The Home Mission Board reported that it employed 95 laborers, who had supplied 276 churches and stations and baptized 245 persons, had organized 55 Sunday-schools with 2,680 teachers and pupils, and had collected $844 for missions, and $2,000 for church-building purposes. The board had received co-operation in its work from the Baptist State organizations of Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, and Missouri. A favorable report was made of the Indian Muscogee mission. During the thirty years that the late principal missionary, the Rev. Dr. Buckner, labored in it, an average of one church was organized and one minister was ordained for every year, and 75 conversions took place annually. The number of members was now 2,600. The subscriptions in behalf of the theological seminary had been sufficient to pay its expenses during the past three years, and the institution had now a surplus. It had been attended by students from every Southern State except Maryland, and from other States and from Mexico.

German Baptist Conferences. In the German Baptist conferences, six new churches were organized in 1882, making 168 in all connected with the conferences, with a membership of 30,442, against 28,956 in the previous year. The number of baptisms during the year was 2,967. The number of Sunday-schools had increased during four years from 178, with 691 teachers and 8,954 pupils, to 402, with 1,146 teachers and 8,954 pupils.

Baptist Convention in the Indian Territory.-A Baptist Convention, composed of the associations and churches of all the Indian nations settled in the Indian Territory, was organized in Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation, in June. Representatives were present of the Cherokees, Creeks, and Seminoles, of the Plains Indians at the Wichita agency, and of other bodies, making in all seven Indian tribes, of three races and five languages, whose delegates participated in the proceedings. This organization was recognized and approved by the Choctaw and Chickasaw Association at its annual meeting in October.

Baptist Autumnal Conference.-The second Baptist Autumnal Conference was held in Boston, Mass., November 13th, 14th, and 15th. The Rev. Alvah Hovey, D. D., presided. The following topics were considered in papers read by appointed essayists and in general discussions: "Church Architecture" (Rev. C. J. Baldwin and Rev. J. R. Thomas); "The Social Element in Church Life and Church Work" (Rev. W. E. Hatcher, D. D.; Rev. J. B. Simmons, D. D.; Hon. J. M. S. Williams; J. C. Hiden, D. D.; and Rev. Mr. Rhoades); "The Sanitary Provisions of the Mosaic Code (George H. Fox, M. D.); "Christianity and the Body" (President S. L. Caldwell, of Vassar College); "Christianity in Politics" (Rev. E. P. Gould, D. D.); "The Divorce Question " (Rev. H. S. Barrage, D. D.; Judge Buchanan, of New Jersey; President A. Owen, of Denison Uni

versity): "Modern Biblical Criticism" (Rev. T. J. Conant, D. D.; Prof. Howard Osgood, D. D.; Prof. D. G. Lyon, Rev. J. A. Smith, D. D., and Prof. D. J. Hill); "The Coming Ministry" (President E. Dodge, of Madison University; Rev. J. C. Hiden, D. D., and Rev. P. S. Moxon); "Worldliness" (Rev. T. Edwin Brown, D. D.; Rev. H. M. King, D. D., and Rev. A. C. Dixon).

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Convention of Liberal Baptists.-A convention of "Liberal" or Open-Communion" Baptists, the call for which was signed by representative men of the Free-will Baptist Church, the Free Baptists of New Brunswick and of Nova Scotia, the Church of God, the General Baptists, and the Separate Baptists, met in Minneapolis, Minn., October 2d, with the declared object of promoting a more intimate acquaintance and a closer union among the different branches of the church in whose name it was held. The Rev. O. B. Cheney, of Maine, was chosen president of the convention. A paper which was read on the subject of "The Liberal Baptists of America," sketched the rise of the General Conference of the Free-will Baptists of New England, with which 78,000 members are now connected, and described other Free Baptist organizations, as follows:

In 1823 a movement, under Elder Stimson, began in Indiana. The people took the name of " General Baptists," and now have in the Western States not separated from the United Baptists and took the less than 13,000 members. About 1828 a few churches name of "Separate Baptists." Churches have been planted by them, and we now know of ten associations, with a membership of not less than 7,000 communicants. We also have Free Christian Baptists wick. The people known as the "Church of God," in Nova Scotia and the Free Baptists of New Brunsorganized in Pennsylvania in the year 1830, now embrace upward of 30,000 members, and sustain several newspapers and institutions of learning. If we give Church of God, 30,000; Nova Scotia and New Bruns a summary, the showing is: Free Baptists, 78,000; wick, 14,000; General Baptists, 13,000; Free Baptists in North Carolina, 10,000; Separate Baptists, 7,000; Free Baptists in Western States, 5,000: total, 157,000.

