The Chronicle of the London Missionary Society.

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April 1895,
March 1896.

No. 42. — New Series.]

JUNE, 1895.

[Price One Penny.

THE ANNIVERSARY GATHERINGS OF OUR
CENTENARY YEAR.

A RETROSPECT.

rpHE annual meetings are now a thing of the past,
J- and as we look back upon them the feeling that
is uppermost is one of gratitude and joy. Just as
when surveying the past hundred years of the Society's
history, thankfulness is the prevailing sentiment, so, too,
is it as we look back upon the special week. SimUar
in many respects to all preceding anniversaries, it was
yet quite unique, as the contents of the Annual Report
and the character of the speeches delivered alike testi-
fied. We were completing a year and completing a
century at one and the same time : we were looking
back to May, 1894 ; we were thinking also of 1795.

The weather was all that one could desire. Bright
with almost unbroken sunshine from beginning to end,
it was ideally perfect for seeing London in all the
freshness of its spring beauty — for London is beautiful
in May ; and as with the weather, so with the meetings
— brightness was their characteristic feature. The pro-
gramme was long and full, and represented the wide-
spread,, varied, and multiform interests of the Society's

work ; and yet, notwithstanding the great demands
that programme made upon the Society's friends,
there was but little falling off in attendance. Many who
were present at the first meeting, and at several during
the week, were to be seen also at the last — " faint,^
yet pursuing" — wearied with the multiplicity of the-
fixtures, but enjoying the last quite as much as the-
firet.

A beginning was made with the Children, and years,
hence some of the boys and girls present at Exeter
Hall at that Saturday afternoon demonstration will be
telling their children and grandchildren after them of
the splendid missionary meetings they used to have
when they were young. We finished with a meeting
for Young Men — a species of assembly always attractive
to young women — and the vigorous cheering and
clapping of those stalwarts of the future seemed full
of promise for the second century upon which the
Society is entering. Between these two gatherings
many others were held. There was the Meeting for-
Prayer on the Monday morning, when the Board
Room of the Mission House was packed to its utmost
capacity, and a spirit of earnest, fervent prayerful-
ness was manifest. The Business Meeting in Falcon

146

WEEKLY PRAYER MEETING.

June, 1895.^

Square, on the i\Ioaday afternoon, served its purpose,
so far as to secure the passing of necessary and some-
what formal resolutions ; but this meeting was the
least satisfactory of all. The absence of leading
ministers and laymen was marked, and it was evident
to those present that we have not yet succeeded in
making the Society's Business Meeting an elTective
and living one. The Ladies' Meeting at Westminster
Chapel was a thorough success. It was large, well
sustained, and deeply interesting. Of Dr. Fairbairn's
massive and eloquent Sermon, covering wide ground, and
occupying an hour and twenty minutes in delivery, we
will not venture to speak. Following the sermon, the
same afternoon, came the Annual Meeting of the
Watchers' Band, the numbers present at which were
a delightful surprise to many. This Prayer Union
is growing in power and influence, and every year it
fills a larger place in the Society's organisation. The
Conversazione at the Queen's Hall, in many respects
the greatest success of the week, was also, deeply to the
regret of the officials of the Society, a source of serious
disappointment to many of its friends, some of them the
warmest the Society has. Perhaps the true character of
the meeting was not realised when the announcements
concerning it were first made, and hence the application
for tickets was left until too late, and disappointment
followed when it was found that no more tickets could be
issued. Arrangements, it is hoped, will be possible next
year, should the meeting be repeated, which will prevent
the recurrence of sucli disappointment. That on
Thursday morning, after all the strain and fatigue of a
full day on Wednesday, Exeter Ilall should be filled with
an audience hardly, if any, less numerous than that of last
year, when the conversazione was on a much smaller scale,
was most reassuring. The special character of the meeting,
dealing, as it did, with the Society's IMedical ^Missions and
Women's Work, gave to it a distinct and important
character of its own. Nor must we overlook the Welsh
Meeting at King's Cross Tabernacle, and the useful and
practical Missionary Session of the Congregational Union
of England and Wales. The latter did good service.

The tone of the speeches delivered was hopeful and
encouraging, and though in duty bound to pomt out in
their Annual Report the need that still exists for sustained
and general effort throughout the auxiliaries to remove

the discrepancy still apparent between income and
expenditure, the Directors yet felt that, reviewing, as they
were, a hundred years of fruitful service for Christ
amongst the heathen nations, they must voice the feelings
of praise and confidence which such a review inevitably
brings into force. But as we turn from the past to the
future, and seek to " forget the things that are behind,"
that we may " press forward to those that are before,"
we must lay it upon our hearts and consciences as a
burden from which there is no escape— that in entering
into the labours of those who have preceded us we must
give ourselves and give the churches no rest until we
bring the Society financially ' abreast of its present
responsibilities and opportunities.

GENEROUS WORDS.

THE annual report of the Congregational Church-Aid
and Home Missionary Society contains a paragraph
which it gives us great pleasure to see and here reproduce.
Knowing, as we do, something of the serious difficulties that
Society has to contend with, and the disposition in some
quarters to regard home and foreign missions as antagonists,
rather than alhes, we welcome all the more heartily this
spontaneous expression of sympathy and goodwill. The
paragraph reads as follows : —

" LoxDON Missionary Society. — It may seem somewhat
beyond the province of the Council to express congratulation
and hearty good wishes on the celebration of the Centenary of
our foreign missionary work. Yet the Council cannot refrain
from unitedly expressing — as its members have already done
individually — its devout thankfulness for what has been done
in and by the preaching of the Gospel to the heathen during
the last century, and its most earnest hopes that the coming
years may be full of yet greater blessing and success. It
earnestly commends the Special Fund to the sympathy of the
churches, and will greatly rejoice in its speedy completion.
The two Societies are not rivals and competitors, but rather
allies and coadjutors, and the success of either must bring
unmixed satisfaction to the friends of the other." — Editor.
-XX-

WEEKLY PRAYER MEETING.

THIS meeting is held each Monday from 12 to 1 o'clock in
the Board Room at the Mission House, 14, Blomfield
Street, E.C. Business men, joung people from offices, even
though able to remain but a part of the time, and all friends
of missions are heartily welcomed. The following will
preside during June : —

June 3rd. — No meeting, as it will be Bank Holiday.
„ lOtb.— Rev. W. Baxendale.
„ 17th. — Rev. A. X. Johnson, M.A.
„ 24th.— Rev. F. Hall.

June, 1895.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD.

147

SECRETARIAL NOTES.

FROM THE HOME SECRETARY.
I SHALL be glad to meet with a purchaser of the late T. H.
Gibb's beautiful oil painting of Loch Achray. The donor values
it at £30. It will be a pleasure to show it to any friends who
may think of buying it.

A COMPLETE list of Centenary gifts and promises up to March
31st is inserted in this month's issue. Since then we have been in-
formed of additional amounts, whichmake a total of £ 6 1 ,G4 1 12s. 2d.
This does not include the promise of a friend at Bowdon, who
is going to raise his present subscription of £500 a year to
£1,000 a year for five years. This generous donor, who prefers
to remain anonymous, designs his gift as a challenge to others
to come to our assistance by enlarging the Society's income.

Having survived the May week, we are now busy with
arrangements for the Children's Day at the Crystal Palace on
July 27th, and the Missionary Convention in London from
September 2l8t to 27th.

Pabticulaes of the former have been sent to all the super-
intendents of our Sunday-schools, and will be found among the
advertisements on the wrapper.

Regaeding the Convention (a programme of which will be
found in the Cheoniclb for March), circulars are now going
out to all ministers with full information, and with the request
that delegates be appointed as soon as possible. Every effort
will be made to arrange for the entertainment of the minister
and one delegate from each church, and our friends are earnestly
requested to help by sending replies as promptly as possible.

Abthub N. Johkson.

FROM THE EDITORIAL SECRETARY.
In deference to earnest requests for a reprint of an old map,
which did good service a generation since, the Directors have
issued a modern substitute, produced in first-class style by
Messrs. Georsre Philip & Son, London and Liverpool. The map
is styled The Religions op the World. The difference of
religion is shown by bright and effective colouring of the areas,
and the four corners are embellished by groups of race types —
American, Asiatic, Australian and Polynesian, and African. Small
maps cleverly arranged in different parts of the sheet show the
stations of the Society, and other missions, and sundry coloured
diagrams give statistics of population, expenditure on missions,
and the proportion of population to the number of Christian
ministers. The size of the map is 30 inches by 20 inches ; the
price, single copies, Gd. ; in quantity, -Is. per dozen net.

The only other new publication of the month is a Paper read
by the Rev. Charles Chambers, at a Centenary Conference held
at Sheffield. This condensation of the Rev. C. Silvester Home's
" Story " produced such a lively impression upon those who were
privileged to hear it that we have published it as a pamphlet,
with the title, " By Faithi" : A Centenary Chronicle. Price Id.

OuE readers will be interested to hear that we have in the
press a second and revised edition of Mr. Home's " Story." We

are also printing a Welsh abridgment and adaptation of it, pre-
pared by the Rev. W. Davies, of Llandilo. This Welsh volume,
entitled " Hanes Cymdeithas Genadol Llundain," consisting of
128 pages, crown 8vo, will be published at Is. net.

One other Centenary volume is in the press — viz., " Ten
Decades," the Australian Centenary Story of the London
Missionary Society, by the Rev. Joseph King, the Society's
Organising Agent for Australasia. This little volume of 208
pages, crown 8vo, with illustrations, published at 2s., traces the
intimate connection which from the first has existed between
our Southern Colonies and the Society, and will be read with
interest, especially by colonial friends of the Society.

That touching little leaflet, " Grannie's Golden Gift,"
price ^d., or 2s. 6d. the hundred, is both popular and useful. We
exhausted our first supply, and had to send for a second.

George Cousins.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD.

Board Meeting, April 2'ird, 1895. — Rev. J. P. Gledstone in
the Chair. Number of Directors present, GO.

The following missionaries were welcomed by the Directors :
— Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Muirhead, from Shanghai ; Rev. J. Brown,
from Taung, South Africa ; Mr. J. G. and Mrs. Mackay, from
Madagascar ; Miss Brown, from Madras ; and Miss Meachen,
from Almora.

A communication having been received from the Imerina
District Committee, adopted at their meeting on January 26th,
calling the attention of the Board afresh to the very serious
political crisis that has arisen in Madagascar, and urging the
Directors to make renewed and special effort, in conjunction
with the leaders of Nonconformity in England, to induce Her
Majesty's Government to use its influence with France to with-
draw from its policy of annexation ; failing this to keep before
the attention of the Government very clearly the terms of the
Convention of 1890 between France and England, and to ask the
Government to use its good oSices to prevent the infraction of
that Treaty, especially in relation to the religious liberty of the
people, and the freedom of English missionaries to work amongst
them, it was resolved :— "That, having received the resolution
adopted by the Imerina District Committee, of January 26 th, with
reference to the present political condition and possible dangers
in Madagascar, and appealing to the Board for special help,
the Directors desire to assure the missionaries afresh that the
present very serious political difficulties in Madagascar have
not escaped their attention, and that, to the best of their
ability, they have already used all the means which they
deemed wise or within the sphere of their duty to call the
attention of Her Majesty's Government to the matter. They
have reason to believe that no good end would be served, but
rather that injury might be done by any attempt at public
agitation on this subject, nor do they consider it advisable to
make any claim to the sympathy or help of the Government with
reference to the clauses of the Anglo-French Convention of
1890, which provide for religious liberty and freedom of work,
until there is evidence to show that the French Government
have violated those conditions. They desire to assure the

148

REASON FOR INDIFFERENCE TO FOREIGN MISSION WORK.

June, 1895.

churches in Madagascar, through the Imerina District Com-
Tiiittee, that very many warm sympathisers in England are
constantly committing their cause to God in prayer, and that
if the way were made plain to them for other action in their
interests they would not be slow to do whatever lay in their
power to help them. At the present moment the most immedi-
ately pressing anxiety of the Directors is lest, in the course of
hostilities, missionaries of the Society or members of their
families should be exposed to personal peril. They rely, there-
fore, upon the members of the District Committee to use every
means which prudence and experience may dictate to prevent
any such calamity."

Mr. J. E. Liddiard, Hon. See. of the Watchers' Band, pre-
sented a brief report of the growth of the Prayer Union.

Board Meeting, April 'M)th, 1895. — Rev. J. P. Gledstoxe in
the Chair. Number of Directors present, 41.

The Home Secretary read the following communication
from the Secretary of the Baptist Missionary Society, dated
April 29th : — " Dear Mr. Thompson, — At the annual meet-
ing of the Baptist Missionary Society, held in Exeter Hall
on the evening of Thursday last, 25th inst., the Right
Hon. the Lord Overtoun, of Dumbarton, in the chair, it
was resolved unanimously and enthusiastically, on the motion
of the Rev. Richard Glover, D.D., of Bristol, seconded by
Edward Rawlings, Esq., of Wimbledon Common : ' That the
Committee and supporters of the Baptist Missionary Society,
in annual meeting assembled, desire to convey to the
Directors and officers of the London Missionary Society their
hearty and sincere congratulations on the occasion of their
Centenary Celebration. They thank God for the marvellous
blessing that has attended the labours of their missionaries
during the past hundred years in so many different parts of the
world, and they earnestly pray that the new century of mis-
sionary achievement may be marked by even still larger blessing
and richer success, and that the recent ' Forward Movement '
may secure such blessing as shall inspire other kindred societies
to nobler effort and completer consecration in taking the Gospel
of the Grace of God to the regions beyond.' I was directed by
the meeting to forward a copy of this resolution to yourself,
asking you to be good enough to convey this resolution to your
Board of Directors. May I add that it gives me very special
pleasure to send you this communication, I remember with
the greatest possible pleasure the cordial and happy relations
that have subsisted between the London Missionary Society and
the Baptist Missionary Society during the century, and I
greatly rejoice in the fact that these relations were never more
cordial and never more hearty than to-day — very much due, I
think, to the uniform kindness and courtesy of yourself, and
your colleagues. — With the warmest congratulations upon the
Centenary of your Society, and earnestly trusting that your
best anticipations may be more than realised, and with every
sentiment of regard and esteem, I am, dear Mr. Thompson,
yours faithfully, (signed) Alfred Henry Baynes, Secretary."

The Secretaries were directed to acknowledge the resolution
with the hearty thanks of the Directors.

The Foreign Secretary read a draft of the report for the past
year, which was heartily accepted by the Directors.

A PEASON FOR THE INDIFFERENCE OF
SOWE CHURCH MEMBERS TO FOREIGN
JWISSION WORK.

rpHAT the majority of church members are indifferent to
foreign missionary enterprise may be disputed, but it is
a fact, nevertheless. Compare the numbers attending mis-
sionary meetings with the number on the roll of the
churches. It is true that in a few places, and at special
times, crowded assemblies may be witnessed ; but taking the
ordinary meetings throughout the country, the disparity is
so great that we may well cry : " Where are the nine ? "
"While many attend at long intervals, occasionally hearing of
missionary life and labour, and thus keeping a feeble
interest alive, there are some who never go where they may
be stirred by such appeals. Such meetings are composed
almost entirely of the few who warmly support the work of
Foreign Missions.

What is the reason ? Some people account for this
indifference by the fact that cold and lukewarm Christians
are common enough everywhere. But this is not a sufficient
answer. May we not go a little further, and say it is not so
much the fault of the individual as of the attitude of the
Church to this great question ? The Church professes to
teach that our Lord's commands are equally binding upon
every member. But does she teach to every convert who
joins her ranks that the last command of the ascended
Lord is a standing order which His loyal subjects are bound
to obey ? Does she not rather leave her members to find
out for themselves their duty in this matter? There is very
little definite instruction given to new members joining the
churches ; primers of church fellowship and addresses on
church life generally lomit to mention the subject of
Foreign Missions as one in which a great command of the
Lord is involved. What more natural than that the young
member, instructed as he thinks in everything necessary to
his church fellowship, hearing no emphasis laid on this, which
perhaps is not mentioned, neglects this part of his duty, and
imagines it may be done or left undone ? Therefore he
makes no effort either to help the work, or to go where he
may learn about it, or be stirred to enthusiasm by the
account of heroic labours among the heathen. What better
ground in which to sow the seeds of missionary zeal than
the tender consciences and open hearts of the young
members of our churches ? Must we blame them if they
are not interested ? Is it not rather a sin of ignorance on
their part ? In reply to this, it may be urged that in
witnessing for Christ at home the command of the Master
is obeyed, and this is definitely taught to everyone profess-
ing Christ. The Church of the Acts is our object-lesson
here. We learn from it that witnessirg for the Lord Jesus
produced great results in Jerusalem ; vast progress was
made ; " the number of the disciples multiplied greatly, and
a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."
But when the disciples seemed to be stopping there, and not

JtTNE, 1895.

A VISIT TO THE ISSAMUTTI DISTRICT.

149

carrying out their Lord's command, " Go into all the world,"
chastening fell upon them in the form of persecution, and
they were scattered abroad through the regions of Judaea
and Samaria. Here they carried out the Divine command ;
these very places had been mentioned by the Lord. Success
is granted and the Church spreads fast. Witnessing in
Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, the disciples are beginning
to understand dimly what the " uttermost parts of the
earth" meant. But even then there was restriction — " they
preached the word to none but unto the Jews only." It
needed a special mission given to St. Peter to teach him that
■every nation is accepted of God. And following out the
Divine command still further, the Holy Ghost set apart
Barnabas and Paul for the work in the regions beyond.
*St. Paul was ever reaching forward toward that widened
view which the Lord Jesus had given.

But there came a time in the history of the Church when
missionary zeal died down, and instead of great success
everywhere she became almost stagnant — she ceased to
spread. The condition unfulfilled, the promise was not
enjoyed. After centuries of slow progress the Church is
-realising again to some extent what " the uttermost parts
of the earth " means.

