Great preparations are making for the annual races which take place in October. Already a purse of several hundred dollars has been subscribed and it is proposes to largely increase that amount.
Phe Seventh Prince continues to have intervals of apparent recovery, and as sudden relapses. The mysteriotis character of his Jong illness, to the Chinese, has given rise to many surmises as to its origin. Tt is said that the Emperor in constructing fa new residence for his father made no provision fur the numerous demons and evil spirits which had their abode on the remises, As these evil spirits cannot find entrance to the palace to call the Imperial Ruler's attention to this little oversight of his, they disturb the peace of his father, not only causing him many Fis attendants and preventing' them from painful days, but even seizing hold of
assisting him, and, doubtless vacate his present residence, it will forever after be condemned as haunted. It is well-known among foreigners, however, that the Prince is making an honest effort to break Joose from the opium habit, and in his enfeebled condition he cannot resist the attacks of disease. The Emperor is most exemplary it; the performance of his filial duties, going often to his father in great haste, if there are adverse symptoms, not stopping to have the streets cleared, roads repaired or any of the usual preparations, A crazy Chinaman undertook to force his way into the palace one day last week and could only be restrained from doing so by the exercise of force. The several guards at that particular gate were not able to manage the madman and it was not till a large squad of men seized hold of him that he was finally bound ind taken to the Hsing Pu. Such incidents show the necessity of having the palace gates well guarded.
Mr. Ferguson, the Netherlands Minister, is occupying the former residence of the {late Marquis Tseng.
The Marchioness and her son and step-son accompanied the remains of the Marais to Honan where they will spend the requisite three yours of mourning. The only brother of Marquis Tseng, Tseng Chi-hung, is at present a Taotai in Shansi.
The first meeting of the Peking Missionary Association was held at Trngshikou with the American Board Mission on evening, September 26th, Dr. Blodget i the chair. A paper was read by the Rev, W. M. Langdon on the desirability of requesting from the International Committee of the Young Men's Christian Assuciations, aman to come to Peking to act as general secretary. Mr. Langdon, in clear and concise statements, gave a general history of the work of men of this class, showing how well they are doing in India, Japan and other countries, where their services are highly appreciated. Their work is undenominational and would, in no wise, terfere with the regular work of the missions, but on the other hand would greatly aid them, Considering the great extent of the field, with Tungchow, where a flourishing association has existed fur some time, and Tientsin possibly, he thought such a man would find ample scope for all his powers.
The Rev. J. Wherry was inclined to take a more conservative view of the situation, The difficulties are great at the present time. Missions are la their infancy. Would not such a man do more good i he regular denominati it not be a dissipation of his energies to battle with such obstacles us lee would face in this great city, before the field was ready for him! The streets are dark at night. Young men do not go out as in western cities, and the gener il appliances of a Y.M.C.A. campaign would not succeed here. afraid the scheme was a little premature, The Rev. Dr. Pilcher replied that, already, they had experienced the good effects of Y.M.C.A. methods in their schools and thought that such schemes of work by which the Christians of all the missions become better acquainted with each other are extremely beneficial. Difficulties are met at ning of any enterprise, but they are not insuperable, They had found no difficulty in securing attendance at their course of lectures which they held nearly every winter.
The Rev. G. Owen said that Y.M.C.
Associations had not been a great success in England, except in one or two places. They had fallen into the hands of the Plymouth Brethren and the management did not commend itself to others. So much was this true that some ministers made it fa matter of policy tu oppose the associations in every possible way. He was not sure whether the introduction of the associations into Peking would be an unmixed good.
De. Atterbury replied that the failure of Young Men's Christian Associations i England was due to the class di which obtain there. For instance, sous of a wholesale liquor-dealer (and that is the i most respectable business in England) will not associate with the family of a retail dealer. This is also true of all forms of industry and trade. This system of caste, as fixed as it is in India, prevents young people from associating together according to the idea of these societies, so that their failure is assured.
Mr. C. Holcombe, being present, was called upon and responded that the success of such an enterprise would depend largely upon the man who inaugurated it. He would need to understand the situation exactly so as to secure the good-will of all, learn the language (as there is no English: speaking class as in Japan where a knowledge of the language is hardly necessary for successful work), and become acquainted with Chinese nature and life.. The odds would be against him im Peking with ita long distances, dark streets and few seattered Christians. The Chinese were not awake, a8 yet, to modern ideas and had little appetite for science and histor; The Rev, H. H. Lowry would favour the request for such a man, The difficulties are no greater than those which confronted the associations in their beginning in England and America, Peking, though large and the Christians: few (becoming more numerous every day), yet Y.M.C.A. stations could be multiplied s0 as to meet the need of all, and all the missions be benefited thereby. Pluck and energy would find the same scope here xs anywhere in the same work.
Further remarks were made by the Rev, Lowrie, the Rev. W., Ament and the Rev. Dr, Blodget. The discussion was closed by the reader of the paper for the i committee of four, one from each mission represented, was appointed to draw up a statement and request, and present the report at the next monthly necting of the associnti september.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.