A report from the business committee, which was adopted, opened with a declaration that "the several associations of churches of Jesus Christ in America, who hold the evangelical faith, practicing believers' baptism, and excluding no recognized Christian from the Lord's table, are one by the strongest ties, that of a common faith and spirit, unity of purpose, mutual respect, and paternal love, and hence should be one in formal fellowship and methods of co-operation." The action of the convention embodied recommendations that a year-book be published, representing all bodies of Liberal Baptists; that a quarterly publication, or magazine, be established; that there be co-operation in the support of foreign missions; that Liberal Baptist literature be circulated; that the convention be perpetuated by the election of an executive committee authorized to represent the Liberal Baptist bodies and to call another convention; that the sev

eral bodies be urged to correspond with one another; and that the cause of education be given every possible encouragement. An executive committee was appointed, of which the Rev. G. H. Ball, of New York, is chairman. Free-will Baptist Church.-The twenty-fifth General Conference of the Free-will Baptist Church was held in Minneapolis, Minn., in October. The Rev. Ransom Dunn, D. D., was chosen moderator. The most important business transacted was the discussion of the resolutions of the General Convention of the Open-Communion Baptists, which were approved, and, so far as they affect the Free-will Baptist Church, adopted. A new charter and constitution for the Foreign Missionary Society were adopted, by the operation of which the scope and power of that organization, and its capacity to hold property, are expected to be greatly increased. Among the important changes made in the constitution are the incorporation of provisions for the representation of the several denominations or organizations of open-communion Baptists in the Executive Board of the society, and for the admission of women to full membership and on equal terms with men. The society began the year with a deficiency of several thousand dollars, but was able to show a surplus above all expenditures on closing its accounts. The mission is in Orissa and Bengal, India, and returned 551 communicants. Twenty members had been added by baptism during the year. The whole number of pupils in the schools was 3,089; of whom 347 were Christians, 1,043 Hindoos, 261 Moslems, and 1,438 Santals. Measures were taken for the organization of a church extension department of the Home Mission Society. A committee was appointed to draft a course of study for general use among ininisters, and to encourage the organization of ministers' conferences for discipline and study. The conference recommended that a pastor or stated supply of a church, whose membership is elsewhere, be amenable to the church with which he is laboring, as if he were a member of it. Provision was made for the organization of a Ministers' Relief Association. An offer by Mr. M. A. Shepherd of property valued at $50,000 as a gift for a publishing and school fund was accepted, and steps were taken toward making an application of the sum. A committee was appointed to revise the constitution of the General Conference. Gratification was expressed over the revival of friendly feeling between the North and the South. Interest was declared in the education of freedmen and in civil-service reform. Efforts for the suppression of obscene literature were commended, and the action of the Government in refusing the use of mails for the circulation of such matter was approved.

Seventh-Day Baptist Church.—According to the statistical reports presented to the SeventhDay Baptist General Conference, in Septenber, the whole number of members of the

church for 1883 was 8,611, showing a net increase during the year of 8. The whole number of baptisms reported was 151. Nine churches had been organized, making the whole number of churches connected with the denomination 99. The number of Sabbath-schools was 86, and they returned 5,773 scholars. The denomination is represented in England by the Mill-Yard Church, London, instituted in 1654, and returning for 1883, 14 members, and the Natton Church, Tewkesbury, instituted in 1663, and returning 4 members. It has also mission churches at Shanghai, China, with 18 members, and at Haarlem, Holland, with 19 members. The American Sabbath Tract Society had received during the year $8,968, and disbursed $7,109, and had distributed 179,534 pages of tracts. The operations of the society were carried on by the distribution of tracts and periodicals in the United States, England, and Holland, and by the use of tents, in which preaching services were conducted, carried from place to place. Under its direction are published a general religious weekly newspaper, the "Sabbath Recorder," and two journals of a more special character. The publication of a quarterly periodical is contemplated. The Seventh-Day Baptist Education Society returned the amount of its funds and receipts at $45,303. Only Milton College, Wis., and Alfred University, N. Y., made detailed statements of their condition. The whole number of students in these two institutions was 733. The receipts of the missionary society were $8,154, in addition to which the society returned a permanent fund of $1,454. Twenty-six missionaries were employed to visit 41 churches and 94 other preaching-places, in various parts of the United States, and reported in connection with the missions, 336 "Sabbath-keeping" families, 937 church-members, with 936 in Bible classes, and 23 added by baptism during the year. An American missionary and his wife, two native preachers, a Bible-woman, and three day-school teachers were employed in connection with the mission at Shanghai, China, and a woman medical missionary was to be sent out. Three day-schools returned 66 scholars. A boarding-school was to be established. One missionary was employed at Haarlem, Holland, who returned 4 additions to the church, and Bible-schools at Haarlem and Workum with 24 scholars. The accounts of the Seventh-Day Baptist Memorial Fund were balanced at $9,564.

