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Red Cross and the other built and managed by the municipality. Both of them gave evidence of bad management while the latter presented practically every feature of what such an institution should not be. Its inmates presented one of the most pitiable spectacles that I have ever seen. It is commonly regarded as a place into which patients go to die, and is thoroughly deserving of the reputation it enjoys.

The Missionary Conference has desired for some time to establish at least a small institution into which the afflicted members of the native Christian body could be received and cared for on proper and adequate lines. Practically all existing institutions are located on the thoroughly unsatisfactory coastal plains. In a small region near Matsumoto the Mission includes the area with the smallest rainfall on the main island of Japan. It is at an altitude of about 2,000 feet and presents various sites which are thoroughly suited for the establishment and conduct of a sanatarium for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. I have come very definitely to the conclusion that the establishment and conduct of such a sanatarium would do more than anything else to exhibit to the Japanese those essential aspects of the spirit of the Christian faith and impart, as nothing else would do, the force and impact necessary to the general missionary work of the diocese. I include in my recommendations one on this subject and venture to hope that its provision, if at all possible, will take precedence of the re-inforcement of the existing staff and every other consideration.

Bishop Hamilton, in his last report received, says:—

"Two of our foreign staff retired this year, Miss Young, after nearly 27 years of service, and Rev. J. Macqueen Baldwin, after nearly 33 years. The resolution adopted at our Annual Conference expresses the feelings of the whole Mission:

"We express our deep thankfulness to God for their long years of faithful service in Japan, and the fruits of their labors here, and our keen sense of loss at their departure; and we assure them of our continued affection,

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and our prayers that they may long enjoy health and happiness in their well-earned rest and future work." I have confirmed 122 already this year, making a total of more than 900 confirmed by me in Mid-Japan. Each year there is an increasing number of second generation confirmees, children of Christian parents, baptized as infants. The pendulum is swinging in Japan from the religious indifference of several years to religious interest and inquiry, and this is so all over Japan. The best selling books this year are those dealing more or less directly with religion. It is not all interest in Christianity, by any means, but Christianity is getting its share. Mid-Japan has just finished a Forward Movement extending over the whole Diocese. Special preparation by prayer and otherwise was begun in May and evangelistic meetings began in October, the speakers being all from our own staff. The last meetings were held this week up in the mountain district behind Toyohashi. More than 300 names have been given in altogether of people wishing to become Christians. How many of these will be ultimately gathered in time alone will tell. Earnest prayer is asked for our workers that they may have wisdom and strength given to them to bring in these new inquirers."

Conclusion of Triennial Report. The Board of Management, in presenting the foregoing report to the Board of Missions, is moved by a deep sense of gratitude and thanksgiving for the record of devotion, of generosity, of active work, of real results, contained therein. The Board is also moved by a similar sense of the unparalleled opportunities and responsibilities placed before and upon the "Church Militant here in earth” in this generation. These opportunities and responsibilities constitute the strongest possible call to the Church for such a strengthening and development of its spiritual and material resources as will enable it to render a commensurate service "in the will of God".

S. GOULD,

General Secretary.

III.

THE SECOND TRIENNIAL REPORT OF THE GENERAL BOARD OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN CANADA. 1921-1924.

In presenting this the Second Triennial Report of the G.B.R.E., it will be well to remind ourselves at the very beginning, of some of those fundamental principles which underly our task and to summarize briefly how the Board is endeavouring to give effect to them. These fundamental principles can best be stated in the form of three general propositions, viz.,

1. The Church has always been a teaching institution.

2. The great task before the Church to-day, as always, is the task of bringing in the Kingdom of God-the realization of the prayer which our Lord taught us to pray-"Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth."

3. Of all the channels available for the fulfilment of this task, there is none so effective as that which has to do with the teaching and training of the young and growing life of the nation.

To put these principles into effect is, in a word, the task with which this Board has been entrusted, and it is legitimate to ask just how it is endeavoring to fulfil its function.

There are at least ten things the G.B.R.E. is doing at the present time to fulfil its obligations, viz.,

1. It is helping to arouse the homes of our land to a recognition of their responsibility for the religious education and training of our boys and girls, by means of:

i. The Little Helpers.

ii. The Home Department and Sunday School by Post. iii. The circulation of special literature and the conducting of special campaigns.

2. It is providing for the boys and girls of our Church systematic instruction in the Bible, the Church Catechism, and the Church's work, so that they may be trained in a knowledge of those things which a Christian ought to know and believe to his soul's health.

3. It is providing definite Courses of Study for Young People's and Adult Bible Classes, dealing with such practical problems of Christian living as will give to our young people a vision of the possibilities of service and show them how they may invest their lives so as to procure the best results.

4. Through its programmes of mid-week gatherings for older boys, older girls and young people, it is securing an extension of the time devoted to religious education, providing channels of activity whereby the truth taught may find expression in definite acts of service for Christ and His Church, and thus helping to solve the problem of holding these young people to the Church.

5. By means of its Lesson Helps and Story Papers, it is bringing each week to over 115,000 boys and girls of our Church, good wholesome reading and such definite teaching as will build them up in the Church's faith.

6. By means of its general pamphlet literature, most of which is distributed free of charge, it is bringing to our Clergy and Church Workers, the best methods and plans for carrying on the great task of Religious Education.

7. Through its Teacher Training Courses for use in the parishes, as well as through its course of training provided at Summer Schools, it is bringing within the reach of those who are at present teaching, and those who may become teachers, the opportunity of becoming efficient for their work.

8. It is providing in 7 of our 10 Theological Colleges, lectures in religious pedagogy, thus supplementing the work of the Colleges in this department.

9. In co-operation with the Boards of Religious Education of other communions, it is seeking to find a solution to the problem of religious instruction in our public and high schools.

10. Through the Field Work of its Secretaries, it is carrying to the dioceses and to many individual parishes, that help and inspiration which the personal visit and message alone can bring.

The Report which follows will be, to some extent, a development of the details of these lines of activity.

A. THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENTS.

The main work of your Board falls under the direction of four departments, viz.