$20,000 contributed through the Woman's Executive Committee. Eighty-six churches, with 68 missionaries, had been assisted in the East, and 131 churches, with 84 missionaries, in the West. The assisted churches in the East were situated frequently in new centers of population, where, if on the outskirts of large cities, they soon became selfsupporting. The mission churches returned in the aggregate 9,059 families; 13,539 members, 1,016 of whom had been received during the year on confession of faith; 17,934 members of Sunday schools; 6 new churches organized, 2 churches disbanded, and 5 become self-supporting. The low state of the treasury had prevented the board's responding to an appeal made to the previous General Synod for help among the colored people of the South. The General Synod advised the board to make further inquiry into the expediency of instituting missions among the colored people of South Carolina and the District of Columbia, and to proceed as they might judge best in the matter; also to ascertain the financial system existing in the churches receiving aid, with an ultimate view to promoting selfsupport; and to introduce, so far as might be practicable, the principle of local or classical support of new missionary enterprises.

The total receipts of the Board of Foreign Missions had been $111,112, and the expenditures had exceeded this sum by $8,000. The growth of the missions during the forty years since they were established on an independent foundation (they having till 1857 been associated with the American Board) is reviewed in the report, which says: "The 2 missions of 1857 have increased to 5, while in every element of work and fruit the increase has been many times as great. The 6 stations have become 23, nearly four times as many; the 2 outstations have increased more than a hundredfold, till they number 236; for 17 missionaries, men and women, there are 78, with 6 others under appointment; 33 ordained native ministers, where there were none forty years ago, and 247 other native helpers where there were only 22. More than six times as many churches (47) number nearly twenty times as many communicants (5,306). Nineteen boarding schools for boys and girls gather nearly 1,000 scholars, and 4 theological schools or classes have 79 students, where there were none of either class in 1857. For the 6 day schools there are 159, and into them are gathered 5,859 scholars, for the 87 of forty years ago. During the forty years 143 missionaries have gone to the different fields (55 men and 88 women, married and unmarried)—16 men and 22 women to China, the same number to India, 17 men and 33 women to the two missions in Japan, and 6 men and 1 woman to Arabia." In China one effect of the massacres of 1895 had been to call more public attention to the Christian "doctrine." Valuable evangelistic work on extended tours was rendered by the women of the Amoy mission. Substantial progress was making in the evangelistic work in the Arcot mission, India. The mission in Japan had celebrated the quarter centennial of the organization of its first church. The Arabian mission in its work among the Moslems found opportunity also among the slaves taken by the British from the traders. The General Synod asked the board to consider the advisability of appointing an agent who can devote his time to presenting the cause of foreign missions among the churches.

The General Synod met in its ninety-first regular session at Asbury Park, N. J., June 2. The Rev. Charles W. Frittz, D. D., was chosen president. A communication was received from the General Synod of the Reformed Church of the Netherlands, asking for an interchange of delegates, who, besides

conveying the greetings of the churches, should have seats as members having full powers of discussion. The proposition was accepted, and the Synod of 1898 is expected to appoint delegates to the General Synod of the Netherlands, which will meet in the summer of that year. It was also resolved that a delegate be appointed to convey by letter the fraternal greeting of the Church to the Reformed Church of South Africa, with a proposition for regular correspondence. A report was made that the plan of co-operation in home missions of Presbyterian and Reformed churches had been adopted by the General Assemblies of the Northern, Southern, and Cumberland Presbyterian churches, the General Synods of the Reformed churches in America and in the United States, and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. The Committee on the Amsterdam Correspondence (see Annual Cyclopædia" for 1895, REFORMED CHURCHES) reported that, having obtained subscriptions seemingly sufficient to warrant the step, they had appointed an agent to go to Holland and secure copies of such papers as might seem important. They would, further, endeavor to obtain additional funds to provide for translating and editing the material collected, with the expectation that it would then be published without further expense to the Church. The correspondence in question is regarded as of great importance, in that it embraces a history of the Reformed Dutch Church in the United States as well as of the older churches, down to and beyond 1771. The work of the committee was approved, and the Rev. E. T. Corwin, its agent, was designated official historiographer of the General Synod, to gather, arrange, and edit, without expense to it, historical material, "such as this of the Amsterdam Correspondence," and also such as would probably be included in the digest heretofore authorized, and in a new edition of the manual. The term "baptized noncommunicants," as it appears in the statistical tables, was defined to mean all those whose names appear on the roll of baptized members of the Church who have not been received into full communion. The Synod reaffirmed its belief that the observance of the Fourth Commandment is of perpetual binding obligation on all men; advised all members to promote it, and ministers to be diligent in defending it; and commended the American Sabbath Union and the Woman's National Sabbath Alliance.

REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH. This Church has, according to the latest collected statistics, 87 ministers, 93 churches, and 8,863 communi

cants.

The fifteenth General Council met in the city of New York, June 9. Bishop Samuel Fallows was chosen presiding bishop. A woman, presenting her credentials as a delegate, the question of admitting her was referred to the Committee on Constitution and Canons, who decided that she was ineligible. The treasurer of the body reported that his receipts had been $19,226, and that a balance of $2,600 remained on deposit. The receipts of the Special Church Extension Trust had been $30,900, and its disbursements $26,000, spent chiefly in aid to churches. The bishops, rendering account of their several jurisdictions, reported that 1,494 members had been confirmed. The work of Bishop P. F. Stevens was among the freedmen of South Carolina and other States of the South, and included 17 ministers, 16 congregations, 24 missions, 1,295 communicants, and 2,000 adherents. In this jurisdiction 249 confirmations were returned. The secretary of the Publication Society reported that a new prayer book, containing the Bishop's Psalter, had been published. The introduction of a resolution restricting the use of vestments in the services of

the Church gave rise to an earnest debate, at the close of which the resolution was adopted "that no official dress other than the black academic gown shall be used by the ministers of the Church in any of the services of the Church; provided, that in any church in which the surplice is now used it may continue to be used, so long as that church shall so elect; and provided, also, that any bishop who now uses the bishop's robes may continue to use them within the limits of his jurisdiction so long as he shall so elect." Upon the announcement of the vote on this resolution Bishop Cheney read a letter of protest against it, characterizing the vote as a fatal blow at Christian liberty, and offered his resignation from the boards and committees of the church of which he was a member. He was followed in this act by four other members of committees. Proposed changes in the constitution and canons and in the prayer book were laid over till the General Council of 1900.

The Annual Synod of the Reformed Episcopal Church in England met in Liscard, May 31. Bishop Eldridge was unanimously elected presiding bishop. The bishops' report on the state of the churches was "in every way satisfactory and encouraging," and showed that the year had been one of decided progress. A committee was appointed to arrange the working of a prayer and workers' union. At a public meeting held during the sessions of the council, Bishop Eldridge made an address explaining and vindicating the purposes and methods of the Church. REVENUE-CUTTER SERVICE, UNITED STATES. This service was organized in 1790 by President Washington, at the suggestion of Alexander Hamilton, first Secretary of the Treasury, with a view to replenishing the exhausted finances of the republic by stimulating and protecting its commercial interests. The officers chosen by the President to form this new corps were selected from the old Continental navy, their fighting qualities being the best recommendation for their appointment, and a little fleet consisting of 10 vessels was fitted out and placed under the control of the Treasury Department. For six years the Revenue Marine, as the service was originally termed, constituted the sole naval force of the United States, while the expense of their maintenance, as well as their original cost of building and equipping, was charged against the revenue derived from imposts and tonnage. Very primitive ideas were held in those early days regarding naval requirements, to judge from the compensation that was considered sufficient for the officers and seamen to whom were assigned such important duties. The salary of a captain was $30 a month, besides his subsistence; to the first, second, and third mate was paid $20, $16, and $14 respectively; to the mariners, $8, besides the rations allowed to a soldier in the army. But in 1793 the compensation of a captain was increased to $40 a month, and that of his subordinates proportionately.