Were it possible to sum up faith in Christ in two words,
they would be " Taking " and " Givinfj." Founded on the
two great commandments, the first given on the eve of
the Crucifixion : " Take eat, this My body " ; the second,
uttered in the supreme hour of the Ascension : " Go ye into
all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature."
Both seem to demand obedience of every child of Christ.
Equal emphasis appears laid upon each, for each is recorded
in Scripture four times. While the Church teaches an out-
ward definite obedience to the first, and rightly deems the
■Communion of the Lord's Supper as obligatory in her
Tuembers, why does she not in some definite manner lay the
obligation of missionary enterprise, home and foreign, upon
them ?

It is said that the Moravians question each person who
joins them thus : " Do you intend to be a missionary ; if not,
what sum do you propose to contribute towards the support
of a substitute ? " Twenty-five thousand of their members
have gone forth to the " regions beyond " during the present
century.

" Knowledge is power " in missionary work as in other
matters. The Church must see to it that no one who joins
her remains in ignorance of that great obligation which it is
the bounden duty of everyone to obey, and which, if dis-
obeyed, means unfaithfulness in stewardship, loss, and
disgrace. Frances S. Hallowes.

e==5;44^=s=5i

The amount realised as the result of the concert at
Berhampur towards the Centenary Fund was Rs. 375, and
not Rs. 275 as stated in the April Chronicle.

A VISIT TO THE ISSAMUTTI DISTRICT.

IN the Issamutti District, so called because it lies along the
banks of the Issamutti River, we have three stations,
Baduria, Goburdanga, and Bongong. The latter place is
forty miles from Calcutta, and the other two are nearly as far.
Having been appointed to the charge of this district, I took
an opportunity of visiting it towards the end of January,
and started early one morning by train for Bongong, Rev.
Ishan Ch. Das, our pastor at Baduria, meeting me by
pre-arrangement at Muslandapur, his nearest station, and
accompanying me thence ; as, for the present, he has the
oversight of the whole district. Bongong is a sub-division,
and therefore a place of some importance, possessing both
civil and criminal courts, and a well-attended and well-con-
ducted high-class English school. We have been carrying
on work there in a somewhat irregular manner for some
time, the late Rev. T. P. Chatterjee having often visited
the place, and found much encouragement. At length last
year at his earnest desire, as he was suffering from his last
illness, we settled an evangelist there. This man, Babu
Sundarkanla Chuckrabutty, met us at the station and con-
ducted us in a tikka-gharry, the local cab, to the Dak
bungalow, or Government rest-house, where he had secured
a room for Ishan Babu and myself. But to our disappoint-
ment, when we got there, we found the place already occupied
by the Commissioner, the Collector, and the District Super-
intendent of Police, with all their retinue of servants and
police constables, a sentinel, with shouldered rifle and
bayonet fixed, walking up and down the verandah. The
District Superintendent very kindly vacated a room, and
gave it up to us ; but we saw at once that it would not be
possible for us to do much work on that occasion, as there
would be no privacy, and we could not expect any inquirers
to visit us ; so we decided to start early the next morning for
Goburdanga. Meanwhile, as soon as we had rested a little,
and I had partaken of some sandwiches and cold tea I had
brought with me, we set out to see how we coujd be?t employ
our time.

First we visited the school, partly because it was neat
closing time, and we desired to announce our arrival, and
partly because Sundarkanla Babu told us the headmaster
was not well disposed toward him, and we wished, if possible,
to make him more friendly. We were well received, and, at
the headmaster's request, I examined the highest class in
English, and Ishan Babu examined the second class. The
boys acquitted themselves really well, and I was able to
sincerely congratulate the headmaster on the result of his
elEorts. We then started for the bazaar, where we meant to
preach, and, as we had expected, we were followed by a large
number of the school boys, and as soon as we had taken our
stand we had an audience of at least a hundred all round us.
The place was hot, and every passing cart or gharry nearly
choked us with dust ; but as our audience did not seem to

150

A VISIT TO TEE ISSAMUTTI DISTRICT.

June, 1895.

mind it, we trisd not to mind it either, and we all preached
in turn, I preaching in English, at the request of the school
boys. It was evident, however, that there were several in
the audience, besides the boys, who understood me perfectly.

After the preaching was over, Ishan Babu and I had a
stroll round and a chat with a young man who had followed
us, and then we went to Sundarkanla Babu's house to have a
talk with him about the work going on. We found him a
good deal discouraged. He has not had sufficient education
\p enable him to win the respect of the class of people he

The next morning we were up at four o'clock. I made a
somewhat scanty " chota haziri (early breakfast) of some
sandwiches left over from the previous day and hot tea, we
packed up our belongings, and then waited for Sundar-
kanla Babu, who was to guide us to the station, and the
coolie who was to carry our luggage. They did not arrive
till half-past five, and our train went at three minutes to six.
We still thought, however, that we had plenty of time, for
they told us that the station was only a mile ofE ; but though
we walked as briskly as the darkness would permit for it

MiiliiiiliiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiHiiiiiiiiMiiiri

ouii e\ a.nl;i;list Ar a\ ui;k a.md.nh; thi; ^^ugau boilers.

hai to meet with at Bongong, and the sense of his educational
inferiority makes him shrink from facing an audience in the
town, and makes him prefer to work in the surrounding
villages. In such a place we need a man not only of good
education, but one whose earnest faith and devotion to the
Master's cause makes him " bold to preach the Word of God
without fear." We have not yet, however, such a man at
libarty for Bongong. After our talk we returned to our
quarters, and as we were rather tired, and had to be up early
in the morning, we turned in soon after diniier.

was quite dark, we got to the station only just in time to
hear the whistle and see the train move off. There was no
other train till after one o'clock in the afternoon. There
were some tikka -gharries at the station, and likewise some
bullock-carts ; so we first tried to hire a tikka-gharry to
take us on to Goburdanga by road. But the distance was
twelve miles, and the drivers said their ponies could not do
it. They certainly did not look as if they could, so we were
not urgent, and we turned then to the bullock carts ; but
the drivers of those shook their heads also. There was

Joke, 1895.

A VISIT TO THE ISSAMUTTI DISTRICT.

151

therefore nothing for it but to return to Sundarkanla
Babu's house, and wait for the next train, he undertaking to
give us breakfast. I found out that morning one secret
about the Bengali curries. I had often wondered why they
tasted so much better than those our Hindustani servants
make us, and the secret is, keep your curry simmering over
a very small fire for four or five hours. That improves the
taste, and also whets your appetite. At any rate, that par-
ticular , morning I found that by half -past eleven I was
quite ready to do justice to any cooking.
y We were at the station in good time in the afternoon, and
got to Gobur-
danga with-
out misad-
venture.
Goburdanga
has not the
honour of
being a sub-
division, but
it is a popu-
lous place,
containing
about 6,000
inhabitants,
and being
surrounded
by large vil-
lages. It is
also the resi-
dence of
several very
wealthy ze-
m i n d a r s
(landowners)
who live in
palatial
dwellings,
and conduct
themselves
like small
rajahs. These
men are not

favourably disposed towards missionaries, for reasons that
will be I better understood further on, and they put
every impediment in their way ; so that, though many
of the people are very friendly, no one would dare to sell us
a] house, or a site for one, in the town itself. We were
therefore glad when, a few years ago, we were able to secure
a plot of land near the station, and about a mile from the
town. On that we built some three or four small houses for
our|workers, and there now they reside, and there also we
stayediduring our sojourn there. Some three or four years
ago we had a convert from Goburdanga. He was a man of

THE I'KEACJdKK S liL'LLUCK CAKT.

independent means, fairly well educated, and gave great
promise. He was baptized at Calcutta, and at his own
desire returned afterwards to his own home. From that
time we saw him no more, and no amount of inquiry could
elicit anything more from the neighbours than that he had
gone away. That he was not there was clear enough, for
his house was falling into ruins, and his garden was over-
grown with weeds ; but whether there had been foul play
or not we never could tell. The forces arrayed against the
Gospel in this land are many and great.

Our work at Goburdanga was very much like that at

B o n g o n g.
We preached
in a market
in the after-
noon, and
then had a
walk round
the place,
and visited
two or three
houses whose
owners were
known to
Ishan Babu,
and were
there fore
very pleased
to see us.
Here, as at
Bon gong, we
need a well-
educated and
earnest mis-
sionary, a
man who
could hold
his own, and
would not be
intimidated
by the ze-
m i n d a r s.
Such a man
would be a power for good in the place.

The next morning we were again up early, and took the
train for Muslandapur, whence we were to be conveyed by
bullock-cart to Baduria. The distance between these two
places is eleven miles, and the road is nowhere along its
whole length anything but indescribably vile ; but the first
five miles is still more so. It is nothing but a track worn
across the fields by passing carts, and in the rainy season the
wheels sink deep, and sink deeper and deeper still every
succeeding season ; for each cart follows the last, and there is
never any attempt made at levelling, so that now the ruts

152

A VISIT TO THE ISSAMUTTI DISTRICT.

Junk, 1S95.

take the wheels up to the hubs, the oxen also walking in the
ruts ; and as by this time the hot sun has baked everything
to the hardness of rock, the jolting is beyond imagination.
Nothing but the bamboo country-cart could stand it. On the
morning of our arrival, therefore, as it was early in the day,
and the weather cloudy and showery, we elected to walk at
least the first five miles. On our way we met a large body of
men, all armed with long, stout bamboos, marching off an
unlucky villager. Meeting soon after a number of that
man's fellow villagers, we found that his captors were
servants of the zemindar. There had been a dispute about
the rent, and the servant had paid the amount into the
collector's office ; but that had not satisfied the zemindar, so
he had sent his servants to seize the man and carry him away
to his house at Goburdanga, where, I was told, according to
the usual practice, he would be starved, or otherwise tor-
tured, until he agreed to pay the increased rental demanded,
together with a fine for giving so much trouble. The police
at Goburdanga are more or less in the pay of the zemindars,
and therefore take no notice. We advised the villagers to
go to the sub-divisional office ; but one of them, who was
the captured man's brother, remarked : " We have no
money. What is the use of our going to the police ? "
So the zemindars have it all their own way, and they
do not therefore hail the advent of a missionary with
joy, knowing that he will certainly use his influence on behalf
of their oppressed tenants.

After walking for about an hour and a half I crept under
the awning of our bullock-cart, and soon after Ishan
Babu met his pony. Journeying by bullock-cart is at
best tedious. The regulation speed is two miles an
hour, and the interest you at first feel in the sugar cane,
tobacco, and other crops growing in the fields along the
way soon begins to flag ; while the constant "Oorse,"
" Ooredigi," and emphatic "Jao na" (Won't you go!)
wherewith the driver urges on his beasts, soon begin to have
a narcotic effect, even upon the driver himself apparently,
for after a while he lapses into long periods of silence,
during which his bullocks have a quiet and easy time.
However, at last we reached Ishan Babu's house at Baduria,
and I was at once cheered and refreshed by the sight of
letters from the home-land waiting there for me. They did
not all contain good news though. One, at least, told of
sickness and pain, and made me feel more than I had yet
felt, since I left home in November, the trial of separation
from loved ones. But in a little while faith revived, and
I found much to interest me at Baduria. Our mission
buildings are situated a few hundred yards from the Issa-
mutti River, which is there a fine wide stream, infested,
however, with crocodiles. The country all round is thickly
wooded, mostly with fruit-trees, and, therefore, swarms with
birds of every description, which in the mornings filled the
air with their sweet music, for it is not tru^ ^Uat tropical
birds are songless.

We have been carrying on work at this place for many*
years ; but at one time it was nearly given up, partly owing
to the unhealthiness of the district, and partly owing to the-
violent opposition of the people, which once culminated in
the burning down of our school-house. This opposition has
now quite ceased, and so anxious are the people that the
school should not be given up that recently several gentle-
men offered to give free board and lodging to twenty scholars,
and no sooner was that offer advertised than Ishan Babu
was deluged with applications for admission. There have-
been several baptisms at Baduria, but the converts have all
left the district. One, Rev. K. P. Banerjee, is now our
pastor in charge of the South Tillages and Sunderbunds.
Another was till quite recently a teacher in our Kaurapukur
boys' school. The others have quite disappeared, and Ishan-
Babu cannot get any information at all about them. There-
is, therefore, as yet, no church at Baduria. This is very
trying to the faith of our workers, but they are toiling od
bravely, and by means of schools, one for boys and one for
girls, and a night school, by preaching in the surrounding
markets, and house-to-house visitation, to which Ishan Babu-
rightly attaches great importance, they are patiently sowing
the good seed.

I stayed at Baduria five days, visiting the schools, going
with the preachers to the markets, and visiting several house*
in company with Ishan Babu. We were everywhere very
well received, the people exerting themselves to show us-
hospitality, begging us to be seated, and bringing forth the-
indispensable hookah for Ishan Babu, and date-palm juice-
for me. If we declined these proffered gifts, having already
partaken of these things at another house, our host would
exclaim despairingly : " Then what shall I give you ? " They
I are a simple people, and in most cases by no means opposed
to Christianity. But their mind is dark and slow of com-
' prehension. In their own religion there is nothing to make
I them think ; it all consists in the performance of a simple
round of rites. Therefore, while perceiving the beauty of
the religion of Christ, and in a dim way acquiescing in the-
truth of it, they are slow to grasp the fact that action is-
demanded on their part, and that they must arise and tak©
hold of what Christ offers. Ages of superstition have
shrouded them as with a dense wintry fog, which darkens
and numbs them, so that, as one remarked : " While you are
with us we understand what you say ; but when you have
gone, we quickly forget everything." But the Sun of
Righteousness has now arisen upon them, and the day \&
coming when the fog shall roll away, and they shall rejoice
in the light of a fuller knowledge, and in the warmth of our
Saviour's love.

Of my return journey to Calcutta there is nothing to
record, save that it was a fatiguing one, and I was glad
when, after nine hours of bullock-cart and railway travelling^
I got to the end of it.

W. R. Le Quesne.

I

Junk, 1 1895.

OUR ANNIVERSARY.

153

THE Centenary Report of our Society, the preamble to
which was freely distributed during Anniversary Week,
weaves in with the record of the past year a brief review of
the progress of a remarkable century, in which the Society
tas taken no small share. It is suggested that the only way
to get a just estimate of the missionary history of the past
hundred years is to read into it the story of material pro-
■gress, of territorial expansion, and of political and religious
■development in Britain, all of which have been used by God
in shaping and developing the modern missionary enterprise,
while the missionary crusade has itself been a powerful
factor in all this modern progress. After dealing with some
of the lessons to be gathered from past experience, one of
which is that it becomes increasingly clear that the work of
evangelising the world is enormously greater than was
probably at first imagined, the present financial position of
■the Society is dealt with in all its aspects. Appended to the
Report is a complete statement of the receipts and ex-
penditure since the commencement, the former of which has
reached a total of £5,618,123, in addition to £981,752 raised
at the various Mission stations. The consideration of
figures leads up to the definite announcement that, in order
to enable the Society to maintain its present staff^ an
increase of income is required to the extent of £20,000 per
annum. The history of the Society's progress during the
century is a wonderful record of answers to prayers and of
encouragements to faith, and the actual results have indeed
been'remarkable. The Society has sent out during its lifetime
more than a thousand European missionaries, in addition to
their wives. What has been the result ? There are about
■95,000 persons gathered from among all the heathen peoples
into the fellowship of the Church of Christ, in addition to
an equal number who have already passed into the life
eternal. Nearly half a million more are under Christian in-
struction, and about 125,000 children, of whom in the
Eastern Missions more than four-fifths are the children of

the heathen, are being educated in the Mission schools.
" Surely, when contrasted with the expenditure freely in-
curred in the pursuit of commerce or in the prosecution of
war, the expenditure on Missions is the most economical
and the most remuneraiive by far."

The Centenary Year was duly " sung in " at Exeter Hall
on Saturday afternoon. May 4th, and our enthusiastic friend,
the Rev. Stanley Rogers, of Liverpool, to whom we are so
greatly indebted for the compilation of our " Centenary
Missionary Hymnal," fittingly occupied the chair. In our
magazine for young people he recently wrote that be thought
" Sing unto the Lord " should be our watchword for the
year 1895, and as, at the close of the Children's Demonstra-
tion, he expressed himself as well satisfied with the choral
part of it, we may conclude that we have made a good start
upon these lines. We were once more put under a deep
obligation to Mr. Luther Hinton as conductor, and Mr.
Horace C Holmes as organist.

Apart from the special service rendered by Mr. Rogers, to
which we have referred, he proved himself an admirable
chairman on other grounds. His deep and practical interest
in the missionary work of the young is well known, and in a
bright, humorous speech at the beginning of the meeting —

154

OUR ANNIVERSARY.

June, 1895.

after the opening hjmn, " The whole wide world for Jesus, "
had been sung, and prayer had been offered by the Rev. E.
Lewis, of Bellary — he claimed that the hope of the future,
and especially of the continuance of the Forward Movement,
lay in the young. He created great amusement by likening
the one-hundredth birthday of the Society to the corre-
sponding period in the life of an old man who enjoined upon
his shoemaker to be sure and make him a new pair of shoes
of special durability, because he "felt stronger at the be-
ginning of the second century than he did at the beginning
of the first." In like manner, said the Chairman, the Society
was doing far grander work all round at the present time
than ever before in its history. ]Mr. Rogers also made
another admirable point when telling of a countrywoman
who, on first seeing a railway train, expressed her fear that
it would never " gang," and then, when she saw the power
of the steam, that it would never stop. When the Society
was started there were some people who said the movement
would never succeed. " It will never stop, ' added the Chair-
man, " until the whole wide world is won for Jesus Christ.''
The Foreign Secretary briefly introduced the large com-
pany of missionaries seated on the platform, and who conBti-
tuted, as he said, a remarkable gathering of interesting guests
many of them wearing the bright native costumes of the
countries in which they labour. Some of their children
were also subsequently introduced. The brilliancy of the
platform was increased by the display of a large number of
banners and bannerettss (the gift of the Rev. F. H. Blanch-
ford, of Halifax) bearing the names of some of our Mission
stations, and of prominent pioneer missionaries of the
Society. The following may be regarded as a complete list
of our missionaries at home at the present time, and nearly
all were present on Saturday afternoon : —

From China :— Miss Edith Benham (formerly of Amoy), Rev. T. and Mrs.
Bryson (Tientsin), Mrs. Edge (formerly of Hong Kong), Rev. W. E.
McFarlane (Mongolia), Rev. W. Mulrhead, D.D., and Mrs. Mulrhead,
(Shanghai). Miss Roberts (Tientsin). Rev. K. M. and Mrs. Ross (Amoy;, Uev.
C. G. and Mrs. Sparham (Hankow), Rev J. W. and Mrs. Wilson (Chung King)
Rev. J. Chalmers, LL.D., and Mrs. Chalmers (Hong Kong).

