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152 MISSIONS AND CHURCHESself-sacrifice which cannot fail to bring spiritual enrichmentto those who make it, and at the same time providing scopefor the exercise of preaching and other gifts, with consequentadvantage to the Church.c ,, rjDiule ri ClassesThe recognition. .of-.the,fact thato ,\the mis-Christians. , -,sionary is responsible not only for the preachloring of the gospel to the heathen, but also forthe instruction of the converts gathered in, has led to theextension of the local Bible school system to the towns andeven villages where the Christians live. At a large numberof centres c] asses lasting from two or three to ten dayswere held both for men and women, to meet the need of theconverts for teaching in the Word of God, it having beenfound that this does more than anything else to give stabilityand permanence to Christian character. Mr. Percy Knight,whose time is wholly devoted to this form of service in theprovince of Shansi, visited the stations along the Kwangsinriver in Kiangsi, conducting Bible study classes, especiallyfor church leaders and any others who would profit bythem.D ~ ., . , In addition to these informal BiblefBible schools,Training:., . ,. .., ,. ^ T . .Schoolsthere are in connection with the Mission fourBible training institutions, where men ofapproved character, giving evidence of spiritual qualificationsfor the work of the ministry, are received for a two yearscourse of systematic Bible study, with a view to increasingtheir efficiency as evangelists or unpaid Christian workers.Last year over eighty students were in attendance.,There was onEdthe part of the ChinesejWorkChurch an increased recognition of its obligation to provide Christian education primarilyfor the children of its members. The number of boardingand day schools advanced from 375 at the beginning of theyear to 430 at the end, with nearly 10,000 scholars, closeupon 3,000 being girls. In the curriculum of these schoolsthe teaching of the Holy Scriptures was given a prominentplace, it being felt that the success of all mission educationalwork can only be measured by its spiritual results, and