The Merchant and the Missionary "Tne Cugse Recorper,"' September, 1922. Published monthly by the American Presbyterian Mission Press.
Mu a number which presents an unusual variety of topics, chief interest is furnished by the first article, entitled "The Travelier to the West." In it, an anonymous writer with keen insight passes historical judgement on missions and the missionary, and in particular on the missionary in relation to the business man. "The whole article is so wise and witty that it deserves a careful reading, both by the missionary and the business man. The climax and summary we judge to be contained in the following paragraph "Perhaps the very. withdrawal and isolation of the missionary activity has fostered the exploitation which he condemns. The ideal would seem to require that the missionary movement, instead of pursuing its own course and development without reference to the total foreign impact upon China, might rather recognize the organic connexion. Since man is "an organism, it is reasonable to suppose that the institutions which are the outgrowth of his instincts, such as trade and religion, should bear an organic relation, one to the other. Recognizing the unity, each might become*impregnated with the best in the spirit of the other."
Could some of the Missionary Associations in the larger towns of China do better than devote least an evening during the coming year to the discussion of that paragraph?
Passing two excellent new hymn tunes, we come to the concluding portion of "A Study of the Re-! ligious Belicfs and Practices of the Common People of China,' by Albert George Parker. The writer gathered his facts by the question-noire method, putting 67 fairly searching questions and gettin' replies to them from 83 people. So detailed a study would require a detailed criticism, if any; even the excellent summary given at the article's close is too long for comment here. We can only say that the results of the study are most interesting and informing, and will be of special use to the young missionary who seeks to understand the mind of the people. The same is true with regard, to the mind of the Chinese evangelist, of the "Selections from the Diary of a Traveling Evangelist," provided by the Rev. Sten Bugge.
"The Women's Viewpoint"? is presented in two brief articles; and in conclusion there is a careful reply, point by point, to two articles by Dr. S. I. Woodbridge, which appeared in the "Sunday School Times," and which contained Dr. Woodbridge's views on the National Christian Conference of last May. We refrain from comment, except to say that it is
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.