From India :— Rev. A. P. and Mrs. Begg (Calcutta), Miss Brown (Madras),
Mlis Budden (Almora), Bev. W. H. and Mrs. Campbell (Cuddapah), Rev. A. A.
and Mrs. Dlgnum (Salem), Miss A. E. GUI (Benares), Rev. U. J. and Mrs.
Goffin (Kadlrl), Bev. E. and Mrs. Hawker (Colmbatoor), Rev. J. G. and Mrs_
Hawker (Belgaum), Kev. E. and Mrs. Lewis (Bellary), Rev. S. .T. and Mrs.
Long (Colmbatoor), Miss L. E. Meachen (Almoni), Rev. W. B. and Mrs.
Phillips (Calcutta), Rev. E. P. Rice (Chlk Ballapur), Miss L. G. Robinson
(Berbampur), Rev. A. L. and Mrs. Allan (NagercoU), Mrs. Haines (Belgaum),
Mrs. Joss (Bangalori ).

From Madagascar :— Rev. W. E. Cousins, Rev. J. H. Halle, Rev. J. and
Mrs. Houlder, Rev. J. G. and Mrs. Mackay, Rev. J. and Mrs. Richardson, Kev.
G. A. and Mrs. Shaw.

From Africa :— Rev. J. Brown (Taung), Rev. J. T. and Mrs. Brown
(Knruman), Rev. E. and Mrs. Lloyd (Kanye), Dr. C. B. Mather (Lake
Tanganyika), Mrs. J. B. Thomson (formerly of Matabeleland;.

From South Seas :— Rev. G. A. and Mrs. Harris (formerly of Mangala),
Rev. W. X. and Mrs. Lawrence (AltutakI), Dr. S. H. Davles (Samoa), Mrs. W. E.
Richards (formerly of Balatea).

From Netv Guinea :— Rev. J. and Mrs. Chalmers.

From British Guiana :— Rev. J. L. and Mrs. Green.

In conclusion, Mr. Thompson introduced, with particular
gratification, as the sons of converts of the Society, Mr.
J. B. Glasgow and Mr. Campbell, of British Guiana. The
missionaries saluted the audience in the foreign languages
which they speak.

The Rev. C. G. Sparham described the handsome Chinese
tapestries suspended from the walls, and which are the gifts
of Hankow Christians to the Society on the occasion of
the Centenary. The circumstances connected with the
despatch of this present, which the Chairman truly said
had " beaten the record," were referred to in last month's
Chronk i.E, and a full description is given elsewhere. Mr.
Sparham incidentally mentioned that in China the larger
the present the greater was the respect intended ; for among
people of the lower order paper scrolls were the order of the
day, increasing, according to the position of the recipient, into
the value of carved tablets, or silk and gold tapestry, such a&
the gift to the Society.

The Rev. E. Lloyd, of Kanye, spoke of child life and
superstitions in South Africa, and ended up with a " real lion
story " : and then, after some Hindu, Chinese, and Malagasy
hymns had been sung, Miss Leila G. Robinson (of
Berhampur), niece of the late Rev. R. Robinson, told of
some of the difficulties incidental to life in India, and of
other special obstacles which seemed to hinder the
missionaries in all the work they had to do, and which called
forth all the energy of faith and prayer, lest they should
become discouraged, hopeless, and even weary. The Rev. J.
Richardson, of Madagascar, traced his first desire to become
a missionary to Madagascar to a sermon preached by the
fivther of the Chairman, and to a description of the martyr-
doms in that country. It was a remarkable fact that years
afterwards, in a Memorial Church erected on the " Rock of
Hurling," where those martyrs met their death, he (Mr.
Richardson) preached before the Prime Minister upon the
occasion of his Excellency 's first visit to the church, and had
the honour of inviting the Queen to hear the singing at the
celebration of the Tonic Sol-Fa Jubilee. In conclusion, Mr.
Richardson urged the children to pray to God to bless
Madagascar and save her from all her foes. — The final
address was delivered by Mr. J. B. Glasgow, of British
Guiana, who expressed his willingness to be exhibited as one
of the samples of missionary work in that country, which he
W!vs proud to speak of as a Christian land ; for there was no
one resident in the Colony who had not had an opportunity
of hearing the Gospel preached. Mr. Glasgow proceeded to
say : " All the privileges that we enjoy in that land to-day,
social, political, and otherwise, we attribute to the influence
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I say that because I want
the boys and girls who are present here to-day to realise
that, when they send the Gospel to heathen people, they send
to them that which is to be the foundation of all other good,
of all privileges, social and otherwise, that any people can
expect to enjoy. It is all the outcome of the work of the

June, 1895.

OUR ANNIVERSARY.

155

L.M.S., who were the first to think of our forefathers, and to
send them the blessed Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. I take this opportunity of thanking you for all you
have done for us in British Guiana, and for all the heathen
world. I trust that what has been done in the first century
of the Society's history will be as nothing compared to what
will be done in this second and future centuries."

After this splendid testimony, the meeting was concluded
with a vote of thanks to those who had taken part, and with
einging and the Benediction.

FIJ^ANCE.

The Rev. J. P. Gledstone, Vice-Chairman of the Board,
presided over the prayer-meeting at the Mission House on
Monday morning, which was well attended. At the annual
meeting of members at Falcon Square Chapel, in the after-

the Society's service in the foreign mission-field — in which
respect the Society stood second \o none — and for the great
gathering of native workers. The Society had had crises
and times of difficulty again and again at home and abroad,
but God had been with them in every difficulty, and now at
the end of a long history they rejoiced in a large company
of workers, with splendid opportunities of service, and
openings in every part of the field. But their rejoicing was
a sober rejoicing. Their gratitude was mixed with thoughts
about their own incapacity, and shortcoming, and half -hearted-
ness. The balance-sheet was not of the most cheerful kind.
The income for the year (including £12 14s. 3d. from sale
of property in Demerara) had amounted to £139,835 6s. 2d.,
and the expenditure to £159,253 5s. Id., leaving a deficiency
of £19,417 18s. lid. £8,711 7s. 3d. had been received for
investment. To be added to the deficiency on the year was

3r

BALANCE SHEET (INCOME

1. Contributions:—

(a) 'Subscri lit ions, DonatLons, and Collections

•Do.. Colonial and Foreig-n AusiUariea

^ 'Do., Mission Stations (bcsidea £«> 18s. 4d. in.

eluded In the Centenary Fund below)

Ho., do., locally appropriated

(6) •LcKOCics

Do., Colonial and Foreign Auxiliaries

2. Dividends

Do., for Special Objects

tlncome for 1834-5

3. Sale of Property in Demcrarc (baiance)

4. Received for Investment :-

(a) Legacy subject to Life Annuity (afterwards for
India Mission)

VA Donation (second) for Training Natire Ministry m
India ...

tc) Legacy eubjcct to Life Annuity

id) Disnalions subject to Life Anrnitiea

(cj Legacy to perpetuate Subecnpiion

(/) Addition to " Evans Scholarfihip Fund"

Deflclency carried down

D. tContributfons to the Centenary Fund (aofaras

6, (Contributions towards Deficiency

Balance against the Society

£93,105 IG 0
6,407 17 7

2,131

0 6

£7,047

5 4

i.otw

S 10

£1,581

7 3

1,CD3

U 0

£00.9-15 3 0
2d, 153 IS 0

8.1 i5 U 2

3.279 1 3
£133,822 U U
12 l\ 3

£2,CC0 0 0

eoo 0 0

4.000 0 0

1,200 0 0

33 17 1

17 10 0

ilGT.OOl 12 4

£3d,4St] 10 4
6,7C5 11 II "
5 7

£19,320 1.5 II

AND EXPENDITURE), 1894-5.

By:- -<

1. tExpenditure for ism-5

(j) I'aymenta by Treaaurer in London, &c.

('>) Raised and appropriated at Miesioa Stations ...

2. Investments (as per Dr.)

3. Deficiency brought down

4. Deficiency brought forward from 1893-4
6. tExpendlturo on account of the Centenary

J.1U7.9

12 i

.28.902 17 0
1,000 0 0

X»,32n 13 u

noon of the same day, Mr. G. W. Dodds, of Norwood, was
called to the chair. After the singing of a hynin, prayer
was offered by the Rev. E. Storrow, of Brighton. The
Foreign Secretary called attention to the curiously mingled
features of the report. Naturally the dominant note of this,
the Centenary year, must be a note of praise to God for
unnumbered mercies given to the Society throughout the
long course of its history— for the Directors and friends at
home who had conducted its afEairs, and whose energy and
enterprise in the earlier years and in times of exceptional
difficulty had kept the Society going, and had enabled the
Society to take an ever larger view of its work and to
develop new forms of work as new opportunities offered and
new claims arose ; praise to God, also, for the remarkable
company of men and women whom God had called out to

the deficiency brought forward from 1893-4 of £28,902 17s.,
and the expenditure of £1,000 on account of the Cen-
tenary, making a total of £49,320 15s. lid. The sum of
£38,486 19s. 4d. had been paid in to the Centenary Fund,
and £5,765 lis. towards the previous year's deficiency,
leaving a balance against the Society with which to start the
new year of £5,068 5s. 7d. It was a serious matter to find,
continued Mr. Thompson, that heavy deficiencies recurred
year after year, particularly in view of the Forward Move-
ment. They had sent out sixty-nine of the hundred
additional missionaries, but the churches had not provided
half the amount required for their maintenance. This
condition of the funds had led to serious questionings as
to the soundness of the present position of the Society,
and as to whether the churches were alive to the importance

156

OUR. ANNIVERSARY.

June, 1895,

of the work and were prepared to respond to the Society's
appeal. In the interests of the work, there must be a settle-
ment one way or another. The workers abroad had been
encouraged to believe that the long strain of years was to be
relieved by means of the Forward Movement ; but there
would have to be more than a call of " Halt" unless some
relief came. For the present the difficulty of the adverse
balance had been met, as it had been resolved from the first
that about half the Centenary Fund should be appropriated
towards the expected deficiency of the past year and the
known deficiency of the previous year ; but they must con-
sider how they were to face the future. Disappointment
had been expressed that the income during the past year had
not been larger, but he (Mr. Thompson) thought that was not
altogether a reasonable disappointment. Some supporters
had included their annual gifts in the Centennial Fund, and
as long as that Fund was being raised they must expect that
the ordinary income would be stationary. But surely the
experience of the past suggested that all the eifort now
being made to diffuse information, and the increase of
interest manifested in every direction would be powerfully
operative for good as soon as the pressure of the Centenary
Fund had passed away in the course of a few months, when
the attention of their friends would be directed towards the
necessary increase of the ordinary income of the Society.
The gentleman who had offered anonymously to give £500
annually for five years realised as a business man that
during the next five years the Society was bound to have a
great deal of exceptional pressure upon it while it was
making an effort to increase the ordinary income, and he
had empowered him (Mr. Thompson) to use his promise as
a challenge and appeal, so that they might begin the new
century without any thought of retrenchment, or with-
drawal, or curtailment of its sphere of labour. " God for-
bid," said Mr. Thompson in conclusion, " that we should
begin the new year climbing down from the position to
which God has permitted us to rise at the present
time."

The Rev. W. E. Morris, of Market Harborougb, in moving
that the report and statement of accounts be adopted, printed
and circulated, expressed kindly sympathy with the officers
of the Society at this very trying time. Let it not be for-
gotten that God had done great things for them, whereof
they were glad. Indeed, he thought they should sing the
Doxology at every meeting held in connection with the
Centenary. The difficulty they had to face was of God's
own making, and He would provide the means of deliverance
in His own time ; and he (Mr. Morris ) felt that the need at
this hour was the spirit of missionary consecration which
signalised the birth of the Society and which had always
tided it over difficulties like the present. It was not failure
that they were bemoaning, but that the missionaries had
done so much that the Society did not know what to do
next. God was not straitened, except in the willingness of

His people, and they must give Him no rest until the baptism'
of the Holy Ghost should come.

In seconding the resolution, Mr. W. E. Whittingham, of
Walthamstow, echoed the feelings of thanksgiving that had
been expressed, and said also that he did not think they
ought to take a gloomy view of the finance. The fact that
the West Indian and South African churches were self-
supporting was a cause for thanksgiving, and the Centenary
movement was doing something to enlighten people regarding
the grand work of the Society.

The Rev. A. N. Johnson, M.A., announced that the total
amount of promises and receipts for the Centenary Fund had
reached £60,200. He called special attention to some of the
items of that account. The missionaries' purse, to which
missionaries of the Society had been asked to contribute by
one of their number, whose idea it was entirely, had realised
£552, in addition to several other considerable sums from
individual missionaries ; a contribution of 100 guineas had
been received from a granddaughter of the first Home
Secretary (Mr. Shrubsole), and £10 from a granddaughter of
the Rev. Dr. Waugh. The largest contribution of the year
towards the Deficiency had been £2,000 from Mr. J. Balmain,
of Perth, who had given £1,000 the year before. Another
encouragement had been the receipt on the previous Satur-
day of an anonymous cheque for £485. Bristol had given
or promised the sum of £5,70G to the Centenary Fund;
Sheffield and Leeds over £2,000 ; and the women of Man-
chester over £1,000. These facts afforded abundant reason
for thanksgiving.

The report, &c., having been adopted, the Rev. F. Hall,
of Wimbledon, proposed the re-election of the officers and
the adoption of the new list of Directors. While unable to
take such an optimistic view of the situation as Mr. Morris,
he hoped that the facts which had been so clearly put before
them would strengthen their faith in God. In order to lift
the permanent income of the Society they must get more
and more into personal touch with the churches. He would)
like to see a monster representative demonstration held, so
as to get the voice of the churches respecting the policy of
the Society.

Mr. G. Marris, J. P., of Birmingham, seconded the reso-
lution. He remarked that the Centenary Celebration had
not fallen on good times, on account of the depression in
trade. But he was looking forward with much greater hope
to the steady raising year by year of the permanent income
of the Society.

The Chairman, in putting the motion, which was carried,
expressed the feeling that they must not only look to the
collection of small sums, but to the methods of spending
money at present existing among Christian people.

The meeting was brought to a close with the Doxology
and the Benediction, pronounced by the pastor of the church,
the Rev. A. H. Storronr.

June, 1895.

OUR ANNIVERSARY.

157

While the Society is celebrating its Centenary, the
Ladies' Committee for the promotion of its Female Mis-
sions are able to rejoice over the completion of twenty years
of most useful and successful service in their special
department. It was a great disappointment to all that Mrs.
Robert Whyte — who has been so closely associated with the
Committee, first as indefatigable secretary and now as presi-
dent— was through illness precluded from taking part in the
ladies' annual meeting, at Westminster Chapel, on Tuesday
afternoon. But a very interesting letter from her was read
by Mrs. Hugh Matheson, who presided, in which she
expressed devout thankfulness for the rich harvest with
which God had rewarded the efforts of the Committee and of
the lady workers in the mission-field. What the propor-
tionate results are likely to be if the Committee are privi-
leged to complete a century of work, it is not — as Miss
Benham suggested — in our power to calculate.

An opening prayer was offered by Mrs. Jesse Haworth,
and then Mrs. Matheson announced that a gift of £500,
" the fruit of our mother's teaching," had that morning been
received at the Mission House ; and she also read the letter
from Mrs. Whyte referred io above. After recognising the
influence of the wives of missionaries which had preceded
the work of lady missionaries, Mrs. Matheson stated that
sixty-five ladies were actively engaged : in India (33),
China (21), Madagascar (6), South Africa (1), and the South
Seas (4), besides a large staff of Bible-women. She also
mentioned that the gifts from native Christians in China
reached a larger total than was received by any other society,
and then asked, in comparison with that fact, Where were
the self-sacrifice, earnest pleading, and sacrifice of the
churches at home ?

Mrs. Chalmers, of New Guinea, told an interesting sequel
to the record of Mr. Holmes's journey to Maipua, given in
the May Chronicle. The chief referred to had visited
them with his two wives and child. One result of that
intercourse was a promise to give up cannibal practices, and
he had kept faithful to his promise, though it had involved
cutting himself off from a part of his tribe, and removing to
a new settlement. But he had been greatly discouraged by
the inability of the missionaries to send him a teacher. The
speaker based an earnest plea for help upon these incidents.

Mrs. Somerville, of Dalkeith, wished it were possible to
influence those in the churches who were not interested in
missions to the heathen, though, for her own part, she could not
understand such Christians. As a contrast to these, she gave
the substance of a letter from a friend of hers in Edinburgh,

describing the self-denying efforts of a class of poor girls in
supporting a child in one of the Indian Mission schools, at a
cost of £8 a year. One member of the class was an invalid,
in very poor circumstances, but so rich in love and sympathy
that many a shilling, and sometimes a piece of gold, earned
in dressing dolls, &c., had she slipped into the teacher's hand
for the work. This, and other incidents of a similarly happy
kind, led Mrs. Somerville to urge that attempts should be
made to interest domestic servants in missionary work, about
which they were at present lamentably ignorant.

