a rule, their fields of service are in most cases fixed before graduation. The instruction in the school aims high. Various branches are pursued for the purpose of training and education and in order to open the paths to the original languages of the Word. But the aim is vastly higher, nothing less than to know the mind and the will of God in Christ. And it is wonderful how the vista enlarges and the heights come in sight from above and the depths come in sight from below, as one sits at Christ's feet listening and receiving, giving to the work copious prayers, heart cries, and intense application of mind, and all in order to do the will of God more humbly and more perfectly and to preach the way of salvation as it is revealed through Christ and given us in Holy Scripture. How systems and philosophies lose their charm and come to naught in the light from above that thus comes to one. This is what the instruction in our seminary aims at, which aim we daily hold before our eyes in the sight and in the fear of God.

Closing Words.-During the late Christmas vacation the students of our seminary were greatly blessed in the work then in hand. On the various fields where they were preaching the Spirit of God bore witness to the truth and made it the means of leading many to Christ. The Week of Prayer, followed by many weeks of prayer, has brought with it seasons of refreshing to large numbers of God's people. And most encouraging reports continue to come in from the churches, telling of the conversion of souls and of additions of believers to the body of Christ by baptism. There is no great awakening anywhere, but the ingathering of souls into the kingdom, though going on in a quieter way, is more general, creating widespread rejoicings and praisegivings upto God.

The mission in Sweden most thankfully acknowledges the aid rendered it by the Missionary Union. The record given above is meant to show that, under God, your assistance is not given in vain. But the record is also meant to show you how greatly we need your aid. This is especially the case as regards the Bethel Seminary. As yet it has no endowment. Nor, looking about among ourselves, do we in the least know where the institution is to get this. The churches are not indifferent to its needs, but they are not able to fill them.

Our earnest and constant prayers are that God may graciously and increasingly listen to your heart's cry, filling all the needs of your society and giving ever enlarging prosperity and success to your worldwide interests consecrated to the building up of Christ's kingdom.

RUSSIA-1887

For the Baptists in Russia the report of last year might be repeated. Suffering from famine has continued among dwellers in Southeastern Russia. According to law the Baptists should be exempt from persecution, and they are to a large degree free from suffering from this cause. But in many instances they are confused with the Stundists by the Greek priests and by the officials and suffer embarrassment thereby. Spiritually the Baptist churches in Russia continue to prosper in a manner which would be inexplicable were it not that we know that a divine power is enlisted

The year under review has ecclesiastically and temporally been one of many changes. Unrest and care, but also blessings, have constantly been shifting.

Politically has the year been one of deep sorrow and distress for this country. Though the dark clouds gathered last year through the manifeso of February 3 by the Czar, have not as yet entirely discharged their contents over us, it has still variously injured the peaceable development of the people, and caused that thousands of our young people have emigrated to other countries. This emigration of the best working powers will be an inestimable injury to a country like this, where the industrial character is based on a hard and urgent agriculture. Evident tokens have been visible that the present "Governor-general Bobrikoff" is also seeking to check the intellectual proficiency, trying if possible to lead this people back to the same slavery of darkness and ignorance as oppresses the Russians. But we trust, however, that the Lord will deliver us. Ecclesiastical.-On this point we have had some inconvenience also. We have not been so happy as in some foregoing years. But during circumstances like these blessings from God are best recognized and appreciated when, through his providence, dangers are averted. Even if the clouds have as yet not entirely disappeared, we dare yet hopefully look up to him, who will lead all things to "work together for good to them that love God." Through the whole, I have still the joy to report that the year gone has been a year with rich blessings in regard to the salvation of sinners. The number of conver sions and baptisms is higher than in any foregoing year. Two hundred and forty-four were baptized, but the great emigration to America makes the net increase to be only seven per cent, that is three per cent less than 1898. The membership on December 31. 1899, was 2,030. Other branches of the work have also grown and continued as usual.

Needs on the Field.-As the doors open more and more for the Gospel there is an increasing need for preachers and pastors to occupy this waste field. It is indeed hard for us to be compelled to act as if the Macedonian call sounded as in deaf ears. We are obliged to answer the most part of these cries with, "We have none to send." This is yet more the fact regarding preachers and workers among our Finnish-speaking people. This people are begging to hear the Gospel-message but we are lacking men to carry it to them; and yet it is our duty to give them the "bread of life." But in order to do this in a more effective manner than hitherto, we must have the power of preaching better cultivated. Our great need here is native evangelists.

Our theological school has certainly served as a guide in the matter, but it is not of that character that it would respond to the needs. We are therefore, as I mentioned in the letter of September 28 last year, arranging to establish a classical college here; and we need not say that we are wanting such an institution. If a seminary for the Baptist mission somewhere is required it is here in Finland. And now is the proper time to begin, while we have the privilege, and while we as dissenters according to present laws have right to do it, and besides are entitled to receive state support for one native teacher. With God and his people, and our own efforts we hope and trust to get this great enterprise put into effect ere long.

Present Views on the field are promising. Good news is coming in from many parts of the field, and sinners are gathered into the Kingdom.

