At special services and meetings the large community of Orthodox Russians in Shanghai on Sunday celebrated the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the Russian Orth-
Jodox Mission in China, the observance being held in' union with similar celebrations in' other Chinese cities, Shanghai Russian churches special services were celebrated by the priests in the morning, and the evening a well-attended' meeting was held at Holy Trinity Cathedral Hall in Kiukiang, Road.
About 300 persons,.chiefly _mem= bers of the" Russian community, attended in the evening. The speak: ers were the Most. Rev. Bishop John, the Rev. Father Eliah" Wen in Chinese), Mr. N, Y. Tomin, Mr. 'V. Mikhailo® Cin' English), Mr. P. 1. Zaitzeft and Dr. D. 1. Kasakoft, relating the history of the Russian mission, Mr, -Mikhailoff said "Today we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox. Mission in China, I shall not attempt to submit the history of the mission in detail, but shall limit myself to a few facts which will out-me that history. Two hundred and fifty years of "continuous effort to propagate the Word of Truth in this Jcountry must needs be full of mo-montons occurrences, and the major~ ity of these stand in close connection with historical events of China and Rusa, The mission in its work has had its ups and downs, as any other Institution of this order, but the mere fact that it has functioned without interruption during a quarter of a millennium tells more than any specific details about its nature, "The phases of the mission's activities are simple. The first missionary was not sent here: during the spring of 1685 the troops of the Emperor Kang Hsi took by storm tone of the forts of the Cossacks on the River Amur, Fort Albazin, and a part of the garrison of the fort Were taken prisoners and sent to Peking. These prisoners were accompanied, voluntarily, by their spiritual 'Jeader, Father Maxim Lcontieft. 'They' were treated with Kindness by the Emperor and were permitted to settle in the northeastern portion of Peking and a small Chinese temple was given Father IMaxim, who converted it into chapel on June 23, 1685.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.