My Dear McQuesten,

I was much pleased to receive your sorely belated letter by the last mail, and am following my usual custom of replying at once. See that you people at home are as prompt, as letters are much appreciated out here.

I was much pleased to hear that the work was opening out so well among the students this year. There are a fine lot of fellows there I sometimes wish we had some of the good committee men here that we had in the old Association at home. They could be depended upon for work. I hope the Bible study department will be pushed with all vigor this winter as it is the backbone of the Association. The weekly meetings are not so important as the Bible classes. Have had a number of letters from the boys and all of them seem quite enthusiastic.

I miss my old friends very much. The new ones here do not seem so congenial. Selfishness is seen here at its best or at its worst, whichever you prefer. The young men as a rule get fair salaries but they spend their money recklessly on themselves. Everything is looked at from the present standpoint. The work among these men is much needed as every year scores of them lose their grip.

The people here are much agitated over the Chinese boycott of American goods because Chinese are excluded from the United States. Affairs have taken a serious turn during the last few weeks. About two weeks ago five missionaries of the American Presbyterian church working at Lienchou, about 300 miles interior were brutally massacred. The hatred of the Americans caused by literature sent out by the boycott committee at Canton is at the root of the matter. The North Chinese are naturally a stronger race physically than the South but those Cantonese are the great business men and agitators all through the country. The missionaries all over the disaffected Cantonese district have been ordered down to the coast, and a Commission has been sent up to the scene of the massacre to prepare a report. Our Macao missionaries are safe enough, I think, as Macao is under Portuguese Government, not Chinese.

Now I must close. Kindly remember me to all the college friends and to Mr. Gartshore & his family. Write us as soon as possible.

Yours very Sincerely

J. J. McPherson