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ress is reported at the various stations. We long to hear of one here and one there, week by week and month by month, being steadily brought in, and so increasing the strength of the feeble Christian communities struggling along in the midst of opposition. That is the burden of our prayers, but that is just what we are not seeing and hearing of. For some reason or other the work seems at the present time to be peculiarly hard. Preachers are finding it so, even those who are doing their best. Naturally, earnestminded workers cannot but begin to inquire why it should be so. One has thought perhaps that one's own is just the experience of every youthful missionary, who begins by hoping for great achievements, but after some years of experience discovers how slow and gradual must be the increase. Nevertheless there is more than that needed to explain the present depression. Unrealized hopes is not a sufficient explanation for the present state of affairs.

In our own region here the churches seem to have come to a point when they have at last grasped the unwelcome truth that there is little or no help to be gained from the church in lawsuits. In this matter the foundations were badly laid, and we have suffered ever since. It has been a long fight, and the victory is only partially gained as yet. Only those who understand the Chinese and their religious conceptions can understand how hard it is, even for Christians, simple and childlike in their faith, to maintain their confidence in a Divine Being who apparently fails to interest Himself in the material welfare of His children. Why do not we,

who are heralds of the divine love, and preach Jesus who fed the hungry multitude, not use our influence with God and man to further the material as well as the moral and spiritual welfare of our brother man? To teach these simple folk that we are doing this by seeking for them first of all the kingdom of God, is a process of years. One sometimes wonders, in moments of temptation, if it would not be better to cultivate a more elastic conscience. Would it not be well to help these people a little in their village affairs? Why, the church would begin to "hum!" Whole clans would flock to the chime of her Sabbath bells. So, in China, it would be an easy thing for a missionary to carry on a seemingly successful mission by just a little display of wordly power and authority, and all the time be living in a missionary fool's paradise? To do so seems such an innocent and harmless thing. It prevents litigation, arrests bad feeling,

and so covers a multitude of sins. It flatters the missionary's selfesteem by making him appear in the eyes of the people as a man of importance, and wins for him the reputation of being a "lover" of the people. But it is the old temptation of our Lord to seek fame by a spectacular display of power to please the people. Because we have fought against this, and because the people of this region more fully realize the nature and function of the Christian church, seems to me to be one reason for the present stagnation.

Then our church is affected also by conditions more or less general throughout this province. There has been a long period of unbroken prosperity and uninterrupted peace. Scarce

ly moved by the troubles of 1900, and the wars and rumours of wars that shook the north, the people of this province have lived in peace and plenty for years. Proud and self-satis

fied they do not feel their need of a higher life. One longs sometimes for a revolution of any kind that would shake the minds of the people, and rouse them up to think. The soil is hard, and it needs to be ploughed up. Any disturbing force that would wake the torpid soul and heavy conscience to the perception of moral and spiritual need, would be gladly welcomed. The silent prayer of our hearts at this time is, "Come Lord Jesus, and rouse from this sleep of death."

Another reason for the present depression is what I would call the dearth of conspicuous Christianity. Many have turned from idols, like the Thessalonian converts, to serve the living and true God, but they lack the more positive qualities which made that little apostolic church, that sprang up with such marvellous rapidity, conspicuous in all the region round about. Our greatest need at the present time is for men and women who will truly represent Christianity to the heathen. If we had only a few in every Church We have a few, but they are not sufficient. The lamp of many burns dimly and is not sufficient to be a witness. We need more 66 witnessing" Christians. Not only do we require those who have been "converted," and are feebly struggling towards the kingdom, but we require vigorous, conspicuous, uplifting types of Christian character. I would not say we have none, because that would not be true. I could tell of some splendid Christians

we have. Nor would I like to say we have gone back; but would that we were producing more! "I wonder we do not increase in number," said John Wesley, "I can impute the want of increase to nothing but want of self-denial.” Surely this is, par excellence, the virtue that attracts. And so it seems to me in our villages and homes we need more self-denying Christians. Said one of our preachers at a recent gathering: "It is no use telling the heathen about Jesus. They don't know anything about Him. They wish to see Jesus in the lives of men.'

