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"LUTHERAN GROUP 89The missionary holds quarterly conferences with hisChinese fellow-workers. These serve not merely to keep himin close touch with the work but also assist in the development of the workers and the deepening of their spirituallife.Another characteristic of the German misChristmassions is their endeavour to make indigenous inChina the German idea of Christmas in all its beauty andinner meaning. These celebrations are a time of joy andvictory. As in olden times the children of Israel went upto Jerusalem, so now the Christians from all the out-stationsgather together in the central station at Christmas time inorder to unitedly praise God in Christ. They there learn toknow one another and experience something of the "fellowship of the saints." Most of these little communities oi.Christians have Christmas funds from which the expensesof these gatherings are paid.At one of the stations the school girls added this yearto the enjoyment of the occasion by giving a Christmasentertainment. Miss Laura White s pamphlet was used forpurpose. The entertainment was extremely popularboth with the Christians and non-Christians and had to berepeated. Many a proud Chinese learned there for the firsttime the real meaning of Christmas.At the close of the gathering the graduating exercises ofthe Girls School in Shiuchow took place. Four girls whohad completed the seven years course received theircertificates in the presence of officials and heads of thegovernment schools. It was taken for granted that suchexercises in a Christian school should recogn.ze the word ofGod and begin with prayer. As long as the Governmentallows us this liberty, we are quite ready to bring our schoolsunder government regulations so as not to give even theappearance of desiring to build a state within the state.The word of St. Paul bears on this, Obey them that havethe rule over you and submit to them."The ^ lieOutlook superintendent of the Mission, Mr.Kollecker, on a trip through his section ofthe field found the conditions of the Church better than heexpected. He found an active Christian life and deepA 11