verts, whom they see subjected to a victorious race; and for a time the minds of the Koreans are too distracted and their poverty too severe to lead them to give as much attention as usual to religion.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN BOLIVIA

When, in 1825, this South American State became a republic, the second article of the Constitution read as follows: "The State recognizes and maintains the Roman Catholic Apostolic Religion, and prohibits all other public worship, except in colonial parts, where there will be toleration."

No change has been made since, until a few weeks ago, by a large majority in both houses, a new article became law, which reads: "The State recognizes and maintains the Roman Catholic Apostolic Religion, permitting liberty of worship." Therefore, for the future, the Gospel is to have legally free course.

MORMON DEFEAT AT HOME The November elections brought defeat to a host of evil-doers, but probably nowhere was the result more surprising and significant than in the capital city of Mormondom, where not only was an anti-Mormon mayor chosen, but out of 22 candidates on the city ticket only 2 were Mormons, and those were free from the control of the Mormon hiearchy. But not only here were the "Gentiles" found to be in the majority, but in Salt Lake County, which contains one-fourth of the State's population. The recent opening of new mines and railroads. goes far to explain the phenomenon. So near are the anti-Mormon forces to a majority that it is thought they need only 25,000 more votes to get entire control of the State.

THE CHURCH CRISIS IN JAPAN In Japan restiveness under foreign tutelage is represented to be a special lage is represented to be a special characteristic of the churches of Japan to-day. In the Presbyterian group of churches there is a party of aspiration which holds that no native church should be dependent on a foreign missionary body. Any church that so depends on foreigners should be refused recognition in the councils of the denominations, just as a child would be refused recognition. This party does not claim that foreign clergy should withdraw. Missionaries are welcome to render any amount of personal and unofficial aid in evangelization. But. as citizens of Japan, church-members ought to feel it an unworthy act to accept help in anything which they can The foreigner should cease to be a conspicuous factor in the life of the native Church.

do for themselves.

A REVIEW AND A PREVIEW

No

"Our God is marching on." one can doubt this who has watched the remarkable signs of progress throughout the world in the year of our Lord 1905. The political life of the nations has been marked by such events as the separation of Church and State in France, the wresting of Manchuria and Korea from Russian rule, the reform edicts in China, the manifesto of civil and religious liberty from the Czar, the further opening of the interior of Africa by railroads and the telegraph, and the agitation for reforms in the administration of the Kongo State.

In the religious and missionary world, practically tho not always theoretically linked with the commercial and political developments, there have

been still more abundant signs of life. Revivals, awakenings have been reported from all quarters of the globe not only in the United States, Wales, England and Germany, but in many parts of India and Burma, China, Africa, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Madagascar, and elsewhere. May this wave of pentecostal power spread, and may the new-born souls be fed and strengthened with the Bread of Life.

Union movements have likewise characterized the year. Not only has there been the great Inter-Church Federation Conference in New York, but there have been still more momentous steps toward interdenominational union and cooperation in Korea, China, India, the Philippines. sionaries are becoming convinced of the discredit cast on the cause of Christ by an apparently divided body, and are advocating union hymnals, à common name for Christian churches and chapels, and cooperation in literary, medical, and educational work.

Mis

Native churches are advancing toward independence, especially in Japan, Korea, Siam, and Burma, and this includes self-support, self-government, and self-propagation. Industrial training is also receiving more emphasis in mission schools as a means of developing character and preparing for a strong self-supporting Church.

Noble leaders of the Lord's hosts have been called from the heat of battle, but the ranks are being filled with new recruits-200 from America last year, and as many more from England. The missionary interest at home is being awakened and stimulated by Forward Movements among Churches and Young People, Student Volunteers, Women's United Study Classes,

and Men's

Missionary Leagues.

Enough has been accomplished for thanksgiving and encouragement, but not for self-gratulation or cessation of strenuous endeavor to reach Divine ideals.

The coming year offers great possibilities of victory for those who have courage to follow the Captain of the Lord's hosts. No one can prophesy what momentous changes may take place in Russia and China, but the indications are that the doors are to be opened wide to the Gospel. Africa is daily becoming more accessible and South America is throwing off the shackles of ignorance and superstition.

