of human experience; its doctrinal tradition does not starve the mind. The founder of Christianity said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." This heightened life has been clearly set forth in all the best periods of the Church's history, and it has been manifested openly in the lives of many of the saints. This fulness of life however always involves discipline. By discipline we must resolutely cut off what we like best at the moment, we must endure what is painful and dangerous. We must die with Christ if we are to reign with Him. Only through the fellowship of His sufferings can we experience the power of His resurrection. No artist, no moulder of thought, no successful leader of men was ever developed without discipline. We must never lose sight of the fact that the aim of all Christian discipline is the development of a fuller personality, which shall function in human society, and ultimately possess all the richest treasurers of life. The ideal Christian will be a lover of beauty, whether in art, literature, or music; he will be inspired by a passionate desire for truth in the investigation of natural phenomena; and because nothing human will be alien to him, his historical sense will be highly developed. He will delight in the growth of all normal bodily powers; and he will ever be ready for stirring adventures, whether physical, mental or spiritual. This then is the conclusion to which we seem to be led, that there is a way of solving the conflict between religion and life, of reconciling the demands of the Gospel with the exacting conditions to which we must adapt ourselves in the modern world. It is indeed possible to be a sincere and loyal follower of Jesus Christ in the twentieth century, and at the same time to enjoy all that is best in nature and in civilization. It is possible, in the words of St. Paul, to "use this world, as not abusing it," remembering always that "the fashion of this world passeth away." But in our use of the world, we must exercise strict discipline over ourselves. It is significant that the Revised Version translates the words just quoted (I. Cor. vii, 31) in a way that implies asceticism: "those that use the world, as not using it to the full." The ideal Christian need not be torn between two worlds and distracted by their conflicting claims. He should be the master of both worlds. He can so live that the eternal may be reconciled and harmonized with the temporal, not by being its enemy, but by being the light which shines through and transforms it. The life which was infused into humanity by the Incarnation was given in order that it might be reproduced in each one of us. That life was to be the light of men. It was not to be a world-despising or a world-renouncing life. "God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." This new spiritual power which came into the world through the Son of Mary was to produce everywhere a world-accepting and a world-transforming life. "All things work together for good to them that love God." "Rejoice always!" "All things are yours"-such was the joyful message which early Christianity proclaimed to a despairing, decaying world. Such is the message of the Church today for those who have ears to hear. We too may possess all things, but only on condition that they do not possess us. All things are ours-but only if we are Christ's. D EAREST MOTHER: On Board S. S. Luenyi, Here we are back on the river and in the nicest company! I want to tell you all about Wuhu, but as that is going to be a very long story, I must tell you a little about the present first. We heard on Thursday morning that the boat would be at the hulk about 2.45. We had been asked to lunch by the Lunds so Sister Edith and we went over about 12.30, had a very nice lunch and left immediately after. Going back to the Convent, we packed up our bags (they had sent for coolies to carry them), said good-bye to Mrs. Ch'ing and started off accompanied by three coolies, four Sisters, and Mr. Ch'ing. It was piping hot, our first taste of Summer. I was mighty glad to have a man carry my polo coat. We had quite a wait till the boat came in sight and it was well after four before we got away. We could see some ecclesiastics on the boat as it came along side, but not of our own missions save one of the Chinese clergy of Shanghai who was traveling first class Chinese on the deck below us (English boats won't allow the Chinese on our deck). It was not really saying farewell to the Sisters as they expect to come down to the boat when we go through again on Wednesday. After the boat pulled out and we could not see them to wave to, we went in to tea. We found quite a friendly company gathered at the table, first of all, My Lord Bishop of Hongkong, or properly Victoria, a most remarkable person. I had heard of him before in Peking. He had just been consecrated, was a high up C. M. S. official-General Secretary, I think. He is in a curious position, inexperienced, not even speaking the language but he has been most friendly, with absolutely no side. He is the only Bishop around who is a lordship, as he is colonial, not missionary. He has a chaplain, and there is another English priest and two couples from Canton. One of the men is an Archdeacon, but I am not quite sure of their names. Then there is an old French Roman Catholic Bishop, who has been out here thirty years, and never once home. He looks like a patriarch. His work is far in the interior, he has been out to a conference in Hongkong. His chaplain is of rather a common type, they spoke to me asking if I spoke French and inquired about the Sisters. I thought we certainly are in for a pleasant trip. Suddenly I looked up and saw Mrs. S-coming toward me. With her is Bishop Graves' Secretary, whom we met at Detroit. We four women have had a table together and our chairs on deck. After tea, or