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,AlongBAPTIST GROUP 67limit the work of the missions to what can be done withsome degree of satisfaction. The thought is growing thatif the board cannot make the necessary increase in staff andAvork appropriations there is /mother alternative morewithin the power of the mission bodies on the field, the useof which may lead to the accomplishing of the sameresults,that is,the limitation of work to what can be carried onsatisfactorily by the staff and with the funds available.with this study of field conditions inM<Administration order to secure that the work will be done onan intensive basis there has been developed astronger desire than in previous years to increase the amountof real administrative work done on the field. NorthernBaptists have been organized for some years for advisoryadministrative work. Almost every phase of field activityis reviewed by the mission and recommendations made to thehome board. This work has so increased both in amountand in importance as to call for constant increase and perfection in the machinery for taking care of it. Thead interim committees of the Northern Baptist missions arecalled reference committees. .Gradually the real administrative work of the missions has come to centre in thesecommittees. They meet four or five times during the yearand are authorised to act on any questions which themissions themselves can act on. Their recommendations areusually sent direct to the board daring the year, beingreported at the annual mission meeting for review andapproval. It is now believed that many of the details ofadministrative work which have in the past been sent to theBoard as recommendations should be handled finally on thefield. Some have estimated that at least three-fourths ofmatters formally acted on by the board upon recommendations from the field could wisely be lel i for final action bythe field and thus set the home board free for the moreadequate consideration of the larger problems. The localadministrative work of the East China Mission has sodeveloped as to demand the full time of an executivesecretary in addition, of course, to the work of a localtreasurer who also renders service to the West China.Mission.