HE present Press buildings are old

THE

and sadly deteriorated; they are a discredit to the Baptist denomination; and the duties of Mission Treasurer and Superintendent of the Mission Press are carried on in an office so cramped, and with surroundings so noisy, that economy of effort and comfort are alike impossible.

As to the condition of the present buildings there is but little good to say. There is hardly a wall which is not badly cracked, and an earthquake (we do have them here occasionally) is much to be dreaded. When there were more missionary printers in Moulmein than were needed, about a half century ago, Mr. Ranney resigned and removed to Rangoon, immediately after the annexation of Pegu, and began business as a printer, building first the four walls which enclose the present office-room. There are windows in each wall, and there was probably a veranda front and back. Then in process of time one veranda was enclosed, the roof extended, another veranda added, then this and the front verandas were enclosed, an ell added, warehouses built, room by room, and added to from time to time, till now the Press has its machinery and stock in four disconnected buildings. This building piecemeal, this altering over and patching up, the doing of it in many small

attempts to meet present needs of a grow. ing work, with but little money to do it with, has resulted in badly designed rooms and very faulty construction. Some of the outer and later walls are tied to the older walls by long iron stay bolts, and even so it is unsafe to carry any loads upon some upper floors.

Some of the walls were well built of good brick, and it is to these walls that others, far too light for their loads, poorly laid up of bad brick and worse mortar, are tied to keep the whole standing. The whole exterior receives a coat of distemper wash each year and cracked plaster is replaced; a ceaseless round of expense to maintain a semblance of decency before an admiring (?) public.

New buildings are imperatively needed. to replace old buildings, which are no longer fit in any sense for the purpose for which used, and which are rapidly passing into irreparable decay.

The present rooms are so small and are so arranged as to forbid the economical manufacture of books.

The buildings are far too small to permit extension of work to meet the growing demands of our growing denomination in Burma.

The question has been asked:

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Why

cannot the Press pay for new buildings from its income?"

The reply is that all its income has been and is being used to build up a publishing and book-selling business which should meet the demands of the denomination in Burma.

The business of the Press has increased fourfold, and it has required the addition of about eighty thousand dollars' worth of American machinery and the accumulation of large stocks of our own and purchased books to make this increase of business possible. The reply, in its shortest terms, is: "All profits are and must be absorbed in expansion," We cannot divert profits to building without falling further behind in meeting the demands of our people.

The office typewriter, with the work around it, has been washed out a few times the past month by downpours from a leaky roof, once even after all the leaks were supposed to have been repaired. The next burst of rain will do it again, unless the leak can be found and effectively stopped.

But for better things we are glad to report the very first and a very prompt donation towards this fund from America; and it comes from a firm that is always first in whatever it undertakes. "We lead, others follow," is its motto. This is the Pope Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Conn., makers of the "Columbia" bicycles, and their donation reached Rangoon June 9.

We have set forth something of the immediate needs of new buildings in which to carry on the work of the Mission Press, and ask for gifts outright for this object, or for gifts subject to annuities to be paid to the givers during their life-time. These gifts should be entirely outside of and in addition to gifts for the current work of the Missionary Union.

In Dr. Duncan's masterful "Survey of the Asiastic Missions," presented at the

"Nor

the Mission Press in Rangoon : should we forget the place which the printing-house at Rangoon holds in the evangelization of Burma. From its presses

issue every year the scriptures or parts thereof, and a carefully selected Christian literature in eight different languages, including the English. Except for its beneficent agency there are peoples to whom the printed page would never come, for the means for furnishing it do not elsewhere exist. The mission annals of Burma abound with illustrations of the quickening influence of the society's press. There are many, not only from the living, but from those now in glory, to whom its tracts or leaflets first brought the message of salvation. Its usefulness was never more manifest than at the present time, and never was it more needed when printing presses in Rangoon, owned and conducted by natives, are devoted to the printing of a Buddhist literature, which in attractive forms is exposed for sale on pagoda platforms, at steamer landings and wherever people are likely to congregate in all parts of Burma; and yet the dilapidated building in which its operations are conducted has become wholly inadequate for the increased service required. How shall a home be secured for the Mission Press which may enable it to multiply its agencies for diffusing the gospel, and that shall be worthy of the honorable position which the society holds among the institutions of Burma? Your committee has been criticised for incurring debt; but if the constituency of the Union could but realize what painful restraint has been exercised in this and a score of similar cases, where timely assistance granted would have greatly advanced the work, this criticism would have changed to sympathy and liberal coöperation."

