issionary sacrifices the comfort of a settled dwelling to
carry the Gospel to those who dwell outside the radius touched by the
central station.

By the exercise of his peculiar gift, each expresses the longing that in
the hearts of the people he sees around, without God and without hope,
may take place that greatest of miracles called conversion.
Nevertheless, every missionary has ever to guard against a most subtle
and deadening influence which may be likened to poisonous gas in the
enemy's country, lulling him to a condition wherein the idolatrous
practices of the people around, instead of stirring him to greater
activity, come to be regarded as customs of the nations amongst whom he
lives, deplorable but interesting practices.

The horror experienced on first seeing men bow down to wood and stone
may give way to a complacency which ceases to expect an immediate
response to the quickening and convicting power of the Spirit of God,
and philosophises on the gradual emergence of light from the kingdom of
darkness. The deadening of that vitality which drives a man to the
seeking of the lost is one of the master-strokes of the enemy of souls,
and one which no man doing spiritual work can afford to ignore.

The sense of this urgency, and a great desire that our Chinese
fellow-workers might realise the fullness of their vocation as
evangelists, emboldened us to move in what was then a somewhat new
direction so far as North China was concerned, by the holding of a six
days' Mission for women in our new church in the spring after its
dedication.

Miss Gregg of Hwailu, in the Province of Chihli, when travelling through
Shansi some years previously had conducted meetings for schoolgirls in
several stations, upon which the blessing of God manifestly rested. From
that time plans were being matured in the minds of the missionaries at
Hwochow for a Mission to women in that city at the earliest possible
date. The erection of a church building which could hold the number
expected made that dream a possibility. The city and villages were
visited by the women evangelists, placards were posted on the walls, and
every effort was made to widely advertise. Prayer was offered throughout
the Church that God would so prevent us in all our doings that we might
see His salvation.

The men gladly undertook the arrangements for catering, made necessary
by the fact that women cannot go to the shops to buy food for
themselves, and this depart