The Chronicle of the London Missionary Society.

1-7

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No. 7. — New Series.]

JQLY, 1892.

[Price Oxe Penny.

HELPING COD,

By Rev. J. F. T. Hallowes, M.A., Birmingham.

THE Basque proverb says : " God is a good worker, but
He loves to be helped."
So much does our Lord " love to be helped," that He
graciously associated His disciples with Himself in service
in the words : " We must work the works of Him that
sent Me " (John ix. 4— R.V.). Very easy would it be for
our exalted Saviour to send all His communications for
man straight from Himself ; but. " He loves to be
helped," partly for the sake of us, His helpere, whose
natures are both sanctified and honoured by being made
the channels of those sacred streams which are thus
twice blessed, in the saints they travel through and the
sinners they travel to.

Now, as science has furnished steam with me-
chanical conditions of action in the shape of engines
of diverse types, without which its power was latent
rather than manifested, so it belongs to us to furnish
our Lord with suitable conditions of action, by our
faith, consecration, prayer, and money. Man was made
to be over Nature and under God to use the powers of
Nature, to be used by the powers of God. In proportion
as he is over Nature he civilises the world ; in proportion

as he is under God he evangelises it. For if the Church
puts herself thoroughly at the disposal of her Lord, who
died for the human race, He will certainly send her to
spread the tidings of this supreme fact in " all the
world " and " to every creature."

Since, then, it is clear that God can be helped by us,
and requires that we should come to His aid " against
the mighty," let us freely place ourselves and all our
powers at His disposal.

As His helpers we should actually go to the heathen
in much larger numbers. There are a thousand millions
of heathen and Mohammedans in the world, and there
are at least ten millions of Protestant church members.
These ten millions only send seven thousand missionaries,
or one for every fourteen hundred and forty-four mem-
bers. But they might easily send one hundred thou-
sand, which would be only a proportion of one for every
hundred members ; and not an extravagant number
assuredly, when we think that the Moravians send one
out of sixty. "Were the hundred thousand to go as mis-
sionaries to the thousand millions who are yet unevange-
lised, each missionary would then have on an average ten
thousand souls to care for, or considerably more than our
home ministers have in the most needy parts of our great
cities.

154

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD.

July, 1892.

But neither the men nor the women are forthcoming as
they ought to be ; hence God, for this and other reasons,
would have us help Him by our prayers. " Pray ye, there-
fore, the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth
labourers into His harvest." God-sent men go forth to
the harvest through God-inspired prayers. By restraining
our supplications we are inflicting limitations on the
action of God. "We make many appeals in our places of
worship and in our missionary gatherings, to young men
and women especially, to oifer themselves as missionaries^
and they do not come forward as we wish. Let us
appeal more to God to separate for this work those
whom He has fitted for it. Truly, we may say that
the modern missionary enterprise is really the outcome
of prayer. Jonathan Edwards, in 1747, summoned
the whole Christian Church to prayer, pleading, as
he did, " for a visible union of God's people in an
extraordinary prayer for the effusion of God's Spirit
upon all the churches and upon the whole habitable
earth." Christians who are largely debarred from other
methods of advancing missions have within their reach
the most powerful of them all. The humblest servant of
Christ can reach the great dark empires of the world on
his knees, wafting wave after wave of holy influence to
them by way of the Throne. Our gifts, too, may help
God, especially if they represent some self-denial. Dr.
Pierson says : " A woman went round my church to get
offerings for foreign missions, and her uniform plea was,
' You can give this and you will not feel it a bit.' That
was a damaging recommendation. We give and we do
not feel it, neither does the world feel it very
much." Does not the fact that the Self-denial
Week amongst Congregationalists in aid of the London
Missionary Society only produced about £10,000
indicate that we are not disciplined sufficiently to self-
denial generally ? Let us so practise it habitually that
the next Self-denial Week (for it certainly ought to
be annual) may bring in at least £20,000, or about £8
on an average for every chui'ch. In ways too numerous
. to mention we may have fellowship with Christ in the
diffusion of the Gospel message and the Spirit's in-
fluence amongst the heathen. It is His to furnish the
supplies of grace ; it is oure to furnish the channels, and
to broaden them from time to time. M. de Lesseps'
great mistake in the constmction of tUe Suez Canal was

that he made it too narrow, thus limiting the traffic. The
great mistake of the Church is that her channels God-
ward and manward are far too narrow, and thus, by her
unbelief, she hinders God, limiting both the Divine inflow
and the Divine outflow.

PROCEEDINGS Of THE BOARD.

Board Meeting, May 2Uh, 1892.— J. McLaken, Esq., in the
Chair. Number of Directors present, 72. Items of special
interest : —

The new Directors present were introduced and ■welcomed by
the Board.

The Rev. W. Roberts, B.A., was elected Chairman, and A. J.
Shepheard, Esq., Deputy-Chairman : and cordial votes of thanks
were accorded the late Chairman (J. McLaren, Esq.), and Deputy-
Chairman (Rev. W. Spensley), for their efficient services. The
Auditors (R. 0. White, J. McLaren, W. Edwards, jun., and
Arnold Pye-Smith, Esqs.) were also thanked for their valuable
services during the past year.

The various Standing Committees, consisting of 100 Directors,
fifty from London and fifty from the provinces, were appointed ;
also three Special Committees, including one to consider what
action, if any, should be taken by the Directors with reference
to the recommencement of the Kanaka trafSc by the Queensland
Government.

Board Meeting, June \Uh, 1892. Rev. W. Roberts, B.A., in
the Chair. Number of Directors present, 73. Items of special
interest ; —

S. R. Scott, Esq., was re-appointed a Trustee of the Society.

Offers of service were accepted from the following : — Miss
M. E. Roberts, of Liverpool ; Miss M. E. Haskard, of Nottingham ;
Miss M. G. Lodge, of Hobart, Tasmania ; and Mr. H. T. Wills,
B.A., B.Sc, F.G.S., of Bristol.

The following appointments were made to stations in India
and China

China. — Canton ; Mr. G. Williams (Hackney College) ; Han-
kow : Mr. S, Lavington Hart. D.Sc. ; Hiau Kan, Mr. G. S.
Walton, M.B.C.M.; Chung King, Mr. J. Walford Hart ; Tientsin,
Miss M. L. Macey ; Chiang Chiu, Miss L. H. Parslow and Miss
E. R. Carling ; Hankow, Miss' E. M. Harris, M.B.C.M., and Miss
M. Harris.

India. — Calcutta, Miss M.MacLean ; Bellary, Miss E. E. Fooks
and Miss M. L. Christlieb ; Neyoor, Miss M. MacDonnell.

The Rev. T. Haines, late of Bellary. was appointed to labour
in connection with the Mission in Belgaum.

On the recommendation of a Special Committee it was decided
that the additional 100 new missionaries whom it is proposed to
send out during the next four years shall be distributed approxi-
mately as follows : — China. ; India, 3,5 ; Madagascar, 10 ;
Africa, 1 .") : Polynesia and New Guinea, .">.

The Board welcomed the following missionaries on their
arrival in England : — Rev. J. Peill, from Antananarivo ; Rev.
Mark H. Wilson, from Canton : and Miss Ashburner. from
Chiang Chiu. The Directors also bade farewell to the under-
mentioned, who will shortly leave for their stations : — Rev. J.
Sibree. F.R.G.S., and Mrs. Sibree ; Rev. J. Sharman, B.A., B.D.,
and Mrs. Sharman, and Miss Craven, for Antananarivo ; and
Rev. A. S. Huckett and Mrs. Huckett, for Fianarantsoa.

After a few words from the Foreign Secretary and the Chair-
man, special prayer was offered by the Rev. J. Knaggs, of
Stratford. Mr. Peill described the wonderfuLspiritual awaken-
ing among the young now going on in Madagascar, and Mr.
Sibree, in the name of the outgoing party, replied to the words
of farewell that had been addressed to them.

July, 1892.

SECRETARIAL NOTES.

155

FROM THE FOREIGN SECRETARY.

THERE is evidently no little misconception in many quarters
as to the qualifications required for missionary service
among the heathen. It pains us greatly to be obliged to discourage
many ardent applicants whose hearts are full of the sympathy
which is the natural result of participation in the Spirit of
Christ, but who have no conception of what missionary work
involves, and no special fitness for engaging in it. The state-
ment of some general principles on which the Society has to act
in its choice of workers may, perhaps, help some of our friends
to answer questions, and to advise aspirants to such service.

1. Those who would not be deemed suitable for continuous
and responsible Christian work at home, though they may be
admirable helpers in the Sunday-school, or in a home mission band,
are much le»s likely to be suitable for mission work abroad.

2. The conditions under which Foreign Mission work is
carried on make it almost impossible to have two grades or
classes of missionaries. Consequently it is not expedient in
most fields to employ Europeans as assistant missionaries. It is
still less desirable to lower the standard of missionary efficiency
by sending out men of inferior training.

3. It costs as much to send out to the field, and to maintain while
there, the most inefficient as the most thoroughly equipped. It
is, therefore, false economy to send out any but the best.

4. Half a dozen trained native workers can be maintained for
the sum which it costs to provide for one European. On this
ground, also, it is a mistaken and extravagant policy to send
out untrained men. R. Waedlaw Thompson.

FROM THE HOME SECRETARY,

Thk following letter has puzzled me for some weeks, and I
publish it here in the hope that my comments upon it may
become known to the anonymous writer : —

" 'To the Secretary of the L.M.S.

" It has occurred to me that there may be a great many people
who would be willing to give to the L.M.S. a dailij .sub-
scrqition of a penny or even more, or a iccehlij svhxcriptiim of
sixpence or more, who would not care to have it 'collected,' and
who do not wish to have their names known, and don't know
how to give it so that it may reach the Society. "Would it not
be well to put a box outside the L.M.S. House, with some special

notice of its object ? I believe this might soon be made to
produce hundreds of pounds a year, and would tend to awaken
the interest in missions in many persons who, at present, don't
know the luxury of giving, because they don't know how. —
Believe me respectfully to be " One of Them."

In these days of multiplied agencies and schemes of giving
it is strange to hear that there are '■ many who don't know the
luxury of giving because they don't know how." Any money
deposited loose or in envelopes in our letter-box will find its way
to the Society, and we supply missionary boxes free to any who
will apply for them.

The various forms that gifts take is astonishing. To mention
only a few as specimens : — A lady sends £5 anonymously, which
she wishes to have acknowledged as the first saved money of one
wishing to help on missionary work; a manufacturing chemist
presents a missionary with a valuable medicine chest for his
work in Madagascar ; a number of working men band together
and buy a lantern and slides to be sent out to India in the
service of Christ ; a lady, who does not have a new bonnet
every season, sends £1 towards buying Dr. Griffith John a bicycle
or tricycle ; our musical friends, too, are turning their gifts to
money, and we have lately received the proceeds of two concerts
given for our funds.

Yet, in spite of many varied gifts, 1 have to sing the old song
and ask for more gifts and their prompt remittance. We began
to borrow on May 28th, and 1 fear shall have to go on
borrowing. Is it necessary to borrow at the cost of tivo mis-
sionaries a year ?

The requests for deputations are becoming so numerous that
it will soon be utterly impossible to meet the demands for " the
real live missionary " that most auxiliaries deem indispensable
at their meetings. It is unfortunate, perhaps, but Unavoidable,
that missionaries are bound by the same laws of time and space
as other people ; but it may, perhaps, help us to develop local
pleaders throughout the land. There are many men and women
who can do good service to our cause in their own churches,
and we shall be obliged to look increasingly to them as our
Forward Movement extends. To avoid disappointment, will our
friends ask f or^as few missionaries as possible during the coming
autumn? .The willingness of our missionaries, of both sexes,
to serve the churches during their well-earned furlough is almost
as astonishing as the heavy demand that our constituency makes
upon them.

In this connection I may mention that some of our new
missionaries are ready to help before they go out, viz.. Rev. R
J. Ward, of St. Helen's, and Dr. and Mrs. Hart, of Cambridge,
Mr. J. E. Liddiard also, who has lately made a long tour among
our mission stations, has a most interesting and stimulating
story to tell, and will be glad to serve the Society as health and
opportunity permit.

1

156

SECRETARIAL NOTES.

JtJLY, 1892.

Foe a complete organisation we need at least two things — a
missionary auxiliary and agent in every church. By an auxiliary
I mean much more than an annual collection and a contribu-
tion to the Widows and Orphans' Fund. I mean a missionary
or;»anisation. with its collectors who will tackle every member
of their community ; a treasurer who will receive money and
promptly forward it ; a secretary who will look out for new
methods of spreading missionary information, and who will act
as our agc'nt.

The agent in each church would be our representative,
through whom we should at once be in contact with the church.
He needs to be in thorough sympathy with our work, and to be
willing, at some little trouble oftentimes, to distribute our
appeals, magazines, reports, &c., and to work up missionary
interest generally. He or she, for this vocation is open to both
sexes, would immensely help us in many ways. The work he
Would do is now too often undone, because it is thrown on to
the already over-burdened hands of the minister, church treasurer,
or secretary.

