OBITUARIES 251 



he graduated m.a. of Edinburgh in 1902. As far as the 

 University syllabus permitted, he chose the subjects suitable 

 for his work in China; and he also did a good deal towards 

 his B.Sc. and LL.B. degrees, one or both of which he 

 intended to take on his third furlough. Circumstances 

 however, prevented this. About 1904, important changes 

 were made in the educational policy of the Mission, which 

 did not commend themselves to him; and after two or three 

 years' work under the new conditions, he felt it wise to resign. 

 It was about this time that he was twice offered the 

 Principalship of Shansi University, which honour he declined 

 on the ground that he wished if possible to remain with his 

 Mission. He resigned finally from the B.M.S. in 1908; 

 and this was one of the greatest sorrows of his life. 



He then removed to Shanghai, where he was for some 

 years tutor in a well-known family. In 1914-16 he was 

 Hon. Sec. of the Royal Asiatic Society, (North China 

 Branch) and editor of its Journal. During this period he per- 

 ceived the lack of a general book of reference as to things 

 Chinese in the R.A.S. or any other library, and set to work 

 to collect material for such a book. The result was the 

 Encyclopaedia Sinica which was published in 1917, and 

 was awarded the Prix Stanislas Julien in 1919. In the 

 Preface it is said, "It is the framework on which a more 

 complete and worthier encyclopaedia may be elaborated," 

 and the Editor always hoped to bring out a second edition, 

 for which he had considerable material in hand. 



In 1919, though in poor health, he accepted the Acting 

 Principalship of Medhurst College, Shanghai (L.M.S.) and 

 rejoiced at being back in Mission work; but at the close of 

 the year, a severe illness compelled him to resign. In the 

 same year he started the New China Review, a bi-monthly 

 periodical devoted to* sinology in all its branches. 



In 1920, he accepted the invitation of the Shanghai 

 Municipal Council to complete the History of Shanghai (in 

 3 vols.) left unfinished by the late Mr. George Lanning. 

 Unfortunately only the second volume was completed at 

 Mr. Couling's death. This took place at Shanghai on June 

 15th, 1922 at the age of 62. 



He became a member of the R.A.S. in 1894; was, as 

 we have said, Secretary and Editor of the Journal for several 

 years; was made a Honorary Member in 1918, and was 

 one of the Society's Yice-Presidents at the time of his 

 death. 



He was by nature retiring and reserved; and those 

 traits were accentuated bv the nature of the rare and dis- 



