tle girl crying over her binding, and, having already come across some of our tracts, felt himself moved to write a better one." This appeal, signed by himself and five of his literary friends, was found posted on the city gate. A copy was taken by a missionary and sent to the Chungking committee. Its value was immediately recognized, being the production of a Chinese scholar in no way connected with the ofttime despised foreigner. Tens of thousands of copies were printed and distributed all over the west and sent to Shanghai, whence it found its way

East, and on behalf of 15,000 women of the International Union of Europe and America." This, however, bore no immediate result, except that the emperor was said to have approved of it. The time was not ripe for an imperial edict.

In all, during the nine years of the society's existence, over 400,000 tracts have been sent out from headquarters in Shanghai, and have penetrated to nearly every corner of China. Additional tracts have been printed in other centers, such as Chen-tu, Chungking, and Si-ngan-fu. The so

ciety now prints twenty-five leaflets, including the now famous edict issued by the empress dowager, and the anti-foot-binding pledge, and Dr.

throne, has not had very much effect upon the purely Chinese custom.

The society's pledge is printed on red paper, and reads thus:

Natural-foot Society

A firm and natural walk. My body, hair, and skin were received from my parents. As my body came to me complete, so it shall return complete. I dare not injure or destroy it.

Pledge: Gladly I enter the Tien Tsu Hwei (Natural-foot Society). I wish to be free from the pain of a lifetime.

I also promise to do my best to persuade my relations and neighbors, all of them, as virtuous women, to preserve the entire body from mutilation."

In some places shoe competitions were held, and prizes offered for the most practical and beautful shoe.

THE IMPERIAL EDICT AGAINST FOOT-BINDING

Timothy Richard's "Roentgen Rays Tract."

The imperial edict reads as follows:

Decree of empress dowager, abolishing the old law prohibiting intermarriage between Chinese and Manchus. Also as the custom of foot-binding among Chinese women is injurious to the health, the gentry and notables of Chinese descent are commended earnestly to exhort their families and all who come under their influence to abstain henceforth from that evil practise, and by these means gradually abolish the custom forever.

Not a very strong edict; a recommendation rather than a prohibition, which, coming from a Manchu source, the usurpers of the Chinese

AN ANTI-FOOT-BINDING TRACT This pictures the disadvantages of foot-binding, in that small-footed women can not escape from fire and flood

The most popular shoe now is a plain black satin or cotton slipper with leather soles.

The Present Outlook

A sentiment in favor of natural feet is beginnig to pervade all classes of society. The old stereotyped phrase, "It is our custom," is passing into oblivion; instead the ear is becoming familiar with a new one: "Chan chioh puh hsin" (Bound feet are not the

ILLUSTRATION FROM A ROENTGEN RAY TRACT

fashion). All freely acknowledge that Chinese woman suffers from three evils: illiteracy, foot-binding, and too close confinement at home. Foot-binding is slowly but surely passing away. The ancient custom is doomed. It is, perhaps, not too optimistic to say that in a large majority of the better-class homes the younger daughters and granddaughters are growing up with natural feet, and many of the older girls whose feet were already bound before the wave of reform struck them are doing what they can in loosening bandages and encouraging their feet to grow. The common people, as in all reforms, follow more slowly, but if "as the wind blows, so the grass bends," it is not perhaps too much. to hope that in another ten years even the common people will have discarded the old custom and fallen into line with the leaders of reform.

The crusade against foot-binding

has lately received great momentum through the hearty sympathy and active cooperation of the higher officials, among whom may be mentioned the Governor of Shantung, the viceroys of Chih-li and Sze-chuan, Hupeh, and Hunan. Literary leaders have taken it up, and Mohammedans have fallen into line. Everywhere, "east and south, west and north," the reform meets with response, and ere many years more we shall speak of the "lily foot" as a thing of the past, and relegate it to the realm of ancient Chinese curios! God speed the day!

A Christian Chinese, who was sent to the World's Fair at St. Louis, has returned to his native city of Hangchow, and is now giving the people his impressions of the fair, and especially of the Chinese exhibit. He deprecated the fact that so prominent a part of the exhibit consist of things which are a disgrace to China, foot

lines no longer desires a girl with "lily feet."