The great battles before the Church are with the rejuvenated and expurgated religions of the East, such as the Buddhism of Japan-with the degenerated forms of Christianity—such as the Romanism of Spanish America-the dwarfed and stifled religion of modern Israel, and with the great, half human, monster of the Orient-Islam. The conquest of these opponents to the simple religion of Jesus Christ will require the united prayers, the united devotion, and the united efforts of a united Church.

There are now few lands that are closed to the Gospel. Tibet, Afghanistan, Russia, Siberia, Annam, and some smaller regions forbid the right of residence to Protestant missionaries, and others, such as the Kongo State, some Spanish American countries and Moslem territories, hamper the work with every conceivable form of opposition, but the Word of God finds its way into even the most inaccessible corners of the earth, and the day is dawning where darkness has ruled.

"Let us not forget," says an eminent

European missionary leader, "that it is the same hand which directs the destiny of the world and the advance of the Kingdom of God; all things serve our Master; to-day, as in all time, the events of history can only prepare the way of the Kingdom of God."

One

In the story of the nations recorded by the Old Testament writers this one truth dominates everything. Every believer recognizes in it the determined swing of a Mighty Arm preparing a place for the Christ. Western paganism fell when Christ came, because it was overthrown by God. The eastern part of Asia now contains one-half of the pagan population of the globe. Japan, Korea, and China, three countries whose names are on every lip, ten years ago were at odds, each moved by separate aims and ambitions, altho akin in race, language, and religion-or irreligion. stormy decade has passed, and these three members of one family are seen to be bound together in destiny, for better or for worse. They themselves know it. The meaning to the world of this stupendous change has yet to be unveiled. But it is significant that the fire which has fused the destiny of these nations did not spring from the well-intended platitudes of Confucius, dear to them all, or from the ex post facto wisdom of the modern Buddhist commentators, whom all alike have learned to value as a possible stay against the uncompromising, demands of Jesus of Nazareth The fire of fusion has burst forth spontane

ously through friction of events compelling the nations of the Far East to see their own safety dependent on possession of the knowledge and wisdom of Christendom. The union of onehalf of the pagans of the world in a groping search for the wisdom that has made Christendom strong is no chance happening. The same hand directs the destiny of the world and the advance of His Kingdom.

Japan

From the very opening of Japan Protestant missionaries have been true friends of government and people, learning the language, as few foreigners do; aiding students to acquire Western languages and Western science; casting their influence in favor of Japanese national aspirations—as, for instance, in the question of suppressing the treaties of extra-territoriality; and they discovered and declared the higher qualities of the nation when powerful leaders of opinion in Europe and America were sneering at Japanese reforms as a trivial effort to ape European customs in politics. and fashions in dress. During the past year, when war and peace had united to establish a cordial sympathy between Western nations and the new power in the Far East, such sympathy was not a new sentiment to the missionaries. The war has formed the atmosphere surrounding all missionary effort in Japan during the year. has brought to missionaries of all denominations congenial labor among soldiers in camp or in hospital, among families left in want, and among of

It

ficials of every grade anxious to anticipate the indications of opinion abroad respecting the terrible conflict. Christianity has lost no ground through the war. If it had, the MiIf it had, the Mikado would not have shown his appreciation of Christian institutions like Mr. Hara's home for discharged convicts, like the Okayama orphanage, and like the Y. M. C. A., that has directly improved the efficiency of the troops in the field.

Any superficial view of the bearing of the war upon the progress of Christianity among the people shows that it was a time for seed-sowing of remarkable extent. Missionaries, men and women, Bible agents, Y. M. C. A. workers, pastors of churches, Christian officers and soldiers in army and navy have all tried to make the teachings of Jesus practically understood among soldiers and civilians alike. The Bible and separate portions of it have been widely circulated, and, what is more, read as never before. The lack of ideas of God among the people has prepared them in a time of stress to listen to teachings which offer a promise that he who seeks shall find Him. Moreover, the hundreds of thousands of soldiers to whom Christians have been kind in the name of Jesus will carry some ideas of Christian truth and some fragments of Scripture to many out-of-the-way towns and villages where, before this, nothing but execration has been heard of Christ.