OUB various publications have not sufficient prominence.
They now make a long list, and should everywhere be pushed,
especially at anniversary meetings. In making the final
arrangements about our deputationB, I shall draw attention of
local secretaries to their variety and value, in the hope that an
opportunity for distrihution and sale will be given at all such
meetings. I emphasise distribution and sale, because it is not
enough to send down parcels that are unopened or put in cup-
boards and out-of-the-way corners till at chapel-cleaning times
a worse fate befalls them.

It will surprise some to know that since the famous Forward
resolution of last July, no less than twenty-four men and
twenty-four women have been accepted, subject to various
conditions, for foreign work by the Directors. This looks like
a genuine forward movement ; but twelve of the men have
various periods of training to go through, most of them three
years or more. Four have already gone, and we hope that the
remaining eight will soon be in the field. Of the twenty-four
women seven are at the work, and a large number more will
follow in the autumn. At first sight I thought this list very
encouraging, but the Foreign Secretary shows me that only ten
of the additional 100 have, so far, gone, and he still asks
beseechingly for ten fully trained men who can go at once to
most important posts. An ardent young friend of missions, who
is secretary of the Forward Missionary Band in a Yorkshire
church, wrote to me a few days ago ; " It seems strange, and
almost comical, to me, that a special effort should have to be
made to get 100 missionaries in four years out of a few million
people." I have thought much about this sentence, and am
rather inclined to say my feeling is the same.

Abthuk N. Johnson.

FnOM THE EDITORIAL SECRETARY.
A DAY or two after we went to press with our last issue I
learned that there is now an English edition of the ch&rt that

was used by the Rev. R. J. Ward, of St. Helen's. This can be
purchased of Messrs. Seeley & Co., or from the Church
Missionary Society, Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, E.C. Price,
23. 6d. I have a supply of these on hand at the Mission House.

A RECENT mail brought me a striking illustration of the
progress made by the Blantyre (Church of Scotland) Mission on
Lake Nyassa in the shape of an eight-page magazine, entitled
Life and Worh in British Central Africa. It came accompanied
by a modest request to be put on our " exchange list," a request
which, of course, was readily granted. This little serial, which
is in English throughout, is published at the Blantyre Mission
Press. On the last page of the wrapper we find a list of no less
than twenty publications in the native languages obtainable at
that press.

On page 173 our readers will find some notes from the lady
secretary of the Watchers' Band, to which attention is called.
Two or three practical difficulties are there dealt with.

An effort has been made to issue the Annual Report of the
Society earlier than has been the practice in previous years ;
and, thanks to the energy with which the entire staff at the
Mission House has worked, the Report is in such a forward
state that we hope to begin despatching copies almost imme-
diately.

In its main features, the Report resembles its immediate pre-
decessors, and, like them, has been written by the Foreign
Secretary of the Society. First, there is the Board's own
report ; then follow the detailed reports from each mission -
field, with maps, descriptive headings, and marginal notes ; next,
statistical information and lists of missionaries ; and, lastly, the
contribution lists and analysis of expenditure.

With a view to economising space and following the practice
of other societies, the limit of contribution individually ac-
knowledged has been raised to ten shillings instead of five as
heretofore.

To meet different needs the Report is published in four
different forms. The first and simplest is a 32-page wrappered
pamphlet, containing the Board's own report and general money
statement, or analysis of receipts and expenditure, and is pub-
lished at 3d. a copy. The second contains the foregoing,
and, in addition, the detailed reports from the fields and the
stotistical tables, and is published at 9d. The third is the Report
in its complete form, containing, besides the above, detailed con-
tribution lists : its price is Is. 6d. A special edition is also issued
containing only the Scotch and Irish contributions.

Another illustrated hymn-sheet has been prepared, similar
to that I mentioned last month, but for adults. The first page
is left blank for local details of meetings. The price is Is. 3d.
a hundred. I shall be happy to send specimens on application.

GEORGE Cousins.

July, 1892.

A SHORT SKETCH OF THE BERHAMPUR MISSION.

157

IIINDL" TEMIM.E.

A SHORT SKETCH OF THE BERHAMpUR
MISSION.

IX \A2?>. Rev. S. Trawin, Rev. M. Hill, and Rev. J. B.
Warden. Calcutta missionaries of the L.M.S., arrived at
Berhampur on a preaching tour. In their diary of December
Gth, 1823, they write as follows : —

" This morning we reached Berhampur, a large military
station for His Majesty's troops, to whom this evening, in
addition to four native congregations who heard us with
considerable attention, we declared the word of the Lord."

As a result of this visit, Rev. Micaiah Hill and ]\Irs. Hill
were appointed to open a permanent mission station at
Berhampur. and in their first report they say: — "We arrived,
through the tender mercy of our God, on the 8th March,
1824, and commenced our missionary labours in preaching
to the natives and English soldiers, and in establishing native
schools, &c."

1. Ecangelisaiion. — It will be noticed that Mr. Hill puts
first of all " preaching to the natives," and, in fact, this has

held a prominent place in the work of the Mission during
almost all its history. For many years, not only was the
Gospel preached regularly in the town and suburbs of
Berhampur. but during the cold weather extended tours
were taken, and both along the riverside and in the inland
towns and villages the Gospel message was proclaimed and
tracts distributed. These tours, with few intermissions, were
continued till 1870, when 3Ir. Bradbury returned to England,
leaving Mr. S. J. Hill in sole charge of the whole work of
the Mission.

2. The English CJiapel.—Oae outcome of the English
preaching was the building of the Mission Chapel, which was
opened for public worship on January 4th. 182'.t. At that
time an English regiment was stationed here, and the services
were largely attended by the soldiers. Though the number
of European residents has of late years greatly decreased,
yet the chapel service has been continued, and forms a link
between them and the Mission, whose work they often
support and help in many kind ways. For many years an
interesting featute of this service has been the attendance at

158

A SHORT SKETCH OF THE BERHAMPUR MISSION:

JTTLY, 1892.

it of English-speaking Bengalis. As long ago as 1870, Rev,
S. J. Hill wrote :—

" Looking at this English service solely from a mis-
sionary point of view,
it is daily assuming a
more important aspect.
Students and ex-students
of Government institu-
tions, educated Bengalis,
and some of the lads
from the higher classes
in our school, are to
be seen in our pews.
Sometimes as many as
forty of such have been
present. I think there
are very few stations in
India where the mis-
sionary, -while profes-
sedly addressing his own
countrymen, has the
privilege, as we fre-
quently have, at the
same time of imparting
Scriptural instruction to
Hindus and other non-
Christians."

3. ^'Heathen Schools." *— The establishment and carrying
on of schools for native children had naturally been part of
Mr. Hill's plan for evangelising the district, but he here met
with great difficulties. He at first sought for already existing
schools, but found none of any worth, either among Hindus,
Mohammedans, or Portuguese. He met with no Christian
schools except the remains of one at Dowlat Bazaar, which
he was told had exceedingly flourished under the Rev. Mr.
Sutton. Finally, he chose six schoolmasters, who should
carry on schools under his control. But there was great
opposition to the slightest introduction of Christian teaching.
The spelling cards and first readers were minutely and
critically examined by the headmen of the village to detect
any signs of Christian teaching. A book on the lion was not
allowed to be introduced lest it should contain a charm to
lead the children to Christianity. Meanwhile Mrs. Hill
smarted four girls' schools on a similar plan, but three of these
were soon given up, either from want of teachers or owing to
t'le prejudices of the people. All these schools were carried
o 1 with great difficulty. Whenever Christian teaching was
e.ther introduced or increased a flight of the scholars took
place; e.r/..in 1834, Mr. Hill writes The Bengali boys'
sjhool at the close of last year contained upwards of sixty
scholars, but since the Scriptures have been introduced as a
class-book all the Brahmins and some other boys have left ;

at present there are some forty pupils." One by one the schools
were given up, and in 1837 the missionaries write :— " Our
heathen schools, after much deliberation, we have judged it

right to break up. We are
convinced, from long ex-
perience and observation,
that in a missionary point
of view such schools are
not worth the time,
trouble, and money spent
upon them, so long as
the services of Christian
schoolmasters and con-
scientious men cannot be
obtained."

4. The Native Orphan
Asylum.— It is probable
that this determination
to give up heathen schools
was partly owing to the
development of new
forms of Christian work
in the Native Orphan
Asylum, and in the
growth of the Bengali
SACKED TANK. Christian community at

Berhampur. The Native
Orphan Asylum had its origin in the charity of David Dale,
Esq., C.S.- At different periods he received into his charge

* By " heathen schools " are here meant schools taught by non-
Christians, but entirely supported by the Mission,

•SIVAITE TEMPLE IN RUINED CITY OF HAMPI.

* Mr. Dale was a great friend to our Mission in its early days, as
is testified by a tablet to his memory in our English chapel.

July, 1892. A SHORT SKETCH OF THE BERHAMPUR MISSION. 159

160

A SHORT SKETCH OF THE BERHA3IPUR MISSION.

July, 1893.

three destitute native orphan boys. When ill-health con-
strained him to sail for the Cape, he confided these orphans to
Mr. Hill's care. Mr. Dale died at sea, and consequently the
whole support of the orphans devolved on Mr. Hill ; but
J. A. Pringle, Esq., C.S , Mr. Dale's successor, and other
residents generously subscribed for the support of the
orphans, and thus was begun a work which in one form or
other lasted till 188G. The missionaries received and
supported destitute children sent to them either by Govern-
ment or by other persons. The boys and girls were taught
reading and writing and also various forms of manual work.
The hope of the missionaries was so to train these children
that when they grew up they might become self-supporting,
and might also take a place in the already growing Christian
community.

5. The Firat Converts. — For the work of the missionaries
had not been without fruit. On March 11th, 1827, the first
convert, Komol, was baptized.* At his baptism he was very
ignorant, having only taught himself to read during his pro-
bation time while acting as servant to the girls' school. But
he became in time a very useful worker, so that the mis-
sionaries were able to write of him, on his death in 1840 : —
" By his death our Mission has sustained great loss, as he was
a most diligent and untiring preacher of the Gospel to his
countrymen, by whom generally he was much liked for his
mild manners and patience under reproach for the name of
Christ." It is noteworthy that another of the early converts
was first led to take an interest in Christianity through
seeing Komol's patient endurance of mockery and taunts
from his non-Christian fellow-countrymen.

Gradually others came to receive baptism. In 1836 nine
converts are reported — three from Hinduism and six from
Mohammedanism. In 1837 a church was formed consisting
of eight proved converts. Almost yearly small additions
were made to the number of Christians ; in 1841 eight adults
with their families were baptized. Other Bengali Christians
coming to Berhampur from other districts added to this
number, till, in 1843, there were in all (including adults and
children) ninety-five in the Christian community.

6. " The Magazine." — This gradual growth in the native
Christian Church brought about a new development in the
history of the Mission. For the missionary in India is con-
stantly faced by the fact that the becoming a Christian
deprives a man not only of caste, but also of protection,
sympathy, and help from all his relations. It is impossible
for missionary societies to undertake the support of converts ;
and, therefore, the Berhampur missionaries sought to pro-
vide a means whereby both the converts already gained and
future ones might support themselves and their families. A
farm was bought about a mile from Bei'hampur in 1836 ;
here were established the converts and others who might join
them. This farm (or rather a part of it) is now known to

* See for an account of his conversion Bengal Auxiliary Ninth
Report, page 15 ; and for the History of the Native Church here,
Thirty-seventh Report, page 27.

the Mission as the " Magazine," the name being taken from an
old Government powder magazine which stood on the land,
but which has long been used as the Bengali Christian place of
worship. The orphans of the Asylum at first worked daily
on the farm, for this was indeed a part of the scheme of the
Native Orphan Asylum. It was hoped that the farm would
provide means of self-support for those of the orphans who
should not prove fit to be trained as catechists or teachers.
For some years the missionaries had the oversight of the
farm and paid the Christian labourers for their daily work ;
but, in 1843, a decided step in advance was made, when the
Christian settlers on the farm all became independent of the
Mission, paying rent for the land they occupied, and earning
their own living either by cultivating the soil or by work of
other kinds.