Established upon a military basis, the Revenuecutter Service has performed an active part in every war undertaken by the United States. In 1797, when hostilities with France began, several large vessels were added to the service, to act as a coast defense, and the little fleet of the Treasury Department, then numbering 20 vessels, proved itself a valuable auxiliary to the infant navy. Sixteen of the 22 prizes taken from the French were captured by revenue cutters, whose roll of officers held the names of Barney, Truxton, Nicholson, and Stephen Decatur, and in whose ranks were found the historic "Constitution" and "Constellation," afterward transferred to the naval establishment. In 1794, the Revenue-cutter Service distinguished itself again by aiding in the enforcement of the law

prohibiting the slave trade. Several vessels were captured by the vigilant cutters in southern waters, and an aggregate of 487 negroes intended to be sold into bondage were thus liberated.

In 1799, by act of Congress, the Revenue Marine was declared to be a part of the available naval force in time of need, a distinguishing pennon was bestowed upon each cutter, and the term "lieutenant" was substituted for that of "mate" among her subofficers. To-day, when visited by the Secretary of the Treasury or by the President of the United States, each cutter displays in addition to the national ensign a president's flag or a secretary's flag.

The next good work performed by the service was the suppression of piracy in the Gulf. A relentless warfare was waged against the freebooters by the cutters, which boldly attacked pirate vessels of far superior size and force and compelled them to strike their colors, pursuing them even into their bayous of rendezvous until their harboring along the southern coast was completely broken up. Durring the War of 1812 the revenue cutters bore a prominent part. Only one week after the declaration of hostilities the cutter "Jefferson" seized the British schooner "Patriot," with a valuable cargo, the first prize taken from the enemy. This important capture was followed by 12 others and the taking of 900 British prisoners by the cutters while performing the dangerous duty of coast guard. The gallantry and fearless character of the officers of the service called forth words of admiration even from the enemy on several occasions. While co-operating with the navy throughout the Seminole war, the prompt and efficient conduct of the Revenue Marine drew forth from the commanding naval officer the strongest eulogies. From 3 to 5 of the cutters were constantly on the coast of Florida, rendering assistance to the inhabitants, to the army, and to the navy as long as the Indians were hostile, and 7 cutters gained for themselves a high reputation during the struggle with Mexico.

Since the discipline upon a revenue cutter is the same as that maintained upon a war ship, the service is always ready for a call to arms. As in every former emergency, it was the revenue cutters that responded first to the summons of the endangered Union. At the cry for aid from Fort Sumter, it was the cutter "Harriet Lane" that steamed first to the rescue of the garrison. At every post of danger, at every point requiring support, either offensive or defensive, during the four years' struggle, the ubiquitous cutter was found. All the older officers at present in the service saw active duty in the civil war. The "Harriet Lane" shared in the attack on Newport News and Hatteras Inlet, and the cutter "Miami" in that on Sewall's Point, while the "Naugatuck" was with the ironclads lay, ing seige to Fort Darling with Rogers. Several other cutters served in connection with the Potomac flotilla, and were instrumental in preventing the transportation of supplies from North to South. The "Forward" arrived at Annapolis as soon as Gen. Butler reached that point himself, and furnished him with a valuable auxiliary. It was the "Nemaha" that received Gen. Sherman on board after his famous march to the sea, and had the honor of conveying him to the fleet of gunboats below Savannah. The cutter "Hercules" suffered the loss of her commander, Capt. Thomas N. Dungan, who was killed in action near the Virginia shore.

Even in time of peace the officers of the Revenuecutter Service are exposed to the perils of war, as each commander is directed, in case of failure on the part of any vessel arriving in a port of the United States on being hailed to come to and submit to proper inspection, to fire first across her

bow as a warning, and, in case of persistent refusal to allow an examination, to compel obedience by means of shot and shell. Each cutter, therefore, carries great guns and a full complement of small arms for the use of the crew if forced by stress of circumstances to resort to harsh methods in executing and securing respect for those laws which the Secretary of the Treasury is bound under his oath of office to enforce.

