ety had been organized at Canton; Mexico, where the work had been divided into a north and a south Mexican mission; Italy, where the English Baptists had turned their mission in Naples over to the board; Brazil, where the work showed a marked advance, and the line of missions extended from Manaos, on the Amazon, to São Paulo in the south, a distance of several thousand miles; and Japan. In all, the missions returned 100 churches, 140 out stations, 82 missionaries (35 men and 47 women), 27 ordained native missionaries, 101 unordained native laborers (87 men and 14 women), 845 additions by baptism, 5,347 members, 2,446 pupils in Sunday schools, 57 houses of worship, and 43 day schools, with 1,165 pupils. The contributions offered by the native members amounted to $7,110. Of the whole number of members, 1,802 were in China, 341 in Africa, 518 in Italy, 1,091 in Mexico, 1,524 in Brazil, and 71 in Japan.

The Home Mission Board had employed (most ly in co-operation with State boards) 653 missionaries, against 467 in 1897, and returned 6,552 baptisms during the year, against 4,739 in 1897, and a total of 12,983 additions to the churches, against 9,509 in the previous year. Five hundred and twelve Sunday schools had been organized, with 14,768 teachers and pupils. The amount raised and expended on the field for home missions was $65,819, and $50,050 had been collected and expended in building houses of worship, making a total amount of money raised $115,869, an increase of $5,232 from the previous year. The whole amount of cash received by the board from the States was $61,794. Co-operative work among the negroes was carried on in Georgia, Missouri, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia. In Alabama the work had been discontinued through the withdrawal of the State board, while in South Carolina, the three years' agreement having expired, the arrangement was not continued. This co-operative work had been productive of much good in many ways, not the least of which was the increased harmony it produced between the races. The work in Cuba had been resumed, with stations at Havana, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, and several towns and cities in Santa Clara province. It was proposed to occupy Pinar del Rio, in the western province, and ultimately to cover the whole island with missions. The Woman's Missionary Union was becoming more and more helpful every year. Through its agency $14,129 in money and the value of $22,567 in boxes had been contributed to the board; and the women were represented in work among Germans, Mexicans, French, Chinese, and Italians. They had undertaken the charge of industrial schools among the Germans in Baltimore, and had labored with the colored people through Bible classes, industrial schools, and home instruction. The Sunday School Board reported a total income of $67,173, of which $61,876 were from sales of periodicals, books, etc. The whole was an advance of more than $2,100 over the previous year. There were no unpaid balances against the board, while a credit balance remained sufficient for the beginning of the work of the new year. The board had sent out, on account of appropriations, 17,448 Bibles and Testaments, while the sale of Bibles besides was increasing every year. Books and tracts had been distributed to the value of $3,391, and more than $2,000 had been spent in publication. although caution had been used in exercising the privilege of publishing books and tracts. One gift of $500 had been received as a "book endowment fund," which would be named from the wife of the donor, the Eva Garvey Publish

66

ing fund." Majority and minority reports were presented by a committee which had been appointed at the previous meeting of the convention to consider a resolution for the dissolution of the connection of the Theological Seminary at Louisville with the convention, so as to leave the institution under the unrestricted control of its trustees, and a request from the Kentucky General Association that each State interested in the seminary be permitted to elect its representatives on the Board of Trustees. The majority report recommended that the mover of the resolution be allowed to withdraw it, and the affairs relating to the seminary be left as they were. The minority report advised that the convention put itself on record as opposed to dissolving the connection between the seminary and itself, and offered reasons for preserving it, and advised that the request of the Kentucky association be not adopted. The majority report was adopted. A representative of the convention was appointed to co-operate with the deputation of the Baptists of England and Ireland in presenting a petition to the Czar in behalf of the Stundists in Russia. The convention resolved to observe the year 1900 as a year of thanksgiving, with special efforts to inform the people of the denominational life of the century, and to organize the forces of the churches for work during the coming century; and provision was made for carrying this resolve into effect. The employment of "a wise and discreet man" to work in the mountain regions of the South, establishing schools and preaching, was directed.

The annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Young People's Union was held in Louisville, Ky., May 11. The Rev. L. O. Dawson, D. D., of Tuscaloosa, Ala., presided. The report of the Executive Committee showed that there were about 2,500 unions in the South, and that they were represented in the convention by 165 enrolled delegates. Addresses were made relative to religious life and work.

The annual meeting of the Woman's Missionary Union was held at the same time with that of the Southern Baptist Convention. The union had raised $24,153 for its work in co-operation with the Foreign Mission Board. It had instituted a system of regular correspondence to be carried on between the children of their missionaries and those of the home board, whereby they could be brought into closer relations.

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.The resignation of the Rev. Dr. W. H. Whitsitt as President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., and as Professor of Church History, which had been offered to them, was acted upon by the Board of Trustees of the seminary at their meeting in May. The friends of Dr. Whitsitt had desired that he should remain at the seminary, but, in view of the controversies that had been raised concerning his position on certain questions (see Annual Cyclopædia for 1898), had finally concluded that it would be expedient to consent to his withdrawal, voluntarily tendered. The resolution to accept his resignation was offered by one of those trustees who had acted most steadfastly in his behalf. It was divided into two parts, the first of which, accepting his resignation of the presidency of the seminary, was carried by a very large majority; while upon the second resolution, accepting the resignation of the professorship of church history, the vote was 22 to 20. In connection with this action the board adopted a minute which set forth that, "whatever differences may exist among us as to other matters, we are one in our

recognition of the exalted Christian character, rare ability, and scholastic attainments of Dr. Whitsitt, and in our appreciation of the extended and multiform services he has rendered our denomination and the cause of common Christianity during his connection with the seminary. We accord to him the utmost purity of motives and loyalty to truth, as God has given it to him to see the truth in prosecuting and publishing his researches. In parting with him, therefore, we would give him renewed assurance of our tender love for him personally, and our earnest prayer for his ever-increasing usefulness, and commend him to the confidence and fellowship of Christian people everywhere. Second, we would also have it go on record that, as we have twice before affirmed, we have not felt called upon in any way to pass upon the historical question or questions raised by Dr. Whitsitt, and that we do not, by accepting his resignation, purpose or desire to neutralize in the least the influence of those immortal principles of freedom of research and freedom of speech for which Baptists have so long and so constantly stood."

The Rev. J. P. Greene, President of William Jewell College, Liberty, Mo., was elected president of the seminary. He declining to leave the institution already under his charge, the Rev. E. Y. Mullins, D. D., of Newton Center, Mass., was chosen to the office and accepted it.

German Baptist Conferences.-These include seven conferences and a General Conference meeting every three years. At the twelfth triennial session of the General Conference, held at St. Louis, Mo., in September, 1898, reports were made concerning publication, educational work, and the care of orphans. The publication house at Cleveland, Ohio, issued one weekly and five monthly periodicals, and many books, tracts, and pamphlets. The establishment was estimated to represent a value of more than $70,000. The academy and seminary at Rochester, N. Y., returned 5 professors, several tutors, and 53 students. Sixty-five thousand dollars-one half of the sum subscribed by German Baptists-had been secured toward a proposed endowment fund of $100,000. The German Baptist Orphanage, which was practically owned by a single person, was surrendered to individual management, and a committee was appointed to make provision for the care of German Baptist orphans in private families.

