WHAT HINDUISM DOES FOR WOMEN-LEAVES THEM TO STARVE PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND SPIRITUALLY WHAT CHRISTIANITY DOES FOR WOMEN-SOME OF THE GIRLS IN MRS. EDWARD HAINES' CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, BOMBAY FED, CLOTHED, TAUGHT AND LED TO CHRIST DARKNESS AND LIGHT: CONTRASTS IN WOMANHOOD IN INDIA VOL. XXXVI, No. 4 Old Series of the World APRIL, 1913 Signs of the Times PLANS FOR THE FUTURE IN INDIA DR. R. MOTT'S visit to India, as chairman of the Edinburgh Continuation Committee, has been an important event in the history of Protestant missions in that great country. Seven sectional conferences have been held by Dr. Mott, in Colombo, Madras, Bombay, Lahore, Jabalpur, Allahabad and Calcutta. Finally, from the 18th to the 21st of December, a National Conference was held in Calcutta, when sixty prominent Christian workers (ten of them Indians), representatives of the sectional conferences, came together to discuss the missionary problems in India. The entire conference was divided into committees on the following subjects: Survey and occupation, the Indian Church and Indian Christian leadership, mass movements, Christian education, Christian literature, medical missions, women's work, training of missionaries, the European and AngloIndian community, and cooperation. During the sessions the conveners of committees submitted their several reports, which were first read through, and then submitted for frank and full discussion, and revised paragraph by paragraph. Finally, in their revised. VOL. XXVI, No. 4 New Series form the findings of each committee were adopted as findings approved by the conference. One of the most striking resolutions called for a thorough survey of the empire, to show how far Christian agencies are occupying the country for Christ. A committee was appointed for this purpose, and the services of an expert are to be secured for two or three years. The committee on cooperation presented a scheme for the formation of provincial representative councils of missions, to be unified by a national council. To carry out the findings of the conference, where no special committee had been nominated, there was appointed an interim committee of 30 members, with the Bishop of Lahore as chairman. Dr. Mott summed up the meaning of these conferences as the call of God to larger plans, a larger dynamic, and a larger unity.. In his earnest plea for unity, Dr. Mott said: "The most solemnizing word in the New Testament was that which was said of Christ, that He could do no mighty works there because of their unbelief. He was hindered! The limitation not in Himself in the real sense, but a limitation. So let us be especially solicitous as we The editors seek to preserve accuracy and to manifest the spirit of Christ in the pages of this REVIEW, but do not acknowledge responsibility for opinions exprest, nor for positions taken by con tributers of signed articles in these pages.-Editors. labor together in committees and conferences assembled, that these limitations, wherever they may be, may be recognized and overcome, counteracted by the only sufficient power. Let us act cosmopolitanly. Let us act interdenominationally, as the family of God, even tho we may not have seen much of each other as children. Let us find our places quickly in the family and act as a family. Let us act seriously, and let us act as those who have a superhuman God, and therefore as those who are not acting alone." SIGNS OF PROMISE IN INDIA DR. R. J. W. SCUDDER, for many years a missionary in India, reports that India Christians have de during the last three or four decades, amply testifies to this deplorable fact. Thirty or forty years ago there was scarcely a Hindu village in Bengal which had not had its Durga Puja and the gladsome celebrations connected with it. There is now scarcely a village, unless it is a large one, where the sound of the drum, in honor of the ten-handed goddess, is heard. The same remark applies with equal force to the city of Calcutta, where the number of images of the goddess is getting less and less every year; and the time, it is feared, is not distant when even a dozen images may not be forthcoming." A REVIVAL IN SOUTHWEST CHINA AMES R. ADAMS, of the China Inland veloped wonderfully in the last few and Mission at Anshun fu, years, and are advancing steadily. Disregard of caste limitations which was impossible thirty years ago, is becoming common. There is an eagerness after western education and customs, and a restless disbelief in the old gods and relics. Temples are decaying and falling into disuse; there is a drawing together of those who have been at variance or unknown to each other. The birth of the South India United Church, in which the various denominations are being united into one church, is another of the hopeful signs of the times. Heathenism, also, is noticeably on the decline, so that even a native Indian paper shows how thoroughly this is recognized. The Indian Witness, The Indian Witness, of Calcutta, quotes the following from a native paper: "The sad truth need not be concealed that, on the Dusserah day, tho the people of India should rejoice, there is no joy in their hearts. The annual decrease in the number of the images of the goddess Durga J sends cheering tidings of the progress of the revival movement among the Miao tribes in the southwest of China. Last November, at one village after another, he baptized humble believers, till the number reached 337 for the tour. At A-dji-mih, the center of the great spiritual movement among the red-turbaned Miao, thousands are being awakened from their long death in darkness and sin. Mr. Adams writes: "All along the road to-day we were met by different groups who had come out to welcome us. A few miles from the large new Gospel-hall came the evangelists and leaders, and a big crowd had gathered ere we reached the village. "The evangelists from all the new centers came in to discuss the blest campaign. There are five chapel centers in connection with A-dji-mih. At these new Gospel-halls are now being built. There are more than 1,000 "You represent a society