Another duty that has fallen to the lot of revenue vessels was the natural outgrowth of their cruising always in close proximity to the coast. They were witness to many shipwrecks, and, from instincts of humanity, rendered all the assistance in their power

partment resulted in the birth of the Life-saving Service as an independent bureau in 1878, and Mr. Kimball, in recognition of his exceptional fitness for the post, was appointed its general superintendent, which office he still holds. But the connection of the Revenue-cutter Service with this branch of the public service has not ceased, for 12 of its officers are detailed to drill and discipline the crews at life-saving stations, and to inspect the condition of the buildings and equipments. A glance at the annual reports shows an average of 100 persons saved from drowning each year by the Revenue-cutter Service, irrespective of the Life-saving Service, while the record for 1895 registers an

to the sufferers. Under the law of 1837, requiring the President to assign public vessels to service on the coast during the winter months for the relief of storm-driven vessels, ships of war were at first designated, but could not perform the work, owing to their size and draught, and were soon replaced by the revenue cutters. These little vessels have since performed the perilous task every year in a most creditable manner, and its accomplishment demands superior knowledge of coast waters, skill, and discretion. During seventy years of winter cruising for the relief of distressed navigation, only one wreck of a cutter has occurred, that of the "Gallatin," which stranded on the New England coast in a blinding snowstorm. From this requirement of guarding the coast line with a view to preventing disasters and the fatal consequences of unavoidable wrecks, was evolved that grandly benevolent institution the Life-saving Service, which owes its present perfect system to the unremitting, zealous efforts of Sumner I. Kimball, chief of the Revenue Marine from 1871 to 1878, who detailed some of his most efficient officers to set in order the affairs of the incipient life-saving districts. While a branch of the Revenue Marine, the Life-saving Service grew to such size and prominence that the attention of the navy was covetously attracted. But the struggles on the floor of the House of Representatives for and against its transfer to the Navy De

aggregate of 122 vessels in actual distress assisted, their cargoes being valued at $1,081,592, a sum $150,000 in excess of the entire appropriation for the maintenance of the Revenue-cutter Service. When vessels of the service are in commission on the Great Lakes the officers are specially charged with the duty of aiding vessels in difficulty or disaster, and never, no matter how severe the weather, has a signal of distress been exhibited in vain within sight of the service.

The Revenue-cutter Service has developed with the growth of the nation. Its multifarious duties, as formulated in the volume of regulations recently published, cover every class of maritime necessity. The list is as follows:

1. Protection of the customs revenue. 2. Assistance of vessels in distress.

3. Enforcement of the laws pertaining to the quarantine.

4. Enforcement of the neutrality laws.

5. Enforcement of the navigation and other laws governing merchant vessels.

6. Protection of merchant vessels from piratical attacks and the suppression of piracy.

7. Protection of the seal fisheries and sea-otter hunting grounds in Alaska.

8. Protection of wrecked property.

9. Protection of the timber reserves of the United States against depredations.

11. Suppression of the slave trade.

12. Suppression of mutinies on board merchant vessels.

13. Superintendence of the construction of lifesaving stations.

14. Inspection and drilling of crews of life-saving stations.

15. Assisting the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries.

16. Enforcement of the provisions of law in regard to the anchorage of vessels in the ports of New York and Chicago.

17. Co-operation with the navy when directed by the President.

18. Establishment and maintenance of a refuge station at or near Point Barrow, Alaska. (The refuge station at Point Barrow was discontinued in 1896.)

In fulfilling these requirements the time of the cutters is fully occupied. The "Manhattan" is engaged in enforcing the regulations governing the anchorage of vessels in New York harbor and bay, for although most vessels, on being notified that they are outside of the prescribed limits, comply with instructions at once, some are refractory, and the patrol steamer is obliged to use force in moving them from channel ways to proper anchorage. The Chinese exclusion act intrusts co-operatively to the cutters stationed on the Pacific coast the prevention of unlawful landing of Chinese subjects and smuggling of opium in large quantities. A larger patrol force than at present exists is needed on the Great Lakes, where the annually increasing commerce puts forth its vast demands. The disturbed condition of affairs in Cuba has rendered necessary the assigning of several vessels to duty on the coast of Florida to maintain neutrality, and, in connection with the Marine-hospital Service, to prevent the importation of contagious diseases.

