traveling secretary employed by the student union. tion has been given not only to a healthy extension, but more especially to developing the efficiency of the associations. One of the most notable points of progress has been in the thoroughness and fruitfulness of the Bible study department. Mr. Fisher has prepared a course in the life of Christ similar in plan to the Sharman outlines. A second course is to follow. Through systematic visitation by the secretaries and prominent volunteer helpers, and through well organized district conferences, the working efficiency of the associations is being decidedly increased.

The mission schools throughout the country have gladly welcomed the association and are practically all organized. In regard to the rapidly multiplying government schools, so important to reach but so difficult to enter, missionaries and native workers are agreed that the association is preeminently the organization best fitted to cultivate this field.

Historical Estimate. The first five years of the history of the association was a time of strong reaction against all foreign influences and of theological discussion that tried as by fire the faith of the Christians of Japan. The years immediately preceding had been a period of large ingathering and of the unquestioned authority of the foreign teachers, so that the reaction was the more keenly felt. Yet the association went quietly on, winning its way into the hearts and confidence of the Japanese Christians. Under the wise supervision of Mr. Swift the association claimed no influence or authority as a foreign institution. It appealed to the logic of facts, as they were acknowledged to exist in Japan, and claimed only the value and need of a specific work for young men by young men. It had no theological discussions. Insisting only on the broad fundamental principle of the evangelical test of membership, it laid emphasis upon the methods of practical Christian work, Christian fellowship, and the leading of young men to Jesus Christ.

The beginning of the second period of five years was marked by the dedication of the Tokyo association building and by the Japan-China War. It was a time of intensive rather than extensive work in Christian circles, of planting and watering, especially within the lines of the church itself. And yet there was a sense in which the influence of the Christian church was widening-and with it the influence of the association-no less than in the former days of broad evangelistic labors and of large harvests. The activity of Christians during the Japan-China War had brought into prominence the practical, humanitarian side of that religion and the loyalty of its followers to their emperor and their country. In the larger national life that followed the war the influence of Christian members in the Diet, of Christian editors on prominent papers, of Christian teach

ers and students in the schools, of Christian officers and men in army and navy, of Christian business men in financial circles, was making itself felt in the development of a Christian public sentiment. And in this influence the association had its share. Its building was the centre of the philanthropic work during the war; its president for part of the time was the chief justice of the empire and for the remainder of the time Captain-afterward Rear Admiral-Serata of the navy; and its board of directors was composed entirely of the Christian laymen who were at the time prominent in political, educational, and financial circles.

The third period of the work of the association is just opening and is marked by the revision of the treaties, giving to Japan complete tariff and judicial autonomy and placing her on a par with the Christian nations of the West. It is the time of the association's opportunity in molding the life of a rising nation. The value of the work done in the years past, whether measured by the souls saved or by the silent influences in the national life, cannot be estimated. the past is as the dawn to the full sunrise when compared with the present opportunity, and no institution in Japan, aside from the church of God itself, comes to the opportunity better equipped. Will it go forward?

Yet

Japan has at present thirty-four student associations and nine city associations having 882 and 891 members respectively, a total of forty-three associations and 1,173 members. Two student associations have buildings with a total value of $10,000, and two city associations have buildings with a total value of $50,000. In addition are several building and endowment funds.

V. W. HELM.

SOUTH AFRICA

The Young Men's Christian Association cannot claim to have made striking headway in South Africa, for to-day there are less than half a dozen fully equipped associations between Cape Town and the Zambezi, although scattered throughout the land in connection with the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa are numerous fellowship societies which the Dutch Church has designated "Young Men's Christian Associations." These societies, or "Y. M. C. A.'s," so called, being denominational organizations open to both sexes, are not affiliated in any way with the South African Council of Young Men's Christian Associations.

Association work in South Africa was inaugurated in the year 1865, when the Cape Town association was formed. Ten years later the Pietermaritzburg (Natal) association was started, followed after a lengthy interval by the formation of associations at Johannesburg (Transvaal), Kimberley (Cape Colony), Durban (Natal), Bloemfontein (Orange River Colony), Queenstown (Cape Colony), Ladysmith (Natal), and East London (Cape Colony). Durban, Bloemfontein and Ladysmith have temporarily closed their doors because of war troubles.