7. The Khagra English School. — The experiences of the
early days of the Mission had proved that the support of
'• heathen schools " was of no use from a missionary point of
view ; but Rev. M. Hill, who seems constantly to have
sought for an " open door " of influence for the Gospel,
cherished the idea of establishing an English school. This
school would be under the direct control of the missionary ;
he would teach the Bible in the classes ; his knowledge of
English would give him a great influence over young
Bengalis eager to learn that language, and this influence
would be constantly exerted among his pupils for Christ.
In 1834-35 an effort was made to establish such a school,
but it had to be abandoned owing to the paucity of pupils
desirous of learning English. In 1843, however, Mr. Hill
bought land in Khagra on which a hall might be built to
serve both as a preaching chapel and school, the station
residents subscribing Rs. 1,600 towards this object. On
March 2nd, 1846, the English school was opened and was
carried on till 1856, when it had to be closed for want of
funds ; but in 1868, a grant for the purpose having been
secured from the Directors of the Society, the school was re-
opened. From that time till his death, on January 2()th,
18'Jl, Rev. S. J. Hill (the son of the founder of the Mis.sion)
gave up the greater part of his life and energy to evangelistic
and teaching work in this school. This is not the place to
speak of Mr. Hill's work ; it will be enough to say that the
present superintendent of the school, Babu Kaliprasanna
Mukerjea, M.A., is himself a convert from the school. It is
impossible to say how many more have gone forth from its
class-rooms impressed and touched by the truth of Christ
which Mr. Hill set forth both in his life and teaching.

8. Side-trofk. — In 1854 Mr. Hill established a Hindustani
service in the military lines. This service has continued to
this day, being now conducted weekly in the Gora Bazaar
School. In 1875 work in zenanas was begun, a zenana
teacher visiting houses in the neighbourhood, " though no
direct teaching of the Scriptures was permitted." In the
same year a new school was opened at Gora Bazaar for the
benefit of the Mohammedan and other children in that
neighbourhood. Under Mr. Phillips' care this school haa

July, 1S92.

MONTHLY PRAYER MEETING.

161

developed, and its headmaster being now himself a convert
from Mohammedanism, the school has become an interesting
and important part of our work. In 1825, the very first year
of the Mission, we find mention of a service for beggars.
The blind, lame, crippled, and leprous used to meet every
Sunday, when a Gospel address was given to them and alms
were distributed. Since 1856 the alms have been distributed
monthly, the necessary funds being provided by the sub-
scribers to the Berhampur Poor Fund.

9. Extenaion.—ThoMgh from 1870 to 1875 Mr. Hill was the
only European missionary in Berhampur, yet the work was
constantly growing, and since 1875 it has developed much
more. In 187(), Rev. W. B. Phillips took up once more the
work of itineration and of preaching the Gospel throughout the
district, which had almost ceased since Mr. Bradbury's
leaving for England lin 1870. In 1879, by Mr. Phillips'
efforts, the mission boat was built, and a regular system of
itineration up and down the river introduced. In 1876, Mr.
Phillips started a Total Abstinence Society in connection
with the Khagra School. In 1883 the arrival of Miss Blom-
field enabled the work among women and girls, which had
been begun by Mr. Hill and Mrs. Phillips, to be put on a
more permanent basis. Under Miss Blomfield and her
successors there have been developed three departments of
work among women — viz., Bible work, or the reading and
explaining of the Bible to the women in their homes ;
zenana work, or Bible teaching combined with secular
instruction ; and schools for girls, where Scriptural and
secular education go side by side. Sunday-school work
has been carried on for many years ; a book depot was
opened in 188G at Gora Bazaar, but was afterward trans-
ferred to Khagra, one of the school side-rooms being devoted
to that object. In 1884 the Khagra School Sunday evening
evangelistic service was begun by Babu Sarat C. Ghose and
Babu Ahel K. Nag.

10. Our Present Position. — As we stand to-day and look
back upon the past history of our Mission, we cannot but
thank God and take courage. We cannot but rejoice in the
thought of sixty-seven years of faithful work done for Christ
in this district. We know that God's Word cannot return
unto Him void. Though we long and pray for greater
results, we can yet see the evidence of God's work among us.
On every hand the doors are opened before us. By the way-
side the Gospel is heard willingly; in the schools and zenanas,
though sometimes objection is made to Christian teaching,
yet it is"more often welcomed, and we are always able to insist
upon it. The Bengali Christian community is rising, though
slowly, to a higher and better Christian life. Our schools
have Christian superintendents and in many cases Christian
teachers. Our Bengali fellow-helpers are men and women of
intelligence and power ; many of them know English, and
thus have access, not only to Bible iCommentaries, but
also to the vast store of Christian literature with its high and
helpful spiritual tone.

The seed has been sown, the Word has been taught,
though as yet the results seem meagre, yet we would not
despise " the day of small things." Our trust is in the living
God, and we believe that in His good time. He will bring
about the redemption of Murshedabad. " Not by migut
nor by power, but by mv spirit, saith the lord ct'
Hosts."

W, G, Bbockway.
A SUGGESTION TO MINISTERS.

"TVEAR SIR,— Would you allow me through the pages of
-L' the Chronicle to make a suggestion with reference to
prayer for missions in our churches ?

It is the custom in some churches to devote one prayer-
meeting in the month very largely to Christian missions ; but
the custom is, I believe, by no means universal, and some
ministers urge the difficulty of preparing information, &c.,
for such a meeting.

Would it not be possible to let the programme for prayer
sketched out in the Watchers' Band Manual come into
direct practice in the weekly prayer-meeting of our churches ?
It is frequently found that in an hour's meeting there are
more prayers than one bearing on the same subject, involv-
ing repetition and making the meeting " drag." If another
subject were brought forward for special prayer, an
additional zest would be given to the meeting, and the more
general topics for prayer would in no degree suffer.

My suggestion is to have, instead of a monthly missionary
prayer-meeting, a missionary corner in the meeting every
week. One missionary hymn, two or three verses of
Scripture bearing on the subject of missions, three or four
minutes of missionary information concerning that part of
the field appointed for prayer in that week, and one prayer
for missions, and especially for that portion of the field.

My impression is that fifteen minutes of the hour given in
this way would only add to the general interest in the weekly
prayer-meeting, and could not but be helpful in many ways.
Believing, as we do, in the efficacy of prayer, it would bring
down upon our mission stations God's more abundant
blessing, and the churches themselves would reap good in
thus throwing themselves more continuously into the great
interests of Christ's Kingdom, and manifesting their loyalty
to our Master, who taught us to pray, " Thy Kingdom
come." — I am, dear Sir, yours sincerely, E, G.

MONTHLY PRAYER MEETING.

THE next gathering will be on Monday afternoon, July
4th. From 4 to 5 p.m. of that day the Board Room of
the Mission House, 14, Blomfield Street, E.C., will be open
to friends of missions. Information from the mission-fields
will be given.

162

A SUNDAY VISIT TO AN OUT-STATION.

July, 1892.

By Rev. John Brown,

Bechuanaland

\ i^jicultres

A SUNDAY VISIT TO AN OUT-STATION.

LAST Sunday was the day appointed for my visit to
Mante. in the hills. On the previous week — the first
week of the New Year — a good number of the Mante people
had spent Sunday and the three following days with us at
Taung, in connection with the yearly meetings ; but the
transaction of business connected with their own church of
eighty members was arranged for the following Sunday at
their own home.

As I wanted to start as soon as possible after daylight, my
breakfast was put ready the previous night in my little out-
side bed-room. I sleep outside, because I have found that
the night air in this dry climate is a specific for head and
chest troubles ; and I can keep the door open all night all the
year round. By this plan I can also humour sleeplessness,
by ligliting my candle when I like ; and I can make my early
coffee on a little paraffin stove by the bedside without dis-
turbing anybody. I am generally awake at dawn, and yester-
day morning the cofiEee was soon made and my egg boiled,
and before the sun was over the hills I was off.

It is a long walk and a rough one. It has always needed
two hours of steady plodding, but now that my fifty-first
birthday is passed I have to allow myself a little more time.
The walk in the cool of early morning is pleasant, especially
when the Harts River is empty, and I can take the path
leading along its course among the hills. I then cross the
river three times, and am thus nearlj' opposite to Mante
before I begin to climb the hills among which it is built.
The walk back is never pleasant, for one then feels tired
even in the coolest weather. It does not seem so easy then
to keep the umbrella out of the wait-a-bit thorn bushes as it
was in the morning, and the feet are sore with so much
gravel-grinding and stone-tramping. At this season, and
especially when the dry, hot wind is blowing, the return

walk is very trying, aud I always realise what it is to feel
done up long before home is reached.

No doubt it will be asked, why don't you rest till the heat
of the day is over, and return in the evening ? Why don't
you take the waggon ? Why don't you go on horseback ?
I tried the first plan long ago, when I had another out-station
in the hills, and used to visit one of them every month, and
I found that it did not answer. I should be sorry to have to
take my waggon through the hills, and to go round them
would involve a journey of a day and a half each way ;
and even then the road would not be a good one. When
I returned from furlough four years ago, I found that from
some cause— perhaps deputation work— I was really getting
old, and my first walk to Mante after my return was followed
by a complete collapse. Hence I thought I must get a horse,
though I had never been happy on horseback, unless it were
when my mother held me on when I was a baby. I found,
however, that I came back feeling as tired as I used to feel
after walking, if not even more tired. A good part of the
road is so bad that I could walk over it more quickly than
the horse could, and up and down one hill I always had
to drag it instead of being carried. Hence, when the horse
died, I determined to do without one as long as I possibly
could, and I hope that will be a good while yet. We have a
native teacher living at Mante now, and I only try to go there
about once in three months.

I had told the people to assemble early so that I might get
back home by midday, and when I arrived they were all
there. Three hours passed before I was ready to start for

July, 1892.

A SUNDAY VISIT TO AN OUT-STATION.

163

home. A good deal of talking and hand shaking had to
be done before the service commenced. Parties of old Mante
people had come from distant villages in the Transvaal,
bringing their contributions and candidates. The list of
names of suitable candidates, which had been made by the
teacher and elders, had also to be gone through ; for, while
the missionary cannot get to know personally a scattered
people, he can't always trust implicitly in the judgment of
deacons and elders. There are two questions which are
always asked about all, and any cases in which they cannot
be answered satisfactorily have to be considered as excep-
tional cases : — Have they been in the enquirer's class two
years ? Have they learned to read God's Word ? In the
case of two or three strapping young fellows, able to work,
a third question was asked that morning : — What have they
done to show their zeal ? Have they given anything to the
ciuse of God ? The answers not being satisfactory in two
cases these names had to be omitted. As soon as they
understood the difficulty, the young fellows started off to
bring some money — I suspect by begging or borrowing it —
but when they returned they were told that they were too
late, and they would now have to wait a while longer.
Altogether, eighteen were received out of a body of enquirers
numbering over fifty.

I enjoyed the service, and had an attentive congregation.
The sermon was short, and as simple as twenty-five years'
experience of the people's capacity enabled me to make it.
The text was : — " He is not here ; for He is risen, even as
He said." What would have been the result had it not
been so ? The women would have found the lifeless body
of a loved friend, and a revered teacher, but they would
have lacked a Saviour ; and so should we. No missionary
would have left his home to tell distant people about Jesus.
The record of the life of Jesus would not have been trans-
lated into all languages. No church would have sat around
His table, happy in remembering His love, and showing
forth His death. No sinner would have found peace in
believing in Jesus, or accounted it an honour to join His
Church, and be called by His name. Jesus, had He not
risen, would have been a deceiver, as His enemies said.
But He is risen, even as He said. He broke the bonds of
death, and made life possible even to those who are dead.
He fulfilled the word He had spoken ; and having fulfilled
that word, we can trust all His promises — many and precious
as they are. All that He has said will come to pass ; in spite
of the designs of His enemies, and the little faith of His
friends. Believers can hope in His word, and He is able to
save to the uttermost.

The chapel is small — and it was very full — with no seats
except the dry mud floor, and native-made chairs. Even
after the hearers had dispersed, it was no easy matter to
arrange for the orderly administration of the Communion
the reception of the candidates, the baptism of most of
them, and the baptism also of a lot of babies. Everything
was, however, accomplished in time, and with patience ;

and when we separated, all seemed to have enjoyed the
services.

It may be asked, why don't they build a good church, and
get proper seats for it ? Can I give an answer to that
question without making my letter too long ? The Native
Reserves in British Bechuanaland are subject to laws which
the makers have tried to make very good in the interests of
the natives, and they have succeeded in making some of them
peculiar. For instance, even the Government cannot give
a bit of land as a site for a native church except with the
consent of the chief and headmen. The chief at Mante is a
heathen ; but some time ago he tried to make himself head
of the church as well as of the State. He would build a
church, and all the people must help in the work, it being
understood that the church when built would be used by a
teacher of the chief's own choosing. To this, a large majority
of the church and congregation connected with the London
Missionary Society objected, and trouble and division
followed. The walls of the chief's church were built, but
his teacher spent the money entrusted to his care for the
roof instead of keeping it. He died soon after ; and the
walls — at least so much of them as the rain has left standing
— are now the meeting place of the chief's party. The dis-
sentients— Dissenters shall we call them ? — built a little place
for themselves, native-fashion ; and the chief did not see how
he could hinder them, though he would fain have done so.
Then they began to make bricks for a proper church ; but
the chief interfered, and even threatened them with violence
if they persisted in the work. We had not then come to an
end of a similar trouble at Taung ; and I felt that one at
a time was quite enough. I therefore advised the Mante
people to put aside all thought of a new church for the
present ; and as the old one tumbles in, they build it up
again as best they can. It affords, at all events, a shelter
from the sun ; and when God shall have shown us that the
proper time to build is come, I do not doubt their willing'
ness to do what they can to help the work forward ; though
the building of even a small church in English fashion is no
little work to such people.

