The Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal. Shanghai, December, 1897. The American Presbyterian Mission Press, View-point" is a deservedly much used word nowadays, and in introducing the subject of "The Importance of Right Methods" in the opening article of this month's Recorder, the Rev. P. F. Price points out that as regards methods of mission work there are apparently three points of view: First, of those who are attached to some particular method and see little good in any other; second, of those who, like a writer in the October Recorder, see no best methods;' and, third, of those who Jock upon mission work as a science whi like theology, the queen of sciences, is based upon principles of Divine revelation Certainly with a respectable body of known facts and verified observations, and the opportunity of drawing logical conclusions therefrom, mission work may looked upon asa higher science. The writer of the article pleads for a patient investigation of those methods which are most in conformity with God's Word and the experience of the Church for nineteen hundred years. He takes occasion to int out that "no doubt much confusion arisen already by not distinguishing between principle and method, and between methods that have a vital principle involved and methods that are optional. The place and style of preaching, the support of the evangelist, whether by himself or the native Church, the proportion of time between itinerantand station work,—theseand many other questions are largely left open to be determined by Christian prudence and adaptation to existing needs and cireumstances. There' may be a great variety of methods, all scriptural and all looking to the same happy result, even as there are diversities of gifts, but the same What may be a good method for one man it a given case may not be a good method for another. While this is true in some cases there are many other instances where a certain method is good and another method. is bad, no matter who employs them."
The second article treats of thropy and Christian Missions," and discussing it, the Rev. S. G. Tope evi dently is of opinion that a source of income to missions is being neglected the missionaries. His main contentic are, that it is not the function of Christian missions to engage in works of pure philanthropy, and that the financial policy of mission institutions which proffer secular benefit to the Chinese, should be so framed as to furnish liberal annual subsidy for purely evangelical mission work. In urging that the educational and medical branches of missions should aim at subsidizing parely evangelical effort with funds secured from the Chinese for their services, Mr. Tope quotes from the Handbook of Statistics: these were compiled we believe there has been a substantial increase in native payments, particulary in connection with educational work. eet In his well-known racy manier Dr. Ashmore gives a survey of the Missionary Morement in China from 1807 to 1897. His graphic narration of the principal po-olivia events during that tine and his pen them prove good reading.. Ie is. rather traits of the parties participating in
significant that in the four distinct periods into which the time under review is divided the dividing line between exch has been a war. First the Opium War regarding the casus belli Dr. Ashmore remarks that "the insults put upon her diplomatic representatives would have Jed. toa war by Enzland in any other part of the world but China." The transition from the second period into the third was marked by the war with the Allies; whilst the war with Japan marks the transition into the fourth poriod—the present.
Among the other interesting items in this Recorder are "The Opium Habit" by Dr. J. G. Kerr; "Principles of Tranalic teating Proper Names in Chines."
R. H. Graves; and "Taoism," by T. H. James, We cannot. close this notice without drawing, attention to the graceful in metnorlam notiga of the late feov. J. A. Melrose, who died on the 16th of September, after seven successful years of missionary Labour in Hainan, In the correspondence columns there is a letter from Newchwang, signed ""J.C.," giving a very appreciative account of the late Mr. Andrew Happer trid. the following account by the Rev. J, Laughlin of Ohiningehou, Shantung, of the murder of the two German mission-wea The Ts'sochoufu region still lives up to ita reparation for law breaiiog and general fiendishness. Officials are kept busy investi-Secapltating the perpetcatore thereof. Yes ting new crimes and imprisoning, beating, the numbers of the out-laws do not seem to. decrease, nor does their courage diminish. The latest and most brutal act was the seaghiee of two German Catholic priests a wee The priests had just erected @ house in a village twenty-five miles west of this city. Daring the night of the Ist of November they were attacked by a band of men, over twen it is said, who, with knive ud speedily put-an end to the poot escaped. Ho andthe natives of the com A third priest, being in o different room, Bound, none of whom received injury, report that the whole affair was over in ten minut They found ti except as to sleeping garments; the feady dead, and the other past speaking. The former had nine wounds, the latter thirteen. son as 2000 a1 he got word, and la said to The chihsien hastened to the spot in por-
have burst into tears when ho saw the mutilated bodies. He and one of the dead priests had been good friends. In explanation of the foul de are several theories being advanced 1.—That it was a case of simple robbery and unprovoked murder by a band of bat 2-Same as above, except that the murder of the robbers. Some villagers are said to vs provoked by the priests first shooting one have seen the latter carry away a wounded or dead man.
3.—That workmen who had failed to secure employment in the building of the new house thus took revenge.
4.—That it was a case of revenge on the part of influential natives who had had a lawsuit with the Catholic Church.
—That it was an act of the Ta Tao Hui Big Knife, Soviet between whom and the Catholics there iter feud of some years" standing.
sorrow for the two victims, one of whom Whatever he explanation one etn fel only knew as an exceptionally gi young man of about thirty-two years of age,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.