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244 CHINA MISSION YEAR BOOK.or quite ready to enter the theological schools. There1is growing interest on the part of the Chinese churchesand individuals in the problem of the support of ministerialcandidates. One large body, the Synod of the FiveProvinces, representing a number of Presbyterianmissions, is projecting a "Board of Education" for theassistance of students for the ministry. The numberof grants from societies at home, and of special gifts forthe erection of new buildings, which have becomeavailable within three years, shows that the HomeBoards and Societies are realizing as never before theurgency of this work.UNION MOVEMENTS.The trend toward union in theological instruction ismarked. The Baptist Seminary at Shanghai and thePresbyterian Seminary at Nanking are union schoolsunder the joint management of denominations organicallyseparate in the United States. There is a growingsentiment in favor of wider unions, where possible,between various denominational schools in the samesection. In Kiangsu and in Szechwau such union effortin the training school work may be said to be near athand.PROBLEMS AND NEEDS.The reports from the various schools show manyneeds and problems. They may be gathered into thefollowing general statements :1. Deeper spiritual life and higher ideals among the students,2. More students of thorough preparation, good ability, andsocial standing.3. Greater interest in this work on the part of the Chinesechurch, and higher views, especially on the part of Christianparents, of the sacred calling.4. More teachers for theological work, both foreigners andChinese.5. Better and more thorough text-books.6. Fuller cooperation between missions in this work.