With much gratitude to the Union for the aid rendered to the mission here in the "land of the thousand seas," I close, praying that you will have special consideration for Finland, which in many respects is separate from other European countries and which at present stands in a plastic condition for forming its future character.

DENMARK-1891

Report of Rev. August Broholm:

In the past year the Baptists in Denmark have striven to "lengthen their cords and strengthen their stakes." How far this has been accomplished in the different parts of our missionary work may be seen of the following facts from this year's history: Increase of Membership.-Two hundred and fifty-one were baptized during the year. Deducting our loss by death, exclusion and emigration we had, however, a net increase of 128. This is not as large an increase as we had the previous year (then we baptized 287 and had a net gain of 190). Still we think by comparing with other years that it is a good harvest. The Baptists in Denmark now number 3,906.

Advance in Educational Work.-The year was witness to the opening of our first high school. This undertaking has been planned for years; now it is accomplished. I told about the erection of this building in The Missionary Magazine for September, 1899. Now it may be added that the dedication took place November last and the school has been in progress since then. Thirty-one young men and women are studying this winter. Others of our young people are already planning to attend next year. The pupils pay eight dollars a month for their tuition and board as they do in similar schools in this country. This cannot cover the expense of teachers' salary, etc., and therefore 500 Baptists, scattered all over the country, have agreed to pay three kroner each a year and thus the expenses are met.

It seems that the influence of this school is already felt in the surrounding country. Some of the pupils are from Lutheran families living in the vicinity, although they have a high school of their own not more than two miles distant.

Progress in Chapel Building.-Besides the building of the high school we built a chapel in the church of Logstor. This church has existed thirty-six years, but has hitherto worshipped in private houses. Now it is plain that it was a day of great joy for this people that they were able to dedicate their own chapel to gather in. We have now twenty-eight churches with thirty-nine chapels, some of our big country churches having their members scattered over so large an area that they have two, sometimes three meeting houses.

Interest for the Young.-The statistics show that we have 4,005 children in our Sundayschools. This is a larger number than we have members in our churches and this is reckoned a good standard. But we are not satisfied, as we have become aware of the fact that the number is a little less than the previous year. The reason for this may be that the work for our young people, their societies, etc., which is comparatively new in this country, has been forwarded at the expense of the work among the children. Now this will be altered so that we may "do the one and not leave the other undone."

Willingness in Giving.-The contributions of the churches amounted to 61,792 kroner ($16,700.60), exceeding last year's amount by a few hundred kroner. It shows that our members give liberally to the cause of missions, although the great majority of the Danish Baptists are not a well-to-do people as it has been stated. On the contrary, they are quite poor, as those Americans who have travelled in this country can testify, but everywhere among the poor we find many who "offered willingly to the Lord." (1 Chron. xxix. 9.)

For the work in the future we have no reason to be discouraged, but we pray, however, for more consecration of our people to the cause of the Lord and for larger blessings from on high.

Report of Rev. J. A. Ohrn:

NORWAY-1892

Our statistics are just coming in and before it is too late I want to let you kno something of our circumstances and the work during last year that you may kno something about us before the annual meetings.

Norway has a population of 2,185,000 inhabitants. The Lutheran Church is reco nized as the state church and has been as dead as it was possible to be, but since "Dissenters" begun work the Lutherans have realized that something must be done hold the people. The Baptists of Norway are as yet a small body, but we are not discou aged, although the work is not easy. We enjoy to a certain extent religious liberty a can preach and organize churches anywhere. Different dissenting denominations are work and of these we are the third in strength. We have now 2,671 members divid into 32 churches. These churches are scattered all over this country. Some of them north of the Arctic circle and among the mountains which makes the work difficu We have sixteen brethren who wholly or in part give their time to preaching gospel. Our churches are divided into four associations or according to the natur division of the country. We have thirty chapels valued about $120,000. Last year churches raised 66,858 crowns (or about $18,070) for all purposes, which is more th $6.50 for every member we have. That is quite a sum of money in this country.

The churches in Christiania, Bergen, Trondhjem and Tistedalen have had the larg additions. Those four churches had 168 out of a total of 278 additions during the ye A number of our churches, indeed more than half of them, are without pastors. need money and men. The country is open before us but it is impossible to meet all quests for preaching the Gospel. What we need more than anything now is a gene missionary and what a blessing it would be if some brother or church in America wo appropriate $500 for that work.

Last year has been a year of organization. We must organize for more aggress work. Before this time our two papers with a circulation of about 4,500 has been edi by two men. Other brethren have printed tracts, etc. But we have now called one m to take hold of this work and superintend all our literary publications. He is an a brother from America. He is already in Christiania and will assist Brother Myrland that large city.

Some of our large cities are still without Baptists and we long for the time wh we shall be able to send them a missionary to preach to them the good tidings of j Is it not possible that the appropriation to Norway could be increased about $500 a missionary? We need him both for the churches that do not see a missionary preacher for years and to take up new fields. I hope the Lord will make you able I know you are willing to do this.