idea of what it is like. One thing that impresses even the older residents of Bombay is the infinite variety in the dress and characteristics of these people. No two look alike, or wear the same things.

Of course, they have come from many different parts of India, and people of the north are very different from the people of the southern part, and both are different from those in this immediate neighorhood. Most of the men from North India wear their hair in the style called at home the "Dutch cut." Then the Hindus look so queer when they have their caps off, with the hair clipped quite close except for a long scalp lock.

It is interesting to see all sorts of operations in the barbering line, as they

are performed right out on the sidewalk anywhere. These men also do manicuring, and it looked very funny to see a black man, more or less naked, having his nails carefully trimmed and cared for.

Another interesting, though decidedly unpleasant thing, is the way in which people flaunt their deformities before the eye of the public, and beg. Some of the sights which I have seen haunt me yet, and we see them everywhere. But the people are very attractive in many ways, and my heart goes out to them in loving sympathy. Of course it does not do any especial good, but I often smile at the poor wretches who stop to look at us, though I seldom get an answering smile. don't think some of them know how, at all.

"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision." Joel 3:14.

and have worked out their destiny. That China's state of apathy and

dawn of time, bridging with its mighty sweep all human existence, stretches God's plan for a complete, perfected, redeemed universe.

Over this space have marched, age after age, in unending procession, the races of the earth.

What a marvelous pageant it is, this majestic procession of nations across the center of History's stage, each bearing its own gift, without which the final perfect whole would be incomplete.

To it the Hebrews have brought religion, the Greeks, art; the Romans, politics and government; the Teutons, individualism. Each thus having fulfilled its supreme mission gives place to the next, while progress, a flaming torch, passes from hand to hand, ever growing in luster and brilliancy.

Could we choose from out the whole mighty panorama the most dramatic scene to watch, the most impressive stirring of world forces to view, the most thrilling opportunity, reverently to help God create out of the dry bones of indifference and apathy, a vital, throbbing, potent world power, in all history we could find no parallel to the present wonderful transformation in China, in which it is our privilege not only to be witnesses, but to take a part.

It is a fact of too great significance to escape attention that those "unknown people, who at an unknown time" founded the Chinese nation,chose the location of the vast cradle, in which it was destined to lie many centuries asleep, in what is universally known as the "belt of power," within which all great races of mankind have had their origin

years does not in reality indicate decay is evidenced by the very fact of selfmaintenance, and by the national stability and unity which have been preserved in spite of it.

She has rather lain in a state of arrested development, a condition which may lay its iron grasp on race life as well as on that of plants and birds.

Poor China, with her wealth of natural resources and her poverty-stricken multitudes, her ground bursting with the elements of fabulous riches and her people bowed in dumb acceptance of her heritage of centuries of struggle for bare existense, with her tangle of contradictions and inconsistencies-the despair of the western analyst, a problem to her own awakening consciousness-proud, indifferent, needy, appealing. What spectacle could quicker touch our sympathy or command our help?

In the exquisite adjustment of God's plan there has never been anything uncertain about China's part. From the beginning her place has been prepared. Never hasting, never resting, she has patiently gone on her appointed way, storing up, who can say what funds of endurance, patience, frugality, industry and other sterling qualities. Into the Lotus-land of her perpetual dreams at length has penetrated the call for which she has all unconsciously waited.

The hour of her destiny has struck, and she begins to arouse and prepare to take her place as wielder of power among the nations of the earth.

The immediate and visible causes of this awakening may be traced to the persistent encroachment and ever-in

creasing influence of western standards in commerce, education, politics and religion, and in the keen, not to say covetous, rivalry of foreign powers to gain control of natural resources whose extent and wealth have hitherto been as little heeded by the native as they were undreamed of by the foreigner.

Wonder tales are told by the scientific explorers of coal deposits in a single province sufficient to supply the whole world for a thousand years, side by side with almost inexhaustible deposits of iron ore. Added to this are vast tracks of the finest agricultural country in the world, much of it already under high cultivation.

"Given unmeasured mineral deposits, overwhelming population, cheap labor, solid race characteristics and an awakened race consciousness, and you have all the materials to make a mighty and commanding nation."

China's "forward movement" is an embodiment of the many unmistakable signs of this awakening.

Always radical, often well nigh incredible, sometimes almost hopelessly impossible, they represent the determined effort of a people who, being roused, are as thoroughly in earnest in their reforms as they were formerly persistent in inaction.

"You urge us to move faster," said a Chinese magistrate to a foreigner. "We are slow to respond, for we are a conservative people, but if you force us to start we may move faster and farther than you like."

Certainly the movement already leaves the energetic Westerner rather breathless with its rush and sweep.

The edict of 1905 abolished with one blow the educational system of twenty centuries, substituting for the Confucian classics and the competitive examinations Western methods and common school subjects.

A public school system embracing the whole empire and experiments in compulsory education which, by latest reports, are about to be confirmed and enforced, are among the details of the marvelous change. Examination halls are abandoned or turned to the purposes of the new regime, and more wonderful and significant still, numbers of Buddhist and Confucian temples are being turned into school houses for the modern education.

Many half-pathetic, wholly encouraging evidences of the sincerity of this movement abound.

The surviving descendant of Confucius, entrusted with the preservation of the classic lore in a Confucian university, removed into dignified seclusion, naively requests to have some of the more progressive branches of Western learning added to his curriculum.

