missionary work commensurate with the appalling need in China. When at least two whole provinces-Kueicheo, and Sin-kiang-are without a single medical missionary, and provinces twice as large as England have only one or two medical missions, it is without our province to suggest localities. But in the interests of the Moslems, and as a most practical effort to make known the Gospel among these long-neglected people, we ask that medical work be taken up in all untouched strongholds of Islam in China. In addition, we suggest that in the provinces where the Moslems are in strong force the medical staff at existing Christian hospitals be strengthened, especially the medical missions in provincial capitals. The addition of a ward to mission hospitals for the benefit of Mohammedans would in many districts be greatly appreciated. Lastly, could not some medical missionary with experience among Moslems in other lands be set free to inaugurate this important work?

A more urgent need, a wider door of opportunity than women's work for women, it would be impossible to suggest. It is quite true that in some districts a word spoken quietly by those in power in the mosques leads to the apparent closing of the previously open doors; but this need not discourage any who take up this work. We have proved again and again that such closing of doors is only apparent and for a short season; in answer to believing prayer these same doors reopen as widely as before.

Mission stations in China are, very frequently, at or near the large cities. These large centres offer special inducement for work among the masses of Chinese. But in considering the needs of the Chinese Moslems, we should bear in mind there is a large population of Mohammedans settled in the country, as well as a very influential

population often at the provincial capitals. Both classes need to be remembered; in some places whole villages are practically Moslem. The placing of a few workers in these important country centres of Moslem influence would be a great gain to ordinary work among the Chinese, and, at the same time, afford full scope for quiet testimony as to the truth, and an open door for the Nicodemus type of inquirer. Those who have worked among the Mohammedans and visited these country colonies of followers of Islam fully realize the need for such workers.

There is need of Arabic speaking missionaries. By no means is this suggestion placed thus low on our list owing to the preceding workers being of greater importance! It would be much nearer the mark to say all suggested workers are of equal importance, of equal urgency. Among Moslems in China, there is the highest scope and real need for workers able to deal with all classes. When the Church of the Living God remembers that there are in China more than ten millions, taking the low estimate, of Mohammedans whose creed as expressed by themselves is "Mohammed, he is the light of the world, he is the Chosen One," we do not believe they will turn a deaf ear to the appeal.

Here is the need for Arabic reading and speaking missionaries. Some who have retired from the full battle in lands of Islam might render invaluable service even by visiting China for a few months or longer. The Siberian trains are coming to China crowded with passengers; could not some missionary with experience in Moslem work take this fortnight's journey and spend some months in making the Gospel known to our Mullas?

Young students of the Koran, Mullas with portions, whole Korans it may have been, have come to our gospel hall, have invited discussion, have spent hours in earnest,

animated, but generally well-controlled conversation. They have asked us to discuss in Arabic; they have come again and again, and at the close of these long talks have said, "It is most unsatisfactory discussing religion in Chinese. Have you no one who can meet us on the Koran, no one who can meet us on our own ground?"

The Scriptures, by the great kindness of the Bible societies, have been placed in the hands of those who in the mosques can read Arabic; direct testimony has been borne by lip and by the lives of converted Chinese to the Living Saviour of whom they know so little; but each visit from such Moslems and each visit to the larger mosques deepens the sense of the urgent need for workers conversant with Arabic.

In these days of wide-spread testimony to Israel, converted Jews travel through many lands, carrying the Gospel to their own people; may we suggest that a similar privilege be granted to the Mohammedans in China? From India, Arabia, and Turkey, priests of Islam come to China and strengthen the faith of the Moslems. Is it too much to ask that some converted Mullas, there are many such in India, should be set free and helped on their way to visit the followers of Islam in China? That the Chinese Moslems should have the opportunity to meet and converse with one converted from Islam is surely both reasonable and practical.

A commencement is now being made with tracts in Chinese; but as they are not yet available, if indeed translated, the need of special literature is very great. Tracts dealing with the great subjects that are so often a stumbling-block to the Moslem are needed in Arabic and Chinese. I have known a Mohammedan highly indignant because he thought the Trinity included the Virgin Mary. The nature of sin, the Atonement, the Divine

Sonship of Christ, and other important doctrines need to be cleared of the gross mistakes in which they are viewed by followers of Islam. Chinese tracts in Moslem mould with a plain statement of the truth, and by preference with title page printed in Chinese and Arabic would be of great value. Other tracts needed are such as are in use in India; short extracts from the Koran, such as, "ask pardon for thy sins," in Chinese and Arabic, just as in India there are such in English and Arabic. A brief and moderate account of the life of the prophet of Islam, carefully avoiding the depths of iniquity which the masses of Moslems know little about, and as Dr. Bruce of Persia used to maintain, the less they know the better.

The Arabic tracts required for the Mullas will best be decided by those expert in this language; I know of no such Christian in China.

In correspondence with friends in Cairo, this suggestion has been sent; we gladly give it a place in the list. "Let some missionaries have a year or more in Egypt to help them in taking up work among the Moslems in China."

Without multiplying organizations, could not some plan be devised to unite in service, and to strengthen the hands of all who are working among the Moslems in China f

I

XVIII

ISLAM IN RUSSIA

MISS JENNIE VON MEYER, TIFLIS

TAKE for granted that you realize what "Russia"

means: A state covering 2,816,143 square miles,

with one hundred and fifty million inhabitants, belonging to about forty nationalities and tribes, confessing something like twenty different religious creeds. I take for granted also that you realize what Islam in Russia means: twenty million followers of the false prophet, belonging to about seventeen nationalities and tribes, but forming one great Moslem family; the one short creed: "There is no god but God, and Mohammed is the prophet of God" moulding into one these twenty millions with all their differences of blood, race, occupation, ambition. You, who know Islam, will expect to find the Moslem in Russia the same as everywhere: the fanatical, intolerant, proud believer, steadily pushing on the spread of his creed, caring neither for civil nor ecclesiastical power when he finds it encroaching upon his sacred right to perfect liberty of creed and religious practice. Such you know the Moslem in Africa, in East and Central Asia, and such we find him in Russia.

We cannot here trace the history of Islam in Russia, or even the state of Islam in Russia at the present time; this has been done by more than one competent person and has been presented to friends of missionary work in a short essay by Dr. S. M. Zwemer in the Missionary Review of the World, and lately in a paper by Mrs. Sophia Bobrovnikoff, whose close acquaintance with Russian