Three noted conventions, or gatherings of Christian workers have' recently been held in the United States in which the la-hourers abroad will be interested. The first was the "International Missionary Union" held at Clifton Springs, June Sth to 11th inclusive. There were 156 missionaries present, of whom 59 expect to return to their fields of labour within the year. Nearly every missionary society was repzesented, as well as almost every part of the world in which missions are carried on. China was represented by a goodly number who bore testimony to the wonderful presence of God in the recent trials through which so many have sutlered, and given up their lives. A very interesting service was that in which they were asked to state in a short sentence what each regarded as the essential preparation for service in the foreign field. These are some of the re-spouses: "Be practical." "Study the Bible." "Get a thorough education." 'Take a Theological course." "Seek the gift of the Spirit." "An aptness in presenting simple gospel truth." "Try your gifts at home, in city mission work or elsewhere." "Study the field where you have to go.' Get a preliminary knowledge of all fields." "Correspond with missionaries on the field." "Get into contact with missionaries at home." "Be settled in theology before you go." "Have a practical business experience." "Be willing to do anything which is needed. "Get the idea that the natives can teach you sometl.ing." "yo not try to upset the work of your predecossors for at least three years." "Take plenty of patience and flannel." "It essential to understand the people." The notable feature in this list is its practical nature—the outcome of actual axnerienee Numerous places were mentioned as strate-Fie points for viearaus effort in the new century as. Stanghai, Singanore. Caleutta, Port Said, Hankow, Johannesburg, St Petersburg, Budapest. Buenos Ayres. One speaker remarked that the strategic point in missions was tather a point of time than place, and it was now in each country. Earnest, practical work; and the present and in God's presence with the worker, appeared to be the three ruling ideas of the conference.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.