Miss Budden, of Almora, emphasised individual responsi-
bility for the sending of the Gospel to the heathen. That
Gospel was the philosopher's stone, for when it entered the
heart of a heathen woman it transformed and elevated her
life in a way difficult to describe, turning all to gold. Miss
Budden maintained that in India female missionaries were
needed more than male workers, for they could teach both
sexes, which the men were not able to do. Women at home
could also do a great deal for the work, and she felt that if those
present were to make up their minds that the year should
not pass without the Forward Movement being carried on to
a successful issue, nothing could prevent it. Incidentally
she expressed her disapproval of one branch of missions
being designated as " foreign," for nothing was foreign to
the great heart of the Father above. It was small wonder
that she was herself so deeply interested in mission work,
and in Almora particularly, seeing that her father and'
mother gave their lives to the work, and that their graves
were situated in the native cemetery of Almora.

Miss Edith Benham, formerly of Amoy, in a vigorous and
forcible speech, described some of the disabilities of heathen
Chinese women, and contrasted their position with that of
the wife of a native pastor at Amoy, who practically con-
ducted the affairs of the native church during her husband's
absence. Miss Benham also referred to the " horrible opium
habit," which had laid hold of a good many women as well
as men, and asserted that it was not enough to hear of such
things and yet to do nothing to help. :

At the close of the meeting a large number of ladies met
for tea and conference.

" Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee,
preachiriff the Gospel of the Kingdom of God." — MAEK i. 14.

''And lie said unto them: Go ye into all the world, and preach the
Gospel to evert/ creature.^' — MARK xvi. 15.
From the first the annual missionary sermons have
deservedly ranked very high in importance among the
Anniversary engagements, and, since they ceased to be

158

OUR ANNIVERSARY.

June, 1895.

preached in the Episcopal churches, have engaged the best
efforts of eminent men in the Congregational, Presbyterian,
and other Dissenting bodies. The extremely large congre-
gation which assembled in the City Temple on the Wednes-
day morning, the preacher, and the sermon were all
worthy of the special importance and interest of the occasion
— the Centenary Sermon. The Rev. A. M. Fairbairn, M.A.,
D.D., Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford, appropriately
took for his text the passages of Scripture quoted above,
which was the theme upon which the venerable Thomas
Haweis based his striking discourse at the foundation of the
Society. The Doctor's eloquent and scholarly sermon was in
every respect a remarkable efPort, and not least that for
an hour and twenty minutes, without a note and without a
distinct pause, he treated — though he indicated some of the
directions in which he had not even then exhausted his
subject— the all-important action and command of Jesus
Christ. After a graphic word-picture of the Preacher and
His rustic band, the Doctor foreshadowed the divisions of his
sermon — the Personal Ministry of Christ, and the Apostolic
Ministry of His people as the continuation and realisation
of His own— and treated the former from the contemporary
and the latter from the historical point of view. Starting
with the Personal Ministry, there were three notable things: —
(1) The place where it was exercised (not, as an astute man
of the world would have done, at Jerusalem, the birth-place
of religion, but in the quiet of His own province) ; (2) the
men among whom it was exercised (" common " men whom He
moulded after His own pattern, not fanatics like the priests —
fanaticism being zeal for trifles, whereas enthusiasm was zeal
for humanity — the one guarding what he lived by, because it
was his trade, and the other living by what he spread, because
it was his glory) ; (3) the substance of His preaching (the
(iospel of the Kingdom of God, which the preacher contrasted
with other great religions). The Doctor's treatment of the
second part of his discourse — the Apostolic Mission — showed
from the historical point of view the marvellous success
that had attended Christ's plans ; whereas, if He had gone
to Jerusalem, Christianity would have been nothing better
than redressed Judaism. The historical review included a
masterly description of the greatness of London as a centre
of testimony to the Christian faith. Reference was also
made to the founding of the Society and the lessons which
the succeeding hundred years had taught. In conclusion,
the preacher maintained that for missions to live, England
must be held, and if that were to be done, a great work was
involved. The duty of the Church could not be done abroad
if forgotten at home. — At many points the congregation
expressed their appreciation l)y applause, and the sermon
throughout was followed by closest attention and sympathy.
The devotional part of the service was led by the llev. J. H.
Jowett, M.A., of Xewcastle-on-Tyne.

WATCHERS' BAND.

The third annual meeting of the Watchers' Band, held
this year in the City Temple, was more influentially attended
than either of its predecessors, and may be expected still
more to extend in succeeding years, so full of promise and
vitality did the meeting show the Band to be. The Rev.
Urijah R. Thomas, President of Redland Park Church,
Bristol, presided ; and an opening prayer was offered by the
Rev. J. H. (rwyther, B.A., President of Liscard Branch.
Mr. J. E. Liddiard, F.R.G.S., the Hon. Sec, read the report,
a copy of which will be found in the present number of the
Chkonici.e. Following upon this the Chairman expressed
the gratitude of the meeting to Mr. Liddiard, and those who
with him had led the Watchers along in this good way.
They might well indulge in congratulation, because they
believed that God had been in the work, and had turned
many hearts to more united missionary prayer, and they
must always remember that the Society was cradled in
prayer. The Christian Endeavour Societies and the
I Watchers' Bands were new proof that the old power was
still at work, and that God would renew the face of the
Church as He had just renewed the face of the earth in the
glorious spring.

Dr. R. F. Horton, President of the Lyndhurst Road
Branch, Hampstead, characterised the present gathering as
the effective force of the Society. Prayer was really the
motive power of the Society. He thought the Chairman
might fittingly have given them an address corresponding
to his address to the Congregational Union, but entitled
" Sisterhood," because it was evident that women represented
the majority of the Watchers. Dr. Horton thought that the
example of the Church Missionary Society should be a great
stimulus to our own Society. The Gleaners' Band, of
which the Watchers' Band was an imitation, appeared to be
the motive power of that Society ; and when the spirit of
prayer was poured out upon it in special measure some years
ago, it determined, in the face of deficits and debts, not to
refuse any suitable candidate for service, even though the
money should not be immediately forthcoming. They had
acted upon that principle for two years, with the result that
their staff had been doubled in nine years, and the supplies
of money had been equal to the new demands. He (Dr.
Horton) believed that the L.M.S. would be led to imitate
them in that policy also, which had resulted from prayer.
The Forward Movement of the L.M.S. had not failed merely
through want of money, but from want of faith and of
prayer ; and if ever it was to be carried out it would be by
the Watchers' Band gradually permeating the churches until
every church was a Watchers' Band. They could not expect
to do great things so long as only one church in nine had a
Band, and so long as the average uiembership was only about
five-and-thirty. Xor would the work be done until there
were as many men as women in the Bands ; " for so long as
we have a lot of unbelieving men in the churches who will

Juke, 1S95.

OUR ANNIVERSARY..

159

not pray for us, there is no help for us. I suppose," con-
tinued Dr. Horton, " they would say it is because the Lord
intends by the weak things of this world to confound the
strong. So far from the weak things of the world con-
founding the strong, if the ladies are really praying, they
are proving themselves to be the strong ones, because of all
the exercises of mind, body, or spirit, there is nothing that
approaches prayer for the demands it makes upon you."
Dr. Horton admitted that he had found it exceedingly
diflBcult to pray once a week for the Society. Taking " The
Rock of Prayer" (a little jutting promontory from the cliff
that overhangs the Atlantic, on the coast of Kerry, in Ire-
land, and which is reached by an exceedingly narrow isthmus
of rock, which the adventurer must cross in order to climb
to the altar above to offer prayer), Dr. Horton remarked
that in order to get to the point where prayer had to be
offered there was a perilous little isthmus to be crossed ;
" and the difficulty of our prayers is that we are inclined to
offer them on this side of the isthmus instead of the other,
and what we call prayer is unanswered because it is not
prayer." They could not pray in the right spirit in a
hurry. If they could honestly say they had not time to pray,
that was a strong reason for not pretending to pray, and
without time they certainly could not pray aright. In the
first half-hour they could do little in prayer. They must
get near and lay hold and realise, and then the wrestle
came, and then the faith sprang up, and then there was
the open vision, and then there was the voice that replied)
and the touch of the Hand upon the spirit that was pray-
ing. But it could not, he insisted, be done in a hurry. He
wanted the Watchers to realise that it might involve get-
ting up early and giving up some engagements. He re-
commended ministers to give up some of their sermons and
speeches ; ladies to drop some of their social calls ; and
everyone to give up many amusements that were not amus-
ing, but that were a burden to the flesh, and unite in a
constant stream of prayer.

Miss Leila G. Robinson, Secretary of the Berhampur
Branch, and representing the North India Division, men-
tioned that she was the first Watchers' Band Secretary
appointed abroad, and the first to come home on furlough.
The missionaries in Murshidabad realised at once the value
of connection with the parent Band, and they had not been
disappointed ; for the knowledge that they had a special
place in the prayers of those at home had been of no small
encouragement to them. In the Bengali Church at Ber-
hampur there were five-and-twenty native " Watchers," and
the native pastor every Sunday morning called attention to
the special subjects provided for in ihe Manual. The mis-
sionaries desired that the Watchers' Band might continue to
go forward.

The Rev. E. Lewis, of Bellary, representing the South
India Division, felt that they were not mere Watchers, for he
believed that their hearts were in full sympathy with Christ

and with Christian work all the world over. In prayer was
their strength, their hope, and their confidence that their
work would prosper. A short time ago, when visiting the
village of Sundur, a woman came to him, and asked him, in
great excitement, to order a certain catechist not to pray any

■ more that she might become a Christian. Her son and
daughter were Christians, and in reply to Mr. Lewis she
described how the morning before, when going to pay
service to the idols, a voice, which she recognised as the
voice of God, seemed to remonstrate with her against doing
so, and she wanted the catechist to be ordered to desist from
praying. Since then another daughter had become a
Christian, and he (Mr. Lewis) had sent a message to the
mother not to resist any longer the Spirit of God. If a
woman who professed herself to be a heathen, and felt
afraid of being drawn into the Christian fold, so believed in
prayer, ought not Christians at home to believe in prayer ?
Mr. Lewis then proceeded to give some deeply interesting
and entertaining reminiscences of native catechists and
children, which led the succeeding speaker to remark that
they might be merry and at the same time devout.

The Rev. J. P. Gledstone, President of the Streatham Hill
Branch, remarked that it was prayer which connected the
teaching with the winning of the world. What was wanted
was the cleansing, renewing, and quickening of hearts every-

{ where, and then signs and wonders would be done in the

1 name of Jesus Christ.

] The Rev. G. Cousins referred to the hopes and fears con-
nected with the conception of the Watchers' Band. He
thanked Mr. Liddiard very heartily for his devoted efforts
for the Band, and after holding out the hope that they
might in time support their own special missionaries, he
urged the Watchers to help in combatting whatever hostility
and apathy existed towards its work.

In the course of the proceedings greetings were received
from the Hankow members and from Giddeon Branch, Bristol,

Unlikely as it is, owing to the greatly changed conditions,
that we shall ever see a repetition of the marvellous exhibi-
tions of fiery enthusiasm which marked the launching of our
Society — graphic and thrilling accounts of which we find in
the early records — yet a demonstration, great in every sense,
like that held in the Queen's Hall, Langham Place, on the
Wednesday evening, is positive and encouraging proof
that Foreign Missions generally, and our own Society in
particular, retain the affection of the churches upon which

160

OUR ANNIVERSARY

June, 1895.

it has for many years depended for support. After
and duriDg the conversazione, which commeDced at half-
past five o'clock, some 2,500 persons filled all the avail-
able space in the large Hall, and many more would have
come had not the limitations of the building rendered it
necessary two days beforehand to decline further applica-
tions for tickets. The capacious and handsomely gilded
and decorated chamber, brilliantly lighted by electricity,
presented an extremely animated scene while the meeting,
beginning at seven o'clock, was in full swing. Before the
Lord Chancellor (the Right Hon. Lord Herschell, G.C.B.)
took the chair, some choruses from " St. Paul '' were
rendered by the London Choral Union, conducted by Mr.
Lewis, Mr. Fountain Meen being at the organ. As various
prominent missionaries and others appeared on the platform |
they received hearty recoguition. The Lord Chancellor was I
supported by Mr. A. Spicer, M.P. (Treasurer of the Society),
Mr. W. Crossfield, M.P., Mr. S. Smith, M.P., Mr. A. J.
Shepheard (Chairman of the Board of Directors), the Rev.
J. P. Gledstone (Vice-Chairman), Mr. A. Marshall Mr. J.
Wyclilfe Wilson, Mr. H. Lee (Manchester), Mr. A. H. Baynes
(Baptist Missionary Society), the Revs. Urijah Thomas
(Chairman of the Cougregational Union), Dr. Fairbairn, Dr.
Herber Evans, Dr. Newman Hall, Dr. G. S. Barrett, Dr.
Kennedy, Dr. Muirhead, James Chalmers, E. H. Jones, D.
A. Hershel, W. Justin Evans, Stanley Rogers ; Revs. R.
Wardlaw Thompson, Arthur X. Johnson, M.A., and George
Cousins (Secretaries), Mr. J. E. Liddiard (Secretary of the
Watchers' Band), &c.

After singing, and prayer by Rev. W. Justin Evans (of
Exeter),

Lord Herschell said he had felt, when very strongly
pressed to take the chair, that, although he was obliged to
refuse many such requests, he ought to make this case an ex-
ception. The Centenary of this great Society was an event
of interest to every branch of the Christian Church. The
zealous and earnest men of different bodies of the Church of
Christ who founded the Society desired not to spread the
views of any particular section, but to spread Christianity
itself. That catholic spirit had not departed from the
Society, which had left the converts from heathenism to
adopt whatever form of Christian churchmanship they chose.
The first work was commenced in parts of the world most
removed from any form of Christian teaching. The first
missionaries dropped down, as it were, in the South Sea
Islands, amongst a people sunk in the lowest forms of
heathenism and degradation, amongst whom human sacrifices
and infanticide were common. They began their labours at
a distance far greater than could be conceived of, with the
changed conditions of the present day, away from all the
interests and home ties by which they had been surrounded.
It was difficult to realise what their sacrifice was. They did
not look to have the way made smooth for them by the force
of the State ; and, indeed, they never would have achieved

the success they did if they had started upon the adventure
with the contrary idea. Of course, he did not mean to say
that there might not be circumstances under which it might
be right that the State should be called upon to afford
protection, but he had a horror of any connection between
implements of modern warfare and missionary work. In
succession the Society entered upon work among benighted
and savage peoples in Africa and in Madagascar. At least
this might be said of Madagascar, that they so effectually
taught the people in the Christian faith that they were ready
to die for their belief. Greater testimony to the genuineness
and reality of the work done it would be impossible to bear.
How many names arose to one's thought which had become
the property of the Christian Church at large, such as
Livingstone, Moffat, Williams, and Morrison, besides many
living workers, who deserved no less the respect and admira-
tion of the Christian Church ! Of course, it was natural to
ask what had been the result of the century of labour. He
thought it was not possible to exaggerate the vast change
that had been wrought in the South Seas. It had been
borne testimony to by many who had perhaps no special
enthusiasm in the cause of missions, but who had experienced
the change among a people who before had been a terror
to everybody who had approached their shores. The most
striking testimony was borne by Charles Darwin— a shrewd
observer, who never said a word more than he meant — in his
visit to Tahiti, many years ago. He (the Chairman) knew that
it was not uncommon to demand statistics with reference to
such a question,andtoask whether the money spent had seen
its return in the number of converts ; but that was a mode of
testing from which he utterly and absolutely dissented. It
was trying to compare two things that had no common de-
nomination. Tens of thousands of men and women had been
led to adopt an altogether different idea of life, and become
unspeakably happier as well as nobler. How were they
going to estimate the monetary value of happiness conferred
on one individual, to say nothing of tens of thousands? He
had observed that there was a certain class of people who
were always extremely solicitous about the selection which
other people made for their charitable gifts, though he
thought they were not troubled much in that way them-
selves. For the most part, though he would not say
universally, they were the critics. No doubt, if Christians
who chiefly supported foreign missions were indifferent to
those at their doors, it would be a very great reproach, and the
critics would be justified. On the contrary, the same names
appeared on the subscription lists for both home and foreign
missions. If they were to spend the money which went to
foreign missions upon amusements and self-indulgence, the
critics would be absolutely silent, or might have considerable
sympathy for such expenditure. If it was a luxury to a
Christian, why was he not to be allowed to indulge himself
after the " harmless " fashion chosen by him ? But the
truth was that those whose faith was earnest and living, took

June, 1895.

OUR ANNIVERSARY.

161

part in foreign missionary work because they could not help
doing so. They desired to convey to others some share in
their faith, because they believed in its inestimable benefits.
This, at least, all might hope — that, with all the gratitude
for what had been done in the past, the future century
might have in store success so much greater than the marvels
of the past, that even what had been accomphshed might
fade into insignificance.

Rev. R. Wardlaw Thompson remarked that the report for
the past year showed that while there were some disappoint-
ing things, and some weak places, the impression of the
whole would be one of great and glorious progress. All
round the field there were evidences of God's blessing on the
work of His servants, and signs that God was fulfilling His
promise most remarkably to those who trusted in Him. But
it had been a year of exceptional strain for the Directors in
consequence of the condition of the Society's finances.
After repeating the points in reference to the present state
of the Society's finances which Mr. Thompson dwelt upon
at the business meeting on Monday, he referred to the halt
in the Forward Movement. While the call of duty was un-
mistakable, they had apparently been mistaken in resolving
to do that great piece of work within a certain limited
time which the All- Wise Lord and Leader of the Society
saw to be too short, and, therefore, He put a check upon
their advance by withholding the means for carrying out the
purpose to the full. But they believed it would yet be
accomplished, and on a larger scale than they had yet
dreamed of, but they must have patience for God's time.
It was a satisfaction to know that sixty-nine of the hundred
additional missionaries were already in the field. It had
been said that there was a tone of sadness about the
report which was scarcely in keeping with the celebration
of the Centenary, It would be untrue to circumstances if
there were not such a tinge of sadness, when the field was
white with harvest, and men were waiting to be sent, and
the Society was obliged to stand still. But anxiety was not
despondency. They were troubled, but did not despair.
They had good reason to believe in God, who had been faith-
ful in the past, and they expected that He would be faithful
in the time to come.

