meeting of the synod which ensued a little later he was compelled, after a brief sojourn at Tengchow, to go down to Shanghai and remain there for a year and a half in charge of the mission press. Just how real was the danger that caused this temporary flight to Chefoo, and how imminent, is a secret that perhaps no man clearly knew, and which certainly the missionaries never ascertained. Writing in his Journal, just after his return, concerning his reluctant acquiescence in the vote of all except himself in favor of going, he says: Nevertheless acquiescence was one of the hardest trials of my life. My mind was filled that night with a tumult of emotions; and I did not sleep a wink till the morning light dawned. I did not know how much I loved Tengchow, and perhaps I overrated the damage our leaving would do to our own cause here, especially to our schools. I am not sure, however, that I did. The future remains to be seen. God may, and I trust he will, turn it to be a blessing both to us and to the native Christians. Aside from the question of the actual amount of danger at that time I felt a strong aversion to going in any case, unless when my life was in such instant peril that there was no possible doubt.... I am not yet convinced, however, and though I do not wish to make any rash vows, yet I think that I will not fly from Tengchow again unless there is a great deal more imminent danger. When, in 1894-95, the war between Japan and China raged, Tengchow being a port on the sea, and not far from Japan, was of course likely to be a place directly involved in the hostilities. The missionaries elected to remain at their post, and asked the consular agent of the United States at Chefoo to notify the proper military official of their presence, number, calling, and nationality, and to say that in case of attack they would hoist the American flag over the mission premises, and that if the Chinese found themselves unable to defend the city they would exert their influence to have it surrendered without loss of life. The Japanese did come, and they, as a diversion from the seizure of Wei-hai-wei, bombarded the place on three successive days. As to this, Dr. Mateer says in his autobiographical sketch for his college classmates, “I watched the progress of affairs from the lookout on top of my house, but escaped untouched, though eight shells fell close around the house, and one went over my head so close that the wind from it made me dodge.”