The leader of the opposition to the chief's claims was
Lesetedi, a good old man who was a Christian when I came
into the country. He was a thorough Nonconformist, with
a black skin. When the trouble began, I was on furlough ;
and on my return, the trader, who lives at Mante— a justice
of the peace, and of course interested in standing well with
the chief — complained to me of this old man. The chief had
at last limited his claims to the bringing of one load of
stones ; but Lesetedi would not agree to that. He said it
was not the trouble he feared, but the principle involved
which prevented his consenting. He then became a marked
man. His garden became the grazing-place of cattle which
found their way into it — of course of set purpose on the
part of their owners — and when he complained to the chief,
the answer he received was, " You have despised my
authority. Away you go ! " Last year he was called to his

164

NEWS FROM OUR STATIONS.

July, 1892.

rest. One of his last acts was to ask that the people might
come by twos and threes to his side as he lay on the floor of
his hut ; and to one and all he bore testimony to the faith-
fulness of his Saviour, Jesus, and to his own unclouded hope
for the future. He had no regret in relation to his efforts
to keep the church free from the chief's influence ; but he
urged all of them to hold fast to the conviction that Christ's
Kingdom is not of this world ; and Christ's people must
come out from the heathen and be separate.
Taung. January lltb, 1892.

PERSONAL ITEJWS.

CHINA. — In response to a cordial invitation from the Com-
mittee of Union church, Shanghai, the Rev. F. P. Joseland
agreed to take the pastorate of that church during the months
of May and June. — The Rev. J. J. Halley, of Melbourne, having
been summoned to China to accompany Mrs. Halley back to
Australia, after the serious illness which befell her on her
arrival at Shanghai with her daughter, has had an opportunity
of seeing something of mission work, in which he takes such a
deep interest. We trust that the visit of Mr. and Mrs. Halley to
China may be the means of stirring up more interest than ever
in the co'onies. — Dr. Sewell McFarlane has been cheered by a
visit from the Rev. Jonathan Lees, on his way to Yen San. Mr.
Lees spent nine days at Hsiao Chang, and as not a few of the
native brethren were men and women whom he had himself
baptised, while the preachers were old students in the class at
Tient.«in, familiar faces met him on every side. Roughly
speaking, Mr. Lees' journey embraced a triangle, whose sides
represent 150, 100, and 100 miles respectively.

India. — It is a surprise to learn that our missionary, the Rev.
A. Parker, is absolutely the only representative of the Free
Churches now in Benares ; both the Baptist and the Wesleyan
Societies having withdrawn their men. the former permanently,
and the latter temporarily. — In communicating to the Foreign
Secretary the joy of Davidson Street Church, Madras, at the
prospect of having the Rev. R. J. Ward as their pastor, the Rev.
S. W. Organe says : " Madras sadly needs such an earnest
ministry as you describe of our friend. Dr. Pentecost was here
six weeks this year, and during his stay he preached almost
daily in his tent to an audience of 1,000. Some 400 persons
professed conversion. There is, however, an immense deal in
this way yet to be done. Then, as to its English-speaking native
population, the 'benighted' city probably stands ahead of all
others in the Empire. The number of highly-educated officials
is large, besides which there must be from 1,500 to 2,000
students capable of appreciating and profiting by English
addresses and lectures. The population of the city is well on to
half a million."— Dr. Fry, of Neyoor, Mr. A. W. Fletcher, of
Adelaide, and Vethanayagam. medical student, attended the

second Indian Convention of the Young Men's Christian Associa-
tion held at Bombay from April 14th to 18th. The growth of
this Association in India during the last year was shown to be
very satisfactory.

Madagascar. — Just as Mrs. Fenn was beginning to regain
her strength after an attack of typhoid fever, Dr. Fenn was
stricken down with the same disease. This will sadly hamper
the work of the Medical Mission, and will throw a heavy load
of care and responsibility or Dr. Moss. — At a recent monthly
meeting of the Royal Geographical Society, the Rev. J. Sibree
read a paper upon " Imerina, the Central Province of Madagascar,
and Antananarivo, the Capital," illustrated by a number of
photographs thrown upon the screen by a powerful lantern. It
was pointed out that the remarkable material progress in the
capital and other places was the direct result of missionary
effort, chiefly that carried on by the London Missionary Society.
— Mr. W. C. Pickersgill, British Vice-Consul in Madagascar, who
was an agent of this Society for ten j'ears, was honoured on the
Queen's birthday by a Companionship of the Bath. — In taking
leave of the Rev. T. and Mrs. Brockway and the Rev. H. T. and
Mrs. Jobnson, the Betsileo District Committee recorded its
appreciation of the excellent services rendered by them in their
respective spheres of labour, notwithstanding the adverse cir-
cumstances with which they have sometimes had to contend.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have extended their term of service to
eleven years, a course which relieved the Committee of consider-
able responsibility in carrying on the Mission. The Secretary
of Committee adds : " We are very sorry to lose these friends,
even for a time. They will be much missed, and you will please
send them back as early as you can." — When the Rev. Fred.
Brockway wrote, towards the end of March, he had almost com-
pleted a tour of inspection through the entire region under his
charge, and was feeling much encouraged. "As far as I can
judge, the work is going on, and the Betsileo are progressing
towards the light."

Africa. — The Rev. D. Carnegie has been delayed at Cape
Town on his homeward journey from Hope Fountain, through
the ill-health of his wife. When twenty-five miles from Mole-
polole their youngest child became very ill, and died on the
loth April in the Rev. H. Williams' house. Of his brief visit to
Lovedale, Mr. Carnegie says : " The strong, solid combination of
forces at work there is having a real civilising effect on both
black and white all over the Colony. It was quite a relief to
me to leave my boy Shisho under the kind fostering care of the
good people who have the management of that splendid
Institution." — The Rev. W. A. Elliott and family have also
arrived at Cape Town. On the road Mr. Elliott was called upon
to perform a marriage ceremony. It was followed by a preaching
service the same day (Sunday). Several white men from the
gold diggings were present, and, unasked, they subscribed £3
for the Society.

SouTn Seas. — Under medical advice the Rev. A. E. Claxton
has been compelled to bring Mrs. Claxton to England. He has
obtained six months' leave of absence from his duties as natives'
advocate on the Land Commission, and left Apia on April IGtb,
coming riii New Zealand and Rio Janeiro. — After a pleasant
voyage the Rev. J. Hadfield reached Lifu on February 24th, and
received a very hearty welcome from the people, who have been
enjoying a season of unusual plenty and prosperity.

July, 1892.

OPIUM CULTIVATION IN WESTERN CHINA.

165

A NORTH LONDON FAREWELL TO
jVIISSIONARIES.

ON Wednesday evening, June 15th, a meeting of excep-
tional interest, which will not soon be forgotten, was
held in New Court Chapel, ToUington Park, London, N.
Arrangements had been made for a public farewell to
a party of seven missionaries on the eve of their departure
for Madagascar. Five of them — Rev. J. Sibree, F.R.G.S.,
and Mrs. Sibree, Rev. A. S. Huckett and Mrs. Huckett, and
Miss Craven — were returning to work in which they had
already been engaged ; the other two — Rev. J. Sharman,
B.A., B.D. and Mrs. Sharman— were going out as new
recruits. Thanks to the able and enthusiastic leadership of
the ministers and secretary of the groups of churches
specially concerned, viz., Park Chapel, Crouch End, Stroud
Green, Tollington Park, Finsbury Park, and Junction Road,
HoUoway, the spacious and commodious building was well
filled with a strong representative audience gathered from
the churches of the group ; and thanks to the spirited
guidance of Rev. W. Pierce, pastor of the church, who
occupied the chair, to the effective singing by the united
choirs of the group, led by J. Booth, Esq., who presided at
the organ, to the heartiness, fervour, and enthusiastic
character of the proceedings from first to last, and to the
quickened missionary interest of the churches, of which the
meeting was both an evidence and an expression, this
valedictory service stands out conspicuously as one of
unique success.

After a hymn, the Rev. A. N. Johnson, M.A., Home
Secretary of this Society, read the Scriptures, and the Rev.
George Cousins, Editorial Secretary, offered prayer. A second
hymn followed, after which the chairman (who, with all who
took part, had to go into the pulpit, so as to be seen from the
back seats of the gallery) made a bright, crisp introductory
speech, and then called upon the Rev. R. Wardlaw Thompson,
Foreign Secretary, to introduce the missionaries. This he
did in a lucid, compact, and forcible address, descriptive of
the work in Madagascar, its special features, difficulties, and
imperative claims. His references to the political future of
that island, and to the uncertain tenure of British Pro-
testant Missions when the French control should become
established, touched a cord of sympathy in the audience,
which, at the conclusion of Mr. Thompson's address, was
vigorously voiced by the chairman in the exclamation : " The
Lord confound the French, and defeat their mischievous
designs ! " Following this the Rev. A. Rowland, B.A., LL.B.,
minister of Park Chapel, Crouch End, delivered a valedic-
tory address which was sympathetic in spirit and tone,
and characterised throughout by mature Christian thought.
Restfulness of heart — offspring of quiet trust in God — and
earnestness of purpose resulting from the fire of inner con-
secration, were the two needs of missionary life upon which
he specially dwelt. Concluding with a suggestion that they
should seek to keep up connection with the group of churches,
by penning an epistle, headed, Cause this epistle to he read in
all the churches, dc, (&c., Mr. Rowland assured the departing
friends that they would be aflEectionately remembered in
prayer. To emphasise the force of this assurance, the
chairman asked those present who really meant to remember
these missionaries, to signify this by standing up, whereupon
the bulk of the congregation instantly rose to their feet.

The united choir having sung the anthem, " How Lovely
are the Messengers," the missionaries — Mr. Sibree, Miss
Craven, Mr. Huckett, and Mr. Sharman, all of whom, to-
gether with their wives, had ascended the c?paciou8 pulpit,
briefly responded, and their simple, touching words were
listened to with breathless attention. Mr. and Mrs. Huckett,
who during their furlough had been associated with New
Court, and as they were affectionately reminded had won the
esteem and confidence of the entire church and congrega-
tion, were regarded with especial interest ; but the whole
party felt that they were in the presence of loving, sympa-
thetic friends, and were able to speak of the trials of separa-
tion from children, from parent, from brothers and sisters,
and other loved ones, but yet more freely of their joy in
going forth to work for Christ. A tenderly beautiful
valedictory prayer, from the Rev. J. Husband Davies,
minister of Junction Road, which lifted one into the very
presence of the Eternal Father, and the parting hymn and
chorus, " God be with You," followed by the benediction,
brought this memorable meeting to a close. To see that
large church, in a London suburb, filled with such a congre-
gation on a fine evening in the middle of J une. and held
well together from half-past seven to a quarter to ten
o'clock, is an augury of the better days that are in store for
us. " It is like an old-fashioned missionary meeting," whis-
pered one brother to another. " Yes ; and we shall have
the old meetings back again yet," was the reply. To this
one can only add an earnest Amen !

OPIUM CULTIVATION IN WESTERN CHINA-

SOME friends have asked me to name the special hin-
drances that exist in this locality to the speedy growth
of Christianity amongst the people. It is, unfortunately,
only too easy to do so. There are two. First, the prevalence
of the opium habit, and, second, a widespread immorality,
which is both nameless and shameless. Slaves to the pipe
are seen in our midst in large numbers every day. Only
yesterday, a well-to-do man, himself a heavy smoker, told
me that 70 per cent, of the population of Chung King are
addicted to the habit. Of course, he did not mean that all
that number smoked " to excess," but he certainly did mean
that the drug is used to a frightful extent, and that its use is
on the increase. And it should always be remembered that
the Sz-chuenese consume purely native produce. Not a
single chest of the Indian drug ever finds its way here. On
the other hand, I find, by referring to the Foreign Customs
Gazette, that, during the last quarter of 1891, duty was paid
on 550 piculs of native-grown opium, which were exported
from Sz-chuen to other provinces. Of the quantity exported
under native likiu conditions, I can say nothing, but it must
be large. This, then, is proof that the Chinese are striving
hard to supply their own market ; but it also demonstrates
that China, as a nation, is rushing on to inevitable ruin.
With this fact in view, it need not surprise home friends
that the Gospel is winning its victories but slowly in West
China ; for it declares loudly and uniformly that members
of the Christian Church must not touch the accursed thing.
Chung King. J. W. Wilson.

166

WOMAN'S WORK.

July, 1892.

I.-THE NEYOOR ORPHANAGE.

By Mrs. Fry.

