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Items of Missionary Intelligence, 85Christiamty into France and Germany, and the writes : " The avalanche of opportunities, thatNetheriands. And at an earlier period, we know slides down upon us, almost stuns us " Wherewhat an impulse and enlargement were given to the enemy's hue of bat'le weakens—and here itthe new fai h when the Roman Empire took its is already waver'ng and in di order—therestand unaer the sign of the Cross. shoild the grand attack be made. A recentTbere is no harm in Chri-tianity haying writer on military science has shown that successa State recognition so long as it is not made in war has depended more on marching thanan esta'di^hment, or in its going before the fightin-, and that tobe atthe right p'ace atpeople with the prestige of a national rehgion, the right moment is more than half the battle,—but on the contrary pn immense advantage, illustrating his case by every decisive engagementThis is precisely what is needed in Japan to give in the European wars of the last century, fromthe old religions their coup de grace with the Waterloo to Metz and Kandahar, and the Holypeople, as they have already become a scoff to War is no exception to the rule.the educ ited. And even the higher classes would Shall we not have a eharge all along the line ?find themselves in a different attitude toward the 0 for another Bernard of Clairvaux to preach anew religion under the new regime.new and holier crusade, so that a veritable arrayThe only danger of prematureness is in the of preachers and school teachers, physicians audfailure of ihe Christian world to respond with men of science, Bible readers and devout women,corresponding promptitude and even impetuosity, and Christian households, shall move upon theAll are agreed thatthe sole alternative for Japan isles that wait for tbem! 'Ihere ought tobeis now Christianity or godlessness. And the thousands of new recruits for the work in thequestion will he substantially settled in the next next three years—many of whom, like Dr. Scudtenyears, and unmistakably indicated in the next der, shall not ask to be provided for by inissionfiye.ary boards, but shall go at their own charges, orIt is neither desirable nor necessary to inter- in the simplicity of a faith which deals directlymit or abate our missionary work in other direc- with the Treasury of Heaven. But there aretions, but it is as clear as the vision which appeared millions of money, too, which the churches canto Paul on the opposite coast of Macedonia, or easily spare forthese thirty-eight millions of sonls.to Peter on the housetop of Simon the Tanner, Japan is the key of the Eastern world. Thisthat God cills the Christian Church to concen- Japanese people looks to me like the Saul oftrate its energies at once upon this unparalleled Tarsus among the nations, whom Christ hasemergency. Dr. Chamberlain at Northfield did called and chosen for the evangelization of Asia.not exaggerate, when he declared the present hour It is not so much Christianity in Japan whichto be " the opportunity of the ages " for the evan- is in question, b'lt the Christianity of Europe audgehzation of India. But of Japan a missionary America which is on trial.Items of Missionary Intelligence.ABROAD. struct the execution of orders fEom tbe centralT> m -»r TooHoo authorities addressed in a circular letter totheReport of Tarsus Mission for 1881-88. Provincial Governors not to interfere with schoolsThe Board of Foreign Missions : conforming to the law, and to allow tbe re-opeu-Dear Brethren—The year 1881 has been event- ing of schools that had been closed Our U. S.ful in the Tarsus mission. The local authorities Secretary of State has taken an official positionof the Province of Adana have endeavored to ob- in advance of anything heretofore done by our