Bishop Graves called the Conference to order at 9.25 a.m. on Wednesday and at once introduced Dr. Hodgkin to lead the devotional half-hour. After the singing of "Crown Him with Many Crowns," and the reading in unison of the passages of scripture selected for the day, Dr. Hodgkin guided the thoughts and prayers of the Conference.
The Vice-Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements presented nine standing orders (previously distributed to the delegates). An amendment was proposed, and an hour's tangled discussion ensued, due solely to the difficulties of translation and in no wise to the matters discussed.
At last clear water was reached about 11 a.m. with the hearty and unanimous election of the Rev. C. Y. Cheng, v.v., of Edinburgh University, to the chair. Dr. Cheng was received by the whole Conference rising. With a few well-selected passages of scripture, the Chairman signified his _acceptance of the honour, conscious that his strength to fill the position would be supplied by God.
Dr. CnENG's AppRESsS.
Dr. Cheng addressed the Conference in Chinese, afterwards giving the main outline in English. He challenged the delegates to say whether in beginning the Conference they were willing to follow the guidance of God. The Conference met at a time of crisis, but the gathering was most opportune. No one wished to overvalue conferences, but just now Chinese churches were restless and were being assailed in new ways. It was therefore a time in which it would be epoch making. The one subject selected was the Church in China. It would be a help to a better understanding amongst all the churches in China. Nothwithstanding the weakness of the Chinese Church, the Chinese delegates welcomed the opportunity of discussing the matters of the Church with their western colleagues. all mission fields, sooner or later, the self-consciousness of the Church of the native land was sure to rise. The most important matter was not the dependence of the Chinese Church on the money of the western Church, as much. as its dependence on the thought of the West. Great care and true discrimination were needed by the young Church in China in regard to its modifications of rites and ceremonies, doctrines and polities. But Christianity is a universal religion and can adapt itself to all lands:
The Chinese Chuwch must not rest satisfied with anything less than getting completely under the load.' They looked to discuss matters in such a Way that at the close of the Conference they could be attempted to be imposed on any church. Missionaries were committed to the principle that the Church in China must become Chinese. There was too little evidence of putting the principle to the test, and it was hoped that the Conference would do much—not by way of resolutions, but by its general jnfluence—in promoting the actual doing of the things which are necessary. There would be mistakes; but there would be success, Better to see the man come forth, even if swathed in grave clothes, than to see him lifeless in the grave. But to-day the word must be spoken. Loose him and let him go forth. The duty and responsibility of this crisis was as much that of the Chinese as of the missionary.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.