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Show SUMMARY OF REPORTS 9 can soldiers not only gave security to the Mission compound but was of importance to the whole community. People considered the whole district safer. This added to the friendliness shown on all sides. The wealthiest business man of the district sent formal appreciation of the safety thus afforded to his family and house. TUNGCHOU Preparations were made here for using the compound as an asylum in case of danger. There was at no time real danger, though an influx of refugees occurred in November, which included the families of several important army officers. The struggle came closest home when one of the college students paid the penalty of his revolutionary activities with his life. The students, who had been held to their work through the autumn, were terribly alarmed, it later appeared that several were involved in revolutionary plots, and it seemed wise to close the college. General Missionary Work for 19J1-1912. TTFNTS1N *" t n i s f i e l d the Christian community seems awake to the new opportunities for service. The Chinese of all missions have joined in inaugurating new-lines of effort in union work. The independence of the Chinese in Christian work is evident, not only in the record of remarkable progress made by the Independent Church, especially notable for the favor it has won from leading classes in the city, but also, in the manifestation of energy shown in our own Hsi-ku church, which supports its preacher and manages most of the affairs of the congregation. A recent college graduate has thrown himself into the work with fine eagerness. A Home Missionary Society has been organized to conduct the work of the countr}' field. Meanwhile development in self-management has gone on at the North Villages, with the use of new forms of work in the way of reading-room and lectures to educate the populace in republican ideas. An improvement in the boundaries of the whole field has been made by mutual exchange with the London Mission, which ensures greater efficiency in oversight. An interesting development in the work for women was a series of monthly meetings at which lectures were given covering many subjects. Hsiku women of all classes have come. The new interest in our work is shown in the inquiries as to admis- |