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“I Am The Way. The Truth, and The Life." Dr. Young J. Allen. If the question were asked, “What individual element has played the most prominent part in bringing China into the eyes of the world and her people into a slow realization of their enslaved position?” the answer would be prompt, swift and true—“ The American Missionary.” For years the work in China has gone on steadily, laborously, and patiently. Often results have been slow, al ways changes come gradually to the Chinese mind; sometimes they come not at all, and it was this conservatism, born of ages and ages of heredity, nourished by surroundings and conditions, that mizht well daunt the bravest, which the American and English missionary had to face in the far East. But the work has progressed and the vet erans in the field can at last begin to see some progress made by their years of tireless labor. Os Wfißif ( y will ■O' ■fe..». W’S.-i I jfc ,4 these veterans, there is, perhaps, none more worthy of consideration than the subject of this sketch, Dr. Young J. Allen, who has recently returned after fifty years spent in the Orient. Dr. Allen went directly from Shanghai to Nash ville, Tenn., and was the guest there of Dr. 0. E. Brown, of Vanderbilt University, his plan being to attend a meeting of the Board of Missions held in Nashville during the Student Volunteer Conven tion, and then to proceed to Birmingham, Ala., to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Dr. Allen looks the geuine patriarch, his long, flowing beard, his calm manner and his wonderfully satisfied look testifying to his perfect realization that he has striven to “do the Master’s work.” In an interview given to a Nashville paper, Dr. Allen said: “I do not object to your calling me a Chinaman; but you must not call me a Chinese—• we make a distinction. I am a Chinaman, but I am above all, an American.” Dr. Allen was made a mandarin many years ago, for he impressed the Chinese government with his conservative methods, his profound religious convictions, and with his willingness to learn the people among whom he worked .and for whose good he strove. Dr. Allen has made a careful study of the Chi nese people; he realizes the difficulty in converting them, and he said that missionaries must be ex- > 1311 Hi Dr. YOUNG J. ALLEN. The Golden Age for March 22, 1006. tremely careful in the work done among these people. He speaks learnedly on the governmental troubles in China, and seems to think that the re sult of the present conditions in that country must be such as to give the people more prominence and better laws. The ship on which Dr. Allen returned to this country was the Dakota, and a company of distinguished Chinese came over at the same time, their intention being to study American forms of government. Dr. Allen stated that he thought the “whole commotion in China” would tend to the emancipa tion of its people and would result in radical re form. The greaest literary work which Dr. Allen has translated, is a mammoth work in twenty vol umes on “Woman in All Lands,” but he has also translated many Chinese and Japanese works ,and is the author of a history of the war between Japan and China. He is a prominent member of the So ciety for the Diffusion of Christian and Useful Knowledge, and his wide experiences have given him a fund of general information that the mere student of books could never have attained. It is impossible to pay a fully fitting tribute to the work of this great man,, but it is safe to say that the years which are to come will bear for him and for his class ample testimonials of the gigantic task he has undertaken, to which he has devoted his whole life, and of which we can but hope he will at least see the beginning of fulfillment. The Straton Resolution. In a recent issue of The Golden Age, editorial ref erence was made to the resolutions presented by Rev. John Roach Straton to the Baptist Ministers’ Con ference of Chicago, concerning Professor Foster’s radical book, “The Finality of the Christian Reli gion.” That resolution called attention to the “destruc tive” conclusions of this book—denying the inspira tion of the Bible, the performance of miracles and the resurrection of Christ—and called for Prof. Fos ter’s resignation from his chair in the University of Chicago. A heated debate was precipitated, but ac tion was deferred. Now the announcement comes through the daily press that the following resolution was passed by the Conference on March 4, by a vote of 48 to 22: Whereas, a member of this Conference has is sued from the University of Chicago Press, a book entitled, “The Finality of the Christian Religion,” therefore be it, Resolved: That we as a Conference, declare it to be our resolute conviction that the views set forth in this book are contrary to Scripture, and that its teachings and tendency are subversive of the vital and essential truths of the Christian faith.” While this resolution is perhaps a slight modifi cation of the first, yet such a ringing declaration by such a decisive vote, shows that the preachers who believe and love the Bible as the inspired revelation of God to man, are overwhelmingly in the majority in that great city, and under the shadow of that great university where—none can deny—so much skepticism has been bred. The pity is that there should be a minority vote of 22. All friends of “orthodox truths” rejoice, of course in the brave and successful part which the brilliant young pastor of the Second Baptist church has taken in this matter of wide-spread interest. The people of the South and especially of Georgia, experience a grateful pride that Mr. Straton has been a leader in such a cause. John Roach Straton did a work for the college life in Georgia and the South whose value cannot be computed. At Mercer University where he was a stu dent for several years, his name was the rallying cry of student enthusiasm in the literary societies and intercollegiate contests in debate and oratory. Straton was never defeated—holding the champion ship at one time, both for Georgia and the South. Hundreds of students were, in many colleges, in spired and blessed by his commanding personality and his winning eloquence. Wedding a beautiful and queenly Georgia girl, Miss Georgia Hillyer, and doing magnificent work later in the chair of oratory at Baylor University REV. JOHN ROACH STRATON. in Texas, his countless friends rejoice that his splendid powers are now humbly consecrated to that most beautiful and far-reaching of all callings—the 'Christian ministry. In point of actual numbers, as well as in unity, amity and mutual co-operation, the Nashville Con vention leads all other religious gatherings of which we have any record. The following figures will give some idea of the extent of the work and the num ber of those interested. Accredited delegates, students, 3,069, professors, 286, total, 3,346. Total at Toronto convention four years ago, 2,957. Institutions represented, 700 ,at Toronto, 453. Missionaries present, 144, from twen ty-six mission lands. Representatives of ninety-five foreign missionary agencies, 149. Press representa tives, including speakers, volunteers out of college, Young Men ’s and Young Woman 's Christian Asso ciation Secretaries, 397. Total in attendance, 4,188, not including hundreds not registered, as compared with 2,957 at Toronto. Nearly 19,000 attended the Missionary Exhibit at Watkins Hall. The man who has a fixed purpose which is the result of mature thought commands my ad miration. “The Entrance of Thy Woras Giveth Light" 3