For fulfilling the regulations respecting extinguishing fires, a terrible opportunity was given by the Chicago catastrophe in 1871. The cutter" Johnson" is still remembered with gratitude by the inhabitants, to whom she brought relief when they were driven from their homes, shivering with cold and in a starving condition. As the cutter, after several hazardous attempts to draw near the burning city, was forced to turn aside from the channel obstructed by débris, she steamed into the first basin below the lighthouse and gave her attention to the sufferers huddled together on the shore and taking refuge in shanties rudely constructed from dry-goods boxes. During the three days that the vessel remained near Chicago her provisions were liberally bestowed, officers and men uniting in the task of cooking and distributing the food.

The little fleet of cutters employed in Bering Sea is dealing with important international issues which require the utmost prudence and judgment. Ever since the acquisition of Alaska revenue cutters have been furthering the interests of the United States in its waters. Ten days after the ratification of the treaty for the purchase of the Territory, May 28, 1867, the cutter "Lincoln" was ordered to that region. She carried several scientific men from the Smithsonian Institution and the United States Coast Survey, who brought back the first information concerning the new Territory. But the duty of exploration was soon superseded by the commission to enforce the regulations of the modus vivendi with Great Britain, which treaty limited the quota of seals to be taken on the Pribilof Islands during each year to 7,500. The ruthless slaughter of these creatures by speculators had aroused both nations to a recognition that something must be done to prevent the

of Arbitration held in Paris, Feb. 29, 1892, prohibited the hunting and killing of seals at any time within 60 miles of the Pribilof Islands, the great seal resort of the world, or during the months of May, June, and July in other Alaskan waters. By

CAPTAIN CHARLES F. SHOEMAKER.

various legislative acts Congress has given effect to this award; and each year since a proclamation is issued by the President warning all vessels entering these waters against violating any of the regulations for the protection of fur-bearing animals. An offi cer of the navy was placed in command of a joint fleet composed of naval vessels and revenue cutters and dispatched to patrol Bering Sea. In 1895 much apprehension was felt lest the area of the award might not be thoroughly covered, because this patrol duty was committed entirely to the charge of five cutters, Capt. C. L. Hooper, R. C. S., being in command. The area covered by the vigilant little fleet extends over 60 degrees of longitude and 25 degrees of latitude, making an aggregate of 77,461 miles of cruising. The last annual report of operations shows a total of 94 vessels boarded and examined, 54 of which were engaged in the fur-seal trade. To ascertain whether they were complying with the conditions of their license, 31,000 seal skins were actually counted and carefully scrutinized. Four vessels, three of which were British and one American, were seized for violation of the treaty.

Incidental to the commission of patrolling Bering Sea and standing guard beside the Pribilof Islands, the ubiquitous cutters carry supplies to the various mission stations, afford relief to the whaling fleet, give medical attendance to American and native settlers on the coast, suppress the illicit sale of liquor and firearms to the Eskimo, and are ever on the watch to rescue distressed seamen whose vessels have been crushed by ice or driven on the inhospitable shores of the Arctic Ocean. Each year the cutters have returned from Point Barrow bringing back to civilization 40 to 60 persons who would otherwise have perished on the barren coast of northwestern Alaska. During the past five years the cutter "Bear," which originally formed one of the Greely relief

fleet, and is particularly adapted by construction to navigate among the ice floes, has been placed at the disposal of the Secretary of the Interior to further his project of introducing domestic reindeer into the Territory. The "Bear" has made several trips to Siberia, bringing back an average of 150 deer each year and landing them at Teller Reindeer Station, Port Clarence. Occasionally a cutter is used in the interest of the Department of Justice to arrest criminals and secure witnesses in Alaska who could not otherwise be readily reached, owing to the remote locality. Indeed, it is noteworthy that whenever special service of an arduous character is required upon the sea the nation turns to its first and oldest maritime organization.