The Seventh-Day Baptist General Conference met at Adams, N. Y., September 19th. W. A. Rogers presided. The Committee on Denominational History reported that an autobiography of Elder Alexander Campbell and a number of papers on the "Ward family" had been published during the year. Measures were taken for the establishment of a "Seventh-Day Baptist headquarters" in connection with the assembly-grounds at Chautauqua. Resolutions were passed against the system of licensing

the traffic in intoxicating liquors, and demand ing that "the evil shall be prohibited, not protected, by the laws of the land."

Baptist Churches of Canada.-The Baptists of the Dominion of Canada fall naturally into two grand divisions, viz., the Baptists of Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba, and the Baptists of the Maritime Provinces. Owing to the great distance between the eastern and the western portions of Canada, intimate denominational relations between the two sections have never been established, and they have united in no branch of denominational work. In Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba, the Baptist denomination holds numerically the fifth place among the religious bodies, being outranked by Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians, and Methodists. The statistics of the denomination for 1883 are: Number of ministers, 260; of church-members, about 27,000; of adherents, about 125,000. Of these about three fourths are in the Province of Ontario, one sixth in the Province of Quebec, and the remainder (500 or less) in the Northwest. About 26,000 of these are known as Regular Baptists," and are included in 15 associations, which make restricted communion a term of fellowship. Outside of these associations are 25 or 30 churches with a membership of about 1,100, which differ in certain minor points from the associated churches.

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Each province has a Home Mission Convention of its own. The Ontario Convention (founded in 1852) expends about $6,000 annually in assisting feeble churches, and in opening up new fields within the province. During the conventional year 1881-'82, 28 missionaries were employed, who occupied 63 stations and received 250 persons into the fellowship of the mission churches. The Canada Baptist Missionary Convention, East (organized in 1859), expends nearly $2,000 annually in home evangelization. During the year 1881-'82, 18 missionaries were employed, who occupied 47 different stations and baptized 52 converts. The Regular Baptist Missionary Convention of Manitoba and the Northwest (organized in 1881) has for its aim the early occupancy of the Canadian Northwest, and has secured the co-operation of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, the American Baptist Publication Society, the Baptist Missionary Convention of the Maritime Provinces, and of individuals and churches in Ontario and Quebec.

For foreign mission work there is one general society, the Regular Baptist Foreign Mission Society of Ontario and Quebec (founded in 1866), and two women's auxiliary societies, one for Ontario and one for Quebec. These support a vigorous mission among the Telugus of India at an annual expense of about $12,000, of which amount the women's societies contribute nearly one third. The missionaries report 292 baptisms during the year 1881-'82. A seminary has been founded at Samulcotta

for the training of native preachers and teachers. The Grand Ligne Mission among the Roman Catholic French of the Province of Quebec receives contributions from Ontario, Quebec, the United States, etc. It has occupied a considerable number of stations, and sustains a school.

Woodstock College, founded in 1857, is provided with a fund of $100,000 for grounds and buildings, and an endowment subscription of $85,000, of which more than $30,000 have been paid in. It furnishes four independent courses of study, and admits on equal terms students of both sexes. Toronto Baptist College was founded in 1879 by the aid of a gift and a pledge of support from Senator William McMaster, as a theological seminary, and has absorbed the former theological department of Woodstock Col· lege. It has a building valued at $80,000, and four organized chairs of instruction. It was opened in 1881, and had eighty-one students during the first year.

The work of publication is conducted by the Standard Publishing Company, which has a capital stock of $100,000. The dividends from $45,000 of this stock, which was furnished by Senator McMaster, have been devised by him, provided they be not more than 6 per cent., to the Home and Foreign Missionary Societies and the Superannuated Ministers' Fund.

The Baptist Union of Canada (organized in 1862) is composed of officers of the denominational societies and colleges and of pastors and delegates of churches, and meets annually for the promotion of fraternal relations and the discussion of topics affecting the welfare and progress of the denomination.