The Baptist Congress.-The seventeenth Baptist Congress met in Pittsburg, Pa., Nov. 14 to 16. The Rev. D. Purinton, D. D., President of Denison University, presided. In his address on the occasion of the opening of the sessions he spoke of the Baptists as standing for individualism as against sacerdotalism. They were opposed to all forms of proxy religion. They stood for dominance of truth in religion, and did not ask for any ecclesiastical authority for what they should believe as truth. The subjects on the programme of discussions were, as a rule, each treated by two writers and two speakers. The first topic, The Resurrection of the Body, was considered by Prof. James Ten Broeke, Prof. Norman Fox, the Rev. Walter Calley, and the Rev. Dr. H. C. Applegarth, from the various points of view of the speculative aspects of the question, the exposition of the Scripture teaching, the identity of the raised body, and the connection of the resurrection of the body with the redemptive work of Christ. The subject of The Improvement of Theological Education was discussed by the Rev. Dr. O. P. Eaches, the Rev. Robert McDonald, the Rev. F. G. Woods, and

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Prof. E. P. Pollard; on the subject of What Constitutes Denominational Loyalty? a variety of views were expressed as to details, while an agreement appeared to exist respecting the fundamental principal of loyalty. The Rev. Dr. J. T. Christian, the Rev. Dr. A. S. Hobart, the Rev. E. W. Hunt, and Prof. S. C. Mitchell were the readers and speakers. On the subject of What is the Duty of the Church in improving the Condition of the Laboring Men? the Rev. George R. Robbins, Prof. Lee D. Dodge, and the Rev. Riley A. Vose emphasized the spiritual aspects of the question, and the Rev. Dr. T. Edwin Brown presented a view of the essential principles of the relation of the Church to social concerns. the question, Is there a Place for Authoritative Creeds in Religion? the Rev. S. B. Batten, the Rev. Dr. H. M. Sanders, the Rev. Howard L. Jones, the Rev. J. R. Brown, and the speakers in the general discussion all offered negative answers. The last subject was The Priesthood of Believers, and was treated of by the Rev. C. H. Pendleton and the Rev. Dr. George E. Rees. The closing addresses, summarizing the results of the congress, were made by the Hon. Francis J. Torrance, the Rev. Dr. George E. Horr, and the Rev. Charles H. Dodd.

То

Baptists in Canada.-Chancellor O. C. Wallace gives the number of Baptist members in Canada as less than 100,000, about 50,000 of whom are in the maritime provinces, while the rest are scattered from New Brunswick to the Pacific Ocean, with about 40,000 in Ontario and 5,000 or 6,000 in Quebec, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, and British Columbia. They have but few men of very large fortunes, and the average pay of their ministers is small. The largest salary is $3,500; one pastor receives $2,500, three or four $2,000 each, about half a dozen from $1,500 to $2,000, a large number from $600 to $800, and many less. Yet competent and suitable men to fill the pulpits are not lacking. The educational institutions include Acadia University, at Wolfville, Nova Scotia, with three departments and a theological department contemplated, and about 300 students enrolled; the Feller Institute, at Grande Ligne, for the French; and MacMaster University, at Toronto, with four departments, and between 400 and 500 students; and preparations are making to establish a school in Manitoba as soon as the money can be secured. A similar purpose is entertained in British Columbia. A closer intercourse than has heretofore prevailed is developing between the Baptists of the maritime provinces and those farther west, largely through the influence of common interests in the Grande Ligne Mission and in Manitoba.

Baptists in Great Britain.-While it has been usual in compiling the numerical tables in the Baptist Handbook to supply gaps in the reported statistics of the churches in Great Britain and Ireland with estimates, based on reports from previous years or upon other information, these were dropped in the edition of 1899, and only members actually reported for the year were given, while the nonreporting churches were assigned to a separate list. From 2,697 churches were returned 355,218 members, 51,430 teachers, and 525,533 pupils in Sunday schools, 1,951 pastors in charge, and 5,111 local preachers, with 16,805 baptisms during the year. New chapels had been erected during the year in England, Ireland, and Wales, affording 14,532 sittings, at a cost of £70,059, and £47,680 additional had been expended on chapel improvements, new schoolrooms, classrooms, etc. At the same time chapel debts had been paid off to the amount of £77,113.