As a field for association operations South Africa perhaps ranks second to none, and in the near future, when peace and prosperity again prevail throughout the land, it may be reasonably affirmed that exceptional opportunities will be presented to all the larger centers for the pursuit of allround aggressive association work, and the South African Council will aim to meet the demands as they present themselves.

All the associations are represented on the South African Council of Young Men's Christian Associations which aims to meet in conference every alternate year in one of the cities where an association is situated. The council is merely an advisory body and possesses no legislative powers, but much help and impetus emanates from the gatherings of the representatives.

Cape Town. The metropolitan association in South Africa finds its home in Cape Town, where the work has been carried on for the past thirty-five years, although it is only sixteen years since the association secured its building. Situate right at the gateway of the continent and with thousands of young men arriving every month by the ocean mail

steamers, the field presented for operations is an exceptionally fine one, and the records of the past few years testify in a striking manner to the practical usefulness of the association, which has doubled its membership since 1895. As an evidence of the moving character of the membership and as showing the wide range of influence at the command of the association, it might be stated that the actual membership changes one half every twelve months, while countless numbers of new arrivals make a temporary home of the premises (being furnished with monthly complimentary tickets) as they pass through the city on their way to the northward. The boarding and dining departments have proved a very successful feature of the Cape Town work, some thirty resident members being cared for on the association premises, and the dining room being largely patronized by the business men of the city. Every attention is given to the four-sided nature of the work, and the aim to keep things well balanced has been met with gratifying results. The association premises are now in course of enlargement; a sum exceeding £10,000 is being expended on the building, which, when completed, will stand in the front rank of colonial association buildings.

Pietermaritzburg. The senior Natal association is ever on the forward move and some two or three years ago considerable additions were made to its building, so that to-day the association is in possession of a good property, with everything needed for the carrying on of a strong work for young men. The association has also given special attention to the boarding department, and a large suite of wellfurnished rooms is a pleasing feature. The general association agencies are carried on with great encouragement and the physical department has ample provision made for its needs in the form of a spacious and well-arranged gym

nasium.

Kimberley. The association at the diamond fields has pursued a very useful career since its formation about five years ago and young men resident at Kimberley have found the place of immense benefit to them, the homelike atmosphere of the building tending much towards the success of the work.

Johannesburg. Owing to the war the work in the Transvaal has naturally suffered to a considerable degree, and during the past year operations have entirely ceased. However, in the near future special attention is to be given to this field; and when the country is handed over by the military authorities, the association officers will set about reorganizing at Johannesburg, with a view to forming an association worthy in every way of the great need and press

ing demand of a home and work for young men in the golden city of South Africa. A movement is on foot to sell the present building and rebuild elsewhere.

East London. The latest addition to the association family in South Africa is at East London, where a healthy branch has recently been organized which gives every promise of a useful life.

Queenstown. The work at this centre has not made much headway during the past year or two, and latterly the association has materially suffered owing to many of its members, including the secretary, going to the front; but the record of the past bears evidence of solid, plodding effort.

The Military Department of the Young Men's Christian Association is known in Great Britain and South Africa as "The Soldier's Christian Association." Though perhaps those of us who have been identified with this branch of the work during the Anglo-Boer war of 1898-1900 would have preferred to attach our world-wide title to this, in common with the other departments of the work, still the British organization makes it a separate branch; however, it is generally identified by the military authorities with the Young Men's Christian Association. During the present campaign the department has been, in every sense of the term, right at the front. Tents and workers have followed the main columns and every provision possible has been made for the troops, the efforts in this direction winning the highest commendation from Field Marshal Lord Roberts, while the services rendered have been appreciated to the fullest degree by the men themselves.

A staff of some thirty workers has been in the field and the association has been directly represented at some twentyfour different camps, the cost of the equipment reaching something between £8,000 and £10,000, all of which has been raised by the London Council, whose headquarters are at Exeter Hall. The South African campaign, as far as the association is concerned, was organized by the late A. H. Wheeler, the headquarters secretary in Great Britain. Mr. Wheeler was invalided home in March, 1900, and died a few months later. Upon Mr. Wheeler's retirement from the work in South Africa in March, the general secretary of the Cape Town association assumed control and continues office in that capacity. Before leaving South Africa Lord Roberts conveyed to Mr. Sprigg an expression of his high appreciation of the good work done by the Soldier's Christian Association and he tendered his best thanks to the staff of workers for their excellent services during the campaign.