Fiftieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. His service as a soldier was characterized by the same ardor of purpose and Christian devotion as his course in college and his career in after life.

After leaving the military service, he resumed his theological studies at Rochester Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in the class of 1866. His pastorates were at the Erie-street (now Euclid Avenue) Baptist Church of Cleveland, Ohio, where he was instrumental in building the present house of worship occupied by that church. In 1875 he became pastor of the Ninthstreet Baptist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, where his strong organizing power was manifested in combining the efforts of the Baptist churches in city mission work. This was also the case during his pastorate in the Second Baptist Church in Rochester, N. Y., to which place he removed in 1883. The rapid extension and growth of Baptist church work in Rochester is due in no small measure to his leadership during his pastorate in that city. In 1885 he declined a call to the presidency of Vassar College, preferring to remain in the pastorate; but in 1888 he was obliged to retire from the pastorate on account of the temporary failure of his health from overwork, and spent several years in Haverhill in the settlement of his father's estate. His election as Corresponding Secretary of the American Baptist Missionary Union coincided with the beginning of the Carey Centenary of Foreign Missions in 1892, and from that time until the day of his death, Oct. 30, 1898, he devoted himself without reserve and with entire fidelity and ardor to the important work committed to his care. His term of service as Foreign Secretary was especially identified with the development of higher education in the missions of the Union. Dr. Duncan was particularly interested in the rapid growth of the Rangoon Baptist College, which he regarded as one of the most important agencies in the permanent establishment of Christianity in Burma, and in the Tokyo Baptist Academy in Japan. The peculiar attitude of the intelligent Japanese mind toward education, in the view of Dr. Duncan, rendered the academy an essential to the proper development of our Baptist mission work in that country, and he had formed plans for the establishment and endowment of this school on a substantial financial basis, as well as for the endowment of the Rangoon College. In token of his interest in higher education and of the large gifts of Dr. Duncan's own family towards its establishment, the name of "Tokyo Baptist Academy" has been changed to that of "Duncan Academy."

The term of his service with the Missionary Union was a period of great trial and perplexity. The large income of the centennial year of foreign missions was succeeded by a diminished income, due more particularly to the severe and long continued financial depression which visited this country; and, in fact, the whole world of commerce from 1892 to 1898. The falling off of the income and the diminished resources of the Union were peculiarly trying to one of Dr. Duncan's ardent and aggressive disposition. His mind, fertile in plans for the development of the missions, chafed under the restrictions imposed by the lack of financial resources and the necessity of retrenchments bore hard upon him in his sincere sympathy with the missionaries and the large and aggressive plans which he had

made for the advance and extension of the missionary work. These trials, finding a constitution somewhat enfeebled and a vigor somewhat diminished by over exertions in the pastoral work, undoubtedly tended to hasten his end.

For several years, at the desire of the Executive Committee, he had been forming plans for visiting the Asiatic missions. The pressure of duties in the office had prevented his embarking earlier, but on Aug. 27, 1898, he was enabled to start upon his long-desired and greatly anticipated voyage, even though the state of his health hardly justified his engaging in so long a journey, especially in anticipation of the severe labors and many cares and anxieties incident to carrying out the plan. But he was firmly resolved to go, and accompanied by his wife and daughter, went as far as Port Said, when his health utterly succumbed to the enervating effects of the warm weather encountered in the Mediterranean Sea, and he was compelled to return to America. He reached his home in Brookline in great feebleness on Oct. 28, and yielding up his life at the call of his Lord only two days afterward.

The missions of the Union in many important features will long feel the impress of the sympathetic, earnest, intelligent and aggressive labors and plans of the late Foreign Secretary. What would have been the results in the future of the missions if his life had been spared, it is not for us to say, but the large projects which he had in mind for the development of the missions in the direction of higher education, of self-support and of the independence of native churches pointed to an ideal which it must be the aim of those who come after him, in some degree at least, to realize.

Rev. William T. Chase, D.D., of Philadelphia, a member of the Board of Managers of the Union, died in Philadelphia, Aug. 21, 1898. He was a native of Hallowell, Me., and a graduate of Waterville College, now Colby College, in the class of 1865. He was ordained in Berwick, Me., was a chaplain in the United States Army from 1863 to 1864, and held pastorates at Dover, N. H., Lewiston, Me., at the First Baptist Church, Cambridge, Mass., at the First Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minn., and Ruggles Street Baptist Church, Boston, Mass. At the time of his death was pastor of the Fifth Baptist Church in Philadelphia. In all his pastoral work and in his relation to the public interests of the denomination Dr. Chase was intensely earnest, aggressive and successful. By his sincerity and transparency of character, as well as by the native ability of his mind, he gained the respect and regard of all his associates. His death in the midst of his usefulness was universally regretted, and was unquestionably due to over-exertion - the activity of his mind exceeded the strength of his body, and he wore himself out in the service of the Lord and of the churches which he served.

