The following article appears in the current number of the Methodist Keview, over the signature of Dr. John. Stevens. The editor of the Review commends it to the notice of his readers in a footnote every foreigner resident in China who has an open eye to the course of events it is apparent that a great change is: taking place in the attitude of the Chinese, and particularly of the official classes, towards missionaries and their work. Whereas formerly the mandarins were almost altogether contemptuous or else actively hostile, many of them are now looking to missionaries as a possible means of help and benefit to their country. Here and there, it is true, a man is still found who shows the old spirit of proud superiority and antagonism, but such men are becoming fewer and their influence is evidently declining. In saying this we must not be understood to suggest that the officials are at a'l desirous that Christianity may spread and triuroph. It is extremely probable that, with rare exceptions, they are mere or less indifferent with regard to the Gospel and the Church. But they recognise that Western peoples have both knowledge and power, in which Chinn is king, and they look to the mis-jon aries with something of the feeling with which the impotent man at the gate of the temple looked to Peter and John. They hope to receive something from the tnissionaries, but have little inkling of the true character and magnitude of tle blessings which these bring in the name of Jesus Christ.
With the masses of the people it is different. The missionaries have now for many years been in close contact with them orer a large pitt of the empire. Consequently they better appreciate the true object of the many-sided activity of the Church, and their quickened interest must be regarded as, ina considerable degree, an interest in Christianity itself.
The signs of these two movements, the one among the officials and literati and the other among the people, are manifold. Mention may be made of some of the most important and striking. (1) The increase in the number of converts and enquirers is extraordinary. In Fukien provines, n the very neighbor twenty thousand enquirers presented them-solves last year in connection with the three missions working there. f these some five thousand have been accepted for Church membership. Dr. Griffith John, soho has been working in Hupeh for thirty-five years, says that the increase of the last few months is unprecedented, and that the character of the converts is such as to inspire confidence. Similar statements might be made of other provinces, notably Shantung and Manchuria. ' Even in Hunan, the most bitterly anti-foreign of all the provinces, there are now at least two devoted companies of Christians. (2) The demand for Bibles and Bible portions, as well as for Christian books and tracts, shows. a.remarkable advance.- The Americai Bible Society circulated last year no less than 396,088 copies of the Scriptures, in whole or in part, and of these only some two per cent were donated. The sales of the British "nd_ Foreign and of the National Bible Society of So fland have also been phenomenal. The enlarged success of the tract societies can be no more than named here. As an indication of what they are doing it may be stated that the Central Society, working from Hankow, circulated last year nearly a million and a half of their publications. Other and kindred societies, such as the Society for the Diffusion of Christian and General Knowledge, and the Educational Society of China, have also felt the swee} of the flowing tide, and have contributes not a little to its force and volume. (3) Medical and school work are now in high favour. In some instances officials of the highest rank have appealed to the missionaries to aid them in establishing institutions for the instruction of Chinese youth in Western knowledge, and many of the mission schools are crowded is asked by what means this great and significant change has been brought about, the answer is plain, In the good providence of God the late war with Japen fas made a potent agency in opening the eyes of the ruling classes to the weakness and need of their country. Much of the prejudice and opposition of former years have been' disarmed by the influence of Christian literature, the beneficent and self-denying work of missionary physicians, the teading in Christian colleges and schools, missionary interviews with mandarins, and, not least, the pure and devot+ ed lived of missionaries and their families.
The Christian Church has a great and effectual door opened of God in the China of to-day. True, there are yet. many ad-Versaries in the Jand, It is perhaps not probable that there will yet be many ys of trial and persecution, both for foreign workers and native Christians, in some parts of this wide field. But, notwithstanding, the times may be said to be. Tipe fora more determined and more ag~ lessive effort on the part of the Church. 'A truly magnificent opportunity is now afforded to well-equipped Christian phy-Sicians, teachers, and preachers. Will not the Church hear the voice of God in the present condition of affairs, and send forth and sustain such la-hourers as are needed for the ingathering the Lord's harvest in China? The country has long been known as the Celestial Empire. To Christian eyes it is manifestly ruled, not by its rightful King, but by the prince of darkness. Now is the time when an unparalleled opportunity is afforded the Church to bring the Kingdom of God near to the people, throug! the manifestation of the Truth.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.