The Fkench and Madagascar.

*' I want," said Mr. Thompson, " to call your attention to
the position of affairs in Madagascar. It seems that this
Society has a sort of fatality about it in relation to the
French. It is a singular thing that when the Society was
celebrating its Jubilee, just fifty years ago, Tahiti, the scene
of its first remarkable Mission, was being invaded by France,
and Queen Pomare had for some months been on a British
man-o'-war, a fugitive from the French troops who had
driven her out of her kingdom ; and now, as we celebrate
the Centenary of the Society, the scene of another and most
fiuccessful Mission is being attacked by the French, and, for

aught we know, before the year is out the Christian
Sovereign of Madagascar may be on a man-o'-war being
deported from her country. In those days the Society
appealed to Her Majesty's Government earnestly, but in vain,
to prevent the annexation of Tahiti. To-day, again, we
have appealed to Her Majesty's Government to use their
friendly influence with France ; but Her Majesty's Govern-
ment have their hands tied, and are unable to do anything to
help us. I wish to say as little as possible about the political
aspects of the question. It is a well-recognised rule that the
wisdom, the freedom, the very safety of missions, require
strict neutrality on the part of missionaries in the political
relations of the countries in which they are at work. Mis-
sionaries have helped by personal advice, and have spoken
out freely in times of great need, but missionary societies
and their agents ought to keep clear of politics as much as
possible. The Directors have thought it neither advisable
on the ground of general principle, nor wise in view of the
results of public agitation, nor likely to be helpful to
Madagascar, to make any effort to arouse public sympathy
or protest in this matter ; but I desire to express on behalf
of the Directors their feeling of intense pain that this little
nation, this young nation, just rising out of obscurity and
barbarism into adolescence of civilisation and Christian life,
should, in the very beginning of the aspirations of its new
life, feel the strong hand of a great Christian Power laid
upon it to take its independence away. I desire, on behalf
of the Directors, to express to the Malagasy Church their
profound sympathy with them, leaders and people, in the
trials and difficulties of the present and prospective time.
We have special reason for feeling the deepest interest in
the welfare of the Malagasy. It was the privilege of the
Society to take the Gospel and the arts of civilisation to the
Malagasy, and to give them the Bible. During the long days
of persecution the supporters of the Society thought much,
prayed much, and had the people constantly on their hearts.
Since the days of freedom began in 1862 we have found
Madagascar one of the most interesting and encouraging
fields of labour, and have had in the island a large and
increasing staff of European missionaries, and an ever-
extending field of work. At the present moment there are
no fewer than thirty-nine missionaries of the Society con-
nected with the Madagascar Mission. The work of the
Mission has developed in many directions, and is now of a
very complete character, and — this is an argument which
may touch one instinct of the British people, at any rate —
we have expended on the Mission since we recommenced it,
in 1862, no less a sum than £387,906. All this money spent,
this life consecrated, this varied labour developed, means the
diffusion of widespread influences of blessing. Not only have
we a large nominal Christian community, but a true Christian
church is growing up steadily in the island. A Christian
public opinion is being created among the people, and mis-
sionary enterprise amongst them has been stimulated to a

162

OUR ANNIVERSARY.

JUXE, 1895.

most interesting degree. Local contributions for work among
their own people, for the support of church and school and
missionary enterprise, have been raised and expended to the
extent of £94,ji37. Now we see this young immature people
the object of the covetousness of a great European Power.
We feel greatly pained and indignant. If France had
colonised Madagascar, and the influx of her subjects had
disturbed the social order, or if France had developed a
great trade and the trade relations had become strained,
and it was necessary to interfere by force, we could
have seen some plausible excuse for the present expe-
dition. But under present circumstances the invasion is
only a bad illustration of the vicious principle by which
great Powers which call themselves Christian are parcel-
ling out the world without consideration of the wishes
of the people concerned. At the same time we are not
afraid of the ultimate result spiritually. The Christian lifej
which has already proved its temper in the time of trial,
will be purified and strengthened. The Malagasy have the
Bible ; they have learned some lessons of Church history
and of religious freedom, and the Spirit of Christ will work
effectually to make His Church strong and true. Our work
as a Society is protected by treaties with Madagascar and by
the Convention with France. We intend to go on with our
work. We hope the need will never arise for standing on
our rights as English subjects. Meanwhile, we appeal to
you, that you may appeal to Him who has so constantly been
the Protector and Friend and Present Helper of the Church
in its hour of danger, that you will remember the Malagasy
constantly, earnestly in prayer, that God may overrule this
great trouble and make it a great blessing to that people."

Mr. Thompson then called attention to the handsome
scrolls (the Centenary gift of the Hankow Christians) sus-
pended from the roof.'- Mr. Thompson proceeded to pass

* The followiDg interesting: description of the scrolls is from
the pen of the Rev. C. G. Sparham : —

" In connection wiih the Centenary of the London Missionary Society
the converts in Central China have sent their congratulations to the
English ehurches in most approved Chinese fashion. On all joyous
occasions, birthdays, wedding days, and the like, a Chinese gentleman is
sure to receive from his courteous friends scrolls or tablets containing,
in carefully balanced sentences, congratulatory expressions of regard.
Usually, the scrolls are of paper and arc two in number, but four are
sometimes given. A more elaborate plan is to present four pieces, a
pitn, or long cross-p'cce to hang horizontally high up on the wall ; a
chuiiff Iniiy, or oblong-shaped centrepiece, which hangs lengthways
under the pien ; and a pair of ^(i or scrolls containing antithetical
sentences, to hang under the pien and on either side of the chung tang.
The strength of feeling and degree of respect of the donor is indicated
as much, or more, V)y the size of the pieces and the material used as by
the expressions they contain. Paper, wood, satin, mark the ascending
scale of esteem, while size varies indefinitely with the importance of the
occasion. Such being the custom of the land, it was only in accordance
with their character that the Christians of Hankow should wish to f end
their congratulations on the London Missionary Society's Centenary in
the form of an address and mottoes, in four pieces, worked in gold cord
and variegated silks on satin scrolls, or banners, and these of the largest
size ever known to be used. It is probable that this is the lirst time
anything of the kind, so elaborate, has been sent to England. The
chung tang, or centrepiece, is of crimson satin. Top and bottom large
margins have been left which are covered with a mass of artistic designs
in coloured silks. Between these is the following address worked in gold

briefly over some points in the wonderful history of the
Society, rejoicing over the broad foundation of the Society,
that the most generous supporters of the Society had been
the very salt of the churches and the leading spirits in all
Christian effort, and that interest in missions had enlarged
their hearts, enriched their view of Christianitj", and purified
their faith. The missionaries, men and women, had been a
most remarkable company, many of them possessing con-
spicuous gifts. The way in which God had opened the field
was striking and encouraging, as also the way in which He
had provided for the Society's needs. Since its commence-
ment the Society had received five and a half million pounds
in contributions at home, and nearly another million had been
contributed in the field by Christian friends, and especially by
native Christians. " Five millions ! " said Mr. Thompson.
" Why, we could buy six ironclads with that money, and in
five years they would be obsolete. The first vote for this
French Expedition to Madagascar was sixty-five million
francs, or more than two million pounds. They will spend
on that expedition more than all that this Society has spent
for the conversion and transformation of multitudes during
a century. Expenditure on missions is the most econo-

cord : — ' The Church was established that there might be a wide dis-
semination of the Gospel. In the year of the Incarnation of Jesus 1795,
there was established the London Missionary Society, which sent forth
those who should spread the faith, to travel at great distances through
foreign lands, such as India, Africa, Madagascar, the Isles of the Pacific,
and even the Central Flowery Land, and everywhere build churches.
Speaking of Hankow, at first there was no church here ; but when the
English pasturs — Griliith John and Kobcrt Wilson — came to Hankow,
hiiUs for Divine worship were instituted. Afterwards other pastors of
like spirit came, and now at the close of over thirty years there arc
more than 2,000 persons who have believed and received baptism. In
the region arcmnu Hankow are Wuchang, Hanyang, Hiaokan, Tienmen,
Kingshan, YiUimung, Yingshan, and Hwang pi, in allot which chapels
have been established, and in some cases hospitals and schools. Having
now, in the yuvr of the Incarnation of Jesus 189'), with great joy reached
the Centenary of the London Missionary Society, wo, the Christians of
the Hu provinces (i.e., Hupeh and Hunan), with one voice joyfully and
gladly praise and give thanks to the boundless grace of God. And wC'
pray God still to protect our Society and give to it even greater prosperity
than in the past, and that it may both make known the love of God,
and manifest forth the glory of God. These expressions of congratula-
tion are respectfully selected and offered lo tlie London Missionary
Society.' So runs the address. The tui tsz, which are of Imperial
yellow satin, have the following antithetical sentences worked on them
in coloured silks: — On the right hand: 'Desiring that every place
shtmld obtain .salvation, the Society was established in London; within
the hundred years it has been able to prosperously lay a great founda-
tion, causing us with one accord to deeply rejoice and leap for joy.' On
the left hand one : ' Calling all men to be disciples, the Gospel caim^
to the Central Land, and during many decades there has been a preach-
ing of the great converting truths and a desire that all people should
together (>njoy the boimdless love,' These antithetical sentences, it
■will be seen, give expression to the Society's fundamental principle Tho
pien, or long cross-piece, which hangs horizontally above the chung
tang and tui tsz, is of pure white satin, handsomely bordered in accord-
ance with Chinese art, and having a heavy green fringe hanging
beneath it. Four Chinese characters: 'Yung Kwei Shang-ti,'
' Glory be to God,' are worked up in gold cord into bold relief, as
indicating the great end in which tbo labours of the Society find issue.
Twining around these four characters, and reaching from end to end of
the pien, is a vine with barging clusters of luscious purple grapes of
almost natural size. This design indicates that the Society, which was
planted in London a hundred years ago, is, to-day, bearing fruit in
China to the glory of God. It only remains to bo said that tJtie idea of
the presentation originated with the native church, and that it was
I carried through entirely by themselves and at their own expense."

June, li95.

OUR ANNIVERSARY.

163

mical channel for spending money, and yields the largest
return." In conclusion Mr. Thompson said he thought that
the most encouraging feature was the growing interest of
the young. They had since the New Year's OfEering
commenced raised £168,000 for the ships, and the amount
was growing jear by year. Another evidence of their
interest was the ever- growing number of those who were
prepariog themselves for service. This was embarrassing
at the present time, for a number of well-trained men
and women were waiting for appointment, while others were
longing for the opportunity of offering themselves to the
Society.

The Rev. E. P. Rice, B.A., of Chik Ballapur, South
India, maintained that the key which had been struck at
the present meeting was not a minor key, but one of
jubilant thanksgiving to God for His wonderful blessing
vouchsafed to the work during the past wondrous century.
Passing on to refer to the change which had come over the
face of India through settled government, he paid a tribute
of gratitude to the splendid succession of civil and military
ofiBcers who had been sent out to support the British
administration. The work of England throughout India
was not a secular but a sacred work. While the Govern-
ment had been doing so well their part, the missionary
societies had been elevating the people from misconceptions
of the God who ruled them to a knowledge of the Heavenly
Father who loved them ; and in summing up the results of
the century, they looked thankfully to the number and
quality of the native Christians. He (Mr. Rice) thought
there was ground for exultation when they thought of the
half-a-million Protestant Christians that had been gathered
in during the past hundred years, especially when they
remembered how many of them had had to wrench them-
selves from all the ties of home in taking the name of
Christian. During the last forty years statistics had been
gathered at each decadal period, which showed the following
results : — During the ten years beginning 1851 the rate of
increase of native Protestant Christians was 53 per cent, of
the growth of population ; in the second ten years it was
61 per cent. ; iu the third ten years it was 86 per cent.
During the first decade the communicants doubled in
number ; in the second decade they nearly doubled again, as
also in the third ten years. During the last decade the
figures were not in the same proportion ; still there had been
a steady onward progress, vastly in advance of the growth
of the general population. The Christian Church had been
consolidating itself, for the number of communicants in full
membership was rapidly overtaking the number of nominal
Christians, all of which showed that the work had not been
superficial, but solid and thorough. Mr. Rice, however,
lamented the fact that so many young men were growing up
to be agnostics, because the missionary band was too small
to overtake the work. He read some testimonies to the
growing influence of Christianity from non- Christian sources,

and wound up with an earnest appeal for " the land of
twenty great nations." India was now, he said, in a recep-
tive mood. Now or never must they implant in the people
a reverence for God and spiritual things, and love for Jesus
Christ and all righteousness in preference to materialism.
India, he very strikingly remarked, was in a condition to
take the dint of the rain-drop, to keep it for ages. It was
an unequalled and unexampled opportunity, and if Christians
were negligent now, India would give its influence rather to
the world than to Christ.

At this point the Lord Chancellor was obliged to leave,
and Mr. Albert Spicer took the opportunity of proposing a
hearty vote of thanks to his Lordship "for having presided.
Mr. A. J. Shepheard, in seconding, explained that it was
not as Lord Chancellor and a member of the Government
that the Directors had asked his Lordship to be present, but
as Lord Herschell, the Christian man ; and he said they had
not been disappointed. The vote was carried with acclama-
tion, and his Lordship having responded, his place was taken
by Mr. Spicer. Mr. J. H. Maunder's inspiriting anthem,
" Sing unto the Lord," was well rendered by the choir, and
then the collection was taken.

Dr. G. S. Barrett, having considerately given place to our
venerable friend, the Rev. Wm. Muirhead, D.D., of Shanghai,
the latter rose amidst a hearty greeting to address the
assembly. Many years ago, he said, Dr. Medhurst had stood
up in this city and said : " I stand here, single and alone, to
plead for the millions of China.'' Since then that state of
things had altered, and now the cry was coming from every
quarter of China : " Come over and help us." They could
truly say that the little one had become a thousand. The
missionaries had studied the language and literature of the
people, and, incidentally. Dr. Muirhead asserted that he would
far rather preach a hundred sermons in Chinese than one in
his native tongue. The missionaries had learned something
of the educational agencies of China, and knew well the
systems of philosophy and religion current there, the atheism
and materialism of the scholars on the one hand, and the
superstition and idolatries of the common people on the
other, in order to make themselves (the missionaries) better
fitted for carrying on the glorious work which, as messengers
of the churches, had been given them to do. Their first
work had been to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God ;
but the one truth on which it was their duty and delight to
descant was the mediation of the Son of God, and they had
made it known to hundreds and thousands of Chinese. The
Scriptures had been translated mainly by missionaries of this
Society, and there was an extension of Christianity going on
that would ere long yield abundant fruit. During the last
thirty years some 80,000 Chinese had been brought within
the fold of the Church. The great majorityjwere still living,
and he (the speaker) was present to bear witness that in
multitudinous cases they evidenced piety and diligence in
Christian work, readiness in prayer, and in many instances

164

OCR ANNIVERSARY.

earnestness and intelligence in proclaiming to their fellow-
countrymen the ghid tidings of redeeming love. " I appeal,
therefore, ' said Dr. Muirhead, to one and all of you in the
manner of my venerated predecessor. I stand here to
appeal to you on behalf of the millions of China." In con-
clusion, the Doctor expressed his conviction that the recent
war between Japan and China might be made a means of
immense benefit to China. He warmly commended the
action of the Japanese in ceding Port Arthur, and added :
" I would that France would do the same in regard to
Madagascar."

As the time for closing the meeting had passed. Dr.

Barrett contented himself with reading the striking

testimony of a distinguished special correspondent of one

of the Press agencies of this country in the China war,

contrasting it with " smart things " which occasionally appear

in Society papers, and with the opinions of hasty travellers,

and the opinion of the average English resident in Shanghai,

which was, as represented by the writer of the following

statement, one of undisguised contempt for the missionaries

and their work, because, as they say, it makes the Chinaman

a worse man than he was before. The special correspondent

in question had written : —

" As for the po.-ition and work of the missionaries, however foolish
it may appear to uneympathotic eyes, and however the lives of many
foreigners may makn thera feel uncomfortable in their presence, without
entering upon any discussioa as to the results, which are sufficiently
apparent to the unprejudiced inquirer, I cannot testify too highly of
what I have seen and heard of their self-denying devotion and coura-
geous perseverance in the face of every obstacle. There is no clasi of
her children of which England, religious or irreligious, has more reason
to be proud than her missionary representatives, who<e labours and
triumphs can only be compared to those of her bravest generals and
statesmen. The part played by the missionaries in Japan, in bringing
about the reforms from which it is at present benefiting, can hardly
be over-estimated, and it certainly exceeds that played by merchants
and diplomatists together. The foundation of the modem education of
Japan was laid by them, and among tbeir number have all along been
some of the Government's most trusted advisers. I do not doubt that
the same in time will be true of China also."

Mr. Spicer having tendered the thanks of the meeting to
the London Choral Union, whose help, he said, had con-
tributed so much to its success, the great gathering, which
•will rank as a most memorable one in the Centenary cele-
brations, dispersed after Dr. Barrett had pronounced the
Benediction.

The character of the Thursday morning meeting at
Exeter Hall this year underwent a radical change, such as

Jdne, 1895.

the most democratic of bodies would hardly have been
credited with even the contemplation of. A few years ago
the formal reading of an exhaustive annual report was
discontinued, and a speech by the Foreign Secretary review-
ing in a more popular form the work of the year was
substituted ; then the duration of the meeting was shortened ;
and now this year the Foreign Secretary's statement having
been transferred bodily to the Conversazione, what wa»
formerly a crowded five-hour meeting was devoted to the
advocacy of Medical Missions and Woman's Work, though
it crept on somewhat beyond the allotted time, and occupied
two hours and forty minutes. P. H. Pye-Smith, Esq., M.D.
(Physician to the Society), presided. An opening prayer
was offered by the Rev. A. D. Philps, of Coggeshall.