The annual assembly of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland was held in London, beginning April 24. The Rev. Dr. John Clifford was chosen president for the year. The council reported 16,805 baptisms during the year, a higher number than in any year since 1894; an increase of 50 churches, 3 chapels, 8,438 members, 1,030 teachers, and 11,917 pupils in Sunday schools, 90 local preachers, 35 pastors in charge; £70,059 expended on new chapels, as against £42,976 in 1897; £47,680 on improvements and additions, as against £56,806; and £77,113 in removal of debt, as against £56,418. The union's income, under various heads, had been £18,390. The Ministerial College, at Dublin, had been recognized as qualifying theological students for the inscription of their names in the Handbook list of ministers. The idea of a Baptist Church house had taken shape, and the erection of a building for such purpose was intended on the site of the Kingsgate Street Church, which was to be demolished in the course of street improvements. The council had already taken measures for the institution of a special fund in honor of the coming in of the twentieth century, to be collected by the beginning of the year 1901. A resolution was adopted by the meeting instituting this fund, to be called the "Twentieth Century fund," and fixing the amount to be raised at a quarter of a million pounds from half a million Baptists." It was further ordered that this fund should have four sections-the historic, in memoriam, Sundayschool, and young people's sections, the last section being divided so as to appertain to the Christian Endeavor and to other kindred societies. A historic roll was ordered prepared, to contain the names (if possible, subscribed by themselves) of all contributors and collectors of ten shillings and upward; that the fund be opened and the historic roll begun May 7, 1899, and the roll be closed March 31, 1901, after which no fresh names shall be received; that friends be invited to contribute to the in memoriam section in memory of their loved ones and of a Baptist ancestry, and an in memorial roll also be formed; that both rolls contain only names of subscribers, not amounts; and that both be preserved among the historical documents at the Baptist Church House. A special committee was instituted to take charge of matters relating to this fund. The fund was allocated as follows: £125,000 for the evangelization of the country, church extension in London and large towns and cities and villages where the Baptists are not adequately represented, and where the religious need is not met by other evangelical churches; £30,000 for the assistance of the weaker churches and the maintenance of their pastors; £30,000 for the annuity fund for aged ministers and the widows of ministers; £6,000 for the establishment of scholarships to be held at some seat of learning, open to any students in the Baptist colleges who intend to enter the home ministry; not exceeding £34,000 for the erection of a Baptist Church house; and £25,000 for educational and other objects which in the judgment of the council may appear to be desirable in the interests of the denomination. While all contributions were required to be placed at the full disposal of the council, in accordance with the general provision for the allocation of the fund, the option was left to donors to assign to either " close" or open" (communion) churches that proportion of their contribution which is allocated to the scheme of church extension. The council was authorized to unite with the Baptists of the United States and Canada in sending a deputation to the Czar of

Russia to ask for a mitigation of the sufferings of the Stundists unless there should be a favorable change; and a deputation was authorized to seek an interview with the King of Saxony in behalf of a removal of the disabilities under which Baptists in that country are placed. Resolutions were adopted congratulating the Church Missionary Society and the Religious Tract Society on their centenaries; protesting against the establishment of a state-supported Roman Catholic university for Ireland; protesting against the publication of Sunday editions of the daily newspapers; and honoring the memory of Oliver Cromwell, whose tercentenary was in celebration.

The annual meeting of the Baptist Missionary Society was held in London, April 20. The report showed that the total receipts of the society had been £75,331, or about £2,500 more than in the previous year; and the expenditure had been £71,301, an increase of £319. The review of the various mission fields as presented in the general report was interpreted as showing much cause for encouragement, especially in that it indicated a large increase in the membership of native churches.

The general receipts of the Zenana Mission for 1898 amounted to £9,921, while the expenditure exceeded the income by £728, but £300 had been contributed toward reducing this deficit. The society employed 61 missionary workers in India, with 213 native Bible women and school-teachers, and 7 European missionaries in China.

The capital of the Baptist Building fund, as reported upon at the annual meeting, April 27, stood at £51,692, and by its means 271 churches had been aided during the year in their building operations.