FOR the past four or five years we have felt the great
need in our midst of an orphanage, where destitute and
orphan children might get the benefits of a Christian educa-
tion and training. Iq a wonderful manner, step by step, the
Lord has opened up the way for the establishment of such a
home in Neyoor. The accompanying photo will show the
present inmates, six boys and twelve girls. These children
are a merry lot, and in play hours they make the compound
ring with their happy laughter. Some of them don't look
very happy in the photo, you will say ; but, then, who can
look happy and quite at ease while being photographed ?
Some of them did not know in the least what would happen
to them when they were told to sit down and look at the
camera. The matron is sitting at one end in the front row,
with her baby in her lap. By-the-bye, that baby is in a fair
way of being spoilt, for she is the pet of the home, and some
of the elder girls quarrel as to who shall have the privilege of
carrying her when they go out for their walks ! The five
children sitting in front next to the matron are supported
by a kind friend in Ireland, who takes a great interest in the
leper work at Neyoor. A beautiful new asylum for lepers
is being built here at her expense, and she is to support
as many as forty lepers should they ask for admittance.
I think there are now twenty-two enjoying the benefits of
the Home. These five children are the healthy children of
some of our lepers, and we are keeping them separate from
their parents, so that they may have every chance of escaping
from the dread disease. Sattiai, the little girl next the
matron, and Samuel, the third from her, are the best behaved
children in the Home, and they gained the good conduct
prizes last year. Sattiai got a big doll, and Samuel was made
the happy possessor of a brightly coloured handkei-chief.
The little girl on my lap I call " my bairn," as I am giving
her food and clothes till I can find some friend to support
her. She and the big girl standing beside her are the
daughters of the matron. All the other children are what
we call " hospital children." Their parents or friends came
to the hospital so ill that nothing could be done for them ;
they only came to die, and their poor children were
left homeless and friendless, and we could not turn them
adrift. They all have a sad history, and I think you will
be interested to hear something about each. I must try
and be as short as possible, or the Editor may bring his
scissors into use. Behind the matron you will see three girls

standing. The middle one is Pakkiam, and her little sister,
Gnanapoo, is standing by my knee. Their mother came to
the hospital very sick, but getting somewhat better, she
returned home, but soon got worse, and being unable to
come back to the hospital, she died, leaving her two girls
without a friend in the world. They were so thin and
starved-looking when they came to us, and their clothes
were in rags. Mrs. Hacker gave them some nice new clothes,
and a few weeks of good feeding and mixing with their
companions in the Home soon made them more like other
children ; but they_have not quite lost their solemn, frightened
looks. I am hoping that some kind friend will come forward
and support these sisters. The tallest girl in the group of
three is Amlaie. She, too, wants some friend to take an
interest in her. Poor girl ! she has led a wild, reckless life,
and was very troublesome, disobedient, and unruly ; but
kindness and firmness have worked wonders on her, and I
think she is trying to be good and obedient now. She feels
she is getting a big girl, and will have to make the best use
of her opportunities while she has them. The other girl is
Amy, who is supported by a school in Edinburgh. Her
brother, Derasar/aim, is standing next the matron's daughter.
Their father, who was suffering from an incurable disease,
died last year, and his last request was that his boy and girl
might always stay with us and learn to love Jesus. Will
some friend adopt little Devasagaim, who feels rather soli-
tary, being the only boy unsupported ? The tallest in the
group of boys is Devadaseu, and his sister Kiruhsy is sitting
close on my right. They are supported by a Sunday-school in
Edinburgh. Kirubey is not very strong. She has fits some-
times, and is rather deaf, which is a trial to her. Her brother
is a bright, clever lad, and they are both trying to servo
Jesus. They were patients in the hospital at one time, and
were heathen. When they were well enough to go home to
their aunt, they said : " No ! we will stay here, for we are
Christians." The aunt was very angry, and after several
fruitless efforts to persuade them to go home, she left them.
They were both baptized some years ago, and show by their
changed lives that they are indeed walking in the light.
Masillamoni, the boy in the middle, is the son of one of our
hospital servants, who died very suddenly. He had a terrible
tumour on the brain, and suffered great pain. The one
thing that troubled him was, what would become of his only
boy after his death. The poor widow barely earns sufficient
to keep herself, so we took the laddie into the Home,
and he is being supported by a school in Edinburgh, This
Sunday-school also supports the girl sitting in the front
row at the opposite end to the matron. Her name is
Amnitham. She used to attend one of my heathen schools,
and one day I saw her covered with a dreadful eruption,
which made the other girls shun her. I told her to come
to the hospital, and soon after her mother brought her in,
and then stayed for about three months, as the disease was
very tiresome to get rid of. But they would not go home

July, 1892.

n^OMAN'S WORK.

167

again. Why? Because while with us they had learned
about Jesus' love for them, and resolved to become Christians.
When their heathen friends heard of this, they were furious,
and tried all means to make them change their minds ; but
it was of no use, and on the first Sunday of last year they
were baptized by Mr. Hacker, and since then the mother has
joined the church. She is now learning to fit herself for
Bible- woman's work, and accompanies Lois, our hospital
Bible-woman, to the hospital and the villages, and boldly

threat of sending her home to her father, if she did not
behave, had the desired effect, and she is really trying to do
better now, though at times I can see it is a hard struggle for
her to do right. If some friend would take her up, and care
and pray for her, I have no doubt they would be repaid, for
she has a fine character, and with God's grace and help will,
I trust, turn out to be a good woman. I must wait for
another opportunity to tell you about their daily work and
play ; meantime I would ask you to pray that each one of

.MRS. TRY AND THE XEVOOR ORPHAN'S.

tells the people about Jesus her Saviour. Her daughter is
bright and quick at her lessons, and promises to be a clever
girl. The last girl is Gnaiuii-itd/ron. Her father is a help-
less cripple, and beats and ill-treats his girl when she is at
home. She was for months in the hospital with a terrible
sore on her chest. She, too, is a wild, careless girl, having
led a wandering beggar's life. After a good deal of hesita-
tion we admitted her into the Home. At first she was very
troublesome, and would not submit to rules ; but the mere

these dear boys and girls may indeed learn to love the
Saviour.

II.— THE YEPERY SCHOOL.

London ^Mission House, Yepery,

April 28th, 1)^'.V2.
Dear Mr. Editor,— I have not written you for a long
time. Please forgive me. I will make up for it now.

168

FROM MONTH TO MONTH.

July, 1892.

The school continues to go on in the old way. On the
2(ith Mrs. Brander came and examined the classes ; this is the
second time she has visited us. Last year we had her as-
sistant, Miss Govandirajaloo. It was gratifying to hear Mrs.
Brander say that there was a decided improvement in the
teaching staff and in the appearance of the girls since the
first time she saw them. I am sorry to say that I am still
keeping my number down. Already I have refused twenty
applicants for admission since the year began, on account of
scarcity of funds. I have to refuse children who cannot pay
the recognised fee. It grieves me to do so, but it is much
better and much wiser to keep out of debt than to get
into it.

The day after the Government Examination, the Rev. M.
Phillips examined the school in the Bible. This ought to
have been done some months ago, but owing to my ill-health
things were a little behind. We have had an exceptionally
good year with regard to the health of the children. There
have been no serious cases of sickness, although even now
cholera is raging around. We praise and thank the Lord for
His goodness to us in the past, and trust and pray that He
will still be gracious to us in the future.

There is a new branch of work which I have just lately
taken up. H is a Bible-class for native Christian women.
It is held every Sunday morning after service, and is now
very well attended. At my first meeting only seven were
present, then twenty, then twenty-seven, and now thirty-two.
Do pray, dear friends, that it may grow still larger, and be
the means of bringing many souls to the Master. Miss
Hodges and I visit these people regularly in their homes.
Some of them are very dirty and untidy. I sometimes feel
that a lesson in cleanliness" would be more serviceable to
them than a Bible lesson. One house we visited, in Cundi-
pagraraoney Street, where a husband and wife, three or four
children, and I don't know how many more aunts and uncles,
&c., were living. The house contained only two rooms,
and these were exceedingly untidy. The father told us his
children had small-pox. I looked at them, knowing at any
rate it could not be small-pox from which they were suffer-
ing. It seemed like measles, but, whatever it was, they were
in a filthy and uncared-for condition. We expostulated with
the parents and told th^m they mnst attend to their children
more if they wished them to grow up fine healthy men and
women. This is the first time we have visited that house.
The smell inside was dreadful, and just as bad outside. The
large open drains in front of every house are hotbeds of
fever and pestilence. The father was a schoolmaster, earn-
ing ten rupees a month, and his wife was earning four rupees,
so between them they had fourteen rupees. It is not very
much when there are so many mouths to fill, and when rice
is so dear. Still there is no excuse for want of cleanliness,
especially in ^ladras, where we can get plenty of water. Oh,
how much the Gospel of the Lord Jesus is wanted in these
native Christian homes ! How much we need the beautify-
ing and elevating influence of God's Word to keep us in the
right way I Pray, therefore, dear friends, that the Lord of
the harvest may send more labourers into His vineyard. —
With kindest regards, Mr. Editor, believe me, yours sincerely,

E. Barclay.

Notice to the Chronicle's " Oum Correspondents." — Intelli
gence should be posted so as to reach the Editor by the 10th
of the month preceding the new issue.

CHINA.

A NUMBER of adult baptisms took
place in the To Tsai Chapel on

ENCOURAGE- Sunday, May 8th, among them being
MENT. those of two. female patients from the
Hospital. There was used for the first
time a neat baptismal bowl of solid silver, plain, but for a
simple band of a Greek key pattern, a gift to the church
from Miss Field. An interesting and encouraging feature
of the work recently has been the admission of a number of
children of believers to the Lord's Table, evidences of a new
generation rising in China to serve the Lord from their youth
up. In the schools Miss Davies is making considerable use
of a magic lantern which she brought out with her, and an
exhibition she gave one night in the Hospital of a series of
pictures from the life of the Lord Jesus, described, with
application of their teaching, by Pastor Wong Yuk Ch'o,
excited great interest among the patients, and must have
gone to confirm and open a way for the daily Bible teaching
in the wards. We seek that we may " by all means save
some." J. C. T.

Dr. Roberts, of Tientsin, tells us that
Mi;sr WE SEND the workers are unspeakably rejoiced to
THEM AWAY? hear of the Forward Movement and
Self-Denial Week. " They have a most
helpful effect on us and on the work. Never, I should
think, did the prospect look brighter with us than at present.
As regards the hospital work, I am almost daily reminded
that there are many loving hearts pleading for us, and for
these poor, burdened souls that daily crowd our dispensary
and wards for healing. The patients are far more numerous
than we can accommodate. Must we send them away ?
We can't. Many come long distances, and we rejoice to
take them in, even though we can offer many of them no
better accommodation than a wooden floor. Best of all, some
of the inmates are daily receiving, with deep interest,
Christian instruction, and are seeking admi.ssion into the
church. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of Dr. Smith.
He will be an unspeakable help in the work. We are full of

July, 1892.

FROM MONTH TO MONTH.

169 •*]

hope for the future extension of Christ's Kingdom into many
towns and villages of Chili, and that in the near future."

The so-called " Peach Blossom Festival"
THE " PEACH occurred in the middle of April, and its
BLOSSOM headquarters were at Lung-hwa pagoda,
FESTIVAL." about six miles from Shanghai. It takes
place once a year, and is an object of
attraction to tens of thousands of the natives. Its chief
interest is idolatrous worship, but it is taken advantage
of for the sale and purchase of a great variety of articles,
and constitutes a grand fair for the country people. On
the first day of the festival, the Rev. W. Muirhead sent
four native brethren, with a plentiful supply of books and
tracts, charging them to be faithful and earnest in the work.
On the last day of the feast, Mr. Muirhead went with a native
student, and was deeply impressed and affected by what he
saw. The great pagoda is a beautiful piece of work, and is in
good condition. It has nine storeys, and is thus one of the
highest kind in China. Mr. Muirhead and his helpers went
from place to place, and endeavoured to point out to the
people the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. In
one way and another miny heard the Word and received
tracts, while some bought calendars and catechisms. The
idols in the various temples were of immense size, gorgeous
in appearance, all ranged in regular order, while men and
women were engaged in prostration before the idol shrine,
and presenting their various offerings of candles, incense, and
gilt paper. It seemed as if many of the worshippers really
believed it to be fraught with blessing. Such sights are
occurring at various times everywhere. "The anxious
question often comes up. When is this people to be brought
to a knowledge of the truth ? We may well appeal, as I do
now, to the churches at home, and specially to the young
men and women whose duty it is to give themselves to
Christ in this matter, that they will consecrate themselves to
this high and holy work for His sake, and the salvation of
these perishing multitudes."

