(PROM OUR ows Fanchéng, 2nd March.
A New Confederation of missionaries has come about in our part of the world, in that one union of workers of different. societies has been effected under the name of the Scandinavian Mission Conference of China, which was organised in Fan-cheng the 24th of February, when thirty naries representing four Scandiavian societies wore gathered here. These four societies and their respective chief stations are: the Norwegian Lutheran Mission, Laohokou, with thirty workers; Hanges Synod Mission (Norwegian-American), Fanchéng, with twelve workers; the Swedish American Mission, Hangyang, with eight workers; and the Lutheran Brethren's Mission (Norwegian-'American), Tsaoyang, with two workers. The Rev. P. Matson was lected president, the Rev. 0. Sama, Vice-president, and the Rev. 0. R, Wold, secretary. Many practical questions were discussed at this first conference and it is hoped future ones more so, will have practical results. A literature committee was appointed to bring about the uso of the same translation of the Bible, the same hymnbooks, entechisms and other books as far as possible, and to bring about the publication of new ones where it is found that those now to be had are unsatisfactory.
This mission conference, and this practical united work are significant inasmuch as these different societies have all divergent opinions on certain points of faith, and do not work harmoniously in their homo lands. It was found desirable to try to do all practical mission work on as similar lines as possible, as discussed and decided at the annual conferences. It was even hoped that an Institution of Higher Education, for the special purpose of fitting our native ce-workers, might be decided upon.
It is also hoped that five or six other Scandinavian Missions in China, with a united force of about 200 workers, will join the conference at its next meeting, which will be held in Laohokou, in February, 1905.
Five Hundred Braves from Shensi have just embarked here for Hankow, en route for Kuangsi.
The New Year Holidays have now all gone by. Last night was the Lantern-festival. Wo have had the brightest weather. Your correspondent "has had the honor of receiving the Major-General, the Taotai, the prefect, etc, eto, as, new years callers. Apropos the Major-General, whose name is Hala, he seems to be
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.