Notwithstanding the present stagnation in the church, I must say that never within my ten years of life in China has there been such readiness to listen to the Gospel message among those outside the pale of church influences. Everywhere there is an open door. A few weeks ago I spent three nights in a village and stayed in the house of a man, who several years ago came to the hospital'and, having given up the opium habit, has continued a strength to the church ever since. The sincerity of his profession, witnessed by the change in his life, has won for him the respect and admiration of all in his household. The result was we got a good hearing, and for three successive nights the preacher and I spoke for several hours in the large central guesthall to an audience of about fifty men, women and children; on one evening holding a lantern service, at which the stories of Naaman and the Prodigal Son were used to illustrate divine truth. That is what a consistent Christian profession can do. It can always win a respectful hearing. The man is by no means a paragon of Christian

excellences, but his friends and neighbours have seen a saving power in his life. It is true, as one of our missionaries has said, that the best pulpit is the doorstep of a Christian's home. The worst is that of one who professes the Christian name, but lacks the reality. Thus on all hands there are abundant openings for evangelistic work. Would that many were as willing to receive as they are ready to listen!

Our readers will be thankful to learn from the accompanying letter that the revival which has been going forward so powerfully in the provinces of Shansi and Honan, has now commenced in Anking, the captital city of Anhuei. The writer is Mr. C. E. Parsons, of the China Inland Mission.

Two weeks of special meetings, following the visit of Mr. Westwood with native workers to Mr. Goforth's meetings in Honan, have just closed here, after, we rejoice to say, such a manifestation of God's power as has not been witnessed since the inception of the work in Anking. It is that others, with us, may magnify God and unite in prayer for its extension elsewhere that this short account is given. Truly the words, "He maketh peace in thy borders and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat," have a new significance to the church here; while our prayers have received answer, "" above all that we could ask or think."

Changteh, with its wondrous work, bearing unmistakeable testimony to the growing power of the revival from the north, did not fail to include with blessing those attending from Kiangsu and Anhuei, and it was almost immediately after Mr. Westwood's return here that the work began. The remaining

members of the Anhuei party, Mr. Hsieh, Mr. Iang and Mr. Li, have also proved instrumental in God's hands for blessing in our midst.

It may here be observed that our expectation had been from Him, and a preparatory work had gone on since Mr. Goforth's visit to Kuling during July; but our hopes, it seemed, were to be suddenly dashed to the ground. Only a brief hour had elapsed after the return of the party from Honan, when the signal fire of the revolutionaries lit up the sky, following upon the deaths of the Emperor and Dowager-Empress and preceding the end of the military manoeuvres of the Hupeh and Nanking armies, thirtythree miles away. The morning attack on Anking on the 20th was followed by the bombardment of a rebelling fort, and, during the thirty-six hours of fighting, we knew that the safety of Anking hung in the balance. With every means of escape cut off, we turned to Him who stilled the tempest. After the first night and day of fighting had passed, we, as was usual, met with the church to seek the Lord's blessing and protection. Eternal realities faced each soul. The Holy Spirit's presence was felt, and we received assurance that all would be well with the city. The Destroyer's hand was stayed, for, after a night of turmoil without the walls, it ended in a long engagement, which, during the morning, "turned the tide" and led to the flight of the rebels half a day later; the armies at the manœuvres remaining loyal. All these events had evidently a direct bearing upon what was to follow in the local church. The Lord was breaking up the ground and strengthening faith. The men

of-war arriving, the ladies were taken on board; the others remaining as a means of reassuring the people; the meetings in question being shortly afterward begun. Danger continued, but Mr. Hsieh, occupied with his new found blessing, seemed almost oblivious to all that passed, while we each knew the Lord to be with us doing a new thing in our midst.

Sunday morning Mr. Iang, of Ning-kuo-fu, preached. Behind him was a new power! With the speaker Another spoke! Mr. Hsieh led that afternoon, and his confession led to the breaking down of his mother, who was present. Mr. Li, of Chih-cheofu, spoke at night, the Sword of the Spirit cutting right and left.

As the special meetings began, Mr. Iang and Mr. Li returned, as was unavoidable; Mr. Westwood and Mr. Hsieh on alternate nights, giving, under the Spirit, an account of the work so fresh in their minds.

