as an epoch-making event. Those who attended the conference from day to day cannot but feel that : "There shall come a time when brotherhood shows stronger Of Dr. Ament's personal feelings during the great day of the development of his ardent plans for unity and expansion in Christian effort we have scarce a word from himself, but it is a pleasure to add the estimate of those who were present and able to judge of his bearing and his strength, as well as courtesy, in the long discussion. Of this Dr. C. C. Creegan, at that time district secretary of the American Board in New York, and visiting the missions with Dr. A. N. Hitchcock, district secretary in Chicago, writes as follows: I want to speak also of the way Dr. Ament bore himself at the great Shanghai Conference. I was with him there ten days. He was ill most of the time, complaining of his head. I wonder if it was not the beginning of the disease which finally caused his death. You will recall that he was chairman of the Committee on Church Federation. When the time came for him to make his report, he delivered an address, twenty minutes in length, I believe, which was one of remarkable power and made a deep impression on all who heard it. This was followed by a discussion which lasted practically all day, and although opinions differed on some of the points which had been presented by your husband, at the conclusion the vote was unanimous. If you could have been present, as I was, and have heard his masterly address, I think you would have felt that he was speaking at his best, out of a ripe experience and from the deepest conviction of his heart as to the needs of China. Prof. E. C. Moore writes as follows in the Missionary Herald for July, 1907 : There was the freest expression of opinion, and upon matters concerning which the widest differences prevail. But the dominant impression made by the convention was that of the seriousness with which the delegates approached their work. Men stood in awe as they thought of the gravity of the issues which were involved. Never perhaps has the spirit of prayer more truly possessed a deliberative body. And out of the sense of the presence of God there came a charity and kindliness of judgment which in no way hindered earnestness, or even the saving sense of humor, but which brought the convention at the end of every day's debate to the practical unanimity that characterized the conclusions of the conference. The greatness of the problems which these missionaries face, and to some extent the newness of the conditions in which they work, made this conference such an exemplification of the spirit of Christianity as has rarely been seen. In truth out of the discussions of Comity and Federation came resolutions which not only organize for effective coöperation all Protestant bodies now working in China but hold before the workers the ideal of a united church of China. DEAR DR. LEETE: On the Yang Tse, May 20, 1907. I am on the broad bosom of the mighty Yang Tse, en route for Peking after attending the Centenary Conference. As chairman of the Comity and Federation Committee hours were spent in consultation on resolutions, which were finally accepted by the conference, and federation of the eighty missions in China is about to be achieved. I am one of a committee of twenty-five to start federation councils in the provinces, and from them to elect a general federation council who will act for the whole missionary body. We thus hope to get closer together and take away the reproach that we are divided. The spirit of the conference was most beautiful to behold and there is no doubt that the power of sectarianism has been broken and there will be in China, in good time, one Christian church. Now if the churches at home can follow this good example there will be hope of a united church in the world and more strength for the spreading of the Gospel. The Anglicans were especially active in promoting everything which looked towards unity in the church and proved themselves most irenic and aggressive in every good thing. The different Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist and Episcopalian denominations all federated, or united. We English and American Congregationalists had union meetings, but no burning questions were up before us and no organization was effected. I wish you could take a ride on this majestic river. The volume of water is vast. Islands abound, almost as large as a county at home. Porpoise are found 800 miles up the river. The banks are fairly lined with fishermen and their huts. Mountains line the shore, on which thousands of sheep might be fed. But they are not here. The resources of the river and the land adjoining seem not to be touched. More teeming millions might be supported, if they learned to work together and could trust each other. We have just passed the "Little Orphan" rock, an island, a sharp pinnacle of rock running up sheer from the water, with two temples on it. It must be a lonesome