Hon. George A. Pillsbury, of Minneapolis, Minn., a member of the Board of Managers of the Union, died in that city July 17, 1898. Mr. Pillsbury was a native of Warner, N. H., and a former resident of Concord, but for many years a resident and a leader in the business circles of Minneapolis, Minn. His strong mind early discerned the advantages of the natural resources and position of

most prominent element in the growth of the chief industry of that flourishing city. The success of the Pillsbury Flour Mills carried his name to the ends of the earth. It was simply a well-deserved reward of the rugged strength and commanding abilities of his character. Mr. Pillsbury was president of the American Baptist Missionary Union, 1887-89, and occupied many other positions of public trust and honor. In addition to his liberal gifts to the Missionary Union and other denominational objects he has liberally endowed the Baptist Institution of learning at Owatonna, in his adopted state.

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The death of Mrs. Mercy Maria Gray during the anniversaries at Rochester, N. Y., in May, 1898, was one of the most memorable events of that anniversary week. All three of our chief Baptist missionary organizations were at that time laboring under a cloud of debt and seemed about to enter upon another year financial embarrassment. Mrs. Gray's large gifts to all three of the societies, which had been reserved as a fund upon which annuities were paid during her life, were at her decease released and allowed to enter at once into the current expenses, and the three societies were thus enabled at a stroke, almost as it seemed from heaven, to begin the new year free from encumbrance or even with a balance in the treasury. In token of their appreciation of her generous gifts to the Missionary Union, the Executive Committee caused the following minute to be inserted in its records:

In connection with the decease of our sister, Mrs. Mercy Maria Gray, who departed this life in Oakland, Cal., May 20, 1898, the Missionary Union desires to place on record its profound and devout appreciation of a life which expressed itself in terms of so rare intelligence and enduring devotion to the cause of world-wide missions.

In the course of the past thirteen years, in addition to similar benefactions to other causes, Mrs. Gray had placed in the hands of the Missionary Union, from time to time, various sums which in the aggregate amounted to not less than $100,000, a moderate annuity on which only she received from the Union in return. Thus she wisely became her own executor. Accordingly, upon her decease, the funds thus given instantly became available to the Missionary Union. These benefactions served most opportunely to relieve the Union of a serious financial impediment in the way of its work and strengthened its hands for the future. So marked an expression of faithful stewardship, whereby one's worldly effects are made to serve the cause of God on a world scale for an indefinite future after one's departure from earth, transforms the Christian life and sheds a new luster on the death hour. Moreover, it affords an example worthy of the highest appreciation on the part of the church and of wide imitation by its members, and especially of those who are entrusted for a brief period with large earthly possessions.

The committee expresses its deep gratitude to God for such a life with such avails to the kingdom of God, and extends its sincere sympathy to the friends of our departed sister in their bereavement.

Mrs. Elizabeth L. Stevens, widow of the eminent missionary, Rev. Edward A. Stevens, D.D., after more than sixty years of missionary service in Burma, was called from service to her reward on Oct. 25, 1898. At the time of her death she was residing in the family of Rev. W. F. Thomas, professor in the Theological Seminary at Insein, Burma, her daughter, the wife of Rev. D. A. W. Smith, D.D., with whom she usually made her home, being in this country. Mrs. Stevens was

one of the notable company of six who reached Moulmein, Burma, in the barque "Rosabella" Feb. 19, 1838. During the long period of her husband's service she was his constant and efficient helpmeet, doing much important missionary work, especially for the sick and poor among the native Christians. To all the Christian converts in the various fields of labor in which her husband was engaged she was almost a mother; to all the younger missionaries she was a warmhearted and helpful adviser. Two of her children, Rev. E. O. Stevens and Mrs. Smith are still engaged in the missionary work, while Rev. Sumner W. Stevens is pastor of the Blockley Baptist Church, Philadelphia, and a daughter has for many years been engaged in religious work in this country as the wife of Rev. W. H. Spencer, D.D., for twenty years pastor of the Baptist church in Waterville, Me. Her children rise up and call her blessed, and all her missionary associates as well as the native Christians in Burma and multitudes of friends in this country join in testimony of appreciation and love.