The Rev. A. N. Johnson explained that the two subject*
which were to engage their attention that morning had
been integral parts of the Society's work from the beginning,
both, indeed, being represented on the Duff 100 years
ago. Medical Missions were represented on the ship by the
surgeon, and woman's work, in a more developed form, in
the six wives of the first missionaries. The Society had
taken a broad view of its duty from the first, and had not
felt it necessary to hand over medical and woman's work to
separate, though closely allied, societies, but had adopted
them as part of its work. But the first real medical
missionary of the Society was Dr. Lockhart, who went out
to China in 1838, and was present in the meeting that day.
The seventeen 'medical workers discharged their work in
three ways in the main — viz., by the establishment and
maintenance of hospitals and leper asylums; among out-
patients, through dispensaries and other means ; and by the
establishment of medical schools. Full statistics respecting
these three branches will be found in the pamphlet on
" Medical Missions ' and in the new report. Turning to
woman's work, Mr. Johnson stated that the first lady
missionary was sent out in 1827. After paying a tribute to
the splendid work done by missionaries' wives, and quoting
from the report statistics of the Female Mission agencies,
Mr. Johnson stated that in every direction there was a loud
call to go forward. Of the ten honorary self-supporting
missionaries, nine were ladies, and three more were going out
under the same category, and in their present financial need
the Directors would heartily welcome workers with inde-
pendent means. The excellent service rendered by women
in the churches at home was beyond all praise, and he (Mr.
Johnson) believed the Society owed very largely the present
revival of missionary zeal and enthusiasm to their clear-
headed faith and incessant prayers.

The Chairman sought to derive comfort from the fact
that the discouraging aspects noted in the report were con-
fined to the one subject of finance. Though a serious need,
the want of money was the one that was most easily supplied,
and societies would always have occasion to appeal for more
money, more faith and earnestness, and, above all, for a

Juke, 1895.

OUR ANNIVERSARY.

165

greater blessing from on high. Referring to woman !} work
and medical missions, Dr. Pye-Smith expressed the belief
that if women, who at home showed forth the Gospel of love
and kindness, could be led in large nambers to work in India
and China, they might hope for a vast increase of converts.
He also expressed affectionate admiration of, and offered
encouragement to, the great body of missionaries of every
Society, and closed with a motto taken from the last speech
of Socrates : " This strife is a noble one, and the hope which
inspires it is eternal."

Dr. Fenn, of the Friends' Foreign Mission Association,
with which the L.M.S. works in co-operation in Madagascar
(so that, as he himself expressed it, he is in a third part a
missionary of our Society), strove to deepen the sympathy
of the meeting with the Madagascar Christians and their
Christian Queen, who, he said, not long ago stood up in the
church at the capital and offered prayer for her country in
the present crisis. In describing the work of the Medical
Mission in Antananarivo, Dr. Fenn divided his speech into
the following five divisions, showing how the hospital was
made a practical object-lesson in Christianity : — The out-
patient and in-patient departments, the training of medical
studenis (perhaps the most important branch of all), the
education of women as midwives and nurses, and literary
and other work in the dissemination of medical information.
The speaker supported these points by facts and figures, and
stated that one of the officers of the Palace, in bidding him
good-bye, said : " You little know the influence the hospital
has had throughout the whole of Imerina."

Mrs. Bryson, of iTientsin, who received an enthusiastic
welcome, described in graphic language some of the scenes she
had witnessed both inside and outside the Mission Hospital at
Tientsin, the record of which was one of wonderful success.
Many patients had gone back from the hospital to their
homes as Christians and to be centres of Christian influence ;
for the medical missionaries had without exception been
true medical missionaries, desiring to benefit not only the
bodies, but the souls of their patients. Not only bad a large
proportion of the additions to their Tientsin Church been
patients in the hospital, but many other missions had also
shared the joy of harvest from their Medical Mission.
Speaking of work among women, Mrs. Bryson described the
low position which Chinese women occupied, though, as she
said, their influence over their children could never be taken
away, and at present the stronghold of idolatry was in the
homes of the land. Mrs. Bryson detailed the forms of w<jrk
among women in Tientsin, and, in acknowledging the debt
of gratitude due to the single lady missionaries, three of
whom were self- supporting, she ventured to ask. Might not
the hope of completing the Forward Movement be more
than fulfilled if some of the sons and daughters of wealthy
Christians would give themselves to the service ? " If," said
the speaker, " you want to make the best use of your lives,
I know of no wider influence, no busier or happier life, than
in the mission-field."

The Home Secretary announced that a lady had that
morning contributed £200 for the Centenary Fund, in
memory of her husband.

The Rev. W. H. Harwood expressed profound gratitude
to the friends who were fulfilling special ministrations in
the mission-field, and assured them of the hearty support
which the churches intended to render them. Following on
two of the lines dealt with by the Home Secretary, which
he playfully accused Mr. Johnson of having stolen from
him, Mr. Harwood pointed out that, though medical missions
and woman's work were regarded as new developments, the
germs and possibilities had been in the Society all through
the century. Incidentally referring to Dr. Lockhart, Mr.
Harwood admitted that sometimes the study of his face
in the Board-room and the thoughts it recalled — that
movements had been so rapid that what was regarded as
history was still with them — were sometimes more interesting
to him than the speeches to which he had to listen. He
agreed entirely with Mr. Johnson that some of the best
work in the missions had been done by the wives. The
missionaries certainly could not have done their work but
for the loyalty and courage of their wives. The speaker
maintained that medical work was well worth doing as a
part of mission work for its own sake. He need hardly say
that it was not simply to relieve the bodies of men that
they equipped and sent out doctors. They believed that the
name of Christ the Healer had a greater meaning than could
be found in respect to the supply of physical necessities.
But the preparation for the work could not be too thorough.
Referring again to woman's work, Mr. Harwood remarked
that it was not long ago that women had the choice of being
either a drudge or a toy ; but happily they had discovered
that there was something in woman herself which they had
not yet made use of, and which God would hold them
responsible for if, in the larger light of to-day, they did not
make use of it. In teaching, in ministry to women, and,
above all, in the presentation to women of oppressed races
of a high ideal of womanhood, there was a wide field for
some of the best and truest daughters of the Christian
churches. The young people at home must be appealed to,,
not in the name of what was easiest and pleasantest, but in
the name of what was most chivalrous.

The Home Secretary read the following telegram,
addressed to the Lord Chancellor, but which did not reach
Queen's Hall until the meeting had closed : " The United
Presbyterian Synod, assembled in annual missionary meet-
ing, most cordially congratulates the London Missionary
Society on reaching its Centenary ; rejoices with it in its
pasb success, sympathises with it in its present anxieties,
and prays for its future prosperity." The meeting authorised
the sending of a responsive greeting, and the Foreign Secre-
tary shortly afterwards despatched this message : "Telegram,
too late for last night, received Exeter Hall to-day. London
Missionary Society gratefully accepts congratulations _^and

166

OUR ANNIVERSARY.

June, 1895.

heartily reciprocates good wishes. May the Missions of
your Church be richly blessed."

Rev. E. Lewis, of Bellary, stated that the leaven of social
and religious reform was working very mightily amongst all
classes in India. The most important reform, and without
which others would be ineffective in the future, was in regard
to the position of women in India, and with this Christianity
had and would still have more to do than any other element.
The women themselves also had very much to do either
with helping it forward or retarding it, and up to the
present time their influence had been on the wrong side.
He (Mr. Lewis) had seen men grieve bitterly that they dare
not come forward and express their faith in Christ because
of opposition at home, and he had heard women say : " We
do not know anything about this religion, but we believe
in our gods, and to these we will stick to the death, even
though our husbands leave us." Men were convinced of
the truth in thousands of instances, and were waiting to
confess their faith. Mr. Lewis acknowledged that the
missionaries looked to Christian women in India for a great
deal of downright practical work, and believed that in the
preaching of the truth they would have among them some
of the best, most eloquent, and most devoted preachers of
the Gospel in the land. He (Mr. Lewis) never did doubt
the cleverness of women in any part of the world, and in
India he had found some of the cleverest women it had ever
been his joy to meet, women who at once recognised the
truth of the Gospel. Mr. Lewis gave a very forcible
description of the influence of the Gospel in the home of a
young couple, the brightness of which attracted heathen
women to it for hours together, and which eventually led to
the conversion of the mother of the wife, and drew from
the husband's mother, in contrasting it with the home of
another son who was a fakir, and whom she had adored while
almost hating her Christian son : " My Christian son's home
is heaven, and I would never wish to see a better heaven ;
my fakir son's home is a dunghill, yea, hell itself." Mr.
Lewis concluded by urging the ladies present to again take
upon themselves the burdens and distresses of their heathen
sisters and bring them to Christ as their own.

While Mr. Lewis was speaking the Chairman had to leave
the meeting, and Ur. Lockhart, whose name had been men-
tioned with much veneration by more than one speaker, took his
place. Before closing the meeting, the worthy Doctor, who
is now in his eighty-fourth year, favoured the gathering
with some interesting personal reminiscences. Fifty-seven
years had passed, he said, since he went to China, accom-
panied by a lady missionary, who shortly afterwards became
his wife, and was with him in the meeting. She greatly
excelled him in the acquisition of Chinese, and used it for the
benefit of the women. It was upon his strong appeal for an
associate that Dr. Livingstone was appointed to join him
after the war ; but Dr. Moffat came on to the scene in
England in the meantime, and so strongly pleaded for

Africa, that Livingstone was sent to that continent. After
referring also to his close association with Drs. Medhurst,
Muirhead,and Edkins, Dr. Lockhart referred to the devotion
of the late Dr. Benjamin Hobson, who did a work which
remained to the present day, for his work on medicine and
surgery, in Chinese, was still a standard work, and had been
reprinted lately both in Japan and Corea, and had been
greatly blessed by God.

WELSH MEETING.

On Thursday evening a Welsh meeting was held in King's
Cross Tabernacle. Mr. Alfred Thomas, M.P., was to have
presided, but was detained by his Parliamentary duties.
Consequently Mr. Josiah Thomas, of Liverpool, was called
to the chair. la his speech he referred sympathetically to
the work of the Society, and contended that the missionary
spirit of the churches was by no means on the wane. The
Rev. R, Wardlaw Thompson, before referring to the wondrous
changes of the century, and urging to greater endeavours on
behalf of mission work, acknowledged that Welshmen con-
stituted some of the most warm-hearted supporters of the
Society, and that the Principality had sent some of their
noblest sons and daughters to the mission-field. The Rev.
T. Eynon Davies, of Glasgow, in a vigorous speech, claimed
that Welshmen were well posted in the work of the Society.
Some of their churches had done nobly in the matter of
funds. Money was needed, but zeal was wanted, too, and
more self-sacrifice. The Rev. W. E. Cousins, of Madagas-
car, reviewed the work of the Mission in that country ; the
Rev. El vet Lewis, of Llanelly, followed with an earnest appeal
in view of the beginning of a new chapter in the history of
the Society ; and, with votes of thanks to the speakers and
the chairman, the proceedings were brought to a close.

The ingenious weapons with which the Chairman (Mr.
J. D. McClure, M.A., Head-master of Mill Hill School),
slaughtered once again some old objections to foreign mis-
sions ; the Editorial Secretary's testimony to the growing

June, 1895,

value and reliability of young helpers, with its gentle but
firm caution to them not to commit the error which they are
prone to of ignoring the past, with all its inspiration ; the
fervid eloquence of Dr. Monro Gibson, and his generous,
heartfelt admiration of that past as it related to this
Society's work ; and the pathetic appeals for teachers by
Mr. Chalmers and Mr. Campbell, were striking features of
the Young Men's Meeting in the City Temple on the Friday
evening, and were points that will not soon be forgotten.
The Rev. W. B. Selbie, M.A., of Higbgate, offered the
opening prayer.

The Chairman addressed himself to one or two of the
objections constantly being urged against foreiga missions.
The " heathen at our own doors " objection was about as
wrong as it could be. Very much of the interest now being
aroused in the needs of London could be traced directly to
the efforts of missionary societies abroad. It was what had
been done abroad that had turned attention to the evils on
their own doorsteps. All missionary work, whether home or
foreign, was one in character, and they could not restrict
themselves to one without damaging the whole of their
Christian life. Then, again, some objectors asked : " Why
not be content to do a little, and do it thoroughly, instead of
tackling great continents?" As travelling in foreign lands
was an education which removed the insular prejudices
created by always remaining at home, so Christian missions
abroad were a great moral and spiritual education. It was
only when they were brought face to face with the labours
of modern apostles that they realised that the Spirit of God,
which descended on the Day of Pentecost, had never left
humanity, and was never more powerful than in the pre-
sent day. In answer to the call from Macedonia, the
Apostle Paul might have said : " Shall we leave the teeming
millions of Asia, and go to a paltry continent like Europe ? "
But let it be remembered that most of the privileges en-
jo_yed by them to-day could be traced to the self-denial and
trustful obedience of two men who boldly ventured to
attack the heathenism of the great and populous continent
of Europe. They owed them a debt which it was their peril
to forget. "What they owed to the Gospel it was beyond the
power of man to say, and therefore it became not merely a
thing which they liked to do, but it was a sacred duty and
privilege that, as they had received this trust, so they should
fulfil it, and by all means in their power strive that as they
had freely received so they might freely give.

The Rev. George Cousins remarked that when the Society
began its useful career no one supposed that the young had
any special interest in it. But the Society had not lived
long before it began to perceive that in the tender sympathy
of the child and the persuasive pleading of the young there
was a rich store of wealth and useful service, and it turned
to these young spirits and asked their aid. As time advanced
that appeal to the young became growingly definite, and
when the time came for procuring a missionary vessel, the

167

young were commissioned to find the purchase-money. It
had continued through more than fifty years, so that three
sailing vessels and one modern steamer, with auxiliary vessels
and boats, had been provided and maintained by young
helpers. They were asked to raise £25,000 as their special
Centenary gift, and of that amount they had already sent
£21,695. Had the adult friends of the Society responded
with proportionate zeal and thoroughness to what had been
asked at their hands, the Society would have been spared the
painful halt of its Forward Movement. In a meeting of the
young, continued Mr. Cousins, one felt that he was dealing
with the future rather than with the past. " Upon you, my
young friends, will come the burden of the beginning of the
second century. Upon your fidelity, earnestness, and
determination to be loyal to the great King and His
commands the future will, to a large extent, depend." They
must not, however, make a mistake which the young were so
liable to do by ignoring the past. Nothing would be worse
for the future missionary history than anything like disregard
of the lessons of the past. There was great inspiration in
the past, as the last few months had testified. He (Mr.
Cousins) had found on all hands that people had been simply
delighted, when they had read Mr. Home's " Story," to find
that the Society had such a record. In the most frank way
they acknowledged that they were not aware that the Society
had done anything like the amount of work which was there
recorded. And yet Mr. Horne had been compelled by the
necessities of space to condense and bring to a focus only
some of the main outlines of the Society's story. In speaking
to a gathering of Baptists recently, the Rev. Dr. Glover had
reminded them that of all the missionary work done by
Protestant Christians in the last one hundred years, one-
tenth had been done by the L.M.S. alone. The warnings from
the past should also be heeded — for instance, the failure of
the attempt to leave missionaries to support themselves. If
the past century had taught all sections of the Church one
lesson more than another, it was that the missionary should
be relieved, as far as possible, of all pecuniary anxiety, and
should not be brought even into seeming competition with
the trader and the merchant. In the past, too, there was
something like a reproach. After all, the century had been
but one of beginnings. They had only touched the fringe of
heathenism, and the next century had before it a work far
more difficult than the one just closing. " But we summon
the young people of the churches to grapple with it and in
Christ's name to seek to solve it." In conclusion, Mr.
Cousins asked the young people not only to beg for, but
themselves to give to, missions, and to work for them at
home.

The Rev. J. Monro Gibson, D.D., expressed it as his
opinion that the L.M.S. represented the high-water mark of
the life of the century, and that for heroism and highest
devotion its annals were second to none. It had often been
said that the history of modern missions was but another

OUR ANNIVERSARY.

168

OUR ANNIVERSARY.

June, 1895.

chapter added to the Acts of the Apostles ; but to his mind
that description seemed hardly strong enough to represent
the work of this Society. Its fields of work had been very
much harder than any which the Apostle Paul had to
cultivate ; the dangers to be encountered were greater, the
sufferings to be endured were more intense and prolonged,
and the trial of faith and patience was more severe. It had
seemed nothing short of " midsummer madness " to attempt
to convert the cannibals of the South Seas and the savages
of Africa. If they had had one language, Uke the Greek,
scattered over the world, it would have been a different
work altogether. The life of Nott was only a specimen of
what the best missionaries of the Society had been doing for
one hundred years. And the converts, what of them ? The
persecution in Madagascar was as fierce and terrible as the
worst of the Roman persecutions. When the Malagasy per-
secution began there were not more than two thousand
Christians in the capital, and after the twenty-six years of
persecution and extermination, how many were left ? Seven
thousand. " The bush burning, and not consumed ; nay,
better, the bush burning, and yet growing while it was
burning." After referring to the noble succession of South
Sea apostles, Dr. Gibson suggested that if only the general
life of the twentieth century could be set to the same key,
how speedily all problems would be solved and the highest
hopes be more than realised. One felt some sympathy with
■Oliver Cromwell, who, on visiting York Minster and finding
silver statues of the Apostles, asked : " Who are those
fellows ? Take them down, and let them go about doing
good." So he had them melted and coined and put into the
treasury. " If," was the clever comment of the Doctor, " we
had more of the spirit which animated the men who put the
statues there, we should not have to adopt so many strange
devices for filling empty treasuries." It was a shame for
anyone who named the name of Christ to stand aside and
say : " Let others do the work and make the needful sacri-
fice ; as for me and my house, we will look out for ourselves,
and make ourselves as comfortable as we can." Evolution
was too slow, and revolution too dangerous. The only hope
of the regeneration of society was the diffusion, throughout
the Church first, and afterwards from the Church through
•society, of the spirit of the Cross — self-sacrifice, unwearying
patience, and utter eelf-forgetfulness.

