W anted A Great Missionary."— Dr. Whitsitt, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, in reply to a question as to what is needed to arouse a deeper interest in missions, replied: "A Great Missionary." The force of this strikes the mind at once. But Miss Heck, President of the Woman's Mission Union of the Southern Baptist Convention, writes to The Foreign Mission Journal: "May it not be that we have great missionaries, and are failing to appreciate them? They do not write much of themselves and their work. We do not know until they die what others think of them." The modern spirit is impressed with externals and carried away by bluster. We doubt if it would have been greatly moved by Dr. Judson himself. In his visit to this country in 1845-7 he could hardly speak aloud, and his few remarks needed to be repeated by another in order that the audience should hear. But the whole Baptist constituency was mightily stirred. We have often been saddened at the annual meetings of the Union by the lack of appreciation of missionaries who should be highly honored for their sacrifices and successes in their work, but were heard with indifference because of their modesty and want of power in public speech. We have as grand missionaries today as were ever in the foreign missions of American Baptists. Not all may be able to make eloquent, witty and captivating addresses at an anniversary, but let us honor them for what they are, and be moved by what they do.

"The National Church of India" is the title of a movement for unifying and strengthening Christianity in India under strictly native auspices. It was started twelve years ago, with headquarters in Madras, but has not shown that strength which has characterized similar movements in Japan. This is probably largely due to the diversity which exists among the people of India. Apparently, also, the movement has not gained the confidence and sympathy of the missionaries. This was somewhat the case in Japan, but the National Church movement there prospered in spite of the opposition or indifference of the missionaries, and gained so much strength they were obliged to acquiesce as gracefully as possible. A speaker at the Twelfth Anniversary of the National Church of India acknowledges the indebtedness of India to the foreign missionary societies, and inquires: "How long are we going to continue to be a burden on them? Has not the time come for the hundreds of native Christians who have the learning and talents, to put forth their energy and unite themselves for the good of their countrymen who are still outside the influence of the Christian religion?" We presume there are good reasons why this movement as at present conducted does not have the sympathy of the missionaries, but a strong native movement, under proper auspices, would seem to be eminently worthy of every encouragement.

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Text for Missionaries. "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him." (2 Chron. xvi. 9.) What more do you want, dear brethren and sisters laboring in loneliness and trial among the heathen? The Lord God Almighty is carefully looking all over the whole world to find places where his strength is needed on the side of those who are engaged in his service. He is

The death of Mrs. John Packer of Meiktila, Nov. 21, 1898, removes from the Baptist

missions in Burma one of its brightest and most useful members. Mrs. Packer was a daughter of Rev. Robert E. Pattison, D.D., who successively and ably filled the important positions of Home Secretary of the American Baptist Missionary Union (1841-1845), President of the Western Baptist Theological Institute at Lexington, Ky., Professor in Newton Theological Institution, President of Waterville College, Professor of Theology in Shurtleff College, Alton, Ill., and in the Union Baptist Theological Seminary, now the Divinity School of the University of Chicago. Mrs. Packer inherited much of her father's mental ability and earnest and energetic temperament. It was during her father's professorship at Shurtleff that she met Mr. Packer, who after his graduation in 1872 was appointed President of the Baptist College in Rangoon, Burma, under the patronage of the Missionary Union. Here Mrs. Packer's strong mental powers found a full field, and her labors could not have been surpassed in activity and usefulness if she had occupied a position as full professor in the college. Here she labored with her husband, Dr. Packer, for the larger part of her missionary service. After their visit to America in 1887-9 they removed to Meiktila, the military sanitarium of Upper Burma, to open missionary work among the Burmans in that rapidly growing place. Although in a different field, the closing years of Mrs. Packer's life were hardly less active than the earlier service. She gathered a school in which the Burman children were brought into contact with Christian truth, and her labors among the Burman women were continuous as opportunity offered. The telegram announcing her death was entirely unexpected, as no previous information of her illness had been received. To the bereaved husband, to the daughters in Chicago, and to the wide circle of friends we extend our sincere sympathy in their sorrow.

The

The Sunday-school Lesson for Jan. 1 furnishes a grand missionary text by adopting an alternative reading of the Revision of 1881. The authorized version of John i. 5 reads: "And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not." The revisers say we may read "overcame " in the place of "comprehended." By this change, instead of a note of discouragement at the failure of the world to receive the gospel, the text becomes a shout of victory. The light shineth in the darkness, and the darkness, however dense and appalling, does not and can not overcome the light. The light of the gospel of Christ shall dispel the darkness of sin. This is more in tone with the scripture elsewhere than the old reading. "Where sin abounded grace did much more abound." Rom. v. 20. The light will overcome the darkness wherever it goes. Hasten, then, to "SEND OUT THE Light."

The The Election of Rev. George E. Merrill, D.D., of Newton, Mass., as President of Colgate University, removes from the vicinity of Boston one of the most esteemed and useful members of the Executive Committee of the American Baptist Missionary Union. His departure is regretted by his associates in the work of the missions, and his counsels will be missed. We congratulate Colgate on the acquisition of one so admirably fitted to lead in the work and influence of the University.

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issions to the Jews. If we were called upon to preach a sermon on missions to the Jews we should select as a text Romans xi. verses 30, 31. After his magnificent argument with the Jews, in showing that Christ is the end of the law and that the Jewish ritual was merged into Christian rites and righteousness, the apostle addresses himself to the Gentiles, beginning with the eleventh verse of the eleventh chapter, and sums up his appeal to them for their efforts on behalf of the recreant Jews in these two verses. Since the Jews, he says, rejected Christ and his gospel, the apostles turned to the Gentiles and preached the gospel, whereby salvation has come to them. Now every argument of gratitude and even fairmindedness requires that the Gentiles who have been saved should turn about and preach the gospel to the Jews, in order that they also may be saved and so all included under the gospel of grace. It is a powerful and conclusive course of reasoning for a large and generous effort by Christians for the salvation of the Jewish nation as a whole.

The Fundamental Principle of Missions is strikingly set forth in the Sunday-school Lesson for Jan. 8. Jesus calls Andrew, and the first thing Andrew did was to go and find his own brother Simon and bring him to Jesus. The position of the word protos (first) plainly implies that the "other disciple" (John) did the same thing as Andrew; that is John also went and found his own brother, James. Afterward Jesus says to Philip, "Follow me," and Philip's first act was to go and find Nathanael and invite him to come to Jesus. The spirit of following Jesus is expressed in the word "Go." Go find some one else and bring him to Jesus. "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."

DESTROYED BY THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE OF JUNE 12, 1897. THE BUILDING IN

THE HOUSE IN FRONT IS THE GIRLS' SCHOOL WHICH WITHSTOOD THE EARTHQUAKE. THE DWELLING IN THE REAR WAS DESTROYED

THE GOOD OF AN EARTHQUAKE

REV. C. E. BURDETTE, GAUHATI, ASSAM