The income of the Bible Translation Society for 1898 was £1,246, and a small balance remained over the expenditures. The reserve fund stood at a little more than £1,600.

The autumnal session of the union was held in Leeds, beginning Sept. 27. The regular opening meeting was preceded by a meeting for the reception of fraternal deputations from other religious bodies. The Rev. Dr. Clifford presided and delivered the opening address, on the subject of The Christ of the Coming Century; or, The Primitive Christian Faith in its Application to the Institutional Life of Men. A "first ad interim statement" was made concerning the "Twentieth Century fund," the chief work on which, since its inauguration in May, had been preparatory organization. Every county association had unanimously and enthusiastically adopted the resolution to support it. Three hundred and ninety-six of the 2,224 churches had so far appointed their secretary for the fund, received literature, and begun their work, while only 176 churches had as yet made a financial report. The Welsh churches had conferred and promised £50,000. Irish Baptists had promised £5,006. Considerable gifts were mentioned as having been pledged by a number of English churches, besides £32.000 which had been secured at the spring meeting of the union from a few persons. A resolution was adopted pledging the assembly to put forth every effort to raise the fund. Another resolution recognized the great difficulties of her Majesty's Government in its relations with the Transvaal Republic and the great disabilities of which the Uitlanders complained, but prayed the Government to be so patient and moderate that all the world might see its desire to avoid strife in securing justice. Another resolution condemned the reconviction of Capt. Dreyfus by the French military court; and another called atten

tion to the recommendations in the report of the Royal Commission on the Licensing Laws with regard to Sunday closing and the sale of drink to children, and urged the churches to use every means in their power to influence legislative opinion on the lines of the minority report. In an address before a public meeting the Rev. Dr. Maclaren laid down as the "quaternion of great principles that underlie every one of the free churches: The supremacy of Scripture and its sole authority in the doctrines and practices of every Christian church; the spirituality and consequent freedom of Christ's Church; faith, and faith only, the band of union between Christ and his people and the channel of spiritual life and spiritual blessing; and the universal priesthood of believers, carrying with it the privilege of direct access to God. At a meeting in behalf of the Missionary Society approval was given to a suggestion in favor of Sunday schools assuming the support of individual missionaries; and it was shown that 6 out of 24 missionaries and 70 out of 89 evangelists independently maintained were maintained by Sunday schools. The subject of interest in missions was also presented at the young people's meetings.

At the meeting of the Baptist Union of Ireland in June Mr. H. H. Graham, of Belfast, presiding, it was represented that the membership had doubled in ten years from 1,400; 5 self-supporting churches had been increased to 9; contributions for home-mission work had risen from £450 to £1,000 per annum; and £20,000 had been spent in the erection of new chapel buildings. An effort was resolved upon to raise a twentieth century fund with the aid of England, Scotland, Wales, and the United States, and more than £4,000 of subscriptions were already recorded. The number of baptisms during the year was given as 268.

Baptists in Jamaica.-At the annual meeting of the Baptist Union of Jamaica in March a net decrease of 317 members was returned. This result was attributed to the stringent condition of general affairs in the colony. The whole number of members was 33,638, and 24,000 pupils were enrolled in the week-day and Sunday schools. The findings of the Education Commission had not been well received.

BELGIUM, a constitutional, representative, and hereditary monarchy in western Europe. The Senate contains half as many members as there are in the lower chamber, and in addition two, three, or four from each province, according to the population, who are elected indirectly. The others are elected directly for eight years by citizens thirty years old or over. The members of the Chamber of Representatives are elected directly for four years by all citizens over twenty-five years old. Those possessing real property worth 48 francs a year, or having investments in the Belgian funds or money deposited in savings banks yielding an income of 100 francs, can vote twice; also those over thirty-five years of age who have legitimate issue or those who have diplomas from the higher educational institutions or have practiced one of the professions or filled public offices. Any one possessing three or more of these qualifications is entitled to cast three votes. The number of electors in 1897 was 1,401,951, possessing 2,141,041 votes.

