[Sidenote: Royal Approval.] By 1823 the attitude of the Church toward missions had so changed and improved that ten distinguished men, theologians, jurists and officials of the government issued “An Appeal for Charitable Contributions in aid of Evangelical Missions”. The organization which they formed received the royal sanction and was called the _Berlin Society_. In 1834 the first missionaries were sent to South Africa. At present the society works in Africa and China. Its last income was $291,000. [Sidenote: Another Large Society.] As in the case of the Basel Society, so in the case of the _Rhenish Society_ there are two elements, Lutheran and Reformed, who work together in all its enterprises. Its school and headquarters are in Barmen, Westphalia; its first missionaries were sent to South Africa in 1829. Its fields lie in Africa, the Dutch East Indies and China. Its income was in 1913 $328,000. In the north of Germany is located the _North German_ or _Bremen Society_ whose workers are trained at Basel and whose field is West Africa where it has offered an amazing sacrifice. Its income was in 1913, $71,000. [Sidenote: An “Aristocrat Among Missions”.] The _Leipsic Society_, which was organized in 1836, received its strongest impress from its director Doctor _Karl Graul_, a thoroughly trained theologian and a devoted supporter of missions. He endeavored to make this society the center of the missionary work of the whole Lutheran Church. He not only organized, advised and managed from the home base but spent four years in India. The society works in India and Africa. On account of the thoroughness and solidity of its work it has been called “the aristocrat among missions”. Its income was in 1913, $179,000. [Sidenote: The First Missionary Ship.] The _Hermannsburg Mission_ was begun in 1849. Its genius was _Louis Harms_, the pastor of the Lutheran church in the village of Hermannsburg. Though he was brought up under rationalistic influences he remained true to the principles of the Gospel. He believed that missionary work could be best accomplished by the sending out of colonies of missionaries who should be a source of support and encouragement to one another and who should furnish to the natives an example of Christian behavior in all the walks of life. His enthusiasm imparted itself to his congregation which was willing to make any sacrifice in order that his plans might be carried out. His first missionary party numbered twenty, twelve missionaries and eight colonists who sailed on the ship “Candace” for East Africa. Beside its African field the Hermannsburg Society has stations in India and Persia. Its income in 1913 was $139,000.