We announced some time ago the proposal to establish a Presbyterian Church in Shanghai, and it is satisfactory to note that the scheme is making effective progress. Since it was first mooted a few suggestions of considerable interest have been brought forward, and in view of steps to be taken in the near future, the present may be a suitable op: portunity to state them.
As was generally understood, the proposal for such a church na. turally emanated from the Scottis! section of the community who appreciated the need of an expression of their national religion here. In the circumstances it is considered likely that when the proposals take concrete shape they will be found to be in the form of a Scottish Presbyterian Church, to which, of course, all Presbyterians of other countries would be welcomed.
Another suggestion goes even further than this, and is the more important in view of the steps towards union now proceeding between the Established and United Free Churches at Home. This is that the church in Shanghai should be made an integral part of the Church of Scotland. The belief underlying this is that it would more truly fulfil the conception of a church if it were a centre of Scottish life and culture in the community. The advocates of this point of view consider that this could only be fulfilled by pursuing the idea of a national church, and there is no doubt that the efforts towards union at Home will make measures in that direction the easier.
The scheme at present under contemplation is for a church in the western district, and it is understood that during the next few days circulars will be issued to those interested to discover the amount of support likely to be accorded.
Tue Wuchang Mint is reported to have made a profit of $935,000 on last year's working.
A Departmental Notification has been issued cancelling the order suspending the business of the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank at Yokohama and Kobe.
A group of Chinese at Hankow is said to be contemplating the establishment of a tram ear service for the whole city. The capital proposed amounts to $4,-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.