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452 MISCELLANEOUSSelf-support^ ^ ess s^ I] ificail t is the growth in independence and self-support. In most ofthe Shanghai churches the congregations pay the salaryof the pastor and to this extent are self-supporting. Wewould point out, however, that this has been accomplishedin some cases by requiring the pastor to take cha,rgeof a day school in addition to his duties as pastor and as aresult he is overworked and unable to carry on that moreimportant ministry of shepherding the sheep, the work forwhicli he should be primarily responsible.Independence ^yS,{ the congregation to pay thepastor s salary has led to independence onthe part of the churches. The pastor has been released fromcalling upon the foreigners for Ins support. We rejoicethat the Church in China has pride which makes it anxiousto be free and independent. It looks as if the time wouldsoon come when the home churches may cease to contributefunds for the local expenses of the churches in Shanghai.Furthermore we believe that large sums will be given bythese churches for planting the gospel in new fields.This brings us to another encouragingsignMwbnsbipthe apparently increasing prosperityof members of the Church in Shanghai andthe growth of the Church in its work among the moreprosperous classes. A visit to the ordinary Shanghaichurch on Sunday morning shows a well-dressed, prosperouslookingcongregation. In my own opinion there has been agreat change in this respect during the past ten years.We note with satisfaction the large number}>ein trained in thesJndlSunday schools. WhileSchool Work the number is not large in comparison withthe need yet the organization of over 2,000who receive spiritual instruction every week is mostencouraging. The figures cannot show what 7 I am sure thefacts will prove- -that there has been a ver} great improvement during the past five years not only in number ofstudents but also in the discipline maintained in these schoolsand in the quality of instruction given. During the pastfew years greater attention lias been given to grading thestudents, to observance of discipline and securing regularity