which has made its influence felt not only throughout China, but throughout the world. families connected with A-dji-mih, is in position to supply such men so and its branch-halls-say 5,000 people needed by the nation. now under Gospel influences. Everywhere drums, charms and the devildoctor's queer things are being burned. Whisky-drinking is stopt. At A-dji-mih the now disused brothel was pulled down and the materials. used to cook the ox-flesh and other food while we were there. The inquirers teach each other; the men teach their wives, and so on. As soon as a Miao man knows a little of the 'doctrine,' he teaches some other body that little. One would see a group around one man who knew a hymn that the others did not know, or perhaps a portion of Scripture that they had not yet learned. The one who knows a little more than his neighbors willingly becomes their teacher. I was astonished to see how much the knowledge of the Truth had spread among them." YUAN SHIH KAI AND THE Y. M. C. A. ONE NE of the most significant events in the history of China took place on December 12th, when President Yuan Shih Kai tendered a reception in his official residence to the nearly 400 delegates attending the sixth convention of the Young Men's Christian Association of China. This was an official recognition of the service which Christianity has rendered to China, and the place which it holds in the life of the nation to-day. The following is the translation of a portion of the President's address: "In a free government like the Republic of China, all conceivable encouragement should be given for the healthy development of every individual. We require all the good men of the land. The Y. M. C. A. "Your object is the rearing of model citizens. You, my friends, who are members and delegates of the Association from every province of the Republic are examples for the men of every class of society. In energy and spirit you show them the best qualities of manhood. In counsel and experience you will exert the restraining influence of young men. You, my friends, are young men, but you will not be carried away with the hot blood of youth. You are young men, but rich in experience and knowledge. By the help of your guiding light and uplifting influence, millions of young men, well equipped morally, intellectually and physically will be raised in this nation to render loyal service to the Republic in its time of need and lift her to a position that shall add to the civilized world an undying luster." A REVIVAL OF CONFUCIANISM IN ON CHINA N October 7th, the 2,463rd birthday of Confucius was celebrated by the numerous Unions which have lately arisen in China, chiefly for the purpose of keeping the teaching of Confucianism in the curriculum of the Chinese schools. In Shanghai, two great meetings were held. At the one, Confucius was honored by the members of the Union, who are learned men, merchants, and students, according to the ancient rite which demands three genuflexions and nine bowings of the head before his tablet, and is called san-kuei-chiu-tou. After the ceremony, Dr. Tschen-Huan-tschang, endorsement from the Federated Misthe head of all the Unions and the leader in the battle in behalf of the preservation of Confucianism in China, delivered an address. He stated that the religion of Confucius is the foundation of China, and that its removal would mean the complete destruction of the country, and he appealed eloquently to his hearers that they continue to adhere strictly to their ancient religion and labor diligently for its revival. FEDERATED FORCES IN JAPAN THE Twelfth Annual Conference of the Federated Missions in Japan took place on January 8th and 9th in the Ginza Methodist Church, in Tokyo. The principal Protestant missions in Japan, together with the Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A., belong to the federation. The main purpose is united effort along practical lines, such as the preparation of Christian literature, the gathering of united statistics with reference to the supply and demand of missionaries and other workers, so as to cover the entire field of Japan, if possible, and the holding of Bible conferences for Japanese pastors, evangelists and Bible women. No mission has at present more than three members in the conference, and the total number of voting members is 44. At the recent conference, Dr. Wainwright, of the Southern Methodist Mission, was appointed as the first general secretary of the Christian Literature Society of Japan, which has taken the place of the former Literature Committee of the confer sions. A NEW ERA FOR JAPAN THE growth of Christian sentiment throughout Japan is manifest in many ways. There are 25 or more Christian teachers from the United States who are college graduates, and are now teaching in the higher grade government schools. Of their condition and opportunities, Mr. J. E. Donaldson writes that concerning opportunities for Christian work, it is safe. to say that where a little common sense is used, no hindrances of any sort will be encountered. Officially, be construed as help; but privately, the director may do nothing that may he will commend the teacher, and, in not a few cases, become a member of the Bible class. "The principal of one middle school teacher, and told me, in effect, that is looking anxiously for a foreign none but a Christian need apply. In short, the opportunities are limited only by the teacher himself. He can secure as many Bible classes as he has time to conduct; generally he is in the nearest church, and he can disurged to teach a Sunday-school class tribute, if not on the school-ground, in the street and at home, as much Christian literature as he can afford to buy, or his friends will supply. Not infrequently he may sell Bibles to half a class at one time; and he can be ready, at all times, to answer questions about Christianity, when the students or teachers visit him at his home." AN OTTOMAN EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE THROUGH the initiative of Con stantinople College (formerly the American College for Girls), committees were appointed last year in it and |