In an ancient Lectionary recently found, the words of Jsaiah ir., 7: "Of the increase of his government... shall be no end" read "his kingdom hath no Frontier."

MISSION

VOL. LXXX

Missionary
Magazine

OCTOBER, 1900

Latest from the missions in China

No. 10

NO telegrams have been received direct from the missions of the American Baptist Missionary Union in China later than those noted in the September number of this MAGAZINE. These bring later news than any letters which have come to hand at the time of writing this. However, Rev. Thomas D. Holmes, of Kinhwa, and Rev. Cyril E. Bousfield, of Shaohing, with their families, arrived at San Francisco August 28. Their arrival being expected, the editor wrote to Rev. James Sunderland, D. D., District Secretary of the Union for the Pacific Coast, asking him to send the MAGAZINE a full telegram, giving all information Messrs. Holmes and Bousfield might have regarding our missions in China, especially asking if any news had been received from the missionaries in Western China, from whom nothing had been heard at the Mission Rooms. Dr. Sunderland sent a very full despatch on August 29, stating that Messrs. Bousfield and Holmes had reached San Francisco; that Rev. J. R. Goddard, D. D., and Rev. J. S. Grant, M. D., and wife, of Ningpo, were at Shanghai; also Rev. W. S. Sweet, of Hangchau, Rev. J. T. Proctor and family, of Huchau, Miss Stella Relyea, Miss La Verne Minniss, of Kinhwa, and Miss Annie L. Crowl, of Hanyang. A house had been taken at Shanghai for the convenience of this party of missionaries, who there await further developments. Mrs. Sweet is at Nagasaki, Japan. Rev. G. A. Huntley, M. D., and family, of Hanyang, Rev. M. D. Eubank, M. D., and family, of Huchau, and Miss Helen L. Corbin, of Ningpo, are at Arima, Japan. At Chofu, Japan, are Mrs. J. R. Goddard and Miss Anna K. Goddard, of Ningpo, and Miss Clara E. Righter, of Kinhwa. As before noted, Mrs. Anna K. Scott, M. D., Miss Mary K. Scott and Miss Edith Wilkinson, of Swatow, China, are at Kobe, Japan. Perhaps the most interesting item in Dr. Sunderland's telegram is the information that all the missionaries of the Union in Western China had started from the coast, and that the party had been heard from near Chungking. The property of the Eastern China Mission is reported as safe, of course with the exception of the partial destruction of Mr. Holmes's house at Kinhwa, heretofore reported.

No further telegram has been received from Swatow, but on July 15 all the missionaries of the Southern China Mission were gathered at Swatow for

safety. An Associated Press despatch, printed August 24, states that "the streets of Swatow had been cleared by marines from the French gunboat 'Comet,' who relieved the besieged priests." From this it appears that there was trouble in the city of Swatow. Our Baptist mission premises, however, are at Kak Chieh, one mile across the bay south from Swatow.

Summing up as a whole, all our missionaries in China are reported safe. The party from Western China, who were on their way down the Yangtse to the coast, have arrived safely at Shanghai, according to a later despatch received just before going to press. So far as known at present, the only loss of property to the Missionary Union or its missionaries is the destruction of the mission premises at Ungkung in the South China Mission, with four outstations, and one out-station from Kityang; also the partial destruction of the house of Rev. T. D. Holmes, at Kinhwa, with a loss of nearly all their property by the missionaries at that station. All the mission stations of the American Baptist Missionary Union in China have been abandoned by the missionaries with the exception of Swatow. We rejoice that the servants of Christ have taken measures for their safety, and trust that the time may not be long when they can resume their labors for China under more favorable auspices than ever before.

"Perils

erils Among the Heathen." The letter from Rev. C. E. Bousfield, telling of the escape of himself and his companions from the mob of Chinese at Kinhwa, will be read with deep interest. Certainly there is great reason for thankfulness that our missionaries were delivered by the good hand of our God. The letter also shows how unjust is an indiscriminate condemnation of the Chinese for the present troubles. No one could have acted more nobly than the magistrate of Kinhwa, and to his friendly aid our missionaries are indebted for the preservation of their lives. This attitude has been common among the officials of Central and Southern China. The Viceroys in the Yangtse Valley all refused to afford aid to the government at Peking, and to them and their subordinates is due the fact that the disturbances in North China have not spread throughout the empire. Viceroy Chang Chih Tung, of Wuchang, in control of the provinces of Hunan and Hupeh, merits special mention for preserving order at the important centre at Hankow, which has the greatest concentration of population in Central China.

The Death of Mrs. A. J. Parker at Dibrugarh, Assam, brings great sorrow to many friends in America, as well as to the missionary company, already too small, in Assam. As Miss Alberta Sumner of Ottumwa, Iowa, she was ap pointed a missionary May 4, 1896, to be supported by the Woman's Society of the West, and labored for several years at Nowgong, Assam, where she was married to Rev. A. J. Parker, September 8, 1898. Mrs. Parker's cheerful. hopeful, happy temper endeared her to every one who knew her in the home land or on the mission field, and marked her out as one specially fitted for unusual usefulness in missionary work. These expectations were realized even in the few years of her service in Assam. She won the hearts of the natives as of her missionary associates, and led them to her Savior. In her early death the missions in Assam are bereaved of a life most promising of usefulness. We extend our earnest and sincere sympathy to the bereaved husband, to the afflicted parents in Iowa, and to all her numerous friends. We are one with them in sorrow at this early close of so bright a career.