store and reading-room is a great agency in diffusing abroad a knowledge of God. I have sold more than twelve thousand books and tracts. There is a growing demand for Christian literature.

Our congregations are growing both in numbers and in interest. We have great reason for encouragement. Victory can be seen on every hand. As we have faith in God, so we have faith in the work.

PHILANDER SMITH MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.-Dr. Robert C. Beebe

reports:

The last year of our work now in review has given us many occasions for renewed gratitude. The work has been conducted much as usual; but the number of patients has increased, and we note an improvement in the confidence and conduct of the people. This is quite natural, and we look forward to the time when we will be free to undertake any needed operation or receive into our wards any one who may apply.

In November of last year we were made glad by the arrival of Dr. E. R. Jellison to join us in the work. He very soon made his efficiency felt, and since his arrival has shared the work with me. We are very fortunate in having as an associate in the work one so interested and so well prepared for its duties.

During the year 9,326 visits have been made by patients to the dispensary; 418 have been received into the hospital as in-patients; 325 visits have been to patients in their homes; 279 surgical operations have been performed. Three deaths have occurred in the hospital. Three hundred and thirty-nine dollars and eighty-six cents have been raised for the work.

The religious instruction has consisted in daily preaching to the dispensary patients by our native preacher, daily meetings in the woman's wards conducted by Miss Butler, daily prayers in the chapel conducted by myself or the native preacher, and Sunday preaching by Brothers Ferguson and Nichols. Besides these there should not be omitted the mention of a class held three evenings of each week by Miss Butler for the study of the Sunday-school lesson.

In anticipation of Miss Butler's being obliged to undertake work for her own society (Friends), Miss E. J. McBurnie was sent out early in the year to take her place; but on account of the serious illness of her mother she was compelled to return. We were sorry to lose Miss McBurnie, as we think she would have been a very efficient worker could she have stayed.

Miss Butler has rendered most excellent service, and we regret to part with her. The woman's work has not been by any means the least feature of the hospital work, and great good has been done in the women's wards.

NANKING UNIVERSITY.-Rev. John C. Ferguson, President, reports: The president of the university has the honor to present his second annual report. In his report for last year he briefly sketched the origin and general plan of the university, but was not able to report much progress in

its development. During the year under review there has been constant growth and expansion.

We notice with much satisfaction the general advance in higher education in our immediate vicinity. The Tung Wen College connected with the arsenal and the school connected with the foreign office have been seeking to make their instruction more thorough and to provide more accomplished teachers.

A private school for instruction in English and mathematics was opened by an accomplished Chinese gentleman—a graduate of the Peking Tung Wen College-and attracted many students until the teacher was called to a higher position.

Extensive buildings, including foreign residences, are now being erected near the north gate of the city for a naval college, which is to be called "Shui Sz Hio Tang." Its course of study has been already announced, well qualified foreign and native instructors are being engaged, and much energy is being displayed in the general management. It has announced its intention of admitting no Catholics or Christians to its halls. Probably this is the first time the gauntlet has been thrown down so boldly to the Church, and we must not be slow in taking up the combat. This invidious distinction will work no harm to our schools, but will surely injure the college by excluding well-trained graduates of Christian schools, who have had superior discipline and more thorough instruction.

Not only, however, in our immediate vicinity has general advance been made, but throughout China the year has been one of unusual activity and progress. The organization of the practical educators of China into the "Educational Association," and the action of the General Missionary Con-ference in intrusting to its charge the translation of text-books and all other matters affecting the progress of education in China, herald a new era. We may now be sure of more and better translations of scientific: works, and may also hope for some uniformity in scientific terminology. Another most favorable indication of general progress is the increased confidence placed in young men who have been educated in foreign lands. The former distrust, which was so discouraging to persons who had hoped much for these young men, is now being replaced by respect. Several of these gentlemen are now serving in high and responsible positions, reflecting credit on their training and helping to establish better relations. between their native land and the outside world.