The reigning sovereign is Leopold II, King of the Belgians, born April 9, 1835. The Cabinet of Ministers in the beginning of 1899 was composed of the following members: President of the Council and Minister of Finance, M. De Smet de Naey

er; Minister of Railroads, Posts, and Telegraphs and Acting Minister of War, J. H. P. van den Peereboom; Minister of Foreign Affairs, P. de Favereau; Minister of Justice, V. Begerem; Minister of the Interior and Public Instruction, M. Schollaert; Minister of Agriculture and Public Works, L. de Bruyn; Minister of Industry and Labor, M. Nyssens.

Area and Population.-The area of Belgium is 11,373 square miles. The population on Jan. 1, 1898, was 6,586,593, comprising 3,285,543 males and 3,301,050 females. On Jan. 1, 1899, the total was 6,669,732. The number of marriages in 1897 was 54,198; of births, 190,987; of deaths, 113,502; excess of births, 77,485. The number of immigrants in 1897 was 26,878, and of emigrants 21,830. The population of Brussels at the end of 1897 was 551,011, including suburbs; of Antwerp, 271,284; of Liège, 167,305; of Ghent, 161,125. Finances. The revenue of the Government, ordinary and extraordinary, in 1896 was 480,940,000 francs, and the expenditure 437,608,000 francs. The budget estimate of receipts from all sources for 1899 was 435,037,428 francs. The ordinary receipts for 1898 were estimated at 388,298,598 francs, of which taxes on property were expected to produce 25,456,000 francs; personal taxes, 20,085,000 francs; trade licenses, 7,400,000 francs; mines, 600,000 francs; customs, 36,246,632 francs; excise, 52,420,297 francs; succession duties, 19,940,000 francs; registration duties, 19,900,000 francs; stamps, 6,500,000 francs; various indirect taxes, 5,771,000 francs; river and canal tolls, 1,590,000 francs; railroads, 154,000,000 francs; telegraphs, 6,880,000 francs; the post office, 13,160,020 francs; pilotage and navigation dues, 1,430,000 francs; domains and forests, 2,718,000 francs; amortization fund, securities, and national bank, 10,051,900 francs; repayments, 4,149,749 francs. The total ordinary expenditure was estimated at 385,278,702 francs, of which 114,152,253 francs were for interest and sinking fund of the national debt, 4,930,200 francs for the civil list and dotations, 21,517,990 francs for the Ministry of Justice, 2,757,065 francs for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 116,337,880 francs for the Ministry of Railroads, 26,378,070 francs for the Ministry of the Interior and Public Instruction, 21,773,694 francs for the Ministry of Agriculture and Public Works, 48,320,375 francs for the Ministry of War, 19,514,515 francs for the Ministry of Finance, 4,917,100 francs for the gendarmery, 2,743,560 francs for the Ministry of Industry and Labor, and 1,896,000 francs for repayments.

The debt of Belgium was raised almost exclusively for the construction of useful public works, especially railroads, and all the loans are being extinguished by means of a sinking fund. The amount of debt outstanding in 1898 was 2,346,593,476 francs, all funded at 3 per cent. In addition to this there is an old debt of 219,959,632 francs, paying 24 per cent. interest, which was assumed by Belgium as her share upon the partition of the former kingdom of the United Netherlands. The total liabilities of the Government are therefore 2,566,593,476 francs.

The Army. The army is recruited mostly by conscription, every Belgian being liable to serve from the age of nineteen. A part of the troops are still obtained by voluntary enlistment. The strength of the army on the peace footing was in 1898 as follows: Infantry, 1,745 officers and 27,900 men; cavalry, 304 officers and 5,760 men; artillery, 534 officers and 8,214 men; engineers, 146 officers and 1,860 men; gendarmery, 59 officers and 2,831 men; general staff, adminis