rather at tea, Mrs. S- had one of the Chinese clergy up, the one from Shanghai. It turned out that they had been very unpleasant to him about letting him up but I hope he feels his trouble was repaid. I was particularly delighted to meet him as Sister Edith had been most enthusiastic about him. The Rev. Mr. Chong, formerly at Nanking, is now in charge of our second parish in Shanghai, St. Peter's. Mrs. S― says he is thought to be the best pastor in China. I told him about Choming and her husband and he took their names and addresses. He is a St. John's man himself. I have learnt since that there are twenty Chinese below going up to the Synod, among them Bishop Sing who alas! speaks no English, so I should not get much out of him if I could meet him. But it makes me furious to think we are not allowed to associate with our own brothers. The Sisters always travel by Japanese boat and go first class Chinese, partly because it is cheap, but mostly because they feel as I do. A foreigner can't go Chinese on an English boat. Also one has to speak the language and carry one's own bedding, so it isn't usually practical but the Sisters do it and say they find it gives them an opening and then they can travel with their servants and Bible women and pupils and not be separated. That has been the joy of being with the Sisters-they really live close to the people. I can't tell you how happy I am over the work at Wuhu. It is a work with which one can be entirely in sympathy. I was so proud of the Order and of my associate's pin, never so proud before as I shall be henceforth. The six days with them were days of real privilege. I wanted you there to enjoy them with me and I feel I must come back to China! I have felt that about each place in turn, but China is different. I don't believe I can talk about it as I can of Japan. It is an entirely different experience. Now, of course I knew we should be at home with the Sisters-as you know I have not been homesick at any time and I have been remarkably lucky in going from friend to friend and in leaving new friends behind, so I have not felt lonely, still it was a great joy to be in such a loving atmosphere for six whole days. I think that is the striking thing about the Sisters' compound. I have not felt it the same anywhere else love for all. I have always felt close to Sister Edith. She is a splendid woman. Catherine thinks her the biggest, broadest person we have met. Then you know dear Sister Constance, her simplicity of faith and character. Sister Deborah, too, is most likeable. I think one thing that makes the atmosphere at St. Lioba's is that all love the work. Sister Constance's one cross is the language, but she has never been lonely for one moment at Wuhu, or wished herself away. Then there is Sister Ruth. I think she is a most wonderful acquisition. I have grown very fond of her. She was an evangelistic worker in Hankow, has the language well and adores the Chinese, is a very warm hearted person altogether. I have been thinking earnestly as to what makes the quality of the work so different in different stations. Given the personal devotion to a personal Lord and Master Jesus; a human yet divine, ever present Friend, the whole work becomes such a very personal matter. The Chinese become individuals, their personality becomes of supreme importance-gulfs are bridged and there is a medium. Even Mrs., who does live close to them, says they are incom prehensible. I don't believe they are at Wuhu. I have always been puzzled about the position of Mr. Ch'ing, the Sisters' teacher. I don't know how much you remember about him, but he really is a most important person and a perfect dear. I really love that man. I wish you could know him. He will symbolize for me henceforth the power of Christ. He has the sweetest face, and when one thinks what the knowledge of our Lord has done for him and his family! In a way Wuhu has settled a good many problems for me. I am sure now that C. T. Wang is right to meddle in politics (as Mr. Wong doubts), that Boone University and Mrs. Lee's work and our hospitals and St. Hilda's and all are right; we are here to save all of life I am sure there is nothing of Mr. Ch'ing's life, no nook or cranny that is not changed and he is immensely higher in the social scale and his life is happier and more comfortable, for the light that has been shed in his heart—and you see it is all so recent and the contrast so sharp and sudden, he knows perfectly well to Whom he owes it. Religion is just the same at home, the same laws, the same life, but colors are softened, angles made smooth, and we have lost sight of the Source and Founder of it all. And then we are in desperate danger of resting in the outer substance; even Mr. Ch'ing some day may find the loaves and fishes mean too much to him. He confesses that they are what attracted him-there is of course a danger there too-when you see how much the Sisters can do to benefit those about them materially you can understand the term "rice" Christian, but surely love does not hold back, it gives and gives and gives again. It had distressed me very much-the constant fight with the rickisha men elsewhere and it was noticeable that we never had anything but good will at Wuhu. I suppose the Sisters pay a few pennies more, but not much—I think it is just a difference of attitude. Well, this is a long dissertation, I ought to get down to facts because it was mainly through the facts I have grasped all this. I told you how we were met. It is hard to tell you about Wuhu because you've heard so much. So please bear with some repetitions. First of all as one approaches St. Lioba's, one sees Our wall (that the Auxiliary in Southern Ohio built). The wall completely encloses the Sisters' land but they could not enclose a good sized pond because while they own land on the other side there is a tiny |