HE SEAL OF THE AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSIONARY UNION (found on this title-page) with its beautiful and appropriate symbol of an ox standing between a plow and an altar, and the motto "Ready for Either," has attracted much attention, and many inquiries have been made as to its origin. The records of the Union furnish no other information on this point than the following votes. At the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Union held June 23, 1846, immediately after the change of name from "The General Missionary Convention of the Baptist Denomination in the United States of America for Foreign Missions and Other Important Objects Relating to the Redeemer's Kingdom," it was voted That the Assistant Treasurer be authorized to procure a new seal adapted to the new name of this corporation.

And at the meeting on Nov. 29, 1847, the record reads

The Committee appointed for that purpose reported, and presented a design for a seal for the Union.

Voted, That the design for a seal presented by the committee be adopted.

It is evident that between the first action of the Executive Committee and the second as printed above, the matter of a suitable seal for the Union had been under further consideration and a special committee had been appointed who procured the design which now delights the friends of the Missionary Union; but although the editor has been over every item of the records of the committee from May 26, 1846, to the present time, no further record regarding the seal has been found. It is not known who composed the sub-committee which recommended the seal, or where they procured the design.

An application to the librarian of the Astor Library, New York City, by Miss Parsons, editor of "Woman's Work for Woman," elicits the information that this seal belonged to an Augustinian monk of the sixteenth century who was connected with the Vatican Library. The inscription was then in Latin. "Ready for Either," "Ready for service or sacrifice, as the Lord may call." Well might every follower of Christ adopt this as the motto of his life.

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HE rapid development of Russia is attracting the keenest attention of the whole civilized world. There is no other nation whose expansion is so much feared and whose progress is watched with so much solicitude as this nation, which covers the eastern half of Europe and practically the northern half of Asia. The mystery which attaches to its political movements adds immensely to the absorbing interest with which its operations are viewed. Russia is a nation of contradictions. Its government is the most despotic, yet its people are in some respects the most free, while otherwise the most oppressed of any nation in the world. It is also in its higher, as well as in its lower circles, one of the most religious of all nations. The Bible circulates freely throughout the Empire, and yet persecution is more severe and common than in any other Christian land. The attitude of Russia toward the Turkish question is acknowledged to be the deciding element in the present complications. Its influence in China has already become paramount, to the practical exclusion of all other political powers. It is conceded that the privileges which have been granted to Russia for railroads in China practically amount to the annexation of Manchuria to the Russian Empire; and its territory is greater than that of any other nation at the present time. It is reported that an agreement has been reached between Russia and Austria as to the partition of European Turkey, and now we read of the advance of Russian influence in Persia. The priests of the Greek or Russian church have established themselves in Urumiah, and multitudes from the old Nestorian church are uniting with the Greek church. This points to the paramount influence of Russia in Persia

With all this advance it comes as a cheering ray of intelligence to learn that by a recent decree the Czar has positively prohibited all labor upon Sunday, and has established a system of courts of justice for Siberia, where hitherto the power of petty officials has been arbitrary and absolute. He has also decreed that persons who are not members, in marrying members of the Greek church shall not be required to sign a promise to bring up the children in the National church, a thing which has hitherto been demanded. This last information seems almost too good to be true. One of the severest trials of the Stundists and Baptists and other dissenters in Russia has been the forced separation from their children unless they would consent to have them baptized and educated in the forms of the Greek church. Families have been torn asunder, and children separated from parents for life, and placed in the care of monasteries or nunneries, or in families hostile to the religion of their parents, who would bring them up in the National church. This has brought greater grief and desolation to the dissenters than perhaps any other form of persecution. If this has ceased, a prayer of thanksgiving may well ascend from all interested in religious liberty, and it may well be believed it is but the precursor of a freedom which will in time do away with the severe and terrible persecutions which have afflicted dissenters and all in Russia who have not been in harmony with the Greek church.

The startling progress of Russia in influence and in power points to that nation as one of the most important factors in the world's future; and while there is much in the Russian government and hierarchy which cannot be regarded with favor, the inherent religiousness, good temper, and kindness of the Russians as a people, may be expected to cleanse the nation of the evils which now afflict it. Piety is universal. If with this can be associated purity and intelligence, Russia may become a most beneficent factor in achieving the greater good of man. The spread of evangelical views as represented in the numerous communities of Stundists, who are almost identical with the Baptists in doctrine and practice, is a prophecy of what Russia may become.

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FAMINE ON OUR FIELD. India is a vast and greatly varied land, and during the late famine in Central and Northern India, the Telugu country, in which our American Baptist missions were located, was largely exempt. While there was considerable distress on account of the advanced price of food, and some suffering in particular localities, there were but few cases of real starvation. Now the conditions seem about to be reversed. Abundant rains have fallen all over the vast area covered by the recent famine, but they have been scanty in that part of South India occupied by the Telugus. The crops have withered in the intense heat, and multitudes of people on the verge of starvation are flocking to various stations, begging for food and work. Already several hundred people are employed on special work for the mission in order to preserve their lives, and if no rain comes a general appeal for famine relief will be necessary. We have refrained from appealing for funds for famine relief hitherto, preferring that the gifts of our American people should go to those who were in greater need. If the Missionary Union is compelled to make an appeal we trust the response will be as liberal as heretofore.

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'HE difficulty of raising funds for missionary purposes, which has been especially manifest the last few years, has beyond doubt raised an inquiry in many minds as to whether there may not be some serious errors in the present methods of carrying on work for the extension of the kingdom of Christ in all the world, as well as doubts as to the methods of raising funds. It must be true that where God has a work to be done he also provides the means for doing it, and any apparent deficiency of funds for carrying on missionary work cannot destroy the truth of this fundamental principle of divine sovereignty. The experience of every missionary society in the retrenchments which have become necessary for several years, while bringing much painful and distressing injury to missionary operations, has yet brought to light many instances in which the necessary economies have proved not only not injurious, but have been of actual benefit to the progress of true religion. Unworthy assistants in missionary work have been exposed by the reduction of salaries, and the absolute necessity of economy has enabled the missionaries in many instances to dispense with the services of helpers of whose character and value they have long been in doubt. This experience suggests whether there may not be still further reductions, in which saving of missionary funds can be effected without positive harm to the interests of the kingdom of Christ. Every true lover of Jesus Christ and of the progress of his reign in the earth shrinks from harmful retrenchment, and must view with much alarm the necessity for reductions even beyond the point which has already been reached. In view of the present situation we venture to raise some questions which have been suggested by a careful study of the history of the Christian church in the past, of missionary operations in recent years, and especially in regard to some features of religious development which have manifested themselves with special prominence in recent months.

The course of modern missions during the present century has been one of magnificent devotion, brilliant achievement and blessed success. It has been rightly considered as marking an era in the development of the Christian church. New life, new vigor, new devotion and new methods have characterized this modern missionary epoch. Beyond question the Great Commission has received a new emphasis in the minds of the Christian world, which has brought it approximately to its proper position as the last command and parting words of the Savior. New methods have been devised for promoting the extension of the religion of Christ throughout the world, and these methods are continually being improved upon. In the mind of any true lover of Christ and his religion the present century cannot be considered other than the very best in the history of the Christian church, and it may be confidently hoped and expected that it is but the beginning of a century of larger consecration and achievement for the establishment of the reign of Jesus Christ in all the earth.

It is, therefore, with no intention of seeking to lessen the glory of this age of