In the maritime provinces the Baptists constitute a much larger proportion of the population, and are actually more numerous than in the western provinces. In New Brunswick they are outnumbered only by the Roman Catholics; in Nova Scotia, only by the Roman Catholics and Presbyterians; and in Prince Edward Island they rank fourth. The numerical strength of the denomination is, according to the statistics for 1883: Number of ministers, 188; churches, 348; church-members, 37,423; and of adherents, about 175,000. The work of the denomination in home missions, foreign missions, education, ministerial relief, etc., is transacted through the Baptist Convention of the Maritime Provinces. The Home Mission Board, in 1881-'82, assisted, at an expense of nearly $5,000, in the support of 58 missionaries, occupying 50 fields of labor and serving 97 churches, in which 282 persons were baptized. Two churches were organized during the year. The Foreign Missionary Board expends $10,000 a year, and supports three missionary families and a Zenana worker among the Telugus of India. The Ladies' Aid Societies furnished more than one third of the missionary contributions for 1881-'82. The literary institutions of the convention are the University of Acadia College, and Horton Academy, where students

are prepared for the college. Acadia College has buildings and grounds valued at $100,000, and an endowment fund of nearly $100,000, with an indebtedness of $30,000. It has a literary department with seven professors, and a small theological department. At Horton Academy separate departments are provided for young men and young women.

English Baptist Missions.-The English Baptist Missionary Society received, during the year ending with its anniversary in April, £60,722. It had begun the year with a debt of £9,000, the larger part of which had been liquidated, but, as the operations of the society had been at the same time much enlarged, its books still showed a deficit of £4,575. Reports were made at the anniversary, of the condition of missions in India, Ceylon, China, Japan, West Africa (Cameroons and Victoria); the new Congo mission in Central Africa, where eleven missionaries were employed; the West India islands, and Norway, Brittany, and Italy, in Europe. Colleges were maintained for Hindoo and Urdoo speaking young men at Delhi, and for Bengalis at Serampore, India, and at Calabar, Jamaica. At the autumnal meeting of the Baptist Union, held in Leicester, in October, the debt of the society was reported to be all discharged. It was also announced that fourteen missionaries were to be sent to China, sufficient funds having been promised to assure their outfit and annual maintenance.

The Baptist Zenana Mission, which is affiliated with this society, labors particularly among the women in India. It is supported by women, and employs 32 women as visitors to the Zenanas, and 50 Bible women and native teachers, and maintains 20 schools, which are regularly attended by 800 pupils.

BASUTOLAND. See CAPE COLONY. BECHUANALAND. See CAPE COLONY. BELGIUM, a constitutional monarchy in Western Europe. The King has power to convoke and dissolve the Legislature, and to conclude treaties; but treaties affecting the interests of the nation require legislative sanction. The House of Representatives is elected in the ratio of one member to at least 40,000 inhabitants, by citizens paying direct taxes to the amount of 43 francs, which restricts the franchise to about one thirteenth of the adult male population. The deputies are elected for four years, one half of the terms expiring every two years. All laws relating to finance and military service must originate in this Chamber. The members of the Senate are elected in the same way as the deputies; their number is exactly half that of the deputies, and their terms are twice as long. The reigning sovereign is Leopold II., born April 9, 1835, who succeeded his father, Leopold I., December 10, 1865.

The Cabinet. The present Cabinet consists of the following members: Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Council, Hubert J. W. Frère-Orban, appointed June 19, 1878;

Minister of Justice, Jules Bara, appointed June 19, 1878; Minister of War, General Gratry, appointed Nov. 8, 1880; Minister of Public Works, Sabier Olin, appointed April 5, 1882; Minister of the Interior, Rolin Jaequemyns, appointed June 19, 1878; Minister of Finance, Charles Graux, appointed Nov. 8, 1880; Minister of Public Instruction, Pierre van Humbeeck, appointed June 19, 1878.

Area and Population.-The area of Belgium is 29,455 square kilometres, or 11,373 square miles. The area and population of the nine provinces into which the kingdom is divided, according to a census taken Dec. 31, 1880, were as follow:

The density of population is 485 per square mile, exceeding that of any other country in Europe. In 1878 the number speaking French was reported as 2,256,860; Flemish, 2,659,890; both languages, 340,770; German, 38,070; German and French or Flemish, 28,980. Since the separation of Belgium from the Netherlands in 1830, the increase of population has been at the rate of one per cent. per annum. One fifth of the population follow agricultural pursuits, and one fifth trade and manufactures. The number of freehold proprietors in 1880 was 1,181,177, an increase of 29 per cent. since 1846. The population not only increases rapidly by natural increment, but in recent years by immigration to a slight extent. The population of Brussels, the capital, in 1880, was 394,940. There were six other cities with over 40,000 inhabitants: Antwerp, 169,112; Ghent, 131,431; Liége, 123,131; Bruges, 44,501; Mechlin, 42,381; Verviers, 40,944.