Our school has had a steady growth in numbers throughout the year, increasing from fifteen, as reported last year, to about fifty, the present number. Through the courtesy and kindness of Rev. John Walley several young men came to us from Wuhu when the institute in that place was closed. It was also thought best to combine the preparatory work of the medical school with that of the college, and therefore the boys who were previously in the hospital preparing for medical studies were transferred to the preparatory school of the college, where they will continue to study until qualified to enter the regular medical course. Soon after the Chinese: New Year we were able to enter our new building, which we have found

well suited to our work. It contains five class-rooms, a large chapel, and dormitory accommodations for about thirty boys. A beautiful new building for the theological school is in process of erection. It is to be three stories high, and will have a tower which will support a large four-faced tower-clock and bell. The building will be very convenient and a conspicuous ornament to the city. Our campus, which is almost ready to be inclosed, will include about eight English acres, situated in a high, welldrained part of the city. It is easy of access, and yet far enough away from the busy streets to insure quietness and freedom from the petty annoyances of a busy thoroughfare.

The utmost care and minute attention have been paid to the daily instruction in the class-rooms. The aim of the teachers of Chinese literature has been not simply to develop the memory of the pupil by forcing him to learn long passages, but rather to lead him into an appreciation of the style and thought of the writers. Emphasis has been laid upon the daily explanation of the "Wen li," and upon the power to express in pure Kwan hwa" the meaning of the text. No emphasis has been laid upon the doctrines of the classics, either supporting or combating them. They are studied solely as the best examples of pure Chinese literature, just as Shakespeare or Byron are studied in Western colleges irrespective of the merits of their teachings. The instruction in rudimentary mathematics and science has been given by a graduate of the Tung Chow College, who has shown special qualifications for his work. His aim is to bring the pupils into an appreciation of principles and to discourage the simple use of the memory. The instruction in English has been given by Mr. Cassidy, who has used Barnes's Series of National Readers and Swinton's Grammar. Exercises in translation and a class in conversation are daily conducted. The work in this department has been very thorough, and the superior abilities of the teachers stimulate the whole school. The first hour of each day is given to Scripture study under the instruction of Christian teachers. None but Christians have any thing to do with this instruction. The aim is not to have the students feed their minds with large quantities of Scripture which they have gulped down by one spasm of memory. These could only lie on their mental stomach an undigested mass. We desire to reach the heart and conscience, which are the sources of all spiritual life and power. All facts of Scripture history and doctrine which are studied are at once explained, and their practical bearing on a righteous life and character indicated. We have found that this plan brings the pupils into a reverent attitude toward the word of God, and teaches them to regard it as "a lamp to their feet and a light to their path."

The increasing confidence of the people in the school, as shown by the number and variety of our patrons, is indeed most gratifying. We have steadfastly adhered to the rule of admitting none from the "vicious classes," and have always taken pains to know that the parents of each pupil are industrious, well-meaning people. Our patrons include ordinary working people, business men, literati, and officials, Our patronizing

literati include both men who have obtained their first degree (siu tsai) and men who have taken their second degree (ku ren). The patronizing officials have included persons connected with the provincial treasurer's office, persons formerly connected with the diplomatic service, the Keeper of the Seal in the Tartar General's office, and others in various local offices. We are bound to say, however, that we have thus far found these young men from official families the most hopeless of all for intellectual work. Not only are they almost without exception fond of dissipation, but they are wholly unwilling to apply themselves to sufficient hard study to insure thoroughness of scholarship. Herein, perhaps, lies the secret of the open failure of some of the government schools, which draw their students almost exclusively from this class. In China, as elsewhere, we must depend upon the literary and middle classes for patient and industrious pupils. Several young literary men, among whom are some who have already taken their first degree, have expressed the desire to be instructed in mathematics and science, with a view to entering the scientific promotion examinations held by the literary chancellor. A class for these has been organized, and about ten have entered. It is hoped that one such entering class can be organized each year.