The Holy Spirit filled the place, and barrier after barrier was swept away. Lips sealed to prayer for many years were opened. Hearts cold and indifferent were melted. Souls saw themselves before a holy God, and were bowed beneath His mighty arm with broken hearts and prayer for cleansing. Members of the church prayed to be saved. It was, however, on Friday night that a deeper work began; Mr. Westwood speaking. Like resistless tide God's power came. Few were not weeping. On every side were confessions, as men and women agonized before God. This continued for a long time without the slightest trace of confusion or disorder. It was a time long to be remembered. The terrible sins of hatred, pride, hypocrisy, indifference, theft,

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gambling, immorality, and others so numerous that no one could keep the record, were poured forth. Resistance to the Spirit had largely ceased, and the work went on, ever deepening and widening. As the second week passed, there were confessions by families. With many, confession followed confession. Deepened conviction brought greater revelations. Conventional methods of conducting the meetings were discarded that there might be greater freedom in the Spirit, and the intervention of man avoided in all. Surrender to Christ, and prayers for the baptism of the Spirit were answered. The closing night saw further sins confessed. Chiefest among these were jealousies leading to long standing differences; these being publicly confessed and righted. Several candidates applied for baptism, and, with the present interest, although the meetings have been closed, the work, we feel, has only but begun here. May we all in this land, realizing afresh "that it is not by might nor by power" but by the Spirit, not henceforth limit Him by our lack of faith, but, in the name of Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, press onward in the path of prayer, expectant and believing, to the complete victory ahead during times so full of promise!

The following has been sent us by a member of the English Baptist Mission working at Tai-yuen-fu in Shansi.

The Revival in Shansi: Blessing at Chiao-ch'eng.

It seems fit to place on record the continued instances of blessing at present taking place in Shansi. After the meetings held by Mr. Goforth were over, those

Christians from the country districts who had received blessing were very anxious that their fellow-Christians should also be

blessed.

Three men-Wang P'ei-kw'ei, Kuo Heng-cheng, and Liu Hsiang-chen-have for a month. been round the little scattered Christian communities, praying with and stirring up the people, and on Saturday, November 29, Revs. Arthur Sowerby and S. Henderson Smith visited Chiaocheng, the centre for the district. For three days special meetings were held, and with the same blessed results that took place in T'ai-yuen-fu, and have been met with elsewhere. Nearly all the Christians were melted and broken down, and Christian leaders, who by pride and temper had hindered the progress of the church more than they had helped it by their preaching, confessed before all the rest with bitter weeping and many tears. Young and old all alike were moved, and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit were felt by all.

It is a wonderful time of blessing, and cannot be denied, and it behoves every missionary and every church to ask what God means, and whether the time has not come that God will save by thousands and tens of thousands. Surely God is preparing His church for some special work for Him. God help us all to be ready. It is also of great significance that these Christians have a close acquaintance with the New Testament, and in their prayers their one hope for pardon is in the Cross, while they put away entirely all self-righteousness and self-reliance. It is the simple Gospel message with the full power of the Holy Ghost that is the dynamic of all these wonderful meetings.

The following account of blessing in Tientsin, sent by one of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Mission, will be read with thankfulness.

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At the Methodist Episcopal Annual Conference held in Peking in October, Bishop Bashford appointed Dr. J. H. Pyke to be Conference evangelist, with liberty to travel, holding missions anywhere the way seemed open. Having received an invitation from the Methodist Episcopal Mission in Tientsin, he menced work on November 29. Immediately the United Methodist Mission requested to be taken into the arrangements, and Dr. Hobart was asked to come and assist. Meetings were commenced daily in the city churches both afternoon and evening, when very large congregations attended. Two of the churches have been specially fitted with electric lights for evening meetings and the doors were thrown open for all comers to attend. Two things have been proved, namely, that in Tientsin the open evangelistic methods are a success, and that hundreds of people are ready to embrace Christianity if given an open free welcome. Scores of people have come to the front for prayer and give certain evidence of their desire to live a better life. But one thing else has been demonstrated, namely, that the Christians have been revived and set to work as scouts to bring in those who are only waiting to be brought into closer touch with the church. When the preaching is over the Christians gather groups of outsiders for private conversation; in this way many have been led to pray for themselves. Thus there have been some remarkable scenes. Last Friday evening a Buddhist priest, who had travelled all round North China seeking the

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