the Editor of the Norru-Cutxa Dany News.
Sm,—Your issue of 26th January contains a letter from Bishop Boone, entitled " Our True Position," As the correspondence which has passed between the London Mis-ion and the American Episcopal Mission is about to appear in print, I need not trouble your readers with an elaborate reply to the Bishop's letter. In that correspondence they will find an answer to every question which the Bishop's letter may suggest. There are one or two points, however, on which I should like just to touch. Asto Our True Position," I cannot say that I see it more clearly now than I did before. Mr. Sowerby's I can understand; but the Bishop's letter blinds (with excessive light, I suppose) me, and makes me rub my eyes. One thing'is clear, the Bishop doves not disavow the teachings of the book written by Mr. Sowerby; 0 we may take it for granted that' the two gentlemen are one in sentiment in regard to the point at issue. The Bishop sees now the folly of publishing such opinions and judgments as are found in this strange production. Is it too much to hope that, he may some day be brought to see the folly-and something worse than folly—of thinking them Bishop Boone, in this short communication, makes some very strange, and not 9 few wrong statements. "Mr, Locke," so the Bishop, had hitherto been on the friendliest terms with the London Mission, as well as others, and was estranged in part only, when Mr. John attacked him about this matter in a way that no one could endure, and continue intercourse." I have given in the correspondence the grounds of our objection to Mr. Locke's action in the case of Dr. Yang. Every word writ ten or spoken to Mr, Locke by me on the subject will be found there; and I am quite willing to submit the whole contention as between Mr. Locke and myself to the judgment of the reader. Mr. Locke, it is true, had_been on friendly terms with the London Mission, and we thought that his friendship meant something real and honourable, Had he continued to act rightly in his dealings with our Mission we might have been on friendly terms still. When, however, Mr. Locke showed that the polieyhis Bishop, in regard to admitting into his communion the renegades of other Missions, had been adopted by himself, friendship became impossible. It is rather too much to expect the shepherd to regard. with love and confidence the wolf that is
prietorship of the sheep.
rex ready to dispute with hina the pro-
Bishop Boone says that Dr. Yang's mode of life had caused his separation from the London Mission for some time previous to his confirmation. This is not true, Dr. Yang was commented with the Mission up to the time of his confirmation, His mode of life had been causing the London Mission much anxiety, and night have compelled the Mission to expel him. We believe that, the fear of discipline as well as the hupa of gain, had much to do with the step which he wok in leaving us. Will the Bishoj tell us how much this man has receive from the mission in the shape of solid cash since his translation? Does the Bishop know the life the man has been leading these two years? The natives of Hankow know it well. The Bishop had better make inquiries on this point before he carries out the last expressed wish of Dr. Yang's father, that he might one day take orders in the Church."
Bishop Boone says: "On my last visitation, I confirmed perhaps four or five men who for a year had been attending our St. Paul's Church, Hankow." This is not true, The Bishop confirmed seven in all. Of these, five had been attending our Church regularly till with four months of the day on which they were confirmed; the other two were regular attendants at our Church up to the day of their confirmation. In October the Bishop confirmed two of our converts at Wuchang, and we knew nothing about it till the end of this year, Thus the Bishop took nine in all.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.