Tsingtao, July 26, The General Assembly. of the Church of Christ in China, in spite of the alarming reports which were ceived from time to time concerning {he Sino-Japanese situation in the North, has continued its dally sessions, and the general assembly "has set apart dally a definite period for Brayer for the nation and particularly for the Government. "This is as it should be.
There are present commissioners, fraternal delegates, special visitors all told about 185, gt Least there were 195 who received invitations from the Mayor to be his guests at a delight ful Chinese fea" which he served on the lawn of the Municipal Reception "Hall "the mere ft. that spite of the threatening military situation the Mayor sti too ie time entertain the general assembly was appreciated by all, On Salurday he gain' acted "as Host in providing eight special buses to conduct the sembly commissioners on a 80-mile tour frst through. Tsingtao ity and fis environments and then {0 the, Teauliful Laoshan, when he served lenle lunch, Itmay not be known that the gen~ ral assembly ig not a missionary fathering, but a meeting of the Chinese church. Among the 198, com= rissianers and fraternal delegates, 38 fire missionaries and 100 Chinese-24 the 198 are" women. They have ame from thirteen "provinces The Chinese church, 7?" 7 ionones are appointed Dally Order of Conference the, morning sessions the conference is" occupied with the confideration of commission reports, In the afternoon sessions' the -recom= mendations of the secretariat are {aken up for, discussion and. action Synods report on the state" church within their areas and a di cussion hour. brings the afternoon esslon to a close. The evening {exsion is given over to some: special senture—elther a memorial service or fan address on some subject pertinent to the life and: work of the church, Following the recommendations. the general assembly secretariat, the assembly: decided upon definite plans {o complete the endowment fund of $20,000'to provide for the budget of the quadrennial meeting. Almost $0,000 has been raised. The general Plan is 0 assess each comminicant 80 cents, though the respective synods have the option of raising their quota in whatever way they think bes.
1 his also been voted on the re commendation of the commission on the administration of the general sembly {9 make efforts. within the four years to raise an' endowment fund of $100,000 to be. used toward Providing for part of the anni administrative budget of the general sembly which amounts 10 $1000.
The statistical and the fiscal years wore fixed to accord with the calendar year. Very definite provisions wore. also made with the object of Securing more" prompt. and. more reliable statistics. The lost week in january of each year is to be stallsical "year when "all the constituent churches and branch churches, numtering approximately 2209, are expected (o prepare their annual statis Uical data'to be. transmitted to. the teneral assembly headquarters.
The secretariat has also been in~ structed: to proceed at once in. pre~ peting the draft copy of the book. of government and discipline, for the {uldanee of the church and itis hoped that at the next quadrennial meeting fof the veneral assembly this very m= portant book will be completed and Yeady for consideration and adoption the church, Atlernoon Forums Helpful The afternoon forums have proved most Interesting and helpful. De. RO, dollle of Chengtu ed, one forum on "What the Church." The object on "How to Help the In~ jgenization of our Church".was in-{roduced by the Nov. Sheela Cheng or Waking, Kwangiung, Mr. Samuel Ing of Shanghai led the open dis cussion on "What Should be the At {tude of our Church toward the Gov. anment" Dr. P.-C, Hsu introduced the subject and directed the diseus~ sion on "How Far Should our Church Profiably Engage in Social Service Activites" The Rev. Cheung Chuk-{ing of Honutkong opens a discussion a the subject of "What. Should Be Gur Next Step in Church Unity The general synod of the Chung Hua Sheng Kung Hui and the Church of Christ In China have agreed to explore practical ways to bring about tehureh union between these two Com-minions. The first meeting of the Joint committee is to be held in Shanghai on January 24-25, 1038, Tt much hoped that this will be the first stop in seeking to arrive at the game objective toward which the churches in South India are proceed~ ing. It is w noteworthy effort which should create groat interest by all those who are interested in church unity.
As to the evening sessions, one evening was devoted to a memorial service for the missionaries, pastors and evangelists of the church who have died during the last four years 13 Chinese and 52 missionaries composed {he necrological list. Some of these fnissionaries were widely known to many in the Far East as well as in the churches of the West, such as the Rev. Thomas Bryson, Mrs, Ada Haven Mateer, Dr. A. A, Fulton, Dr. J. D. MacRae, Dr. Jonathan Goforth. Dr, J. Perey Bruce, Dr. and Mrs. H, N, Kinnear and Dr. D. Christie. Ail these with their Chinese U.S. Asiatic Flagship En Fete at Vladivostok Vladivostok, July 31.
'Yesterday Admiral' Yarnell invited commanders and navy men the Pacific Fleet of the USSR, and residents of Viadivostoic to visit the flagship of the US. Asiatic Squadron which is now in Vladivostok. Afterwards Admiral Yarnell gave a luncheon in honour of the: Commander-in-chief of the Pacifte Fleet of the USSR—(Tass) colleagues, 125 in all, have gone to their eternal reward after rendering most fruitful service in the building up of the Church of Christ in China.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.