place for the priests who live there. The river here is magnificent, reminding one of the inland sea of Japan. High rocks abound and birds seem to find a home in them. We are at the borders of two provinces, An Hui and Kiangsi. The latter is one of the worst provinces of the empire, and riots and troubles are of constant occurrence. Mission work has as yet taken small hold of the province. To-night we reach Kiukiang, from whence there is a road to Kuling, a high mountain where missionaries go to escape the summer heat and malaria. I have felt the strain of the past year, preparing my paper and doing a large correspondence. I expect to get a horse when I get to Peking and see if I cannot better my condition. Forget the day that is done, and prepare to make the coming day the best day you ever knew. Expect the new day to be the best day you ever knew and you will do your best to make it so. Meet life as a king and you will be treated as a king; meet life as a weakling and a place for weaklings will be the only place offered you." XXIV NEW HOPES FOR SOCIAL AND MORAL UPLIFT IN CHINA MY DEAR MARY: Peking, June 12, 1907. Stelle left this morning for Pei Tai Ho. The best thing is that Pastor Wang and Kao Hsin have come to me and intimated that the former may accept the call to Nan Meng. They have gone now to consult with the other members of the committee. That will lift a burden from my mind. I took dinner last night with several Chinese gentlemen, and their idea is to start a decent newspaper in Peking, and they want Dr. Martin and myself to help. They will have a Christian department as well as scientific, literary, etc. They seemed in earnest and have a good property inside the Ch'i Hua Gate already purchased. Prince Su is sending seven of his sons to Chang Hsi Tung's school and thinks this school is the best in the city. (Dr. Ament was trustee of this school.) Rain has fallen in small quantities, and the great dryness seems to be broken, for which I am devoutly thankful. Later. Just back from my first ride on the pony. He proves to have a good gait and I am well satisfied with that. Now if he can add some meat to his ribs and hold his head up and put on a smart appearance, I shall feel that I have made a good bargain. June 18th.-Have had a most delightful and unusual day. Wang Chao, one of the exiled reformers of 1898, invited me to dine with Shen Ta Jen, an officer of the Agriculture and Commercial Office, at the latter's office. He is a rich man as well as an official. He has refused office for years, but came at the order of Tsai Chen, and is making a success of it. He has six fine sons, and one of them came to the feast, as fine a specimen of an intelligent, modest man, as I ever saw. His ability is shown in his beating Wang Chao at chess. The feast surpassed any I ever saw in China. The great man was most polite and invited us to our seats in a way which saved the usual confusion. He took the wine cup and put it at a plate and then came to the one who was to sit there and made a salaam, and that was the end of it. No one could refuse. One plate at a time came in, and everybody was well filled before the last plate came. After the feast we all went to the new zoological gardens outside the northwest gate, and a surprise met us. Here is an agricultural farm of 2,500 mu, of land and things well developed. Water is brought in from "Black Dragon" Spring, and a little river runs through the grounds. A lotus pond is there and other things. The animals include lions, tigers, zebras, monkeys, aquatic birds, wild boar, kangaroo, all cared for by two Germans, who have insured the animals for a year. It may be opened this fall by the sale of tickets. It will furnish a fine outlet for the people of Peking, and be most instructive. TO THE SAME: Peking, June 24, 1907. Monday turns out to be a hot day and it grieves me to see twelve little and big lads, schoolboys, setting out for Nan Meng in this sun. I was to buy their tickets as far as Huang Tsun, when I found to my dismay that the morning train did not stop there. So the little fellows shouldered their bags and started off, with two dollars extra, and they were not happy because it was not more. What is to be the solution of this money question? Here these boys have been fed at the church's expense for a year or so, and having received what I consider a fair sum, they go off growling and think the pastor stingy! I am very sorry not to satisfy them, but they may drive me to do nothing at all for them and to let them get along as best they can. Yesterday, Dr. Fries spoke for us. He is chairman of the World's Students' Federation and lives in Stockholm, and seems to speak any language wanted. His wife is an English woman born in Sweden, and a very delightful lady. She is with him here, and is now writing letters in my room. house is delightfully cool this year. Our The Chinese are holding a meeting in the interest of independence and may ask the throne for protection as an inde |