Mrs. John Packer, of Meiktila, Burma, was called to her heavenly reward on Dec. 19, 1898. She was the daughter of Rev. Robert E. Pattison, D.D., widely and favorably known among American Baptists as occupying many important positions in educational institutions from 1841 until his death. Mrs. Packer was greatly favored in her mental endowments, and during her husband's presidency of the Rangoon Baptist College she was his most efficient and active associate assistant, filling the place of a full professor in the institution. Together they founded the mission work in Meiktila, the military sanitarium of Upper Burma, and here she devoted herself with no less zeal and success to educational work among the women and children and to evangelistic services. In her removal the Baptist mission in Burma loses one of its most earnest, able and useful members.

Rev. Charles B. Glenesk died in Aberdeen, Scotland, Feb. 25, 1899. Mr. Glenesk was a member of the Livingstone Inland Mission on the Congo when that work was adopted by the Missionary Union in 1884, and served continuously and faithfully in the mission to the close of his life. His chief labors were given to the care and management of the mission steamer "Henry Reed " on the Upper Congo, for which work he had special fitness both by training and natural aptitude. It is a striking fact that of the nine men who came over from the Livingstone Inland Mission in 1884 to remain permanently with the Missionary Union, Mr. Glenesk is the first to be called away.

Rev. T. H. Burhoe died at Greenville, Mass., Oct. 8, 1898. Mr. Burhoe was a native of Prince Edward Island, and a graduate of Newton Theological Institution in 1893. His missionary services were chiefly at Mandalay, in Burma, but after a service of about two years he was obliged to return to this country on account of the failure of his health. Entering upon pastoral labors he served the cause of Christ and the missions in the churches to the utmost limits of his strength, but finally passed away from the effects of the fever contracted during his missionary service in Burma. Mr. Burhoe was a man of earnest and devoted Christian character, highly esteemed by all his associates in the mission in Burma as well as

Miss M. E. Magee was appointed a missionary of the Union Dec. 31, 1894, having graduated from the Baptist Missionary Training School of Chicago. During her voyage to Swatow, China, the contemplated field of her labor, she experienced a fall which resulted in permanent injury, and to the deep regret of herself and her friends as well as the officers of the Union, speedily compelled the termination of her missionary services. She was obliged to return to America after about a year's stay at Swatow, and after two years of weakness and suffering in California release was given her and she was received into the joyful presence of her Savior.

Mrs. Lydia L. Simons died in Brooklyn, N. Y., Nov. 29, 1898. As Miss Lydia Lillybridge she went to Burma in 1846 and became identified with the famous mission circle at Moulmein. She was married to Rev. Thomas Simons of Prome, May 13, 1851, but her missionary service was especially in connection with the Morton Lane Girls' School at Moulmein. At Prome she and her husband were associated with Rev. Eugenio Kincaid, one of the notable figures of our earlier missionary times. In 1874 she was compelled to return to America, and during her absence Mr. Simons died suddenly of cholera at Prome. Mrs. Simons never returned to Burma, but during all the years of her residence in this country continued her deep and earnest interest in the missionary work.

It seems proper in this connection to refer to the death of Mrs. H. Grattan Guinness, who was the first secretary of the Livingstone Inland Mission, now the Congo Mission of the American Baptist Missionary Union. Among those who enjoyed her acquaintance, Mrs. Guinness was recognized as one of the ablest women of this century as well as a Christian of remarkable devotion and simplicity and earnestness of character. In association with her husband, the Missionary Training College at Harley House, East London, with its branch in Derbyshire, was founded and has been carried on. Hundreds of missionaries connected with various societies have gone forth from this college and are now laboring in all parts of the world. The impress of her strong mental ability and devoted character will long be felt by the missionaries in nearly all the fields occupied by Christian missions.

The first meeting of the Executive Committee for the current year was held on June 6, 1898, when a reorganization was effected by the reëlection of Rev. Henry M. King, D.D. as Chairman, and Rev. E. F. Merriam as Recording Secretary. Having accepted the Presidency of Colgate University, Hamilton, N. Y., Rev. George E. Merrill, D.D. resigned as a member of the committee in February, the vacancy thus made being filled by the election of Rev. Edgar Y. Mullins, D.D., of Newton Centre.

The gratifying advance of The Baptist Missionary Magazine in the favor of our people has continued, the increase in the circulation amounting to more than fortythree per cent. The magazine is an important factor in bringing the work of the missions before the members of the churches, and should be still more generally circulated among them. No efforts will be spared to promote this end, and the aid of pastors and others is earnestly solicited in forming a club for The Magazine in every Baptist church on the home field of the Society.