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the wording to which objection was taken to the Committee who would have the assistance of five other brethren. In this way he hoped they would pass the resolutions with the hearty and entire approval of the Conference. Dr. Gibeon proceeded further to explain the resolutions and said he did not believe that the work of different missions created difficulties in the minds of the members of the native Church. He thought the difficulty lay in explaining to them what the differences were. Beyond distinguishing that protestants were one mission and there was also a French mission--Chinese did not know any difference. It was imperative that they should stand apart from the Church of Ro⚫e. (Hear Hear.) In conclusion Dr. Gibson made an eloquent appeal for unity in the Mission field.
To the lay mind it is difficult to square eloquent appeal for unity," Unum in Christo, with an imperative injunction to “stand apart from the Church of Rome."
The Rer. W. Nelson Bittôn (L. M. 8.. Shanghai) remarked that the Conference had come together to consider bases of unity, but individual members were successively voicing their own idiosyncrasies. He protested against an attempt to force the imprimatur of any Western Church on to the creed of a new Eastern Church, which should be left to formulate its own creed in its own time.
The Rev. E. W. Thwing (Honolulu) would solve the problem of Chinese unity of faith by basing it on the Scriptures. He himself found the Apostles' Creed helpful, but would not force it on those who did not approve of formulated creeds.
An attempt was then made to close the discussion.
Bishop Graves said the astounding statement had been made that there were statements in the Apostles' Creed which could not be accepted. While discussing unity at the commencement of their Conference they had got on dan- gerous ground. The Anglican Church in its desire to meet all had yielded muca that it held dear, but if the amendments to leave out reference to the primitive Catholic Faith and the creeds were adopted the Anglican delegates would not be able to join in these resolutions. The Conference could not forge auy more harmful weapon to place in the band. of the Roman Church than the slightest weaks ness whatever in expressing its belief in that primitive Catholic Faith.
The Rev. T. W. Pearce pleaded for more of the spirit of the Founder of missions in the consideration of these resolutions.
* The implication of this is far from obscure. Mr. Pearce seems to have seen a need for his plea.
Bishop Bashford greatly deprecated any attempt of Chinese to organize a Church con- fined to the Chinese Empire. Churches should be-world-wide and not national.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
This is excellent, so far as it goes, Christian churches should also be world-wide and not sectarian, or dogmatic, or bigotted.
Mr. Endicott thought that of all forms of Christianity, that associated with some nation- ality was the most dangerous.
Dr. Lewis said there were fifty Missions at work in Chins, and to say that the proposition would strengthen the links with the home Churches would be to say that there were fifty links to be strengthened. It was idle to work for unity if these connexions were to be regard. ed as permanent.
Bishop Bashford's amen `ment was lost, and he then rose to ask what they expected the Home Churches to do when the Conference voted recommending the native Churches to break away from them?
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[May 4, 1907. business. There were important subjects to | Taotaí M. Y. Chung for Viceroy Yuan Shik- some before the Conference from day to day, ] kai said :— chich had been fully considered by represents- “Bince the advent to China of the late Dr. tive Committees, and believed the resolutions | Morrison 100 years ago, you and your predeces- submitted had been agreed to with practical | sors in the missionary field have attained noamity. He therefore appealed to the Con- marvellous results by your arduous endeavourst ference to refrain from merely verbal amend. you have penetrated into the innermost partions ments. it was very decirabis that the of this Great Empire; you have worked hard impression should not get abroad that there was sad sealously to acquire an intimate knowledge strong divergence of opinion in the Conference of our language and literature, our mahnern and and amendments which simply improved the customs. Hardships you certainly have mét and literary effect of the resolutions might reason- dangers you hava braved, Bi bly bare you ably be omitted. A discussion similar to that been rewarded. Your work in the educational of the preceding day was unreportable. From line in the art of healing, and above all your the report he had seen in one of the morning | noble and self-sacrificing labours in thealleviation papers he could only say that he was astonis- of human distress and in the saving of life in hed at the intelligence and skill with which it ❘ times of famine or flood have wou for you the was presented (applause), but it was not right | deep gratitude of the antion and the appreciation to put an unfair strain on those who wore of the Throne.' giving such valuable help and he therefore urged the Conference to agree to the proposal | that all speakers should address the meeting from the platform.
Nevertheless the greater part of the second report consists of verbal amendments, dealing with resolutions on the training of native pastrts.
The Rev. L. Lloyd (C. M. S., Foodbow) urged his hearers to give the native pastors time for study. In his own experience they were too frequently bound to give up to financial matters the time they should spend in study. Secondly, let them treat the native pastor as a cultured and efficient brother in Christ. He blushed to think of a young missionary who had come to his province, who interposed to pronounce the benediction st a service taken by a native pastor who had been ordained when the missionary was in long clothes.
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A curious omission may be noted in this Chinese catalogue of work done. There is no reference to the introduction of a new faith.
CHINA ASSOCIATION.
(FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.)
