SIXTH DAY. large portions of which you may travel without seeing a Bible, and the Ganjam district, our Presidency is now fairly covered Sixty depôts. with agencies. We have over sixty branch depôts, and from other smaller centres the Scriptures are spread over the surrounding country. The sales at railway stations, freely allowed by the agents of the companies, are considerable. I acknowledge that the agitation of Mr. Prautch has done good, and welcome him into our ranks. But long before this agitation began, as supplementary to the regular system of colportage, we were working on similar lines to his and with even greater economy. To judge of the results of his work his salary and travelling expenses should, in all fairness, be included. Financial position. Increased I wish particularly to speak regarding the society's financial position. We are approaching an annual circulation in this country of 600,000 copies of the Scriptures, and looking at the rapid extension of mission operations, we may fairly contemplate the time when the circulation will reach a million copies a year. The present annual expenditure on colportage alone exceeds Rs. 50,000. I estimate that in the near future the expenditure on translation and revision will be considerably enhanced. Now it seems to me that if the society, besides meeting the heavy cost of translation and revision, is to print the Scriptures in ever increasing numbers and to continue to sell them so much below the cost, it is impossible that its limited resources can bear the additional cost of dissemination. The responsibility and practical direction of that part of our great work ought, I think, for the most part to devolve on the missionary societies, and if they give us the relief we seek the result will, I believe, be eminently satisfactory. If in general terms you approve a -as I trust you will-of the proposal in the society's resolution, a scheme for practical working might be drawn up in the course of the year. And, further, as the Bible Society is far from being the wealthy corporation it is popularly said to be, I also bespeak your generous help in the way of effort to enhance its income. The Rev. G. P. TAYLOR, M.A., B.D., I. P. M., Ahmedabad, writer of one of the papers, said in reply:- It would be well that this Conference should bear in mind that Christian tracts now find a circulation over increasingly large areas. During the circulations. last decade, while twelve per cent. represents the growth of the population of India, the number of readers has increased by fully thirty-six per cent. It thus becomes highly desirable that tracts and books containing Christian teaching should be supplied in numbers commensurate with the wide extension of the reading area. It was with much pleasure that I heard Dr. Phillips emphasize the point that wherever the man went the book must go. One practical reason why the book may well accom pany the man is that owing to the generous action of the Reli- SIXTH DAY. gious Tract Society of London the production of Christian books Obligation to in this country can be effected at a very small cost. By the the R. T. S. free grant of all the paper for books brought out in accordance with its regulations that munificent society has placed Indian missions under a deep obligation, an obligation which to-day we gratefully acknowledge. A second very obvious reason why our preaching should be followed up by the written Word lies in the fact that while preaching an unguarded utterance may at times escape our lips or some word be spoken we would fain take back. When surrounded by a crowd of hearers the missionary occasionally finds himself the victim of a pusillade of questions, sorely testing both patience and temper. At such a time a single angry flash of the eye or contemptuous curl of the lip may undo much of the good he had hoped to effect. The printed tract, on the other hand, as the product of calm and careful reasoning, expressed in words deliberately chosen, may well be expected to present the truth in a more accurate and more winsome manner than is possible under the strain of heated discussion. Prior to the preparation of the papers presented to-day it was found impossible for the writers to meet and agree upon any mutually concerted method of treatment. As a consequence the subject assigned us has been viewed from four entirely independent standpoints, and under these circumstances it is a significant fact that no less than three of the four writers have emphatically indicated the urgent need that in each language-area men duly qualified should be relieved so far as possible from other work in order to their being expressly set apart for the production of Christian Set apart men literature. On this point, I am convinced, there exists amongst for literary us all a complete consensus of opinion. Of the speakers this morning Dr. Weitbrecht has referred very prominently to this need, while Dr. Chamberlain has informed us that what should be done has been done in the Arcot Mission, where one of the missionaries has already been designated for literary work. The need, however, is distinctly accentuated after the touching statement made on this platform by our revered and beloved father, Dr. Murdoch. For very many years he has devoted himself unsparingly to creating and fostering a Christian literature for India, but to-day we have heard from his lips, and heard with