The minutes of the annual_meeting of the American Methodist Episcopal Church, lately held at Foochow, contain some interesting information regarding the progress of the Mission. First, under the head of Business Sessions, we learn that the first three days were occupied in examining the various classes of native preachers in the Bible, Catechism, Methodist Discipline, Theology, Biblical Chroology, Confucianism and Christianity compared, Geography and Astronomy." Then the characters of the preachers were examined, and while some were passed as quite satisfactory, those of one or two others proved less so. For instance, "The Committee on the case of Ling Ching Ting reported charges of proper words and actions, insubord nation to Mission authority, and encouraging the members to oppose the Mission" policy for the self support of native churches. He was found guilty on all the charges; and it was voted that he should be deprived of his ordinar tion parchments for one year; but, in view of his repentance, should" be allowed to continue as a preachei accordingly we hear that, a few-days later, an anti-opium meeting was held at which Ling Ching 'Ting presided." Another man was found guilty of dishonesty in the use of money, and expelled. 'These, however, are exceptions among a large' number, Under the head of 'Devotional Services,"" we are told that—" Monday evening, Si Hok Ong preached a very earnest. and' aplritual sermon on_ ' Consecration," from, Romans 12:1. This was followed by a prayer meeting, in which th preachers might divine help to consecrate themselves thoroughly to the work. - Rev. W. Scarborough says of it: "This meetin, was marked by more of the emotional clement than had ever expected to seo in Chinese Christianity. It resembled what is known in the west as a revival season, There was loud weeping, much earnest praying, and yet a keen endeavour to restrain any immoderate display of feeling, to repress the merely sensational, It was altogether very un-Chinese, but very like the earnest Christianity of Engligh and American Methodism."
338 baptisms are reported during the past year. The total number of members annied by the Mission appears to be 2,102, including probationers. Wo had pleasure, some time ago, in noting the effort that was being made at Foochow to ronder the Missions self-supporting; and are glad to find that the principle is being gradually put in force. So long as the whole expenses of the Mission, including Native Preachers, have to be supplied from abroad, there will always be room for question as to the sincerity of the Conver
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.