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missionary centers and 432 out-stations, upon which 55 European missionaries are at work, while 27,500 Batak children are pupils of the 494 missionary schools. A great training school for native evangelists and teachers and a well-appointed hospital stand in the valley of Si Lidung, and on the shore of Lake Toba have been erected a large asylum for unfortunate and helpless lepers and an extensive industrial school and printingoffice. To the south the natives brought to Christ through the instrumentality of the Rhenish missionaries are successfully opposing the threatened progress of Islam, while to the north district after district is opening up into the preaching of the Gospel.

The forerunners of the Rhenish missionaries in the work among the Bataks were two American missionaries, Munson and Lyman, who came to the island in 1834, but soon fell victims to the cannibalism of natives.

sion upon the community was produced. (See illustration on page 30.)

The General Assembly of Korea consists of 7 Presbyteries, and these Presbyteries contain some of the largest Presbyterian churches in the world.

The Assembly decided to undertake missionary work among the Chinese, thus launching out on a distinct foreign-mission enterprize. The plan is to secure a definite field (probably in North China) and establish a station there. The work, however, will not be started until a sufficient sum is on hand to pay the expenses and it was proposed to begin the raising of money on November 12th, which is a sort of Korean Thanksgiving Day. The Presbyterian churches were asked to take a special offering for foreign missions on their Thanksgiving Day.

IN INDIA-THE CHRISTIAN CON

GRESS

THE FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN CONFERENCES and cooperation

KOREA

T was a noteworthy event in the history of Christianity in Korea when the first General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church convened Sunday, September 1, 1912; 118 pastors (including 50 foreign missionaries) and 123 elders were present. Dr. H. G. Underwood was elected as the first moderator, and Rev. Kil Moksa, of Pyeng-Yang, vice-modera

tor.

One of the striking features of the first Sunday session of the Assembly was an open-air meeting, consisting of the missionaries, the members of the Presbyterian church at PyengYang, and visitors. Three or four thousand persons were present at this service and a most profound impres

among Christian workers have come to be a recognized order of procedure. There are interdenominational and international conferences. on religion, on missionary policy, on division of territory and on educational work. Such meetings are taking place in Africa, Japan, China, and elsewhere. Last October there were ten sections of the Christian Church in India that united in an Indian Christian congress, held in Madras. The speakers included ministers and missionaries and laymen. In the evening meetings the Lord's Prayer was expounded by 12 European and Indian teachers. Five hundred believers united in a Communion service, in which ministers of 8 different churches took part. This

Congress (which has been held annually for 25 years) proves an inspiring time of fellowship and instruction, as natives and European Christians unite in the worship of their one Lord. This Congress is doing much to break down denominational barriers on the mission-field.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY FOR
MADAGASCAR

THE French HE French Government has adopted a decree for the regulation of public worship in Madagascar which will, in the opinion of friends of religious liberty in France who have seen it, constitute an important advance in the direction of religious liberty. The decree has not yet been officially published, but will appear shortly in the Journal Officiel. While it does not fully satisfy the wishes of our friends, it has been framed, we are assured, in a liberal spirit. The decree puts an end to the arbitrary régime which has hitherto prevailed in Madagascar, and having been adopted by the Conseil d'Etat in Paris, it will, as soon as it is promulgated, become a legislative enactment of the highest authority, which it will be impossible for any illiberal governor-general to set aside. On the other hand, there is not likely to be serious difficulty in obtaining any amendments which experience may prove to be necessary in order to carry out the intentions of the legislature-in this case the weighty body of French jurists known as the Conseil d'Etat.

PROGRESS TOWARD UNION IN
CANADA

CANADA has taken the lead in

active measures looking toward the closer cooperation and union among at least three of the Protes

tant denominations. Various bodies of Baptists, Congregationalists, Methodists and Presbyterians have already united in their own families, and nine years ago the Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches appointed committees to consider organic union, and these committees reported favorably and prepared a basis for union. The Baptists remained apart on account of close Communion, and the Church of England because of emphasis on the "historic Episcopate."

The basis of Union consists of 19 articles not so much as a hard and fast creed as a general basis of agreement. The Methodist and Congregational bodies have already voted in The Presbyterians favor of union. showed a minority of about one-third against union on the basis proposed, and the committee therefore determined that it is not practical at present. The Assembly last June declared in favor of union, but deemed it unwise to consummate it immediately. Recently three theological colleges in Montreal have united in a joint session; Presbyterians and Methodists are planning a similar step in Winnepeg and in Toronto and Vancouver. A Union hymn-book is proposed. If the three denominations unite the result will be a membership of over 600,000 as opposed to the 200,000 Anglicans and the 135,000 Baptists. Canada is in a marked degree a Christian country. Rev. Wm. T. Gunn, general secretary of the Congregational Union, reports that there is not a place of 150 inhabitants where Christ is not preached. The great task for the future is the education of the large immigrant population.