There are about 5,500 more native Christians this year than last to lend. a hand in this work; the cooperation of missions of different denominations is more complete and influential than ever, the native churches are inclined to recognize their own responsibility

for initiative as Japanese Christians. The number of Christian periodicals is steadily increasing; the volume of voices demanding a higher standard of morality is greater. Furthermore, Christianity, and not Shintoism or Buddhism, will finally profit by the fact that the common people of Japan are more fully perceiving the value of that individual equality of rights and opportunities which is the dominant note of modern Japanese progress. In thirty years the proportion of Japanese children of school age who are actually in school has risen from 29 per cent. to 93.23 per cent. The mass of the nation is to be composed of people who have ideas, and of these ideas the most stimulating are to be drawn from Christian sources. When summing up the circumstances and new tendencies which favor the spread of Christian truth we are bound to note at the same time a vast extension of the influence of Japan upon China and Korea. The coincidence can not be called by any Christian a chance. The Ruler who directs these tendencies is making ready for an advance of His Kingdom.

Korea

During 1904 about 50 adult pagans were baptized every week in Korea. The whole number of adult Christians connected with the different Protestant missions was a little over 16,000, representing a Christian community of some 50,000 souls. Two traits are characteristic of the Church in Korea. The church-members in large proportion show initiative in evangelizing their neighbors; they also show a serious determination in Bible study, so that the Bible class is a fruitful method of evangelization. If the Japanese is a lively and hair-splitting critic of

doctrine, the Korean is a born reader and student. So the Bible is being circulated with increasing influence, and the Korean Religious Tract Society finds it impossible to keep a full stock of its own publications in hand. It sells at a low rate, to be sure, but it marvels that during the past year it has sold out an edition of 10,000 copies of some of its books, and an edition of 100,000 of some of its leaflet tracts. If it had capital enough to begin to print a new book before selling out previous issues, its circulation would be far greater. Perhaps in no other country is there so large a proportion of conversions by reading a Gospel or a tract without oral instruction from any man. The missions in Korea are steadily attaining a more complete cooperation, and they are even preparing for actual organic union of denominations. Denominational differences are deemed impertinent when they impede efficiency in use of existing means.

Korea lay last year between the upper and nether millstones. The only patriotism that rebelled against this unendurable situation was the patriotism of the nobility, which is on a par with that of the boss in city politics, and demands to be let alone lest the shearing of the lambs of the flock be interrupted. Destruction of national life impended, for one of the causes of the war with Japan was Russia's persistence in claiming supreme control of half of the country. One of the surprises of this wonderful year is the arrangement by which national existence is secured to Korea, while the tutelage of Japan will defend the people from the oppressions of their own officials. Here, again, the change of situation shows all things working together in a way that favors the dis

semination of Christian teachings. This result does not spring from carefully laid plans, it is not a chance; it can only be regarded by the believer with awe. If the Church of Christ can only know in this its day what this means, we may see a Christian Korea influencing both Japan and China.

China

Notwithstanding the vastness of the population of China one has to speak of it in this place as if it were a unit no greater than the United States. China is preparing to assert its own rights. This is the political message which comes thence to all Christendom. China, for the moment, is ready to be taught anything by any foreigner. This is the pregnant sociological message now beginning to come from it to the Christian Church. People in the home land do not yet grasp the meaning of such a situation. On hearing that Chinese are boycotting whatever is American, and that a mob in Kwangtung has murdered five American missionaries while these words are being written, many will say that, whatever optimists may imagine, it is the same old China. It is the same old China. It will remain so for a long time to come, with many a folly of quarrels with Japan, many a reaction, and many a ferocious outburst of the ignorant populace. Yet the fact remains that leaders of opinion in China know now that they know almost nothing of value. So they are asking every chance passer-by for instruction. Foreigners who can give instruction to educated Chinese are almost exclusively missionaries. For they have not shrunk from long and patient study of the language that now gives them them influence. The