" A FEW days ago," writes the Rev.
HOW MR. GIL- S. E. Meech, " one of our converts, who
MOUR BORE often assists in preaching at the street
INSULT. chapels, met an acquaintance, and took
him to a chapel. The visitor inquired for
Mr. Gilmour, and was much affected at hearing that he was
dead. He was asked how he knew Mr. Gilmour. He then
told how that some years ago business took him to Mongolia.
One day he was in an eating-house at Ta Ch'eng tsz, when
a foreigner came in, and took a seat. His appearance gave
occasion to another man present to abuse him, calling him
' foreign devil,' and accusing him of stealing human hearts
and eyes. Mr. Gilmour took no notice, although this was not
the first time the man had thus treated him. By this time
the landlord thought it time to interfere, and threatened to

beat the aggressor, as he would not have a good customer
driven away. He was proceeding to carry out his threat
when Mr. Gilmour restrained him. ' But,' said the eating-
house keeper, ' the man has abused you these three days.'
'Oh.no,' replied Gilmour, 'he has abused the devil. lam
not a devil. I am Ching Ya ko (his Chinese name). He has
abused those who steal hearts and eyes. But I have never
done these things, so that he must be abusing some other
person.' Gilmour's attitude and temper so struck the
auditors, that they were greatly impressed. The visitor to
our chapel said that he from that time was persuaded there
must be something in a religion which could lead a man to
bear insults in such a manner. Long ago," adds Mr. Meech,
" Gilmour told me of the incident, and how that it was the
turning point with the eating-house man, who from that-
time decided to become a Christian, and was afterwards
baptized."

The Rev. J. Sadler writes : — " A dona-
ADVANCE INTO tion of Some £14 has come to hand from
TING-CHIN. one of our oldest members for the new
work in Ting chin prefecture. The wife
of the pastor who has gone to Ting-chin lives in a somewhat
gloomy house at Amoy. She is not strong in health, and,
having no servant, is hard-worked. Her children are not
robust, and one of them has fallen ill, and been in some peril.
Yet in all these experiences, she has proved the presence and
power of God wondrously. I went to give her news of her
husband, whom I had left on his way, and witnessed her
cheerful and godly courage. She said all had gone well with
her ; loneliness had been forgotten. In her gentle, spirited
way, she confessed : ' My education was not good, but in the
Sunday readings I found a passage that exactly suited me ;
" I will never leave thee for a moment." ' I told her,
seeing that God was so real to her, she should let others
know of the comfort. We have been repeatedly working
to get one or two rich men to maintain the pastor for Ting-
chin. The more the new Mission is a native work the
better." Mr. Sadler also tells us that " a movement is on
foot for a national Prayer Union amongst Christians, that
God may raise up many Chinese apostles. The old worry
about support is left with God ; the great plea being for
men full of the Holy Ghost. We will not be startled at
any great answer given. There is also a covenant of
prayer amongst the scholars of the three schools, that they
may all be truly converted."

INDIA.

The Rev. W. H. Campbell, of Cuddapah,
MORE RE- is receiving good reports of the work from
QUESTS FOR almost all the evangelists and catechists
TEACHERS. " The work in Pulivendla has received a
great impulse from the appointment of
David Leighton, and is making very rapid advance. A

170

A DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING IN A DEFER ASYDUM.

July, 1892.

good many Sudras are coming forward for baptism, and
several Mala communities have given their adherence to
Christianity. In Jammalamadugu and Proddutur we have
had requests for a teacher from two or three new villages
since I last wrote. We shall have to attend to the request
of the Pulivendla people first, as they have until now been
neglected, and are consequently in special need of encourage-
ment."

For more than thirty years the London
STREET IMissionary Society's agents have enjoyed
PREACHING IX Unmolested the privilege of street preach-
TREVANDRi xr. ing ; but, owing to some quarrels between
Roman Catholics and Mohammedans over
a procession, the Govei-nment passed an order forbidding
public preaching in the streets. In conformity with this, for
a month or two the usual open-air meetings were given up,
and then the missionary in charge wrote to the authorities,
detailing the true history of the case, and politely notifying
that on such and such a date the Protestant Christians in-
tended recommencing their quiet and orderly efforts. The
Government evidently recognised the difference between
such effort and noisy processions, and, on the very day men-
tioned, passed an order rescinding the former prohibition. A
day or two afterwards, at a festival time, five thousand, at
different centres in the town, quietly listened to our agents
as they proclaimed '' the unsearchable riches of Christ."

Mrs. Bayi.is Thomson thankfully re-
RRijWTii OF cords marked progress in the work among
woman's the heathen women in the district of
WORK. Xeyoor. Three years ago, when she re-
turned from furlough in England, there
were only four Bible-women and two zenana teachers under
her superintendence ; but slie found such a desire for in-
struction in the houses of the women, that year after year
she had to increase the number of teachers. In the west of
the district the Lord has greatly blessed the work of Rev. V.
Yevan, so that last year many renounced heathenism, and
Mrs. Thomson found it necessary to put on a zenana teacher
to instruct these female converts. At present there are four
Bible-women and seventeen teachers under her superin-
tendence, working in sixty-one villages or hamlets. The
number of pupils is over OOO. The visits paid last year were
over 42, 000. Lately Mrs. Thomson spent a week in the north
of the district, visiting the heathen villages with the Bible-
women. They were received with the greatest cordiality
everywhere, and even invited to visit houses in the very
heart of a heathen town, close to the walls of the great
temple. Some families, who were once nominal Christians,
but for many years had relapsed into heathenism, are now
attending divine service, and have been baptized. Others are
following. E. S. F.

One most encouraging feature of the
SUNDAY-SCHOOL Berhampur Mission this year has been
WORK. the growth of Sunday-school work. In-
cluding one at Jiagunge, opened by Miss
Blomfield, there are now eight Sunday-schools, with nearly
.300 pupils in all. In addition to this there are three Sunday
Bible-classes for Christians. W. G. B.

MADAGASCAR.

In September last, the Rev. W. E.
christian Cousins started a Christian Endeavour
ENDEAVOUR Society at Ambohipotsy. The Society now
society. numbers about seventy members, and in
the nearer churches of the district ten
branch societies have been formed. This extension of the
work is due almost entirely to the zeal of the Ambohipotsy
young people. At a united service for the eleven societies
more than .300 members were present. The whole service
was one of intense interest and hopefulness.

The Congregational Union meetings
CONGREGA- wcre crowded and successful. The main
tional union business at the large meeting of delegates on
MEETINGS. the Thursday was the consideration of how
to influence and gain the young. A re-
turned native missionary, from Mr. Shaw's district, gave a
very hopeful account of the work among the Taimoro ; and
two young volunteers (both college men) said a few words
of farewell before leaving for Marovoay and Mandritsara, in
the north-west of the island. A large women's meeting was
held at Ambatonakanga, at which Miss Amy Brockway and
the wife of a native pastor gave addresses. (W. E. C.)
Referring to the same meetings, the Rev. J. Wills makes
this encouraging comment : — " After three years' absence
from these gatherings, I was struck with the improvement in
the spiritual tone of the meeting, and in the order which
prevailed, and the prayerful spirit which characterised it."

^^-ni»jiaaQOJOT-»

A DAY OF PRAYER AMD FASTING IN A
LEPER ASYLUM.

" 1 WANT £150."

THE following deeply interesting communication has
come to hand from the Rev. G. M. Bulloch, of Almora,
North India : —

" We have been observing Missionary Week from Sunday,
May 8th to 15th, by a season of self-denial and prayer.
It occurred to some that we might share with you in England
the privilege and blessing. In all three churches, the Hindu-
stani Church in Almora, the Church Among the Lepers at

July, 1892.

A NAVAL OFFICM

ON MISSION WORK.

171

Lachmeswar, and the English Union Church, I had mission-
ary services on Sunday, the 8th. As a result, a spontaneous
call came from the Hindustani Church for a special prayer
meeting on Monday morning, the 9 th, and the observance of
a season of self-denial ; and under the present circumstances
this is a great matter, being a repetition of the story of the
churches of Macedonia : ' How that in a great trial of afflic-
tion the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty
abounded unto the riches of their liberality.' Prices never
ruled so high as they are now doing, owing to the drought
we are suffering from, so that self-denial meant doing so
under circumstances which have been straitened for some
time past.

" But what was perhaps more cheering was the hearty
and voluntary offer of the members of the Church Among
the Lepers, at the close of the afternoon service on May
8th, to devote Thursday, May r2th, to prayer and fasting, the
latter to be a sort of offering from the poor lepers, as far
as they were able to make one, to the funds of the Asylum,
and the former to plead with God for a blessing on the
Mission to Lepers and the London Missionary Society. The
proposal was entirely of their own making, and they insisted
on carrying it out to its fullest extent, and fasting the
whole day. Perhaps they had been a little stimulated by
hearing that the church in Almora had decided to observe
Missionary Week, beginning with a prayer-meeting, and
undertaking to practise self-denial. On Thursday morning
we met in the Leper Chapel, ninety-two being present. All
of the inmates would have been present, but the others
were unable through infirmity and sickness. Still, all the
inmates of the Asylum, without exception, including the non-
Christians, entered into the spirit of the thing heartily. It
was a delightful meeting, lasting an hour and a half, during
which some of the Christian lepers offered simple and
hearty prayers, which I am sure it would have done the
hearts of some of the friends good to hear, even though they
might not have been able to understand. The day was spent
in a genuine fast so far as physical food was concerned, but
some experienced a feast of spiritual things.

" One poor wandering leper crawled into the Asylum the
same day in a sad state of emaciation and suffering from
fever, with hardly a rag to cover his nakedness, and a gourd
of water being his sole possession. The story of his wander-
ings was a most piteous one to listen to, and his outward
condition, fingerless and toeless and covered with sores, most
distressing to look upon. It is most difficult to witness
such sights and listen to piteous wails for help without
giving ; and yet to do so increases our burden of debt on the
Asylum, which already has grown heavier than we like.
Surely the Lord's people, remembering how the Lord had
pity on the leper, will come to our help, and come quickly.
I want £150 to relieve me of anxiety, and enable me to feel
justified in admitting applicants up to the fullest capacity of
the Asylum."

A HAYAL OFFICER ON MISSIOJ^ WORK.*

SS. Taiwo, Yang-tse, April 20th, 1892.

DEAR DR. JOHN, — I received your kind note of farewell
shortly before leaving Hankow, and I thank you very
much for all your good wishes, which I most heartily
reciprocate.

My stay in Hankow has been one of the deepest interest
to me ; for, apart from the many kindnesses that I have
experienced, it has enabled me to see something of the great
mission work that is going on in China.

I have deemed that it may interest you if I jot down a
few impressions left on my mind in connection with the
work that is being carried on, more particularly by the
Society to which you belong, and, may I add, represent so
able and true a leader of.

Of all the different points of interest that I was shown, a
Sunday afternoon service, held in the chapel adjoining your
hospital, will remain most engraven on my memory. I con-
fess that I was unprepared to see such real evidence of the
spread of Christianity among these people. The congrega-
tion, which I calculated at some three hundred, was a
pleasure to contemplate. The earnest attention paid to the
preacher (yourself on the occasion I refer to), and the hearty
way in which the responses and singing were carried out, was
most impressive.

I realised the boon that your new and exceedingly well-
designed chapel, built close to, will be to you. With its
entrance leading directly into the main thoroughfare, and
the increased accommodation for some two hundred people,
you should, and I feel sure xoill, derive a great blessing from
the time of its opening. The present chapel, which I under-
stand will be used entirely in connection with the hospital,
will be as manifestly useful in that respect as it has become
a necessity.

In connection with the hospital, I was greatly struck by the
earnest, good work that is being done by Dr. Mackay; and
although I had not the opportunity to visit the wards, the
evidence I had of the esteem in which he is held (lately
shared by Dr. Burton) was very apparent. I hope soon to
hear that the proposed hospital at Wuchang is under weigh,
for I feel sure that, by this means, a great amount of good is
being done. The Margaret Hospital for females is also a

* The enclosed letter is from Commander L. Barnes Lawrence,
of H.B.M. Swift. Commander Lawrence is an earnest. Christian
man, who, during his short stay at Hankow, made it a point to
find out all the facts connected with the missionary work as
carried on at the centre. He has embodied his impressions in
this letter. It is by no means an uncommon thing for men who
have never taken the trouble to visit either a school, a hospital,
a chapel, or a church, to write ex cathedra on missions, and for
people to accept their deliverances as conclusive testimonies
against the missionary enterprise. Commander Lawrence tells
us, in this letter, what he has seen with his own eyes and felt
with his own heart.

r7l72

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

July, 1892.

capital institution, and due to a great extent to its influ-
ence was. I expect, the not inconsiderable proportion of
women in the congregation I alluded to,"' which had been a
great surprise to me, having heard so much of the difficulties
of reaching the women in China. The work of Mrs. Foster
and Mrs. Sparham in this particular department is un-
doubtedly having great results.

An afternoon spent with the Rev. G. C. Sparham in Han-
kow city was not only a revelation in the matter of what I
saw, but will ever be remembered by me as one of the very
deepest interest. The printing press hard at work, turning
out by its thousands the tracts your Society sends afield ;
the schools, with their little ragged children and the black
board and chalk, reminding one much of the old country ;
the chapels, with their native teachers expounding the
Gospel to an ever-moving but attentive crowd — was all most
striking. Ever uppermost in my thoughts was of what
almost insurmountable difficulties must have been contended
with in order to have attained the present state of things.
I am afraid also that uncharitable feelings arose concerning
those who '■ have eyes but see not," and write of missionary
work in China based entirely upon what they may have
gleaned from unreliable and prejudiced sources, and who
never take the trouble to make any research for themselves.