The progress of the reform movement in some places has been nothing short of marvelous: eight hundred women in one city unbound their feet in one month, and, as an inducement to lead others to follow their example, their names were posted up on the Yamen gate!

A rather peculiar development of the natural foot reform is the opening of schools directly under the management of local societies. One such was opened in Chungking, with the daughter of an official at the head. who herself wrote a tract against the evil custom. Within a few months another school has been opened by the Shanghai society.

Truly, we are living in a time of marvelous opportunity. The very atmosphere is pregnant with reform. The crusade against foot-binding is but one expression of the fermentation that is at work in the hitherto inert Chinese race. Educational reform is another-a slow but sure breaking away from the old standards and methods and customs, and a reaching out after the things of modern times.

A Chinese lady said yesterday: "If we could only go out and walk, and not always have to be carried in a closed sedan!” One can safely prophesy that the time is not far distant when such as she will surely have all the freedom now enjoyed by her more favored sister from the West.

The subject of practical unity, both of doctrine and of effort between the different branches of Christ's Church militant, in all lands where the Cross has been planted, as a center of faith and a signal of advance, is attracting, if not absorbing, so much. attention that, like Banquo's ghost, it will not "down" at any one's bidding.

ex

It seems wise, therefore, to put, side by side, for comparison, the pressed opinions of conspicuous leaders in Christian thought and Christian movements, philanthropic and missionary in character; and so gather

suggestions as to both the possibilities and limitations of such federated union.

Tho the whole world is "the field" for our occupation and tillage, it is quite possible that conditions may so vary in the home section and the foreign as to make what is desirable. and possible in one, undesirable or impracticable in the other. Hence we give as ample space as our necessary limits allow for the expression of the convictions of various writers upon either or both departments of Church. enterprise and activity.

FEDERATION ON THE FOREIGN
FIELD

BISHOP J. M. THOBURN, OF INDIA

A few years ago there was witnessed in China an extraordinary spectacle which for a time absorbed the attention of the world. Five small armies, each representing a European power, with one body of Japanese and one of American troops, had assembled to go to the relief of the imperiled foreigners in Peking. Seven nations were represented, but the force was not large, and the task was beset with difficulties and dangers of many kinds. Success was by no means certain, and the whole civilized world looked on with painful suspense. Could the soldiers reach Peking? If they did, could they force an entry and rescue the men and women who were watching and praying for their speedy coming. What line of march should they take? What plans should they adopt to force an entry? How create and maintain a commissariat? A dozen questions, all painfully practical, were discussed, not only on the spot, but all over Europe and America. This little force must be wisely directed, and every possible resource used promptly and courageously.

In this crisis one thought suggested itself to every soldier and observer, as if all were moved by a common instinct. There must be one supreme leader. Organization must provide against disorder, and make possible effective action. The chief commander was selected, alignments made, a line of march chosen, and the little force so directed that in a few weeks it began to be realized in the

East that the Western world was moving against the Chinese empire.

In that same China there is going on at the present hour, another, and greater, contest between the agencies of light and of darkness. Here and there may be found a little band of disciples, representing the world's Savior, striving to overthrow the reign of righteousness and peace. The powers of evil, and to bring in the outer world takes little note of this contest, but, to every man of vision, it represents itself clearly as one of the most momentous struggles which has ever challenged the courage and faith of the Christian world. Not only China and all Asia, but indeed the whole non-Christian world, is concerned. The invaders are very few-one to every four hundred thousand of the opposing host-and can not afford to neglect the slightest advantage. What can strengthen their position, what do they need in the way of organization? What will invigorate them with new life, inspire them with courage, increase their faith, and hasten their assured triumph? These questions suggest their Own answer united effort, concerted action, a common host to represent a common cause.

No one will misunderstand these terms. Of course, I do not mean that the missionaries shall all assemble at a single point, unite in a single organization or church, or employ the same methods. The seven militant powers which were represented in the march on Peking did not waste any time in talking of political union. As nations, they reserved their rights and responsibilities, but, on the field, they united and