זכור.

nationality and Japanese wares are found in their shops. Russia is certainly beaten in this war and before this letter reaches you, I venture to predict that negotiations for peace will be in progress. We are all well here. Dr. and Mrs. Young take hold of the language with energy and seem destined to be most valuable workers. It is to be hoped that he can be our representative in the medical college.

MY DEAR MOTHER:

Yours cordially,

W. S. AMENT.

Peking, March 16, 1905.

I am sending you some pictures. Two are rather dim but you will see that the towers of the Ch'ien Men are not yet finished although the money was long ago granted. The contractors wanted to make a little more out of the dear old country, so they delayed, but I hear it is given to a new set and is to be finished soon. I wish you could see my two rosebushes in bloom in May. One on each side of the steps. The few green things I have I value much. We were going to make gardens this spring, but now more building stops us. The ladies are building more recitation-rooms and rooms for woman's work.

A Manchu noble brought his boy here to-day to put him in the school, a lad of fourteen. Over sixty are present. I have classes, ten in English, ten in geography and fifteen in Old Testament. I also squeeze in a little time for organ lessons as a number of boys want to learn to play. They are quick to learn.

William is well and having interesting work every morning teaching or reading Murray's "Spirit of Christ" with a class of men. He has charge of the depositary of the Tract Society, with hundreds of accounts to make out to the treasurer. He runs I know not how many colporteurs besides the mission affairs, and preaches every day at the street chapel. Good-night. Love to all.

MARY.

As the bird trims her to the gale,

I trim myself to the storm of time,
I man the rudder, reef the sail,

Obey the voice at eve obeyed at prime: "Lowly, faithful, banish fear,

Right onward drive unharmed;
The port, well worth the cruise, is near,
And every wave is charmed."

-Emerson.

XXII

HERALDS OF THE NEW CHINA

N the spring time of 1905, the Russo-Japanese War was practically at an end, although it held on its way

I

until the treaty of peace was signed at Portsmouth. While it is true that the Boxer year was the pivot upon which great changes turned, it is still more true that the Japanese victories forced the situation rapidly onward. Henceforth a new China was heralded. The officials were convinced. There must be an absolute break with the past, or China would be undone. The growing church in China was eager to meet all the teeming opportunities, and every mission could plan for a wider scope in its efforts. The development of original forces in the native church was the first object of desire. A new national spirit was rising rapidly and the young men in the churches were absorbing the sentiment, "China for the Chinese."

One of the first agencies to make use of this spirit was the Christian Endeavor Society, which held a national convention at Ning Po, May 12th-15th. The Peking societies, the American Board, London Mission and the Epworth League united in sending a costly banner to that convention. The convention was a great success. It was said that never before in the history of Christian missions in China had such a large and representative body of Chinese Christians assembled for prayer, worship

and deliberation on things pertaining to the kingdom. The visit of high Chinese officials called forth great enthusiasm. They paid earnest attention to an address on the "Duty of the Christian to his Emperor and his Country." Three of these officials addressed the audience in words of cordial and unstinted approval of the teachings of Christianity as just explained.

One of the best results of this fine gathering was the coming to consciousness in many marked ways of the native Christians, in the assurance that they were able to take the lead in their own lines of work. To take the initiative, especially in the presence of the foreign teacher and pastor, had not been an easy task for the Chinese.

The annual meeting of the North China Mission was held at Pei Tai Ho, in the summer of 1905. This meeting was, in succession to other meetings, of great worth, alike to the missionaries who assembled there and to the native Christians. On the invitation of Mr. Tewksbury, "a convocation of Christian workers" had come together with a view to uplift for body, mind and spirit. The attendance this year was 115, gathered from the native bodies of workers. The general theme was the "Evangelization of China." Dr. Ament was glad to be present at these meetings and to feel the tender and heartsearching influences which were binding the native and foreign workers together.

The message of this convention was sent out to the native churches by four of the Chinese pastors, who were to carry the good news and to arouse others to like service. The Chinese delegates subscribed for the expenses of the tour. One of those chosen was the Pastor Jen, who did most effective service.

The Conference on Federation held the previous year was continued through its Peking committee, of which Dr. Ament was a member, A second conference was

held in Peking, September 28, 1905. There were present delegates from twenty-two missions in China, as well as four bishops of the American and Anglican churches. The questions presented were the same voted upon the previous year. Dr. Ament opened the discussion. A session was devoted to the "Term Question," resulting in a practical agreement upon the suitable terms. More interesting, as related to the coming Centennial Conference, was the discussion of the federation of the churches. The opinion prevailed that a resolution in a definite form should be presented. This resolution was summed up in the final paragraph: "This conference appeals to the executive committee of the general Centenary Conference of 1907 to arrange for the adequate presentation of the subject of federation to that conference."

It is easy to fix an epochal date in September, 1905, as the final turning point of the great changes in China. The treaty of Portsmouth had hastened the pace. On the 28th of this month, the imperial government abandoned the last remnant of cleaving to the ancient scholarship, and proclaimed Occidental scholarship as the essential need of China. Under the quickened enthusiasms of the Viceroy of Chihli, a most elaborate system had been prepared and every district in the province was entering upon a new career.

The capital city began to be wholly renovated by the new forces at work. The two cities of Peking and TaiYuan were the only ones graced by the great Kublai with broad ways running from north to south and with connecting cross streets of equal breadth. These were now taking on an Occidental appearance. All the terrible rags of the former days, hucksters' tents, and bazaars were carried off, the broad space filled properly to a level, the streets finely macadamized, with sufficient sidewalk, and latterly lighted with electric lamps, making