has closed its. sessions. The meotings have been well attended "and most helpful. Considering the great distance some have come and the comparatively short time spent in preparation the Conference can be considered a great success. Bishop Roots was prevented. from attendance and Mr. Ridgely of the American Church was sent in his place. Bishops Scott and Iliff of the Anglican Church were present at most of the sessions, also Bishop Graves, and Bishop Bashford of the Methodist Church. Others present were Messrs. Pyke, Hobart, Lowry, GD. Lowry, Walker, Davis, Hopkins, Gibb, Headland, (M. E.-M.) 'Webster, Keers, Christie, (Manchuria), North (of the Wesleyan Mission,) Wherry, 'Whiting, Tenn, Glystein, Lewis, Cunning. ham, Johnson, (Presbyterian' Mission) Cooper, Grifith, Lutley, (C. I. M,) Turner, Candlin, (English Methodist) Meech, Murray, T. W. Pearce, Dr. Peill, Dr. ted Cochrane, T. Howard Smith, (L. M. 8.), Sheffield, Galt, Tewksbury, Ingram, Ament, Stelle, Owing, Stanley, Young, (American Bosrd); W. H. Murray, A. S. Annand, (National Bible Society of Scotlend,) Dr. Hykes, C. F. Gammon, (American Bible Society,) I. F. Drysdale, (British and Foreign Bible Society,) F- F. Meigs, Christian Church,) Harvey, Gilbert, (Y. M. ©. A) A. J. Lowe, Glass, (Southern Baptist Society,) Mr. Oberg, ©. I. M.)
TheRev. G. T. Candlin was elected Chair-mariand the Rev. C. A. Stanley, Vico-Chairman. Dr. C. H. Tenn was made. Secretary, and Messrs. Gibb and Elliot assistants, As a full report will soon be: issued in printed. form and_ sent to every missionary: in China, it. is not. proposed here to give a. full account of the proceedings.
After the full organisation on Thursday the 28th ult. Dr. Cochrane. was called upon to read a short statement of the origin of the movement and its present condition. It was apparent by consulting this vast correspondence by which nearly every mission in the Empire, and nearly every missionary, has been heard from, that there is a preponderance of opinion in favour of the proposed terms, for God and Holy Spirit, a union hymn-book, common terms for churches and chapels, and a closer federation of the Churches.
There have been only a fow dissenting voices. The movement hence does not seem to be premature but follows the historic trend.
Dr. W.S. Ament followed with a brief statement for the Committee on Union as to its purpose concerning a union hymn-book, not to endeavour to fix the hymmology of the Churches but to secure foundation of hymns. that can be used as basis and leave ample space- for development on the part of the native Church, and special hymns desired' by any denomination. The present confusion in hymmology. is greatly to be. deprecated and a moderate start towards the goal of a union hymn-book would be a vast improvement. The Rev. E, G. Tewksbury followed with an elaborate statement of the work of the Committee on union hymn-book appointed by: tho North China Tract Society and the hundred hymns which they had found common to the leading hymn-books in the empire. These hundred hymns could ba taken asa basis, as they wore practically universal. It was afterwards decided that these hundred hymns should be given over to a Federation Committee yet to be appointed and presented to the Conference of 1907 to be utilised, if wanted, in the preparation of a union hymn-book for all China. In the evening of Thursday, interesting and valuable addresses were made by Bishop Graves and the Rev. M. Mackenzie of the Canadian Presbyterian mission, Both were irenic in character and showed the general desire for close union in Church work and life, though for organic union there can, as yet, be said to be no defined scheme which secures the consent of -all.
On Friday morning, Dr. Wherry pros-ented the statement concerning the terms for churches and chapels, but there was. more discussion when the question.of a proper term for the Christian Religion was raised. The Conference finally voted to recommend as their preference. the terms Fu Yin T'ang for outer chapels and Li Psi Pang for those used as regular places for worship. There was animous vote that for the Christian Religion the term Chi Tu Chiao was proferable. Dr. Lowry read a short' address on "Union in Terms." He' thought the" time for closer union had arrived and it was not necessary to enter the pros and cons of old questions. 'The large correspondence which was in hand proved' conclusively that there was a proponderance in favour of the use of the terms Shang Ti and Sheng Ling for God and Holy Spirit. A motion was afterwards made and carried that the agents of the lo Societies be requested to ascertain the sentiments of their constituents as to the terms to be used. They (the conference) did not wish to dictate to the societies what ito print but they, practically could assure the societies that an edition with these compromise terms would be loyally used and adhered to by all present,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.