Pledges and subscriptions are now being made, and may be sent either to the Treasurer of the Union, E. P. Coleman, Esq., Tremont Temple, Boston, or to F. D. Phin

women on their way home from the bazar, and according to our usual custom, I called out:

"Come and hear the White Book (Bible)."

All but one of the company were frightened and started to run. The exception was Gah Too, who said:

"Hark! There is a white foreigner speaking in our own language. Who ever heard such a thing? Come along, let us go and hear what he has to say."

She leading the way, they all came and sat down at a respectful distance. For nearly an hour I read and talked to them from the New Testament, and they then went on their way home. I had prepared

a bamboo shelter for the rains, and in a few weeks had my wife and daughter with me in Donabew.

Gah Too soon heard of their arrival, and at once came to see the mama and hear more about the White Book. On meeting the mama, she expressed unbounded pleasure, and said:

"When I heard the teacher read the White Book and talk about Jesus in the old zayat yonder, I believed all I heard, and went home and told my family what I had seen and heard. I said to them: I have seen the teacher and heard him read

the White Book in our own language. Now, we must give up all this nonsense, (her husband was a conjurer), and we must enter this White Book path.' I could not sleep all night long; but had to keep repeating and talking about what I had seen and heard. And now, mama, I want to hear more about Jesus."

She then had a family of ten living children for whom to provide. But she was so much in earnest to know more of the White Book, that she determined to learn to read for herself. So amid the cares of domestic life in such a large family, she yet found a little time daily for study until, in a few months' time, she was able to read not only her own language, but Sgaw Karen also. Then she would take the little books in both languages and go from village to village and house to house to read and talk about Jesus.

All her own family came out on the Lord's side and many others also, through her earnest and untiring efforts in their behalf. She was an active, exemplary Christian, living and working for the salvation of souls. And, after stemming the tide of ridicule and opposition from a wicked world for more than forty years, has now gone "where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest."

THE

HE Chinese could teach a considerable portion of the Occidental world profitable lessons in filial piety, respect for law, reverence for superiors, economy, industry, patience, perseverance, contentment, cheerfulness, kindliness, politeness, skill in the use of opportunities, and energy in the conquering of an adverse environment. The merchants of China, in contradistinc

held in high esteem as men of probity and business honor. The capabilities of the Chinese people, under favorable auspices, will surely secure to them an unexpectedly high and honorable place in the world's future. There is a staying power in their natural qualities and a possibility of development under helpful conditions which deserve more recognition than the world

A

FEW years ago a Karen pastor wrote to Rev. D. A. W. Smith, D.D., of the Theological Seminary asking him to have a school where their young women could be taught the Bible as well as their young men. The Bible has always been taught in the mission schools, but he desired a real Bible school for women similar to the theological seminary for men. A number of years ago Mrs. J. G. Binney had a class for special instruction in the Bible. After about two years of good work it had to be given up because Mrs. Binney's health failed. Later Miss Lawrence had a Woman's Bible School in Thaton, near Moulmein, which did good work for a few years. Then Miss Lawrence needed rest and the work stopped. These classes were supported by mission funds.

In January, 1895, at the jubilee celebration of the Theological Seminary at Insein, a number of the leading Karens discussed the needs of a Bible school for their young women. It was suggested that "S'rah Brayton's compound at Rangoon would be a good place for it, and Mama Rose might

take charge of the school." The idea met with my hearty approval, as also that of my dear father and husband. Other missionaries also expressed their cordial sympathy and hearty approval. Circulars were written and sent around among the people. Just at that time my dear husband was stricken down by disease, and was a great sufferer for nearly sixteen long months. After my dear one was released and there was no longer anything I could do for him, my heart turned anew to the work for the Karens, among whom I have literally spent my life.

The plan for the Bible school came in for its share of thought. After a certain amount of thinking, talking and writing, the way seemed to open up in an unmistakable manner. We had felt and said from the beginning that this work must be taken up, supported and carried on by the Karens themselves and not by money from America, except the support of the one lady or more that might be needed.

In March, 1897, a Karen brother sent in 1,000 rupees to put up a dormitory.