Tw another column we publish a special article dealing with the return to China of European missionaries of many sects. An extensive religious propaganda is to be carried on in North and Middle China with all the renewed ardour and devotion, which fresh recruits and seasoned enthusiasts can command. The zeal and interest displayed for the religious welfare of the Chinese by Europeans is astonishing to say the least; endless resources seem to have been requisitioned and countless agen' employed for the purpose of christianising John China~ man. The latter may well gaze with wonder, and perhaps appear perplexed at the anxiety displayed by Western nations in his behalf, And it ought not to occasion much surprise if the more curious of his fellow countrymen ask the reason why. Those who are familiar with missionary work in North China need evince no credulity in the matter; they can readily recall instances of good work done, and in this renewed prop"ganda they will picture much more that should afford them joyful anticipations. For our own part we have always preferred and admired the more practical and secular features of missionary work, including the teaching of natives in the elementary branches of education, The late President McKinley told us that educational work must always be a strong feature in the preparatory stages of foreign missionary enterprise. Being wholly free from doctrines and dogmas, and leaving untouched the prejudices, sentiments, and superstitions, education at once secures the attention and wins the sympathy of the native, and thereby prepares the way for an intelligent understanding of the real work that the missionary has come to perform, That most of the missionaries take a conscientious view of their work we cannot doubt for one moment, and in support of this proposition we have only to point out that last year according to the "Missionary Intelligencer," no fewer than three hundred were martyrs for the cause they had espoused, and to-day are held forth as. worthy examples for those who are sent to succeed them. It is not for us to say whether martyrs" is the correct description, or whether some of these unfortunate
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.