Religion. The entire population, with the exception of about 15,000 Protestants and 3,000 Israelites, profess the Roman Catholic religion. The dissenting bodies not only enjoy full religious liberty, but their ministers, like the Roman Catholic priests, receive salaries from the state treasury. These salaries of the clergy, ranging from 600 to 1,360 francs for the parish priests, are supplemented by fees and contributions. By the census of 1880 there were 1,559 convents, containing 1,346 male and 20,645 female inmates.

Education. The public-school system of Belgium has been for years the subject of bitter controversy between the Government party and the Clericals. The clergy have retained in a large measure the control of the education of the people, by maintaining schools supported

by private contributions, in opposition to the state schools. The educational work is done largely by Jesuits. The public schools are supported by the communes, the Government, and the provinces. The expenditure in 1880 amounted to 34,838,000 francs, about half of which was defrayed by the state. According to the military returns, about one sixth of the recruits are unable to read or write. Among the younger generation the proportion is considerably less. A law was passed in 1883 making Flemish the language of instruction in the intermediate schools in the Flemish parts of the country, but providing for preparatory departments in which both French and Flemish are to be taught.

Commerce. The general commerce in 1881 was 2,787,831,075 francs' worth of imports, and 2,460,624,275 francs of exports; the special commerce by imports to the value of 1,629,871,040 francs, and exports to the value of 1,302,670,100 francs, the first representing the consumption of foreign and the second the exportation of domestic products. The largest import trade is with France and the next with the United States, followed by Germany, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and Russia. Of the exports, France takes the largest share, followed by Great Britain, Germany, and the Netherlands.

The coal-mines of Belgium produce about 16,000,000 tons per annum, supporting large metallurgical and other industries, and furnishing about 4,000,000 tons for export, chiefly to France.

The carrying-trade is mainly in the hands of the British. The mercantile marine in the beginning of 1882 numbered 68 vessels, of 75,666 tons, including 42 steamers, of 65,224

tons.

Communications. Of 4,182 kilometres (2,600 miles) of railroad at the end of 1881, 2,888 kilometres were operated by the state and 1,294 by private companies. The working expenses in 1881 were 624 per cent. of the gross receipts of the state railroads, being 39 per cent. greater than four years before, owing to the purchases of unprofitable lines. The net earnings in 1881 were $4,540 per mile.

The total length of telegraph lines in January, 1882, was 5,693 kilometres; of wires, 25,404 kilometres. The number of messages in 1881 was 6,861,985.

The post-office carried in 1881, 77,627,488 private letters and 20,301,762 postal-cards, besides 12,891,656 official letters, 40,538,000 packages, and 82,573,000 newspapers. The receipts were 12.301,321 francs, and the expenses 7,425,683 francs.

Finance. The expenditure of the Government has exceeded the revenue every year since 1876. The budget for 1882 estimates the revenue at 296,647,709 francs, and the expenditure at 310,755,895 francs. For 1883 the estimated revenue from the various sources was as follows:

The national debt amounted in 1882 to 1,799,566,644 francs. Of this, 219,959,632 francs, bearing 23 per cent. interest, and 710,956,082 francs, bearing 4 per cent. interest, represent the share of Belgium in the old debt of the Netherlands. The rest was contracted for railroads and other works of public utility. Loans of 1873-'78, amounting to 381,628,500 francs, pay 3 per cent.; 134,719,000 francs, issued in 1880, pay 4 per cent.; and 340,742,155 francs of railroad annuities pay 4 per cent. All the debts except the old 23 per cents have sinking funds provided for their extinction. By a law of 1879, the 4 per cent. debt was ordered to be converted into one at 4 per cent. Treasury notes bearing 4 per cent. interest were issued in 1881 for floating liabilities amounting to 31,000,000 francs. In May, 1883, a new loan of 100,000,000 francs was issued. Sums aggregating as much as that have recently been appropriated for the Antwerp harbor improvements, the erection of schools, etc. To prevent the recurring deficits, the Government in the session of 1883 brought in a bill imposing additional taxes on coffee, tobacco, spirits, etc.; but the coffee-tax was withdrawn, that on alcohol rejected, and the mutilated bill finally passed by a majority of only six votes. Among the new taxes is one on securities, and another on operations of the stock exchange.

Polities and Legislation. The struggle between the Liberals and Clericals occupied in 1883 the political arena, as in former years. The more advanced Liberals proposed to cut down the salaries of bishops and abolish canonries and vicarships. The Government toned down these demands, and carried an amendment providing for the extinction of the canon