The service is peculiarly situated. The power that is exercised by the President in regard to directing revenue vessels to co-operate with the navy in time of war is a power he can exert over no other branch of a civil establishment. The Revenue-cutter Service, from its connection with the Treasury Department, is in reality a civil institution, but originating and continuing upon a military basis. Its officers, like those of the navy, are commissioned for life, appointed by the President, and confirmed by the Senate; but, unlike the navy, the highest rank attainable in this corps is that of captain, and the highest compensation only $2,500 a year. While the duties of the officers subject them to the dangers of war as well as of infectious disease, there is no pension list for the corps. Amid the calls of their profession the men's lives may be sacrificed and themselves incapacitated for further service; but the present law reads that only when an officer of the Revenue-cutter Service becomes disabled or loses his life in the line of duty while co-operating with the navy is his name entitled to be placed on the pension list. With this exception, his widow and orphans are left unprovided for. Nor is there any retired list for the superannuated. The names of men eighty years of age who had served in the Mexican War were to be found upon the active list until the last Congress appointed a commission to examine into this state of affairs and made provision for placing these aged officers on a roll denominated "permanent waiting orders," with half pay. Under the operation of this legislation 39 aged and infirm officers were removed, opening vacancies for promotion of younger men, physically and mentally qualified to perform whatever duty might be assigned to them. But only partial relief is afforded to the necessities of the situation by this enactment, as its beneficiaries are only those who were found disqualified by old age and broken health at the date of the passage of the act.

The Revenue-cutter Service numbers 850 seamen and 222 officers. Capt. Charles F. Shoemaker, R. C. S., chief of the bureau, served on guard duty in the port of New York during the civil war, and for thirteen years was inspector of life-saving stations, where he won a high reputation for executive ability. It is his constant aim to secure the best equipped men to take charge of the cutters, and he superintends in person the boards that examine candidates for the Revenue Marine Corps. The Revenue-cutter Service holds open a chance for merit alone. Any young man between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five may enlist, provided he is able to pass the required physical and mental examinations. To promote efficiency in the corps, the cadet system is in force, by which those entering the service are trained in their several duties. During this preparatory period of two years the compensation of the cadets is $500 a year, and the cutter "Chase," stationed at Baltimore, affords them schooling facilities, her officers acting as instructors in the art of navigation, military drill, etc., a college professor

being also employed to conduct the studies of the young men. At the end of each school year the "Chase" goes upon a didactic cruise, to give the cadets experience in practical seamanship. At the end of the two years of initial study a competitive examination is held, and promotions are made upon the merit of the contesting parties, all political and personal influence being ignored. Besides the other advantages of the cadet system it has proved very economical, since whenever a vacancy occurs in the grade of third lieutenant, the place is held open until the following regular spring examination, and this regulation entails a saving that more than equals the extra expense of the system.

Economy is strictly enjoined upon all executive officers of the service, and it is forbidden to use the cutters for any purpose beyond their legitimate business. "Duty" is the watchword of the corps. All pleasure parties are at the private expense of the individuals participating. In fact, the multifarious requirements of the Revenue-cutter Service furnish unremitting employment for the comparatively small force of vessels. There are only 35 cutters, most of them old and well worn. Three new ones are being built, the "Golden Gate," the "Daniel Manning," and the "Walter Q. Gresham," and two new ones have been ordered for the Great Lakes. The triple-expansion engines in these cutters exhibit the latest improvements in marine machinery.

The introduction of steam as a motive power for the vessels, in 1861, revolutionized their whole management, and a corps of engineers was added to the Revenue Marine. Appointments to this corps are conducted in a manner similar to the rules of the cadet system. Any young man between the ages of

CAPTAIN JOHN W. COLLINS.

twenty-one and twenty-eight can enter this service, provided he can pass satisfactorily the prescribed academic examination and the physical test of the marine-hospital surgeon, and can also furnish evidence that he has had practical experience in the management of machinery. His salary during the probationary period of six months is $900 a year,