The Rev. J. Chalmers, of New Guinea, whose name,
whenever mentioned, had been loudly cheered, was now met
with a perfect storm of applause. " Tamate " said he hoped
to derive hope from the meeting, for he had been feeling
depressed at the prospect of returning to New Guinea
without the help for which he had come home. When
landing on the shores of New Guinea sometimes they had to
make a rush to cross a reef. To back would mean disaster.
" Are you young men," he asked, " at the beginning of the
century going to tell us to back ? Surely not. It must be
forward ; but it depends upon you." What was wanted

was not appeals for money so much as a real revival of
religion that would awaken the Christian Church to its real
position. In his inimitable style Mr. Chalmers then described
some of his perilous adventures. The audience was con-
vulsed by his account of the singing of " Auld Lang Syne"
by natives for the first time. He had promised that tribe
and other tribes that they should have teachers, " and I want
to urge on you," said Tamate, " that we shall keep our
promise to these people and give them the everlasting
Gospel." He spoke also of the surrounding cloud of
witnesses, and in this connection narrated the incident of a
young cricketer (trained by a blind father who had himself
been a famous cricketer), who, on the first opportunity after
his father's death, engaged himself to play, and when com-
mended for having played as he had never done before, he
replied : " I am so glad, for it is the first time my father has
seen me play." Mr. Chalmers' closing appeal was also very
affecting. He pleaded with those present : " Come nearer to
Christ to become mad with the blessed madness of enthusiasm,
and seek this one thing, that His name shall be glorified, and
the utmost parts of the earth shall hear of Him."

After the meeting of our South India District Committee
in 1893, at which the Rev. W. Howard Campbell, M.A.,
B.D., of Cuddapah, made a most painfully pathetic state-
ment regarding the social condition of low-caste Christian
communities, a member of the Committee wrote, in anticipa-
tion of Mr. Campbell's visit to this country, that " if he
lets himself go freely he will thrill the people as he thrills
us, and will turn their pockets inside out." Unfortunately,
in view of this last characteristic, the collection had already
been made, but there is no doubt that he thrilled the meet-
ing on Friday evening by his earnest appeal. In India, he
said, old prejudices were gradually disappearing, old super-
stitions becoming things of the past, and the people awaken-
ing to a new desire after a higher and better life. This
tendency was, perhaps, seen most among the educated
classes and the professional men. Having been brought in
their class work in mission colleges into contact with the
Scriptures, they felt that without religion it was impossible
for them to live a true and worthy life. Many were intel-
lectually convinced of Christianity and had had new hopes
and desires called forth in their hearts, but they were, except
comparatively few, hindered by fear of social disabilities, and
were trying to find a middle path. It was the crucified
Christ who was influencing that wonderful drawing power
of His upon the young men of India. In time, by the
wonderful influence of that Cross, they would be led to come
forward and, at any sacrifice, to confess themselves His
followers. One barrister, after reading Farrar's "Life of
Christ," had exclaimed : " I never heard of anything so
wonderful as that." He (Mr. Campbell) had under his
charge a diocese equalling in size his native province of Ulster
or the Principality of Wales. He had travelled over almost
every part of it, and his experience was that, go where they

June, 1895.

FIRST MISSIONARY VOYAGE OF THE S.S. "JOHN WILLIAMS."

169

might, the people looked upon the missionaries as friends, and
listened to their message with respect and attention. He was
sometimes reproached for the infrequency of his visits, and
accused of trifling with their interests. These people came
and told them of their needs, that they had felt the
influence of the Gospel, and asked for light and guidance.
In India there were some fifty millions of Pariahs, outcasts
given up to vile and degrading practices, and yet there was
taking place amongst them a widespread movement towards
Christianity. He thought there was not one of the 200,000
in his own district who could not be reached by efEort.
They came to the missionaries in whole communities — men,
women, and children — renouncing idolatry, and ready to
accept Christ, which was witnessed to by a distinct written
pledge. Mr. Campbell read one of the pledges, made by
some eighty people, which called forth loud applause, and he
said he had received upwards of sixty such pledges, and did
not know of one case, where the Mission had done its duty
by the people, in which they had proved false and turned
back to their idols. In the raising of the Pariahs God was
giving a wonderful object-lesson of the power of His Gospel
unto salvation. This work was practically unlimited, and at
the present time there were thirty or forty villages begging
them to supply teachers. Mr. Campbell closed with an
earnest appeal to his hearers to lead a true, heroic life, by
following the example of the Lord, and taking up the cross
that they might deny themselves for Him.
The meeting was then brought to a close.

The Friday Morning Session of the Congregational Union
of England and Wales was devoted to conference on some
aspects of Foreign Missions, under the presidency of the
Rev. Urijah R. Thomas, who, in his address from the chair
on the Tuesday morning, had given generous space to the
Society's interests. Indeed, as he remarked on Friday
morning, "all through the week there has been the inter-
weaving and interlacing of missionary thought and mis-
sionary feeling and missionary conviction with the ordinary
work of our assembly." The Rev. R. Vaughan Pryce, M.A.,
LL.B., read a paper, full of valuable suggestions, on
" Modern Theology in Relation to Christian Missions,"
which was followed by two on " Change of Methods in
Mission Work," by Revs. W. Muirhead, D.D., and E. P.
Rice, B.A. ; and statements on " The Development of the
Resources of our Churches for Missionary Purposes," by
Revs. Eric A. Lawrence and Stanley Rogers. Short speeches
were made by Mr. G. W. Dodds, Mr. Holmes, the Revs.
W. B. PhUlips, and A. P. Begg, B.A. (both of Calcutta),
C. A. Berry, D.D., J. Guinness Rogers, D.D., and R. Wardlaw
Thompson, who expressed a deep sense of gratitude to the
writers of the papers, and thankfulness to the Committee of
the Union for bringing the great missionary question in
80 very practical and prominent a fashion before the

representatives of the churches. The Rev. R. Barker, of
Uttoxeter, seconded the vote of thanks to the readers
of the papers, proposed by Mr. Thompson, and it was
carried unanimously. The Rev. W. J. Woods, Secretary of
the Union, announced that arrangements had been made
to have lectures delivered upon the following subjects
during the coming autumn and winter : — "Great Missionary
Pioneers of this Society," by Rev. Dr. Rogers ; " Missionary
Students and Teachers," by Rev. J. Morgan Gibbon ; " Oar
Medical Missionaries," by Rev. J. Ossian Davies ; "Our
Women Workers in the Mission Field," by Mrs. Armitage,
of Bradford ; " Our Missionary Philanthropists," by Rev.
J. H. Jowett, of Newcastle ; " Some Lessons from a Century
of Missionary EfEort," by Rev. R. Lovett, M.A., of the
Tract Society. It was proposed that, first of all, these
lectures should be delivered in the Memorial Hall, and after
that arrangements would be made so that they might b&
delivered in various parts of the kingdom by arrangement
with each separate lecturer.

FIRST MISSIONARY VOYAGE OF THE
S.S. "JOHN WILLIAMS."

ON the 11th of February the John Williams steamed into
Sydney Harbour, having been absent four months and
five days, during which time she had sailed and steamed
13,782 miles, and had visited Savage Island, Rarotonga,
Mangaia, Aitutaki, Samoa, and New Guinea ; 4,555 miles of
the distance were done under sail and 9,217 miles by steam.
The voyage was done without recoaling, but of the 500 tons'
of coal taken on board before she left Sydney, there were only
12 tons in her bunkers when she re-entered that port. Calma
and headwinds were encountered, and ofE Fiji the steamer
was caught in a terrific hurricane, but she returned to port in
splendid condition. An authority in shipping matters of
long experience said to us that he regarded the voyage as a
magnificent success. Captain Hore is to be warmly con-
gratulated on the way he has handled the vessel entrusted to
his care, and his officers in both departments must share the
congratulations. Although Captain Hore has sailed in many
seas, the coral reefs and intricate navigation of the Pacific
were new to him ; but the time-table, including as it did many
places of call in different groups and at solitary isles, was
strictly adhered to at every stage, and the steamer was back
in Sydney only five days late, and these days were exactly
accounted for by an unforeseen detention of five days in
New Guinea.

If the readers of this brief report will take the map of
Polynesia to be found in the Watchers' Band Manual, and)
mark the places of call as we enumerate them, they will
get a better idea of the work of the steamer.

At Niu6 (Savage Island), 2,650 miles from Sydney, which
was reached in eighteen days, she landed the Rev. F. E'

170

NEWS FROM OUR STATIONS.

June, 1895.

Lawes' goods and forty-five cases of Bibles. While Mr.
Lawes was away in England carrying the translation of the
Scriptures through the pres?. his station had been under the
temporary charge of the Rev. J. H. Cullen. He had now to
be removed to his permanent station at Mangaia, and within
twenty-four hours of sighting Nine the vessel was steaming
away again with Mr. and Mrs. Cullen, their three children,
and their goods on board. Four days later the vessel was
anchored off Rarotonga, and a warm welcome was accorded
the visitors by Mr. and Mrs. Hutchin. Two days were spent
here, and when the anchor was being weighed it was found
that a second anchor had been caught in the process. The
unwelcome weight was at length dislodged, and on Wednesday
night, October 31st, Mangaia was reached. The new mis-
sionary and his family in a native boat were on the following
morning carried on the crest of the league-long roller over the
reef, and on the beach met with a characteristic Polynesian
welcome. Rarotonga was again visited and then Aitutaki,
and on November 5th the steamer, heading in a westerly
direction, made for Apia, the port of Samoa. Arriving there
on November 11th, two days before her date, great interest
was evinced as the steamer entered the historical harbour,
and the assembled missionaries, as they came alongside in a
boat, cheered the ship's company, and later on, on board the
vessel, joined in thanksgiving to God for her safe arrival.
Goods consigned to Samoa were landed and other things were
taken onboard for New Guinea. Captain Hore had expected
fair winds for his long run to New Guinea, but fell in with
calms and weather which was not helpful, and so Mr.
Williamson had to keep his fires going, and by steady
steaming the whistle of the steamer was heard by the natives
at Kwato, at the east end of New Guinea, at twelve o'clock
on the very day which was down in the time-table for her
arrival there. The run from Samoa was accomplished in
si.xteen days. During the nineteen days spent in New
Guinea waters not an hour was lost. One of the most
important developments of our work in this Mission has
been the planting of the new College at Vatorata, over
which Mr. Lawes is to preside ; and the removal of his furni-
ture and effects from Port Moresby was done by the steamer.
Amongst the passengers conveyed from one calling place to
another, in addition to our own agents, one of our Wesleyan
brethren was on board between Samarai and Port Moresby.

With fourteen native passengers the steamer left New
Guinea on December 20tb. Of the passengers, five were
teachers, four teachers' wives, and five children. Between
New Guinea and Samoa, when near Fiji, the barometer fell,
telling the captain like a faithful monitor that danger was
near. The only sail left unfurled was blown to ribbons, and,
helpless before the cyclone, the vessel described a circle
eighteen miles in diameter, during which time the sea broke
in short and ceaseless waves. With the exception of the
sail referred to no damage was done. Apia was reached
January 10th. Thence they proceeded to visit Niuc a

second time, where they arrived on the IGth of January
leaving again the same day. At Rarotonga, their next
calling place, they witnessed an exciting scene at the
landing of the teachers whom they had brought back from
a lengthened sojourn at New Guinea. Amongst the crowd
gathered on the beach to welcome them the rejoicing was
great. At Aitutaki the native crew of the barque who had
returned to their island home was taken on board the
steamer to be in readiness to fill the places of the English
crew who had brought the steamer from England.

The vessel is going into dock in Sydney this week for
repainting, and long before these words are read in the
Chronicle she will be again moving from island to island,
doing the glorious work for which she has been bought by
our young friends.* One of the most interesting works to
be covered by voyage No. 2 will be the visitation of the
Tokelau, EUice, and Gilbert groups, the out-stations of the
Samoan Mission. Amid the new dangers of those atoll
islets may she be preserved as she has been during the
voyage just closed. The English readers of the Chronicle
will be glad to know that Captain Hore and his officers are
looking well, although somewhat bronzed by the equatorial
sun. JosEi'H King.

rjEws

PERSONAL NOTES.

CHINA. — Hearing, on arrival at Hong' Kong, that the way was
clear for them to proceed to Tientsin, Dr. and Mrs. Bennett
re-embarked for that city, after a stay of three days at Hong
Kong. — Miss Miller (accompanied, for brief companionship, by
Miss Home) has reached her new station — the principal
town in the Hui-An District — three days' journey from Amoy.
— The Rev. J. and Mrs. Parker reached Melbourne safely on
April 30th, to commence their deputation tour in the Colonies.

India. — Before leaving Madras, Miss Brown received a
very gratifying farewell address from the members of the
Purse walkum Literary Society, which is a valuable tribute to
■Roman's Mission work. That Society is not a religious one.
Its members comprise many of the more Enlightened and
educated Hindus of the locality, as well as a few native
Christians. It is the first public address that has been pre-
sented to a lady missionary. Miss Brown also received an

* The steamer started from Sydney on her second voyage on
March 15th.— Ed,

June, 1895.

FROM MONTH TO MONTH.

171

address from the Zenana workers, the Bible-women, the teachers
and pupils of the Caste Girls' Schools. The large meeting', at
which the latter was presented, was attended by representatives
of every missionary society at work in Madras, and native ladies
as well as gentlemen. — Mr. John Cox, of " Olivers," near
Neyoor (father of Mrs. Baylis Thomson, of that Mission), who
was for nearly twenty-five years an agent of this Society, and
who has in recent years rendered great help to the Salvation
Army in Travancore, died on March 23rd. — The Kev. F. F.
Longman and his helpers have entered upon the summer cam-
paign amongst the Bhotiyas, and hope to be able to put more
vigour into the work than has hitherto been possible. —
Professor Macey, of Western College, Plymouth, calls our atten.
tion to the interesting fact that in the account of the voyage of
the Duff, published in 1799 by subscription, there appears among
the names of subscribers that of R. Derry, of Plymouth. " From
all we can gather concerning him it is most probable that he
subscribed to the funds of the Society from the first ; and now,
in the Centenary year, his great-granddaughter, bearing the
same name — Miss Derry, of Xagercoil — forms one of the addi-
tional hundred missionaries we have been trying to send out." —
Miss Turner returned recently to Almora from a visit to the
north-west of that district, where she had been with some of the
workers at two different melas, and was full of sorrow at
having found that there are yet so many on the borders of our
district that never heard the name of Jesus, and who are steeped
in the densest ignorance.

South Seas. — Miss Large reached Rarotonga on March 7th.
— We regret to hear that, after all, the Rev. T. W. Ingram has
been compelled, by the serious condition of his wife's health,
to bring her back to England. They left Sydney on April 6th,
and were due in this country before the end of May. — A large
and enthusiastic meeting, arranged in connection with the visit
of the John Williams, was held in the Wharfe Street Congrega-
tional Church, Brisbane. The building was filled to overflowing
by an audience who manifested the utmost interest in the pro-
ceedings. The Rev. J. Walker, of Ipswich, President of the
Queensland Auxiliary, presided, and he was supported by
Captain Hore and officers and men of the ship, included in the
latter of which were nine stalwart Polynesians. During the
evening the islanders sang, in their own tongue, " Pull for the
Shore," " I will believe," and " Home, Sweet Home." The tunes
were sung in perfect harmony, and were much appreciated. The
Rev. Mr. Pearce, of Kerepunu, having addressed the meeting.
Captain Hore referred to the many kindnesses he and his oflJcers
had met with since they arrived in Brisbane. Not only had
there been no wharfage or harbour dues to pay, but a gentleman
had gone to him and offered to provision the ship while in port,
the cost to represent his contribution to the Society. Many
others had displayed practical interest in the work, and during
the past two days no less a sum than &l\ had been placed in the
collection boxes on the ship. Referring to the work imme-
diately before the ship, he said she would proceed from Brisbane
to New Guinea, then visit Niue, Samoa, and on returning, Cook
Islands and out-stations, and would then return to Sydney, which
she expected to make about the 31st August.

Notice to the Chronicle's " Own Correspondents." —
Intelligence should he posted so as to reach the Editor
by the 10th of the month preceding the new issue.

CHINA.

Mrs. W. Owek sends the following
A SOLEMN account of a specially interesting service
SERVICE AT held at Chung King on Sunday, March
CHUNG KING. 10th :— " It was the first Communion Sun-
day since our arrival, and the last for the
time being for Dr. and Mrs. Davenport, who must have been
specially gratified at being able to see and take part in this
service before leaving. We, who are but just arrived,
rejoice with them in their joy, and mingle our thanksgivings
with theirs. Four adults and four babies were admitted by
baptism into the visible Church. Mr. and Mrs. Claxton and
Dr. and Mrs. Davenport offered their little daughters to the
Lord, and one of the adults, who first himself received
baptism, afterwards brought forward his two infant children.
Thus foreigners and natives were joined together by ' one
Lord, one faith, one baptism,' and very earnestly did we
pray that the Holy Spirit might descend upon each. We
used our new Communion Service, the gift of a dear friend,
for the first time. A new, white damask tablecloth, glitter-
ing as when it left the maker's hands, covered the table, and
as we placed the beautiful new service in order on the top
of it, a sudden brilliant ray of sunshine came in at the
windows, lighting the whole up with what seemed to some
of us Divine glory. The native preacher, and one or two
others who were in the chapel at the time, seemed wonder-
fully impressed, and we retired to our seats to pray that th©
glory of God might indeed fill the place. A very earnest
address was given by the newly arrived pastor, who spoke
of the solemn sacraments of baptism and the commemora-
tion of our Lord's dying love. He spoke of the awful
responsibility which is incurred by those who take upon
them the name and profession of the Lord Jesus. He also
referred to some who had fallen, telling them, with deep
emotion, that unless they were prepared to choose death
rather than the denial of their Lord, they had better not
take upon them these solemn vows. Each of the four was
asked in turn the solemn question, and gave satisfactory
answers. They were then baptized into the name of the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The four wee ones

172

FROM MONTH TO MONTE.

