, and with a friendliness as cordial as I was accustomed to in my old field about Wei-hien. At every stopping place I made an effort to cultivate the friendship of at least one individual, so that there might be for the next missionary who came along a welcome, and, perchance, prepared soil. I tried to sow seed too as opportunity offered.

Of one spot on the road both Yung Ping and I had a dread, namely the large and hostile city of Yan-chou-fu, whose inhabitants are said to have vowed never to allow a "foreign devil" to stop even for a night. A few years since the Roman Catholics attempted to occupy that city as a station, but failed, their property being totally destroyed by the mob. A little later an English Baptist missionary, simply passing through, was dragged from his cart, beaten, conducted through the same gate by which he had entered, replaced in his cart and sent off on a gallop in the same direction whence he had