A day spent in the city of Wuchang, under the kind
guidance of the Revs. Owen and Sparham, was of the
greatest interest and instruction, and the evidence of the
good wholesome work that is being done there, very gradu-
ally may be, but surely, was unmistakable.

I feel most strongly, from an onlooker's point of viewi
that the system of schooling you have adopted should be
productive of good results ; for, in the course of time, the
seed sown thus early in life must, in the case of some, bear
fruit.

I could not avoid, when in Wuchang, contrasting the resi-
dences of our missionaries and the huge — almost palatial —
structures of the Jesuit Mission. In Mr. Owen's unpre-
tentious little abode I experienced an understanding of what
a Poicer it is that enables men to labour in this work, living
in solitude, and, not unfrequently — as during the recent
riots — leading an intensely anxious life.

I cannot close this letter without reference to the stimu-
lating help that the Christian community derives from the
services held at the '■ Rest." It must be well-nigh a necessity
that those who spend their lives in labouring for the heathen
should have some place where they can meet together for
fellowship and prayer, and in the " Rest " such recreation is
fully found. Built in memory of the late Mrs. John, no
more befitting monument could be found to one whose name

* Not exactly so. The Margaret Hospital is quite a young
institution, which will in the days to come prove a great bless-
ing in many ways. The large congregation of women is due to
many influences, among which the hospital influence is only
one. — G. J.

is treasured by everyone I came in contact with. More espe-
cially so amongst the sailors ;. and I can testify to the appre-
ciation by the men of my ship of the reading room which
forms part of the building ; and also of the good influence
that is making itself felt in connection with this building on
board of our ships.

In conclusion, dear Dr. John, let me again say how much
I have enjoyed the fellowship of yourself and Mr. and Mrs.
Sparham. I shall remember you where best to be remem-
bered ; and with my kindest and most sincere good wishes,
ever remain, yours most sincerely,

L. Barnes Lawrence.

P.S. — If you ever find time to write, I shall be found care
of my father's address : — Rev. Canon Barnes Lawrence*
Birkin Rectory, Ferrybridge, Yorkshire, England.

ANNOUNCE)VIENTS.

ARRIVALS IN ENGLAND.

The Rlv. J. PKILL, from AiiBiniMA.XQA, Madagascar, per Messagerie?
steamer Pei Ho, to Marseilles, thence overland. May 24th.

Mrs. Stephbsson and two children, from Gootv, South India, per
steamer Rome, May 29th.

Mis3 Asa BURNER, from CmANQ Chiu, China, per steamer Laertes,
June it\\.

The Rev. Mark H. Wil<;o.v, from Caston, China, per steamer Sut'fj-
June 9th.

BIRTHS.

AsnwELL.— April Ist, at Antananarivo, Madagascar, the wife of M".
StowcU Abhwell, of a son.

Roberts.— April .5th, at Flanarantsoa, Betslleo Country, Madagascar, th3
wife of the Rev. R. Roberts, of Anibohlnamboarina, of a daughter.

ORDINATION.

Mh. James Sharman, B.A., B.l)., of Hackney College, wiis ordained on
Monday, May 30th, In Nether Chapel, Sheffield, for missionary work in Mada-
ga-car. The Rev. W. A. Guttrldge, M. V., presided. The Rev. .Tas. Slbroe,
F.U.Ci.S., whose colleague Mr Sharni in is to be In the London Missionary
Society's College, Antananarivo, described the field of labour. The Rev. R.
Wardlaw Thompson, the Society's Foreign Secretary, asked the usual
(juestions, to which the candidate gave suitable replies. The Rev. Edward
II. Jones offered the ordination prayer, and the charge was delivered by the
Rev. Principal Cave, D.D. The Revs. J. Baxter, formerly U.M.F.C. missionary
in East Africa, R. Chew, U.M.F.C, W. K. Burford, and James Haigh also took
part In the service. In the evening a farewell meeting wai held, presided
over by Mr. J. Wycllffe Wilson, J.P. The following ministers with other
friends tiok part :—Rov3. Giles Hester, Baptist; W. Lenwood, B.A., LL.B. :
V.W. Pearson, B..V., Wesley College; James Ross; George Turner (Mhslonary
Secretary of U.M.F.C), and Silas Walmsley (formerly U.M.F.C missionary in
Sierra Leone).

MARRIAGES.

SiiARMVN— READ.— June 1st, at Hanover Chapel, Sheffield, by the Rev.
W. A. Quttrldge, M.A., uncle of the bridegroom, assisted by the Revs.
Edward H. Jones and Jas. Sibree, the Rev. James Sharman, B.A., B.D., to
Annie, daughter of Mr. Qnlntin Read, of Sheffield.

BovD— JonNSON.— June 1st, at College Chapel, Bradford, by the Rev. W. J.
Wilkins, assisted by the father of the bride, John Crichton Dick, oldest son of
E. J. Boyd, to Kate, eldest daughter of the Rev. W. Johnson, B.A. (late of
Calcutta), all of Bradford.

JOLY, 1892.

FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE WATCHERS' BAND.

THE PARENT BAND.

ANOTHER session was brought to a close by a meeting,
preceded by tea, at the Mission House, Blomfield
Street, on Friday evening, June 17th ; A. J. Shepheard, Esq.,
presiding. The Rev. E. V. Cooper, of Huahine, oifered an
opening prayer.

The Rev. A. N. Johnson, M.A., was elected a Vice-Presi-
dent ; and the Band bade farewell to Mr. Bartram, who has
been an active supporter of the movement from its com-
mencement, and is now leaving London for Scotland.

The Rev. F. E. Lawes, of Nine, South Pacific, described
the introduction and early days of Christianity in that island.
Savage as were the people at one time, they had not been
cannibals, because, as Mr. Lawes facetiously observed, " they
bad no taste for that particular kind of food — not as a matter
of conscience, but just a question of taste." The earlier
native teachers sought to rule the people in matters temporal
as well as spiritual, and very naturally made some mistakes.
For instance, those of their flock who failed to attend the
Sunday service were given some roadmaking to do. At the
present time there were eleven churches on the island cared
for by Niuean pastors.

The Rev. Bernard Snell, M.A., B.Sc, of Brixton, claimed
that missionary work was " a national function." If a nation
received a blessing and a truth, on that nation rested the
inalienable behest to bestow it to others. Therefore it
was a civic duty, and not alone a duty attaching to church
members. Love to God and to His children was at the foun-
dation of the extension of Christian missions, and not the
fear that God will do sometliing terrible to those who do
not hear of Him.

J. E. Liddiard, Esq., gave an interesting account of his
long round of " calls " at mission stations in Alasca, Japan,
China, and the South Seas.
The meeting was shortly afterwards brought to a close.

FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE WATCHERS'
BAND.

IN the course of correspondence one or two questions have
arisen which it may be well to answer here.
First. The Month of Prayer planned out in the Manual
is reckoned to begin with i'hQ first Sunday in each month.

Second. There seems to have been an impression among
some friends that prayer was only asked for once a week ;
but the hope of the founders of the Watchers' Band is, that
all through each week that portion of the mission-field
allotted to it will be the subject of prayer ; probably one
or more missionaries and their stations each day. No special

hour was set apart, on account of the impossibility of fixing
upon a time which would suit all.

The third question raised was in reference to a fifth week
when one occurs, and the first few days of the month before
the first Sunday. At these times the Watchers are requested
to pray for all home workers for Foreign Missions — the
Directors, secretaries, and all those connected with the many
auxiliaries of the Society — that great faith, wisdom, and per-
severance may be given to them, and that they may give of
their very best to their high service. It has also been sug-
gested that we should not be selfish in our prayers, but re-
member the other great Evangelical societies when pleading
for our own, just as the Gleaners of the Church Missionary
Society have for years been praying for us.

From the secretary of one of our branches I have just
received a suggestive account of the way in which interest
is kept up, and as it may be helpful to other branches I will
quote a sentence : " Each member who is willing to take
part has a special field of work allotted to him, and it is his
or her duty to look out for news from that field, and give it
at our Monthly Intelligence Meeting." Thus the members
of that branch are made to share the responsibility of pro-
viding material for a good meeting, instead of just coming
to find everything done for them by others.

One practical request I have to make — that in conse-
quence of the new postal regulations all postal orders sent
to me be made payable to H. L. Hebditch, at Throgmorton
Avenue Post Office.

Since my last report new branches have been started at : —

Secretary.

Acton Miss Emily Budden.

Blandford Miss Hamer.

Bristol, Redland Park Mr. Isaacs.

„ General Miss Thornton.

Calne

Clapton Park Mrs. Lovegrove.

Haverstock Hill Miss Thorn.

Edinburgh, Morningside ... Mr. E. Herbert Lewis.

Highbury Quadrant (London) Miss Mary Hunt.

Hoole, Chester Miss Edith Clarke.

Lancaster (Centenary Church) Mrs. Miller.

Leytonstone Miss Allen.

Maidenhead Mrs. Kettle.

Market Harborough Miss Kirby.

Norwich Miss Monement.

Reading Mrs. Helton Baynes.

Rochdale Mr. J. Towle.

St. Helens Mrs. F. Marsh.

Southampton Miss Hawkins.

Stalybridge Miss Knott.

Sutton Coldfield Mrs. Phillips.

Upper Norwood Miss A. K. Blomfield.

Wakefield Miss Briggs.

Wandsworth Miss Palmer.

Wem Mrs. Walton.

Whetstone Miss Emily Milnes.

Woodford Mr. Charles Hardy.

Woolwich, Rectory Place ... Mr. R. S. Hearn.
Miss Thornton has been appointed General Secretary in
the Bristol Branch.

It is hoped that shortly branches will be formed at Clapton
Park, London, and at Sheffield. The total number already
formed is twenty-eight. Sixteen hundred Manuals and
Cards have been sent to the various secretaries, and three
hundred names have been enrolled in the Central Union.

H. L. Hebditch.

174

THE FIELD IS THE WORLD.

July, 1892.

TN common with all friends of missions, doubtless our readers
are following, with keen interest, the meetings of the
Baptist Missionary Society in celebration of their Centenary,
and, in this connection, will welcome the subjoined list of
contributions, the famous first missionary contribution list made
at Kettering. We extract it from the Mis.sionanj Bevicw of the
World .—

£

s.

d.

John Ryland, Northampton

. 2

2

0

Reynold Hogg, Thrapstone

. 2

2

0

John SutclifF, Olney

. 1

I

0

Andrew Fuller, Kettering

. 1

1

0

Abraham G-reenwood, Oakham...

. 1

1

0

Edward Sharman, Cottesbrook...

. 1

1

0

Joshua Burton, Foxton

. 0

10

G

Samuel Pearce, Birmingham

. 1

1

0

Thomas Blundell, Arnsby

.. 0

10

6

William Heighten, Road

. 0

10

6

John Eyres, Braybrook

.. 0

10

6

Joseph Timms, Kettering

.. 1

1

0

A Contributor, name not recorded (Carey .')■

.. 0

10

6

£13

2

6

New methods alike for awakening and for expressing interest
in missions are in the air, the latest being what is called the
Extra-Cent-a-Day-Band movement, which is in operation among
the friends of the American Board. In the June issue of the
Missionary Herald, Mr. S. F. Wilkins, the originator of this
movement, earnestly pleads for volunteers in each church to
undertake the direction of these Bands.

Speakixo at the annual missionary meeting of the United
Presbyterian Church, Dr. Laws, of Livingstonia, gave a most
encouraging report of that Mission. Contrasting the past and
the present (we quote from the Missionary Ucrord). he said : —
'• The ilission was first proposed in 1874, and the first missionary
party sailed for Africa in 187."). Then the greater part of Central
Africa was unknown, and the idea prevailed that it was cnly
inhabited by wild beasts. But when they sailed round Lake
Nyassa they found villages or towns with from fifty to 5,(»00 or
10,000 inhabitants. On October 12th, 187.5, they sailed into the
harbour at Cape Maclear, which became their first station. It
had now developed to six centres occupied by Europeans, the Cape
itself being occupied by the native who first made profession of
his faith in Christ, and who had since been doing good service for |

the Master. In 1875 they were strangers to most of the languages,
of which there were eight in the district round the Lake, besides
the dialects of these languages. Now, several of these had been
reduced to writing, and Bible and New Testament translations
effected ; while they had also school-books in most of the towns.
Instead of there being no schools, as was the case in 1875, during
1891 they had tbirly-two schools in operation connected with the
Mission. In 1875 they had not a single scholar ; during the past
year they had about 7,000. Instead of having no teachers in 1875,
they had now about 150 native teachers, male and female.
They were striving, in connection with this work, also to give
those teachers an industrial as well as a literary training. All
were able to read the New Testament in their own language
before they could become teachers in connection with the
Mission, and thus they were able to teach the alphabet to the
children in the villages, and save the time of the Europeans
doing so. In 1875 there was on the Lake only one man pro-
fessing Christianity. In 1886 there were nine men and women
■who had been baptized. When he left, towards the close of last
year, 165 men, women, and children had been baptized in con-
nection with the Mission. The native Christians were seeking
to take a part in spreading the Gospel. They laid this work
i upon them as a duty ; if they had joined the Church of Christ
! they were not to be drones. It was their duty to tell those in
their households, and those in their villages, and those in other
villages, of the way of salvation, which they themselves had
learned, and they were doing this. During the past year they
had had from thirty to forty of their native Christians going
out Sunday after Sunday to preach the Gospel — some of these
men walking eight, ten, and twelve miles for the purpose in a
broiling sun. Sometimes they left on their journey the pre-
ceding day, if they could stay with friends, and thus the whole
of the Sundiy was spent in preaching to the people at different
villages. In this way, in 1891, they had had from twenty-five to
thirty services conducted every >Lord's-day by these Christians
themselves, in connection with the one station referred to."

