Mar, 2 work to seem with such neivitege of rending try another og wi ks shai has to-day the left to them. True, it was their Dusiness instinct, their need of livelihood, which' impelled them. But it was more than th These men ave Chinese Christians, and they have more than. commercial interest in their work. This had been evidenced to us by years of loyal service and cooperation. Yet the promptness and courage With which they roxe above ter ssu 8 and filled new admiration for their hood, Long before our "six months' stock was exhausted 4 new editions. began. to. come from the new presses, aid there has been no break in the supplies books available for of colo tours throughout the year."
The tone and sympathy of that Well-merited commendation may bbe noted as a model for fair and dispassionate appraisal of Chinese effort in other direc tions, And it should be rome bered that, owing to varies conditions " prevailing at the time, the actual loss incurred by the Bible Society was triting in comparison with the losses suffered by their devoted printers. Is it too fantastic to suggest that, in the country at large, this evidence of the will to rise superior to misfortune may ultimately inspire the mobilisation of similar self reliance, resourcefulness and unity of effort, in the cause of China's national salvation?
Tt is no part of a newspaper: to usurp the function of those [who expound the Bible in terms lof religious doctrine. Nothing jean be said here to add lustre to the venerable record of The Good Book. The figures which have been cited debar anyone from seriously questioning the right lof the Bible Society to its place the beneficence of the present lage. English people to-day still revere the Bible as their forefathers did. There may be a fashionable cult of laying special stress on the literary qualities which have been the has factors in the enrichment of the English tongue. Great writers, great orators have owed and Jacknowledged their debt to those column of this journal what two former Shanghailanders think of the latest feat of the Oxford Jnion in carrying by a majority of nearly two to one in a house over 400 the motion that "This House will in no ci cumstances fight for its King and Country." Mr, O. M, Green di Maiv with the proper taint of a Cambridge man no doubt of the nesses of the Cambrid ty which has ied immortality y's Fist Play." An unde grad with the special stage of having—been present at the debate, writes impressions which are here published by yutrental kindness J: really is hardly necessary observe that the apparent surprise of certain sections of the London press at the disclosure is based on ignorance of the 1 works of school and debating societies.
do not often get the opportunity of tasting such strong meat as that placed on the menu of the Oxford Union. Still there must be few who do not recall listening to or, perhaps. contributing to a debate on the motion that the "best form of Government is a republic." And most University men, with' al) deference to Mr. Green, will be able to find parallels in their own experience to the present, Ostord Gesture. The Union at any University necessarily attracts a special section of undergraduate life; versatility does not penetrate' all ranks. In a debate, adorned by such di tinguished personalities Jead, formerly a John Scholar in Moral Philoso-Oxford and now Professo ilosophy at the young sity of London (let, Mr Green note)_and My, Quintin Hoxy. now Fellow of All Souls and only four years ago President of Union himself. sparse were bound to fly. 'The vivid' account by Shanghai's undergraduate observer really sume up the whole horror and story of the adventure.
"supported within by the truth and innocency of a ood conse suse daving walked the ways simplicity and integrity, as before the Lord? consecrated the priceless well English undefiled to the service of their kind. Yet, may be doubted whether many would limit their Bible to this ornate influence. There fare some who prefer the ver-macular version of the 20th Century, because of its accuracy lof scholarship and reverence of intention, 'The vast majority of English people, however, will iding to the archaic and seldom Jobscure Authorised Version. It is in essence a matter of opinion. But, when the kaleidoscopic lenigmas of the world. are shut Jout' temporarily from. human contemplation and the need is It may be wondered whether the vehement assailants of the Oxford Union have troubled to turn back to the account of the Centenary banquet held ten years ago—the Cambridge Union is slightly older than that of the Senior University. Then Sir John Simon, himself an ex-President of the Oxford Union, told how, in the early days of the Society, "persistent, academfe persecution sade membership of the Society tnuich like the experience of tha time in a differen aaa place!
Even then, in 1826, the Union Session received 'a proctorial order to disperse and replied to with a dignity reminiscent Hampden, Sit John Simon specifically recalled a debate in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.