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July 21, 1909. TH1 not intended to retain it but had forgotten it. It came back to him that night and he insisted on turning over three dollars then and there to the treasurer. One of the deacons confessed that his weakest point was his liking for wine; not that he got drunk but that he had taken it so long that it was very difficult to give it up and it was a constant obstacle to him in trying to lead others to Christ. From Wednesday on there were a large number of public confessionc That tho Hnlv Qnlrlt woo nrooon + there could be no doubt. Young men and boys confessed sihs that no amount of punishment could have dragged from them. There was crying to God in prayer such as I have seldom heard. Cleansing seemed to be the idea uppermost in the minds and hearts of all. It was noticeable too that there was a difference in the prayers after the confessions. That all the confessions were genuine, all prompted by the right mo iivtjs miguL ue saying 100 raucn, Dui certainly most of them were from the heart and came out because they could not be kept back. As to the kinds of sins confessed, practically the whole decalogue was covered. Perhaps the most common were lying, deceiving in one way or another, pride, stealing, violating the third commandment?especially in lack of reverence for the name of God?coldness In the Lord's service. Some confessed to adultery, and many to having committed this sin at least with eye and heart, if not in act. Some of the confessions had an element of amusement in them, though they were . not intended that way.. One very earnest old mission helper, a ruling elder, said that he was constantly guilty of imin nrpnohlnc fn nonnlo haconcn they would not listen and believe; said that he sometimes felt that he must strike them. Many of the school boys had violated rules, criticised their teachers, borrowed books and other things from fellow students and forgotten to return them, or reported them lost when asked for them. Many of them said that they came to church because they had to come but did not enjoy the worship, their chief desire being for the preacher to make his prayers and his sermons as short as possible. Some confessed that they had not supported the young Chinese helper with their prayers or otherwise because they considered him a hypocrite. One little fellow amus cu aw uj i-uiiies&iug inai ne narmuaiiy told the servant in buying things for him on the street to cheat the merchant out of a cent if he could, and that if he could cheat him out of two cents so much the better. One boy who has been with us for a number of years, confessed not only to lying and violating school rules but to hating the missionaries. Many of these confessions were made with tears in the eyes and some things that seemed amusing to us were very serious in the eyes of these young boys. To sum up what I think may be termed characteristics of the meeting: E PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOUT 1. There was no excitement and but little emotion displayed. 2. Men were eliminated. What 1 mean is that the Spirit did his work regardless of the men who lead the meetings. We had no help from a distance. All the meetings were led by the missionaries and Chinese of our own station. One did not seem to be more used than the other. 3. The Spirit manifested his presence by forcing Christians, as he has done in so many places, to obey the injunction, "Confess your sins one to another." Be sides public confessions there were private confessions and straightening up with others face to face or by letter. Because of the emphasis put on "face" in China it is more difficult for the Chinese to confess their wrongs than it is for us from the West,?which makes us all the more certain that what we have seen is the work of the Holy Spirit. The missionaries were not exempted. Wo realized our lack of faith, of love, of thorough sympathy as never before and could not but confess these things before others. "West is West, and East is East" will no doubt be always more or less true, but we have been brought to see where a little more patience, tact, looking at things from the standpoint of the Chinese, and above all more of love might have prevented heartburnings, friction and apparent lack of sympathy with our Chinese brethren and sisters in the Lord. 4. The power of prayer. At least two-thirds of the time at each meeting was spent in prayer, literally prostrating ourselves before the Lord until he bless . l!S. 5. The wonderful power of the Bible. Subjects were announced beforehand In order that all might have them in mind, but there was not a sermon preached. Preparation was made by the leader and passage after passage was read bearing on the subject, sometimes a few explanations being offered. (The Mandarin language into which the Bible is translated is different from the colloquial, which makes explanations more necessary). Such, has been our experience and I pass it on to you hoping that it may in some way be a nelp to you and our people at home. We realize that we have not received the blessing in its fulness; anm/x *VIA suuic ui luc v/iii isiiaiiB luuiu nui turne at all and some who came were apparently not reached but we have tasted of its sweetness and long for more. We trust that a greater blessing is in store for us and one that will reach all the people. It is too early to pass judgment on the results of of the meeting; suffice it to say, the devil will be more active than ever and we need your prayers that the Holy Spirit may abide with us. With best wishes and praying that the blessings for which you are longing* may come to you and yours, Cordially yours, J. Mercer Blain. H. >7 THE BEST GIFT. During the Assembly at Savannah aa elder from Mississippi said to me. "Doctor, the largest contribution ever made to colored evangelization was the personal interest, the prayers and efforts of a lady in Virginia, who discovered William Shepherd and started him on the way to the ministry." His words startled me, but when 1 reflected upon the tremendous spiritual force that this thoughtful wnmon m-nlontnJ **? w ~ |/i v/jcvvcu 111 IU LU^ world by personal and prayerful effort, 1 saw that he was right. Now, the opportunity is still here. We want some more of these great gifts to colored evangelization. 1 do not thina that this good lady realized that she was doing anything great or good. So the reader of t these lines may not think it worth while to try to find a colored boy or man who might become a good preacher of the Gospel. But there are great issuea wrapped up in the discovery of a spiritual possibility. We have vacancies at Stillman Institute for ten or fifteen first-class boys and men, and we want our kindhearted people of the Southern Presbyterian Church to find them for us. You may not find a Shepherd, nor can air become African missionaries in the Congo, but we need missionaries for difficult work here in the South. We want stronger and better material to work on. The new catalogue of the Stillman Institute is now ready, and it will give me pleasure to send them out for distribution. James G. Snedecor, Sec Tuscaloosa, Ala. NACOOCHEE TRAINING SCHOOL, SAUTEE, GA. All persons desiring to attend the Naeoochee Training School for Christian Workers will please take notice that these meetings begin July 25 instead of August 20 as heretofore. You will further take notice that it is high time that you were packing your grip, and arranging your affairs-at home so that you may spend this 15 days free from mental worry, and be able to enjoy to the full the great feast in store. Every one who knews Nacoochee Valley knows that there nature has done her best, and the committee has put forth much effort in their endeavor to arrange for the physical comfort and the spiritual uplift of all who come. Another member of the committee writes: "Pros pects are bright. Am receiving encouragement from unexpected sources." Remember that these meetings are for all lovers of the Bible; that a number of the best Bible teachers of the South have been secured as instructors, and that Sunday-school teachers and preachers especially will find this occasion a real feast of good things. Pnmo tA plorlraifilln fin on/1 v/w.mv vv Villi nouuc, vm., nuu LCaillO can there be gotten, at reasonable cost, to convey you over to Nacoochee Valley, a distance of 11 miles, in fine view of the mountains. For rooms, address Nacoochee Dormitory, Sautee, Ga. In behalf of the Committee of Arrangements. JL T. Wade, Ringgold, Ga.