sorrow, that the pen must soon drop from his hand. It thus becomes at the present time an especial duty of the churches to see to it that the work so well begun should continue in the future, and that other workmen should rise to fill the posts of the honoured veterans who perforce must leave the field. Another, and strong, motive for the effective distribution of Christian literature is supplied in the present transition stage of India. Transition A process of fusion is going on everywhere around us, and stage. powerful solvents are acting on Hindu habits of thought and work. SIXTH DAY. life. This process we are utterly unable to prevent, even should we wish to do so. For my own part I would not have it otherwise. I believe in a God Who reigneth, and my heart-conviction is that all this national seething ferment is the working of the Spirit of the living God. Solution of the old fixed beliefs will certainly be followed, sooner or later, by re-crystallization, and the imperative duty that devolves on us as God's servants is to determine the form the near crystals shall assume. Masterfounders tell us that in the casting of the huge bells for our ancient cathedrals a silver chalice would be melted down and poured on the mass of liquid brass, so might they hope the resulting tone would be rich and clear and full. Western civilization and Western culture are already fusing the grosser forms of Hinduism, but it is ours as missionaries of the Cross to pour in the pure silver, ay the gold, of Christian education and Christian literature, that at the last notes sweet and clear ring forth. Only so shall Young India, the India that is soon to be, issue from the crucible, beautiful with the beauty of Christ. XVII.-CLOSING MEETING AND BUSINESS ARRANGEMENTS. AFTERNOON SESSION. LARGE HALL, 3-30 to 5 P. M. Bishop THOBURN, D. D., M. E. C., Calcutta, in the chair. -- After singing a hymn, the Rev. J. Duthie read Psalm SIXTH Day. lxxii., and the Rev. Dr. Weitbrecht offered prayer. This closing Meeting was occupied almost entirely in the discussion of various business details. Had there been sufficient time, it was intended to ask two or three of the oldest missionaries present to give a brief address. This was not possible. The few remarks made by the Chairman and the resolutions passed are given below:Bishop Thoburn said :— In taking the chair this afternoon, I may be expected to make a few remarks upon the proceedings of the past eventful week, but the programme placed in my hand reminds me that I have very little time at my disposal. I must, however, congratulate you, and at the same time acknowledge God's gracious help, on the success which thus far has attended our Conference. A successful Conference. In the first place, we have reason to be thankful that so many missionaries have been brought together from all parts of this great empire. In point of numbers the Conference has been more than a success. Those of us who were present in Allahabad in From the 1872 remember how thankful we all were for the attendance on present. that occasion. In 1882, we were not only still more thankful, but indeed quite amazed, to find more than four times as many present as had met at Allahabad; but here in Bombay we are almost, if not quite, stronger by two hundred delegates than we were in Calcutta ten years ago. In fact, our success in point of numbers has been a serious embarrassment to us on the present occasion. numbers SIXTH DAY. His work to prosper in our hands. Beyond all possible doubt, God has great things in store for us in this empire of India. Let us prove faithful to our opportunities and to our responsibilities, and if we do not meet again in 1902 in some city of India, we shall all rejoice, some on earth and the rest in heaven, over the great prosperity which God will vouchsafe to the toilers in His Vineyard in this great empire, where satan has for so long held his seat. The following resolutions were then passed by the Conference: 1. Resolved:-At the last session of the Decennial Conference held in Bombay, 1892-93, the members desire to place on record their heartfelt thankfulness to God for the stimulus they have received to continue, with renewed consecration, in the great work of evangelizing India; and for the good-feeling, unanimity of sentiment and Christian love that have characterized the whole of its proceedings." 2. Resolved:-That the following letter be printed and circulated: TO THE SECRETARIES OF MISSIONARY SOCIETIES IN EUROPE, Bombay, January 5th, 1893. We re-echo to you the cry of the unsatisfied heart of India. With it we pass on the Master's Word for the perishing multitude, "Give ye them to eat." An opportunity and a responsibility never known before confront us. The work among the educated and English-speaking classes has reached a crisis. The faithful labours of godly men in the class room need to be followed up by men of consecrated culture, free to devote their whole time to aggressive work among India's thinking men. Who will come and help to bring young India to the feet of Christ? Medical missionaries of both sexes are urgently required. We hold up before medical students and young doctors the splendid opportunity here offered of reaching the souls of men through their bodies. The women of India must be evangelized by women. Ten times the present number of such workers could not overtake the task. Missionary ladies now working are so |