THE EFFECT OF THE WAR IN CHINA.
MR. AMENT writes from Pekin under date of May 11:— “As to China, people may talk of great internal reform and a general renovation of the government; but there is no evidence of any change at present. “Personally, I expect no reforms except under compulsion. Things will go on as they have in the past, and the only hope is from a development from within. No sledge-hammer blows from without will break the hold of this empire on the past; but the little plant, truth, working from within, will do this some day. There is a faithful body of people who are working and praying for this end. If there is any growth in China, I am afraid it will be more in the line of military enlargement and a desire to get even with Japan. The war has utterly failed to arouse the nation; in fact, the nation, as a nation, knows nothing about the war, and no lessons can be taught the officials before the people are instructed. The growth must be from the lower strata upwards, as it has been in all lands. Hence I look for a patient continuance in the usual lines of work, being assured that our first duty is to sow the Gospel broadcast and let the truth do its own perfect work. Our great need now is a body of trained native Christians who are alive to the situation.” Mr. Ament speaks of the loss of several promising young men preparing for the ministry, who have from ill health or other reasons been disabled, but he adds:— “We are encouraged at the solidity of our Christian constituency in the city. At both North and South Chapels there are men, all Manchus, who voluntarily help in the preaching work and are regular in their work. The native church, which has supported the native pastor for some years, now takes on a day school, and their contributions were never so large as at present.”—Missionary Herald.