The hosts of teachers of the ancient learning, now being superseded by the foreign taught or those who have some smattering of foreign education, beg to share the enlightenment of their more fortunate brothers, and in many towns teachers' classes are organized for discussion. Everywhere the scientific branches are especially esteemed and sought after. Important phases of this educational reform are the establishment of the Imperial University in Peking with its corps of European and Japanese professors, the founding of a Chinese medical college whose diplomas are recognized by government, an intended university at Hong Kong specializing along practical scientific and medical lines, industrial schools in many centers, and last but by no means least, a strong and active interest among the Chinese themselves for the higher education of their women.

Following close on this profound educational revolution came an edict in 1906 limiting the growth of opium

1911

in decreasing ratio for ten years with a view to its entire abolishment at the end of that period.

The popular endorsement and energetic promotion of the organization for anti-foot binding among the women, the abolishment of slavery, the revision and codifying of the laws, the reorganization of the army, the adoption of a constitutional government whose first parliament will convene in response to great popular urgency in less than three years instead of ten, as was at first proposed-these are some of the more important manifestations of the past five years.

Side by side with them, interdependent, partly cause and partly result, are the tremendous extension of railways. and national postal system, the enormous increase in newspaper circulation, the extension of international commerce, and the beginning of new industrial and manufacturing enterprise.

In a remote town of the interior William Ayer McKinney tells us he found, as common articles of sale in native shops, watches, steel-rod umbrellas, glass lamps and kerosene, and many other things unheard of fifteen years ago, brought there across the seas and up 1,000 miles of the Yangste by steam and then 1.100 miles more by the most primitive methods of conveyance, crossing some of the most hazardous rapids in the world and requiring two months for this last stage.

Here, too, in the neighboring capital, Chentu, are streets paved, cleaned, policed, and lighted; an industrial school with 5,000 students learning Western trades, an arsenal with 5,000 employés turning out the most modern arms, a fine parade ground and barracks, a university with surprising equipment-all established within the space of six years. And the greatest wonder of all is that this is neither unparalleled nor

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unique. In many a region, unreached ten years ago by the faintest whisperings from without its high-grown hedge of national reserve and ancient custom, the same, in varying degree, may be

seen.

"The opening and awakening of China," says Dr. Arthur Smith, a universally accepted authority on things Chinese, as well as a missionary known and loved, “are not unreasonably thought by some to be the most important world events since Columbus discovered America. In accomplishing these results no agencies have been so potent as those which have accompanied the introduction of Christianity."

A little more than one hundred years of Protestant missionary endeavor have been lavished on China. Many of those years have appeared almost fruitless. Many of those brave, self-denying, persistent men and women have reaped little more tangible than a sublime faith in the ultimate triumph which they never saw.

Nevertheless it is sure that their hundred-year seed sowing, cultivating, and preparing the spiritual and intellectual soil of China, rearing here and there a sturdy plant which has flowered, seeded, and spread-all this in a way not to be full apprehended nor adequately measured by us-has imperceptibly changed the old China and made ready for this bursting forth from her winter's sleep.

It has been well said that her progress consists not so much in actual achievement as expressed by decrees, reforms, and organized movements, as in an indefinable but very real alteration in the attitude of the nation.

China has awakened to a national consciousness. She has evolved an embryonic but true national patriotism. Through humiliation and defeat she has come to realize her need of West

ern standards, Western ideals, Western civilization, Western education, and among her wisest, most far-seeing, and profound thinkers the conviction is deepening, if not yet widespread, that first and most of all she needs Western Christianity.

"China for the Chinese," the most enthusiastic are equally emphatic in expressions of the continued need of the assistance of the missionaries, both in school and church life.

The Confucian system offers a wholly negative morality. Christianity, through its followers, has borne constant and eloquent testimony in China to its active, positive dynamic power for goodness and helpfulness.

Now is surely the time of wonderful opportunity. On America's threshold China waits to receive the best we have to give and to bestow incalculable benefits in return. Our duty is clear, but it is not duty alone; it is a blessed, a glorious privilege.

Quoting once more from Mr. McKinney: "A son is born into the family of nations. He will one day attain manhood. He may become heir to the precious legacy of civilization which he will modify and pass on to the future. He will at least leave some mark on his brother races and their posterity. It behooves us, then, while his age of impressibility still lasts, to take great pains in selecting the influences which surround him, to point out to him true distinctions between right and wrong, to turn his taste to the things that are worth while. It is no trifling task, it is filled with a grand charm; its success will be a world-wide and age-long beneficence.

The Chinese themselves are not slow to acknowledge this need. One of their number in an earnest and able article says, referring to the statement that China's greatest need is Christianity: "I readily agree with the view that this is her greatest need, because it touches. at the heart of her life as a nation. Christianity is and will be, therefore, the greatest force for good in China, just as it has been for other nations of the world. Give the Chinese the Christian doctrine of positive good and you will pull the trigger by which is sent forth the abundant mental and physical energy for labor, no longer for the perfection of self alone, but for the uplifting of others." And again: "I speak from the bottom of my heart when I say that China needs Christ."

An interesting report comes of a high Chinese official who, having recently embraced Christianity, now undertakes the support of twenty of the ablest preachers who can be found at an expense of about $7,000 annually.

Chinese officials educated in this country and familiar with its institutions agree that the best gift America has for China is its ideal Christian home.

"If she asserts her fully developed strength, either along lines of her old ideals or in response to new but illconceived ones, her advent into a place of power can be nothing but cosmic misfortune. If, on the other hand, she can be shown that 'righteousness exalteth a nation' and come into the light of modern civilization with a purpose, 'not to be ministered unto but to minister,' her advent, with her magnificent resources and her immense power,

Wherever interest in the new education appears great appreciation is shown of the work of the missionaries, and while eager to sound the cry,