was discussed in this same careful, specific manner. One takes time to prepare for the presentation of a plea to others on matters of personal or general interest; equally should one pre-ire to come into the presence of the ving God. It should be a continuous life—"'Abide in me," is necessary to one's own life and work. Some of the things that cut into this exercise, are; indolence, haste, formality, iniquity, irregularity in time and place. As one has eaid, "we spend too much time with men and not enough with God." An incident was related of a Mahommedan cook who had five set times for his prayers every day, and who in mere physical preparation spent an aggregate of an hour. The great object of secret prayer is to get into converse with God—it may require time, but take the time; it is the only way to have Him speak teand in the soul.
We are commanded to be filled with the Spirit." It is the. Spirit' coming upon" the believer, taking possession of purposes. These and similar expressions his orale fad ay them' for his own one must be filled.with the Spirit. The conditions of being filled were also dwelt upon, such as a sense of dependence, pure motive, self-surrender, obedience, prayer, faith. "Were it the object of this letter to give a full report of this gathering of workers, much more could be said on these: points—but I only propose a. brief outline, mainly as a stimulus to thought, and also to help prepare for other conven. tions in other places, The claim of China upon Christian nations was emphasised by a consideration of her needs. One of these was thus forcibly put—to feel a sense of need. " Self-suftisidney, and self-complacency now fill the entire Chinese mind." Another need is an awakened conscience; China has had excellent moral teaching, few if any outside of Christendom better, yet her immorality is scarcely to be surpassed. But her sup-rome need is a knowledge of God in christ. Other things might be of great value, but only this could be her salvation. To meet these needs, it was important that there should be leaders and teachers from the West who were consecrated, filled with the Holy Spirit, but. more important is it that from among the 70,000 native Christians scattered up and down in the great land there be raised up consecrated Peters and Pauls, filled with the Spirit of God to 0 forth and stir the nation to its very depths. A sanctified education is another need. Devotion is much more important for this people than science, though that is of immense importance and should be made to help on the better things.
This is only a very brief outline of this most interesting and helpful series of meetings. All felt greatly stimulated and helped. Those in attendance came from widely separated fields of labour, and represented a large constituency. From four schools there were 190 in attendance. There were present 22 teachers; 33 preachers, and 220 other native Christians 4 missionaries were present representing Baptist, Congregationalist, Methodist, and Presbyterian, the China Inland So-cities, and the International Missionary Alliance. Ten other foreigners were in attendance. Of these 63 were resident in Peking, and 41 from other places. It was a remarkable gathering, inspiring and stimulating; and the hope was expressed by many that other such conferences might be held in the future, 19th September.
Your correspondent has been absent some days, a part of the time journeying; on the little stream called a river which connects this place with Tungchou, near Peking. In some places it is very wide and very shallow. In some places the current was very strong. In one of these swift reaches, the boats had to double forces and help each other up the reach and in one case, the boatmen said it was a recently made new channel,-a short cut made-by the. river itself a few: years a; which shortened the.distance about 30 There are several outlets for high water between this and Tungchou, some of which are near Tientsin as mentioned in former letter Observation of the conditions of the stream and its current impresses one with the feeling that a comparatively or if larger and more general as the two great Conferences of Shanghai in 1877 and 1890, which were undenominational, have convened for the purpose of comparing and discussing methods and means and results, and if possible devising better methods so to secure greater results. All these are well and important, and they were not entirely lost sight of in the meeting of this assembly; but the chief consideration was "that of personal preparation of heart and mind which fits for all kinds of work, which places one at his best for all kinds of psztessive effort against the powers of are used regarding it; rivers of wa 3 falling upon; receiving the Spirit. In this connection three very important points were made: viz.: that it is possible to be a Christian and not be filled with the Spirit; also that it is possible for every Christian to be filled to the Mess of his capacity; and farther, that it is possible to be filled, and afterwards to become empty and need: refilling. And it was shown that in order to secure any appreciable results in the work and in the life to which God calls His children in order to fruitage, to courage, Prevent the annual: breaking of banks and little well expended effort and money would looding of large tracts of land with destruction of promising crops. Also that such work in the upper portions of the river, pouring the entire volume of water down the proper and properly kept channel, would for ever prevent such a state of things as now exists between: this and Taku. This: stream is the waterway from the ocean to the capital of the empire, yet'no attention is given to its improvement by the Imperial Govern. ment. It broadens, it narrows, the consistency of the soil: alono affecting its liberty, to power in life and work, l and digs whims; it strikes out boldly across country igs a new path at. its own sweet-will,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.