THE ANNUAL MEETING,
The annual meeting of the Association was held by the courtesy of the P. &O. 8. N. Co. at their office, Leadenbail Street London, on Mr. J. II. Booti-occupi. Tuesday, 26th March
ed the chair and there was a fair attendanos of members. The meeting was preceded by a special one for the consideration of certain alterations in the Rules as proposed in a circular previously sent to members.
The CHAIRMAN said that owing to illaess, Dr. G. W. Green (8 B.C. Canton) said that Mr. Gundry had not been present at the meet- ings of the Committee for redrafting the rules, the Chinese needed the example of their own
The bat he had pointed out that the omission of the people to lead them in Church work.
ht to be word "General" from several of the rules would cry "China for the Chinese encouraged, for the Chinese needed to learn deprive the a ts of the Committee of a certain amount of weight and significance necessary to patriotism. Sometimes they would say and do things which were wrong, but forbearance clearly distinguish them from those of the local The Committee felt the oogency must be shown. Let them have Churches for committees. the Chinese wit Chinese pastors to do the of the argument and was willing to accept Mfr. the proposed work which the missionaries could not do, Gundry's suggestion, but as and let the missionaries go on with the work alterations had been circulated he thought the variation should come in the form of that the Chinese pastors could not do.
au amendment. The revised rules as oironlated ! Greene pleaded for the independence of the
were passed unanimously with Mr. Gundry's Chines Church.
Tas new rules provide for the amendment. appointment of a paid secretary. This terminat- ed the special meeting.
Dr.
Dr. Walker (Shaown) advocated the adoption of a bold policy. The Chinese pastors some times felt they were being treated too much like little children.
The Rev. C. H. Tjäder (Swedish Mission Haichou) thought only men truly converted" should be substituted for of unquestioned piety."
The Rev. Arnold Foster said “
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unquestioned piety implied conversion, but donversion did not include unquestioned piety." (Laughter and Applause.)
Dr. Bryan moved "That we sympathetically study the needs of our Chinese co-labourers,
85 much as and endeavour to assist them possible."
The motion was not seconded.
no reason
In opening the annual meeting The Chairman congratulated Sir Jordan on having brought the negotiations for the Kowloon Canton Railway to a head. The line was important to Hongkong and the colony had been gratified by the energy shown by the Governor, Sir Matthew Nathan, in promoting it. The attempted on the status of the Maritim, encroachment Customs had apparently bien checked, and he saw
to apprehend danger to the security of the foreign losos; but there would be risk of interference with thể administrators of the Customs so long as the Edict of May 9th appointing new Chinese comptrollers over the force. He The Rev. W. H. Watson (Changsha) propo- Inspector-General remained in sed: "That in thus expressing its very strong regretted that the association had been unable to persuade His Majesty's Government to sxxot opinion that all possible means should be used in order to provide an adequate supply of punitive damages for the piracy last antuma of thoroughly trained Chinese Ministers this the steamer Bainam, accompanied as it was by Conference would not for the moment forget the murder of Dr. MacDonald. The damages the sovereign rights of our Lord Jesus Christ as were sought, not for the benefit of the steamer owners, who had announced willingness that the Head of His Church, nor the fact that the call of His Spirit, first to the heart of the in- they should b, given to some charitable dividual so called, and, then through his gifte, institution in Hongkong, but with a view to graces and fruitful servios to the responsible bring home to the Chinese authorities: their officers of the Church, is the only sufficient and responsibility for outrages which it was their indispensable cause why say man should under-duty to prevent. A gratifying responre had take the work of the Ministry—and that with out such a call no man however brilliant or highly trained has any right to exercise that Pastoral Offics."
At a public meeting at night, Dr Arthur Smith, whose famous book caila “intel- lectual turbidity ■ Chinese characteris tio, lectured on the accomplishments of a century's mission work in China. The benefits which Dr. Smith declared to bave been conferred on China by "Protestant Christianity " were the idea of a God; the raising of women; purer | lost. lives of the people; a weekly day of rest; * sense of discipline; educational advance : print- | their Christian preachers. ing presses; and many others. VIP-AN-“UNREPORTABLE DISCUSSION.
The Rav. T. W. Pearce (C. I. M.) seconded. The amendment was put to the House and
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Dr. Spencer Lewis believed they should pay
It was decided to lav on the table the question of the photograph of the delegates to the Conference, many members objecting to pose on the Racecourse Grandstand.
The second session opened at Shanghai on April 27th :—
There was a garden party on Saturday after. attention of the Conference to the despatch of "noon, with ten, gaiety, and more speeches,
Dr. Gibson, said he desired to call the earnest
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been made to the appeal made by the 'bina Association for funds for the relief of the terrible famine prøveiling on the north of the Yang-tase, over £7,000 having been siready subscribed. He paid special tribute to Mr.Murray Stewart's method of keeping the Amociation fully posted on every matter of importanos con- nected with the Far East and referred to the great loss which the Shanghai Branch would muffler owing to the retirement of Sir Charles Dudgeon, stating that Sir Charles would, be heartily welcomed on the London Committee. After expressing the hope that criticism would be freely offered by the members, who might out assured that it would not be taken” as con
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