Members. the object partly of excluding those who might come out of mere curiosity, but more especially of ascertaining the number of Missionaries who did actually attend, was that of selling Tickets of Membership at Re. 1 each, on the back of which particulars as to the Member's name, address, Mission, &c., were asked with the request that the Ticket might be given up at the close of the Conference. There were 759 Tickets sold, but only 620 were returned by Missionaries. Of these 620 members, whose names are given in the Appendix. 256 were ladies and 67 were 'Indians. The years of service of those members who were kind enough to reply when written to for information502 out of 620-were as follows: Accommoda tion. Of these it may be also noted that 79 were at the Calcutta Conference in 1882 and 26 at the Allahabad Conference in 1872. The larger these gatherings grow the greater the difficulty becomes of arranging for them. Bombay is easy of access from other parts of India and is well supplied with Hotels, but the Missionaries residing in it, who have accommodation for visitors. are very few. Besides which, some of the larger societies, like the L. M. S., have no representatives stationed here. The difficulties were overcome by several societies undertaking the entertainment of their own delegates, while for others a large encampment was pitched near the Hall, in which the meetings were held, and close to the sea. College. The meetings were held in the Wilson College, The Wilson belonging to the Free Church Mission, which was very kindly placed at the service of the Conference by the principal-Dr. Mackichan-and the staff of the College. It served the purpose admirably in every way, whether as to position which is a charming one, overlooking Back Bay, or as to accommodation which proved to be ample. It was indeed literally taken possession of by the Conference from the early morning hour when members gathered for prayer, on through the heat of the day up till sometimes late in the evening. The members of the Conference have doubtless carried back with them to their lonely stations many pleasant memories and many vivid impressions of their visit to Bombay, among which not the least will be that of the beauty and charm of the Wilson College and its outlook. In preparing for the Conference a Provisional Management. Committee, which had been appointed by the previous Decennial, did the preliminary work, after which the Bombay Local Conference undertook in conjunction with it, to issue the complete programme and make other final arrangements. At the time of the Conference a Business Committee (see page 2) was appointed to carry out all details. Almost all the Railway Companies gave con- Railway cessions to members, as did also the B. I. S. N. Company. Missionaries applying to the Bombay concessions. |