where the wonderful "churrigueresco" work has been massed with very striking effect. The chancel departs from the usual Spanish churches in that it is much deeper, so as to make provision for a large choir. The building is fireproof, being constructed of reinforced cement, and having a tiled floor. The only woodwork is in the doors and windows. A very striking effect is made by the insertion of colored tiles, or "azulejos," into the cement work of the upper part of the tower. forty feet in breadth of nave, or fifty feet including the baptistery, and seventy-one including the choir-room and sacristies. At present it has only the inadequate furniture of the old chapel, including the altar. But better things are planned and hoped for in the near future. An architect from New York visited the new church a few days after the opening service, and said that it was the best piece of work he had ever seen. He asked and received permission to make a The building is 105 feet in length, drawing of the building. I IS IT WORTH WHILE ? A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FIVE MONTHS LATER BY DEACONESS CARTER THOUGHT of you so many times yesterday (Christmas Day) and of your question when I was in New York as to whether my effort to minister to these scattered far-away people would be worth the cost. Yesterday morning, when Miss Heintz and I were standing among our seventeen children-our own school children, who had just taken down the stockings which they had hung up in my little living room the evening before, children who had never heard of hanging a stocking on Christmas Eve-I thought of you and wished that you might have witnessed their unbounded joy and have entered into it with us. Later, when we stood in the church among our own people, and visitors who had travelled from Coldfoot in the north, to Koyukuk Station at the mouth of this river on the south, again I thought of you and wondered if you could have stood there with us if that question could possibly arise in your mind. In my diary goes down the record of the very happiest Christmas in my life. We had, I should judge, about 125 Indians in all; about fifty of these were our own. Two, a little boy and his father, came from Coldfoot, a number from near Bettles, five from Koyukuk Station at the mouth of this river, and fifty or more from Arctic City, almost twelve miles down the river. Among these was Chief Moses. We had a very short service, the tree was lighted, the children sang their Christmas hymn and carol, and our gifts were distributed. From beginning to end the day was filled with joy and gladness, and in the evening when I knelt beside our little George's cot and listened to his newlylearned prayers, which I feel so sure reach our Father's ear, once more I thought of you and wondered if you could still doubt whether it was worth while. You know what I think. St. John's in the Wilderness, Allakaket, Alaska. O THE RIGHT REVEREND HENRY DOUGLAS ROBINSON, D.D. THE BISHOP OF NEVADA NCE again Nevada has its own bishop. The Rev. Henry D. Robinson, D.D., elected by the General Convention in Richmond, was consecrated in St. Luke's Church, Racine, Wis., on March 25th. Besides the Presiding Bishop, who was the consecrator, there were present the Bishops of Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Tennessee, Minnesota, Chicago, Fond du Lac, and the coadjutor of Fond du Lac. The new bishop is a western man, and was educated at Racine Grammar School and College, of which he was warden at the time of his election. His entire ministry has been spent in educational work in California and Wisconsin. Dr. Robinson is a man of power, with marked abilities as a preacher and administrator. He has been on the staff of Racine College for seventeen years, and since 1899 has been the executive head of the institution. During the past nine years he has practically revolutionized it, bringing it to a condition of great usefulness and promise. In Nevada the new bishop will have in many respects a difficult field, for distances are great, communities small, and transportation facilities, away from the few main lines of traffic, none of the best. But, on the other hand, Nevada presents an inspiring opportunity. For Nevada is essentially a men's state. The great revival of mining enterprises has attracted men from all parts of the land. They are men whose business it is to achieve and accomplish. Hundreds of college-bred mining engineers, besides the hardy prospectors and miners, offer an opportunity for helpful companionships and for the exercise of the kind of personal influence that counts for so much in a community of robust men. Succeeding as he will to the work of men like Bishops Whitaker, the last Bishop of Nevada, Leonard, Moreland and Spalding, Bishop Robinson will have inspiring traditions to look back upon and will certainly lead the Church in the State to new victories. FORWARD INTO NORTH KIANGSU A REGION WHERE THE CHURCH