As an evidence of confidence in the school special mention is made of the case of a Tartar official, himself a man of the second degree (ku ren). His son having been in the school since its organization, pleasant social relations had grown up between himself and the writer. Learning of his severe illness and the probability that he would not recover, the writer called on him only to find him nearing his end and very weak. He thanked us for instructing his son not only in books, but in personal conduct, and said that if we would but promise to care for this his only son he would die contented. We deemed it quite a tribute to the value of Christian education that this man would rather leave his only son under our care than hand him over to his relatives. Understanding a little of Christianity, he desired our prayers for himself. Only a few hours later he passed away, leaving his son in our care.

Special attention has been given to the instruction of the pupils in Christian teachings, believing as we do that in these alone are the safeguard of true character and righteous life as well as the preparation for eternity. In addition to daily instruction under Christian teachers, in which a regular course of Bible-study is pursued, all pupils are required to attend daily prayers. A weekly prayer-meeting is conducted by one of the teachers. Two regular preaching services and a Sunday-school are held on Sunday, at which all the students attend. A strong religious influence pervades the school, and the majority of the leading young men are either churchmembers or inquirers. This influence extends to the homes of the pupils, and many are thus led to attend religious services.

We have not as yet been able to organize regular college classes, but consider all our students at present as only in work preparing for college. We intend to make the standard of admission to the college on a par with the best English and American universities, substituting Chinese literature

for their Greek and Latin. Hence it takes quite a time to prepare the first class; but we hope that another year will give us a class of about fifteen young men able to enter the freshman year of their college course. During the next few months we hope to open the theological school. Dr. Beebe, dean of the medical school in connection with the Nanking Hospital, and Dr. Stuart, professor in the medical school in connection with the. Wuhu Hospital, are each giving regular instruction to medical classes. Thus in a short time we shall have three departments of the university fully organized and well equipped.

It affords us great pleasure to record the interest taken in the work by friends at home. The bishop in charge of this Mission, Bishop Fowler, has been abundant in labors on our behalf, and deserves our especial thanks. He has been not only our faithful counselor and friend, but our active agent. Our warm thanks are also due the General Missionary Committee for its hearty approbation of the founding of the university and its generous recommendation of its needs to the home Church. Especial gratitude is due Mrs. E. Sleeper Davis, of Boston, Mass., who made the first gift received by the university; and also to her two sisters, Mrs. Joseph Harper and Mrs. E. P. Dutton, both of New York, who kindly supplemented it. Their united gifts will give the university a beautiful chapel, to be named "Sleeper Memorial Chapel " in honor of their father, the late Hon. Jacob Sleeper, of Boston. The world-wide benevolence of Mrs. Philander Smith, of Oak Park, Ill., is adding to the university a magnificent building for the theological school. This is the third large gift to our work in this city from this estate. We owe Mrs. Smith and her son-in-law, Hon. William E. Blackstone, a lasting debt of gratitude.

Our especial needs at this time are $5,000 for a scientific school, $5,000 for its equipment, and $2,500 for a residence for the dean of this school; in all, $12,500 for this purpose. In addition we need at once extra dormitory accommodations for all the schools and at least another residence for teachers. Twenty thousand dollars could be used at once with good results in this most promising work. We commend it to the careful attention of all interested in the coming of God's kingdom in this land.

WOMAN'S WORK.

Miss Ella C. Shaw reports:

The year has been one of seed-sowing without direct results in the line of conversions. Much of my work has been within our own household teaching the girls and servants the Sabbath-school lessons. Sometimes the same truth must be repeated many times before it is learned; but an increased interest and a gradual advancement in Bible knowledge on the part of those receiving instruction have more than repaid for the labor. We find adults are but children in intelligence, and even more simple means must be used in explaining Scripture truths to some of them than to the school-girls. A small class of women has been learning to read the classical language.