OF THE MOSLEM WORLD

R, D.D., CAIRO, EGYPT.

"The Moslem World," "Islam," etc.

Coslem empire. It is the heart of lam. Cairo is the head, where regious thought and education, conoversy and Moslem propagandism rough the press have their real cenr. And Constantinople has, since e Ottoman Turks made it their pital, been the hand of Islam, the nter of its political power and also, as! of grievous political persecution.

Mecca The Religious Capital

I. Mecca is not only the religious pital of the cradle of the Moslem ith and the birthplace of their ophet, but it is the central shrine of lam, toward which for centuries ayers and pilgrimages have gravited. The whole Old Testament arrative as it is given in distorted rm, both in the Koran and in tradion, finds in Mecca its real environent. Adam and Eve met each other

Mt. Arafah. Eve lies buried at ddah. God himself appointed the ace for the Kaaba, and the stone is ill sacred on which Abraham stood hen he erected the building!

re

The importance of Mecca is not in s stationary population of scarcely >,000, but in the number of pilgrims om every nation of Islam that visit every year. Statistics are hopelessly ontradictory and confusing as irds the number of those who visit e city annually. According to Turkh official estimates in 1907, there ere no less than 281,000 pilgrims. heir coming is an index of the owth and strength of Islam, and eir return from Mecca to their ative villages in Java, Bengal, West frica, Cape Colony and Russia,

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spiring time of fellowship and
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RELIGIOUS LIBERTY FOR
MADAGASCAR

THE French Government

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spirit. The decree puts an end to t
arbitrary régime which has hither
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been adopted by the Conseil d'Et
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PROGRESS TOWARD UNION IN
CANADA

CANADA has taken the lead i

active measures looking towar the closer cooperation and unio among at least three of the Protes

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THREE STRATEGIC CENTERS OF THE MOSLEM WORLD
BY REV. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, D.D., CAIRO, EGYPT.
Author of "Arabia, the Cradle of Islam," "The Moslem World," "Islam," etc.

T

HE unity of the Moslem world is recognized today as never before, by the secular press, by students of Islam, by the Christian Church in its missionary councils, and by Moslems themselves. The most vivid illustration, however, of this unity is found in the present-day importance and influence of the three great capitals of the Moslem world which knit together, by the warp and woof of their cosmopolitan influence, the whole. Mecca, Constantinople and Cairo stand out supreme as centers of influence to-day. Every Moslem throughout the world, even at the uttermost extremities of the vast brotherhood, as, for example, those who are in Japan or in China, has personal relations almost daily with these three cities. He stretches his prayer carpet toward Mecca; he prays on Fridays, not for his own local sovereign or ruler, but for the caliph of Stamboul; and the chances are that if he reads the Koran, it bears on its title-page the imprint of Cairo. His hope for salvation culminates in a pilgrimage to Mecca; his hope for victory over the unbelievers who oppress Moslems, and for whom the day of vengeance will come, is in the great Rajah of Constantinople; and his hope to succeed in worsting his Christian opponents by arguments, is fostered by the productions of the Cairo press. Mecca has not lost its importance with the passing of the centuries, but is more than ever a city whose pulse throbs with a religious life that finds an outlet to the farthest limits of the

Moslem empire. It is the heart of Islam. Cairo is the head, where religious thought and education, controversy and Moslem propagandism through the press have their real cen

And Constantinople has, since the Ottoman Turks made it their capital, been the hand of Islam, the center of its political power and also, alas! of grievous political persecution.

Mecca The Religious Capital

I. Mecca is not only the religious capital of the cradle of the Moslem faith and the birthplace of their prophet, but it is the central shrine of Islam, toward which for centuries prayers and pilgrimages have gravitated. The whole Old Testament narrative as it is given in distorted form, both in the Koran and in tradition, finds in Mecca its real environment. Adam and Eve met each other at Mt. Arafah. Eve lies buried at Jiddah. God himself appointed the place for the Kaaba, and the stone is still sacred on which Abraham stood when he erected the building!

The importance of Mecca is not in its stationary population of scarcely 60,000, but in the number of pilgrims from every nation of Islam that visit it every year. Statistics are hopelessly contradictory and confusing as regards the number of those who visit the city annually. According to Turkish official estimates in 1907, there were no less than 281,000 pilgrims. Their coming is an index of the growth and strength of Islam, and their return from Mecca to their native villages in Java, Bengal, West Africa, Cape Colony and Russia,

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