Circumstances took me on Wednesday evening to the annual rally
of the London Missionary Society, held in connection with the annual assembly of the Congregational Union, and I was very considerably impressed. Westminster Chapel, which holds 2,500 people, was packed, and the proceedings were relayed to an overflow meeting in an adjacent hall—this when there was no outstanding speaker to attract, and many of the 3,000 or so had been attending meetings all day. Though the Congregational Union itself has had to confess a difficult financial situation the budget of the L.M.S. has been fully covered. One encouraging announcement was that missionaries now excluded from China are going to Malaya to work among the Chinese there. Another cause for encouragement was the wisdom and moderation with which an African speaker from Northern Rhodesia spoke of the Federation issue. The importance of these evidences of the virility of Congrega- tionalism must no doubt not be exaggerated; but it most certainly not be underestimated.
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