The curate of a north-country parish, writing to his
parishioners a description of the Church Missionary Society's
anniversary, said that quite an outburst of applause greeted
the announcement of what had been realised from the collec-
tions. "But, where are the men.'" asked the Rev. F. E.
Wigram. " Young clergymen of between twenty-five and thirty,
where are you, what are you doing 1 " " One at least replied in
his heart, ' Here am I, Lord, send me,' and that one your un-
worthy friend and minister who now w-rites to you. So clearly
has this call come to me, that on Wednesday I went to the
C.M.S. House and gave in my name, as one ready to go, at the
earliest opportunity, to preach Christ in whatever part of the
world God should send me. There are difliculties in the way of
my going, but I long to go, if it be God's will to send me. You,
my dear fellow-gleaners, may not be able to follow my example ;
then help to send me as your representative. I am willing to
go as the first representative of 500 communicants. I leave
it with you, therefore, that you will pray every day that God

may open up the way for me to go, that A may soon have

its own missionary in the foreign field. Pray also, if God send
I me, that He will give me the needful strength, faith, zeal, and

I 'July, 1892,

THE FIELD IS THE WORLD.

175

courage. I feel utterly unfit, utterly unworthy, for so great a
work, but the commands of Christ and the need alike are im-
perative."

Slave Coast, Africa.— The North German Missionary
Society's field of labour in this region adjoins the Bale mis-
sionary's field on the Gold Coast. On December 31st last the
number of converts was 891, as against 800 twelve months
before. They are divided into thirteen communities, which,
from their smallness, and from the lack of strong, energetic
characters amongst them, have thus far not exercised much
influence on surrounding heathenism. One fact is specially
cheering — viz., the desire for instruction both on the part of the
Christians and the heathen. In spite of Koman Catholic compe-
tition there are 501 children in the schools. The missionaries
return home every three years on an average, and the mortality
amongst them has thus become somewhat less. The Mission has
also established a hill station, which, it is hoped, will prove
serviceable for invalids. It is in Avatineeland, which belongs
to the German territory of Togo. Mission work has been
carried on for many years among the Avatinees, but the people
are still distrustful. Thirty years ago they were ready to sell
their children, many of whom were bought, instructed, and
baptized by the early missionaries. Most of them have since
returned to their beautiful hill-country ; but not one, says the
Rev. M. Seeger, a missionary in that region, now professes to be
a Christian.

The Rhenish Missionary Society's annual meeting was held
at Barmen on April 20th. The income, larger than ever before,
amounted to £21,129, but even this was less than the expendi-
ture by £2,181. Consequently the supporters of the Society are
urged to raise an additional £2,.500 per annum, and thus
establish an equilibrium between receipts and expenditure.
The number of converts from heathenism and Mohammedanism
is also greater than in any previous year — viz , 3,546. This
large increase is dae to the marvellous progress (3,000) in
Sumatra, especially around Lake Toba. The most trying sphere
of labour has been New Guinea, where, in the past year, two
missionaries were murdered, a third died, while two others were
compelled by sickness to leave the country.— N.B.— In the
account given of the work in Sumatra, in the May number of
the Chronicle, by some inadvertence, 1,800 instead of 18,000
was given as the number of converts.

China. — The Bale Missionary Society is at work in the
province of Canton— over against the island of Hong Kong, and
partly on that island. There ate at present 24 missionaries,
with 90 native helpers. The head stations number 13, the most
northerly one being 300 miles from the coast ; there are also
many sub-stations. The number of converts has reached 8,600,
without including many who have emigrated to Borneo,
Australia, Honolulu, &c. Fifteen pupils are being trained at
the preachers' seminary at Lilong for the pastoral or teacher's
office. The missionaries remark that the liberality of the
converts is defective. Thus, 2,141 communioantB contributed

last year only 2,533 francs (about £114) for church objects.
There were some extra contributions for the poor, &c. ; these are
not included. The people are very poor, but it is said that they
do not contribute as Christians as they did when heathens.
Indeed, their present subscriptions amount to only one-tenth or
one-fifth of what they used to give for idol worship. One
explanation of this is, that the idea of thankfulness as a moral
obligation was crushed out of them by heathenism, and has to
be regained, and this takes time.

China. — A death-bed. Late in the summer of 1891, says
missionary J. Flad, a heathen Chinese lay a-dying. When
his friends observed that soon there would be " no more
breath in his nostrils," they carried him into the court-yard,
there to await death (in accordance with the universal
custom). The relatives had already come in full force, and
had begun to raise the sad and yet childish cry of lamenta-
tion, when suddenly the half-dead man rose upon his couch and
exclaimed, as he looked round on all present : " Devils many,
even to the moment of death." The son, terribly frightened,
tried to pacify the dying man, but in vain. The father begged
earnestly that they would fetch the Christian who lived next
door, that he might come and pray with him and drive the
devils away. And presently this man, a worthy peasant, came,
and the crowd of onlookers wondered what comfort his presence
and prayers would procure for the departing soul. All their
life long the Chinese are in fear of spirits and devils.

West Apeica, Hereeoland. — The Rhenish Missionary
Society complains of the want of a stronger military force to
maintain order on this portion of German territory. Neverthe-
less, they are able to report that the mission work is again
making progress after the troubles and disasters of recent times.
A new station has been begun in the north of the country, and
two former ones have again been supplied with European mis-
sionaries. Missionary Schaar, who has gone to one of these
Okombahe (place of giraffes), speaks of the pleasure of the
people in seeing him. He found both mission-house and chapel
falling into ruin, but the natives were most willing to help in
the repairs, and worked without asking for wages. His chief
difficulty is to keep the peace between the Hereros and the
Damaras. Each party tells Mr. S. that he must regard himself
as theirs, and must learn only their language. Each party has a
chief, and there is much enmity between them. Hitherto he
has been able to pursue his work without hindrance from this
source.

Uganda. — The Revue Fvangahc (V Ej^ploration, of May 15th
contains an article by the editor, M. E. Marbeau. From this we
are led to infer that the hostilities which have occurred in
Uganda largely arise from the political designs of the Roman
Catholics. M. Marbeau says it is clear that the Catholics pre-
ponderate in the region of Karagwe, and that among the lesser
chiefs their Protestantism means simply hatred of Catholicism.
Captain Williams said to Father Achte : " Our ministers are

176

BOOKS ON MISSIONARY TOPICS.

July, 1892.

somewhat fanatical." The hostility shown by the Protestants to
the proposed law allowing a chief to pas3 from Protestantism to
Catholicism, or vice versa, without being expelled from his
district, is a sign of this intolerance — and this is the cause of all
the troubles that have befallen Uganda. " Again, in Uganda, the
French missionaries had gathered around them a number of
Catholic adherents, who some day might help the French in their
rffi>rt.t at Cdmmercial crjiansion. The English took occasion by
the antagonism between the Protestants and Catholics to crash
the latter as adherents of France." As in China, the political
action of the Roman Catholics was probably the cause of recent
troubles, so this is the probable explanation of this African
difficulty.

The Rhenish Missiokaey Society's Training College
AT Barmen— Course of Study.— Length of course, ^ix years.
Age on entering, twenty to twenty-five years. Most of the
forty students come from humble spheres of life. First Year. —
Bible Instruction, Introduction to Old Testament, Latin, Geo-
graphy, History, Arithmetic, Natural Science. Second Year. —
Introduction to New Testament, German Grammar and Compo-
sition. The rest as in first year, but more advanced, with the
addition of English lessons (two hours per week) and harmonium
learning and class singing. From Third to the Sixth Year (in
common). — Exegesis of Greek and Hebrew Testament. From
Third to Fifth Year. — Church History, Natural Science, Class
Singing. From Third to Fourth Year. — Violin Practice in
common. Third Year. — Latin, Greek, English, and Dutch,
Delivery of Bible Addresses. From Fourth to Sixth Year. —
Theology of Old and New Testament. Fourth Year. — Hebrew)
as well as the other four languages. From Fifth to Sixth Year.
— Homiletics and Missionary Methods, Sermons in Class. Fifth
Year. — The Fathers of the Church, Latin and Greek, Hebrew,
English, and Dutch, Lessons in Anatomy and Surgery. Sixth
Year. — Church and Missionary History, Greek, Hebrew (Prophets),
Lessons on Intern?! Diseases and Ophthalmics, and Hospital
Visiting.

3 =

Woman's Influence in the East : As shown in the Noble
Lives of past Queens and Princesses of India. By John J.
Pool, late of Calcutta ; with an Introduction by Sir Lepel
Griffin, K.C.S.I. London : Elliot Stock, 02, Paternoster
Row, E.G. 1892. Price 6s.
This book will come as a delightful surprise to the great
majority of English readers. It introduces them to altogether
unfamiliar sides and aspects of Hindu life and character.
Even the readers of missionary literature will find themselves
in new surroundings. The miseries and degradation of India's
daughters we are well acquainted with, and even this chivalrous
testimony to their social and politioal influence cannot blind our

eyes to those darker features of their lot ; but Mr. 'Pool (to quote
the distinguished Anglo-Indian who penned the Introduction to
the book) has made " a sincere' and worthy attempt to assign
their fair share of historical interest to the women of India,
who, in spite of all popular belief to the contrary, have held in
the past, and do hold to-day, a great and often a dominating
influence in the domestic and political life of the country." The
stories are marked by Oriental exuberance of imagery and
poetic draping. The princesses are marvellously beautiful, the
heroes either of matchless bravery and prowess, or superlatively
wicked. Yet making all allowances, the lives recorded, four of
which, we are told, are more or less mythological, the rest
authentic history, furnish interesting, not to say fascinating,
reading. War, love, intrigue, jealousy, abductions, imprison-
ments, and murders figure largely in the narratives ; but
throughout, and in all of them, woman's influence is manifest —
her beauty, her fortitude, her endurance, her fidelity, her poli-
tical insight and administrative skill are alike prominent. The
idealised myth of Sita, Consort of Rama, is exceedingly beautiful.
The " Festival of the Bracelet," in the story of Queen Kurnarath,
the horrors of death by the Johiir, or wholesale immolation of
women in subterranean chambers, the valiant deeds of Pithowra's
hundred knights, the highly romantic career of the Begum Sombre
and other stories and incidents, cannot fail to attract and please
Mr. Pool's work as narrator is all that could be wished. Like
a true knight-errant, he has wielded the power of a facile pen
in honour of India's women with great success, and we hope
that he will fulfil his half -promise, and render like service to
Hindu women of low degree, as that he has in this book rendered
to high-caste ladies and princesses.

The Influence op the Christian Religion in History,
By Rev. T. E. Slater, London Missionary Society. Present
Day Tracts.— No. 66. London : The Rsliglous Tract Society
Price id.

The thoughtful and deliberate utterance of a man to whom the
philosophy and social bearing of Christianity have been a constant
study for many years, and whose familiarity with Hindu thought
and life has thrown light upon the special problems here dealt
with. The influence of the Christian religion, first as a preserv-
ing and progressive power, and secondly as a social and reform-
ing power, are ably handled.

TO SUBSCRIBERS.

It is requested thai all Contributions, Semittances, and Payments b$
made to the RKV. A. N. JoliNSON, M.A., Eome Secretary, 14, Blomjleld
Street, London, E.G. ; and thai, if any portion of these gifts is designed for
a special object, full particulars of the place and purpose may be given.
Cheques should be crossed Bank of England, and Post-office Orders made
payable at the General Post Office.

All erdersfor Missionary Boxes, Collecting Bools, Cards, Magazines, <tc.,
8}iould be addressed to the Rev. Qeobqb Cousins, Sditorial Sicretari,
14, Blomfleld Street, London, E.C.

Teloeraphic Aclclress-MI88IONARY, LONDON.

4

ftr ufle in Library

1.