HAS NEVER BEEN ESTABLISHED-A VENTURE OF FAITH-PICKING OUT A CENTRE-WANTED, A CAMPAIGN FUND Ο NE of Bishop Graves's last letters from Shanghai contains this gratifying an nouncement: "I have finally decided not to delay the starting of the mission in North Kiangsu any longer. Men enough we have not, and the means are still to seek, but the opening is so good and the need of action so imperative that we ought not to hesitate. So Mr. Ancell and Mr. Sinclair will proceed after China New Year to Yangchow to make a beginning. I bespeak the best help of the Church at home for the new venture. I confess that it has required some faith to go forward in the face of our lack of workers, but it did not seem that we could turn back. The future will surely be our justification." Bishop Graves's decision was based, in part, upon the following: REPORT UPON A VISIT TO THE MANDARINSPEAKING PART OF KIANGSU PROVINCE BY THE REVEREND BENJAMIN L. ANCELL "The places visited were Nanking, Chinkiang, Yangchow and Kaoyu. "Nanking, notwithstanding its political rank as the Viceroy's seat, seems a city of not much commercial importance or prospect of future development. The population seems to consist in the main of social extremes. Six missionary societies are represented there, and, except in the old Tartar part, their work is fairly distributed throughout the city. A school established there would draw students from among the official classes, and some of China's future leaders might thereby be reached. As Nanking has intimate connection with but few outlying towns, it lacks advantages as an evangelistic centre. "Chinkiang, situated at the intersection of the Grand Canal with the Yangtse River, is a thriving city, destined to become a very important place. The river and canal here show a scene of great activity, and this city, on deep water and to which over-sea ships are already beginning to come, bids fair to become no mean rival to Shanghai. The great mercantile firms of China are nearly all opening branches there. Four missionary societies are already in Chinkiang. Both because of its promise and its local situation, we should establish ourselves in Chinkiang before real estate soars beyond our reach, even though a large development of the work may not be immediately practicable. "Kaoyu was next visited. This is a small, chiefly residential, city. No missionary work is now being done there. We are invited by some substantial business men to open work in Kaoyu, and they offer to provide the hall for services and preaching. The opportunity seems a good one for trying the experiment of building up a station mainly from native resources. "Yangchow is a fine, busy city with a population greater than that of Nan THE REV. B. L. ANCELL, Who will head the North Kiangsu Mission women missionaries, and they do some work around. This city appears to be more neglected than any other large city in the province, though it has the conditions of a good centre for work. "By this trip my conviction has been strengthened that we should no longer delay beginning work in that part of our province. It is a section lamentably illsupplied with missionaries; the people are friendly; a good type of Mandarin is spoken, so no new literature would have to be prepared. The conditions of health, climate, water, and living generally are fair. "Our establishment should be made at Yangchow, the only alternative as a centre being Chinkiang. Yangchow is easily accessible and centrally situated. Kaoyu is four hours to the north, and Chinkiang three to the south, while Taichow, a considerable city, and many towns can be conveniently reached. The conditions for evangelistic work are thus particularly good; and school-work done in Yangchow would lay no tax on the home Church except for buildings. Moreover, while this is not prime consideration, it need not be overlooked that land is much cheaper there than in Chinkiang. "To be efficient, this work, from the start if undertaken, should be well equipped at the centre. Two men seem to be immediately available; at least one more should be there within the year, with additions according to development. Ladies should come as soon as a proper house can be provided. Then there should be a reasonable material equipment; say $5,000 for land; $5,000 for a church; $10,000 for a school, and two missionary houses at about $5,000 each, for men and women. Then at least $10,000 in hand available for special opportunities in the district around, thus saving the loss of both time and money that ensues upon the long delays of appeals at home, as well as the harrowing worry and sense of futile struggle that is too often the lot of the missionary when attempting to establish his work without money in hand. The present should be a favorable time for the projection of this work. I feel sure that if the situation be realized at home, friends would, with the help of the M. T. O. this year, gladly provide the needed. |