June, 1895.

were next received, and, as we watched, we were reminded
of that 'Gentle Jesus,' who 'took young children in His
arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.' ' For of
such is the Kingdom of Heaven.' Two of those admitted
were considered rather too young to be received into full
membership, so they are kept a little longer before being
admitted to full communion ; but the two elder ones united
with us and the old members in commemorating our Lord's
dying love. As we looked upon these four young men, the
boundless possibilities that lay before them rushed into our
minds ; but we also remembered the power of the kingdom
of evil. We know that temptations will be hurled at them,
and that the difficulties in the way of a Christian life are
greater here than in Christian lands, where there are so
many helps. They have not been hastily admitted, but
after a long probation have given satisfactory evidence of
their faith in and love to the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet all
experienced missionaries at these times rejoice with tremb-
ling, and recognise the necessity for prayer and watchful-
ness. Will our friends join their prayers with ours that
they may be kept ' faithful to the end ' ? "

The Rev. J. Sadler, of Amoy, has just
CHINESE made the discovery that at Lohin there is
COVENANTERS, a little company of men who, for seven or
eight years, have entered into a covenant
with one another to stir up one another to right conduct.
They are known amongst the Christians as Covenanters.
" They do not proselyte, though I imagine they would wel-
come any kindred spirit. They resist the force of the
common evil customs toward profligacy, and employ their
time and strength in mental and moral improvement." Mr.
Sadler sends a translation of a letter from one of them,
addressed to the preacher at Lohin. It is remarkable, he
says, for the excellence of its composition, though the writer
is self-educated. He says : " There is no end to these
evils. There is no other system like Christianity so pure
and good. Comprehensively, it is fitted to benefit the whole
country ; and, more particularly, the duties to man and to
God may be carried out (by its help). It is like precious
medicine for ' changing the bones ' (regeneration), and it is
like a lifeboat for saving lives. The most lamentable thing
is that vested interests of the family hinder one in obeying
Christianity, and getting its instruction. What is in my
heart cannot be written by the pen, but the doctrine does
not despise those less instructed. The great thing is a holy
life. This is the essential. Xow, though I meet that which
fetters me, still my heart keeps on hoping. Please pray for
me, so chat what we say to one another may not be without
efEect. In this way my grief may be assuaged. Teacher,
your good influence is great. Even a small man like me can
receive your grace. Hoping you will sympathise with me
in the thought of these few words, let me offer you saluta-
tions."

INDIA.

The Rev. W. D. Osborne makes a strong
NEEDS OF YAK- appeal for " any number of Bible-women," •
KAJr DiSTKiCT. and could secure them if he had means for
their support — say, £7 each per annum.
It is saddening and depressing, he says, to see so many needs
pressing on all hands and yet be powerless to help. The
Vakkam district extends over 750 square miles. It has an
estimated population of 200,000, and the people are of all
castes and grades. " The hard soil of the Mohammedan is
here in abundance, and yet many of these are crowding
around us constantly for our literature, and appealing for
schools. To see these appreciable needs manifested is en-
couraging ; but, oh, the terrible possibility of their becoming
quite callous to friendly help when their appeals are so fre-
quently unanswered ! The still harder soil of the Roman
Catholic, with their vices and lax morals, a Christian com-
munity, is as abundant, if not more so, than the Mohamme-
dan. But here the Roman Catholics are of the poorest class
chiefly, and dwell along the shores in squalor and misery,
toiling on the ocean's deep or on the lakes and rivers as
fishermen, and their women toiling by day in the heat and
dust along weary miles to distant markets to sell the fish,
and then to return to their huts to spend the night in
quarrelling and drinking, not daring, of course, to forget to
put by something for their church for fear of the priest's
anger, &c. These poor souls find no comfort in their re-
ligion, and they are seeing that the Christianity of Christ,
and not of the Church, is a different thing to that which
they possess. These are pleading with us for schools and
for kindly, loving help. Can these things go unheeded ?
Shall they ? "

Mrs. Osborne very emphatically en-
CORROBORATIVE dorses her husband's appeal. In their
EVIDENCE. new district, she says, there are many
wealthy Hindu women who, owing to
their high caste, cannot come to the Mission services. She
has everywhere been gladly welcomed, even by the men, who
have said to her : " We like you to visit our women and read
your Bible to them. It is a good book, and tells a wonder-
ful story of God's love." Upon her asking the men if they
ever read the wonderful story, they at once said : " Yes, and
find many good things there." " But," adds Mrs. Osborne,
" I want to specially ask for help for my jail and hospital
work. This has been marvellously blessed through the past
year. I look back with wonder, and am forced to exclaim :
' What hath God wrought ! ' All the women at the jail are
learning reading and sewing, and, best of all, are daily learn-
ing of Him who has ever proved Himself the Friend of
sinners. Then, at the Leper Hospital, over twenty lepers
are now learning to read. Of course, one cannot work with-
out spending money, and last year it cost me over Rs.SOO.
This I cannot afford to keep on doing. But even then the

Jdnk, 1895.

THE FIELD IS THE WORLD.

173

work is growing far too much for me. Even only going to
each of the five hospitals and jail once a week means six
days, and what is once a week when daily some die there
without a ray of light to cheer the tomb ! Now that access
has been gained in such a strong Brahman State, we should
by all possible means keep our hold. But, if only home-
workers could see the bitter need of those now suffering so
much of earth's agony, knowing nothing of the Father who
loves them, nor of a heaven where much of their sufferings
may be atoned for, no pleading on my part would be neces-
sary. One Bible-woman in each of these six places is
urgently needed to carry on the work all through each day
of the week. The opportunities of good waiting to be done
are innumerable at each of these places. So please," says
Mrs. Osborne to the Foreign Secretary, " do what you can in
suggesting help, or, like the importunate widow, I am afraid
I must keep on asking. I experience the greatest possible
joy in my work at all of these places. To just have had the
joy of seeing one of these sad women dying with the pre-
cious name of Jesus on her lips is far more than fullest
repayment for any little service done for His sake to these
His needy ones."

The late Rev. J. H. Budden, writing on
" A GOD-LIKE the 30th January, 1884, in the report of
MAN." the Almora Leper Asylum, said : " One of
the inmates of the Asylum, Padiya by
name, who had learned to read, and was in church
fellowship, has been sent to another asylum at Dehra to
teach the inmates there to read, and to instruct them in the
elements of the Christian faith." This Padiya was the first
leper convert to Christianity from heathenism that we know
of that became a missionary to his sadly afflicted fellow-
sufferers ; for it was on hearing of the need of such a worker
at Dehra that Padiya offered his services. He has been in
the Asylum there ever since, patiently, earnestly, and
devotedly seeking to bring the inmates to Christ. We were
favoured by a visit from Padiya the other day, he having
brought up to us two children, the untainted offspring of
lepers, to be admitted to our Home here for such children.
The meeting was a very pleasant one, and deeply affecting.
During a conversation with him he told me with humble joy
of how he had been used by the Master in bringing, as far
as he knew, 118 persons to Jesus to receive pardon and
blessing, many, if not most, of whom but for his teaching
would probably never have heard that there was pardon and
cleansing for them. It was quite an inspiration to me to
sit in my study here and talk with poor, mutilated Padiya,
and hear him praise the Lord for His dealings with him, and
rejoice in his sufferings, in that they had been the means of
leading him into the glad service of such a blessed Master. I
am trying to give you as near as possible Padiya's own words.
During the few days of his visit here he stayed down in our
Asylum, and his presence there was a means of refreshment
to the inmates. One said to me : " He is a God-like man.''

It is not usual for us to speak or think of a deformed,
scarred, diseased leper as being " a God-like man " ; but
there was a Divine joy and peace so manifest in all his
demeanour that one forgot the frail, diseased man in his
God-likeness. People want proofs of the truth of Christianity.
Padiya is one of the proofs of the power of the Gospel to
reduce poor humanity from its worst ills, to lift it above its
greatest sorrows, and to impart to it God-likeness.

G. M. Bulloch.

■ ^=C^>'TO<<^0=!

IN two recent numbers of the " Reports of the Rhenish
Missionary Society," Dr. Schreiber discusses the prospects of
missions amongst Mohammedans, and maintains that they are
nowhere so hopeful as in the East Indies, and in Dutch East
India most hopeful of all. "For more than thirty years our
society has expended at least half its force in the effort to com-
bat the extension of Islam in our three mission-fields in the
Dutch East Indies. But it appeared to be our duty first of all to
spread the Gospel in those districts where Islam has not yet
gained possession, and where the people are much easier to win.
In the course of the last ten years, however, an alteration has
taken place ; gradually and almost unconsciously we have been
forced to work among the Mohammedans themselves. This is
especially the case in Sumatra. We have two stations there
where our missionaries have to do exclusively with Battas who
have been converted to Islamism. In many other stations the
missionaries have a great deal of work amongst Mohammedans.
And the conclusion which has been reached is, that these people
are very far from being as inaccessible as has been hitherto sup-
posed. More than a thousand Mohammedans have joined our
Christian communities during the last ten years. And now it
appears as though the Lord intends us to take yet a further step
in this direction. Certain Christians in England have been
moved to send us the means to extend our work into the large
and populous district of Mandheling, which is entirely Moham-
medan."

" When we began our work six years ago in the almost entirely
Mohammedan district of Padang Bolak, a Dutch oflBcial of high
position, who was friendly to our work, assured us that it was a
most foolish step, that we could not accomplish anything in the
Padang Bolak, we were too late there, since Islam had already
occupied the whole region. This was the universal opinion at
that time about work among the Mohammedans in Sumatra.
But we did not allow ourselves to be discouraged ; the work
already done by a capable native missionary, Marcus, gave ua
good ground for hope, and a zealous and experienced

174

THE FIELD IS

THE WORLD.

Juke, 1895.

missionary, Irle, took possession of the field with a cheer-
ful courage. And what has been the success ? Truly
far, far greater than we then should have dared to hope.
Missionary Irle, who works with a native preacher and
five teachers at one central and four out-stations, announces in
his last report that he has baptized 350 persons, and has no less
than 500 preparing for baptism, among them a large number of
important chiefs. Earnest requests for teachers are constantly
coming from new districts ; even formerly fanatical Moham-
medans have turned to the Gospel ; and from several villages
the Mohammedan mollahs have already retired in confusion,
because they see that they have nothing more to hope ; and the
impression is becoming general that, over a great part of the
country, Islam is breaking up." Dr. Schreiber concludes his
article by stating that an English lady of independent means,
Miss Needham, has gone to Sumatra to forward the work in
Mandheling, and that three theological students and one pastor
have offered themselves in Germany to the Rhenish Society."

The Rhenish Missionary Society, which works in the German
territory in the north of New Guinea, has met with terrible
trials in the outset of its work. Nine European missionaries
have perished in five years, some from the climate, two from the
violence of the natives. The difficulties in mastering the
language have been extraordinary, since, in each of the three
stations, not a different dialect, but an absolutely different
language is spoken. All these languages have to be learned
entirely from the lips of the natives. Not a single convert
has been baptized as yet, and it has been impossible even to open
a school, — Ileciic des Missions Oyiitemporaincs.

Yet this is how one of the missionaries, returned on furlough,
expressed himself at the annual meeting of the Rhenish
Society : " I do not hesitate to say that our work justifies our
most daring hopes. In each of our stations the natives are
beginning to feel that they are sinners, and to ask, ' What must
I do to be saved ? ' This, of course, is not the case with all-
Many, on the contrary, are disgusted when they are asked to
give up fleshly vices. But to others the Gospel is as a balm for
their wounded hearts, and they look at you with their fine black
eyes as if they would say ; ' This, indeed, is what we need.' And
then it is that one rejoices to be a missionary, and one forgets
all the sufferings, all the fevers ; then one sees the Divine
promise realised that they who sow in tears shall reap in joy.
And here you have the explanation of the way our sister Arff
acted when the fever carried off her dear husband. It seemed
so natural to me that she would return to Europe, that I asked
her when she intended to sail. ' I, sail ? ' she replied with
astonishment ; ' I do not think of sailing, I shall stay here.' For
her, to gather the young Papuan girls around her, and speak to
them of Jesus, was more precious than home or country. And
my wife and I rejoice beforehand for the day when the doctor
will give us leave to return to New Guinea. We shall feel like
parents returning to their children." — Ihid.

The Allgemeine Migsions-Zcitscfirift for March devotes four-
teen pages to a history of the South American Missionary
Society, which is now in its jubilee year. The work of this

society has lain in one of the hardest of mission-fields, and
nowhere is there a more striking proof of the divine persistence
of missionary effort. There are two prosperous mission
stations in Terra del Fuego, the land for which Allan
Gardiner gave his life ; and though 210 baptized converts may
seem but a modest number, yet the success of missionary work
among this very low type of people was sufficiently striking to
win the admiration,' as is well known, of the great naturalist
Darwin, who became a regular subscriber to the society. In
spite of many disappointed hopes, the society still pursues its
work in Patagonia also. It has also undertaken a mission
among the Chaco Indians. The official surveyor of land in the
Republic of Paraguay, reports as follows to the President : —
" I have the honour to inform you that I have just returned
from an excursion into the interior, the object of which was to
mark out a tract of land where the Society of South American
Missions desires to establish a station. Going through the
country, I was struck with the security which is now enjoyed
in the midst of this tribe of Chaco Indians, thanks to the
labours of the agents of the above-mentioned society. Five
years ago, when I last passed through this country, I only dared
venture there accompanied by a guard of fifteen chosen men,
armed to the teeth. AVe never dared to wander alone at any
distance from the encampment ; at night our sentinels went
their rounds, and we took care to keep our arms within reach.
This time I made my survey alone, assisted only by some
Indians, and without any fire-arms. At night we slept in
perfect safety, no matter where we were ; instead of avoiding
the villages as formerly, we sought their neighbourhood. A
young English missionary lady travels without danger in
districts which are as yet absolutely unexplored, healing the
sick, and teaching the truths of the Bible." — Revue dcs Missions
Contem poraines.

A PAPER, by a German Zenana missionary in the Allgemeine
Missions-Xeitschrift, gives a vivid glimpse into the life of women
and girls in the Mohammedan harems of North India. This
lady was In the habit of visiting the house of a Mohammedan
saint. One of his daughters was a bright, lively girl,
to whom the visits of the missionary lady gave the greatest
pleasure. She overwhelmed the " Doctor Miss Sahib " with
questions about the beautiful world which she had never seen.
Her great desire was to visit the missionary's house, and as, in
spite of her father's saintship, her notions of right and wrong
were very elementary, she succeeded at last, by feigning a
serious illness, in moving her father to send her to the mission
hospital. She was filled with delight at the pleasant flower-
garden of the hospital, a sight she had never seen before. But
her fraud was discovered, and the poor bird had to go back to
her cage. We commend this story to the admirers of Moham-
medanism.

Two Bavarian missionaries belonging to the station at Killal-
paninna, in Central Australia, were sitting chatting with the
Christianised Aborigines after the mid-day meal, when the con-
versation turned on their state before their conversion, and it
was asked if any of them had ever committed a murder. " It
turned out that out of the nine who were with us only one had

June, 1895.

FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE WATCHERS' BAND.

175

never killed a man, and that only because he was too cowardly,
but he bad helped at the murders of others. For the first
moment it made us feel rather queer to know that we were
sitting in the midst of murderers— and such murderers, too,
whose deeds of cruelty, according to their own account, were
enough to make one's blood run cold. One of them told ua that
he and his brother, at the bidding of their father, had first
knocked oflE a man's legs with their clubs, then one arm, and
then his head I Horrible as this was, it made us only the more
deeply thankful to God that He had changed these monsters
into Christians, in whose character we could really rejoice, and
we praised the Divine supernatural power of our Christian
faith." — Eeangelischcs Missionsmagazin.

FJROM THE SECRETARY OF THE WATCHERS'
BAND.

I HAVE the pleasure to include in the list of new Branches
a number that have been registered in our Australasian
Divisions, the growth in which is very gratifying.

o • •

CoNSiDERixa the excitement and perplexity existing in
Madagascar at the present time, a meeting of the native
pastors of the churches of Antananarivo and its suburbs,
which has just been held to consider the W. B. movement, is
specially noteworthy. Fifteen were present out of seven-
teen, the other two having been prevented from attending.
Great interest was manifested, and all, without exception,
agreed to join, and to bring the matter before their respec-
tive churches. Twenty-eight names of pastors and their
wives were received at the meeting for enrolment as
members.

o o e

The Manual, Membership Cards, &c., are in preparation
in Malagasy, and as soon as these can be issued it is believed
that many of the native Christians will be brought into our
ranks. In order to relieve Miss Craven of some of the
present heavy pressure of work, Mrs. Thorne has con-
sented to act with her as Joint General Secretary for the
Madagascar Division.

« o •

A Branch has just been formed at Neyoor, with Mrs.
Baylis Thomson as Secretary, which already numbers
seventy members, including twenty-nine Bible-women,
o o «j

The Rev. A. Bonsey reports the formation of a Branch
at Hankow, and says : " Mr. Huing, one of our beloved
native pastors, is acting as Secretary, and we have more
than sixty names already registered. You will be interested
to learn that the programme of the Band is usually adhered
to in our public services and prayer-meetings. The sub-
ject of the week is generally announced at our Sunday-
morning service, and in the prayers on that day and during

the week special mention is made of it." It is encourag-
ing to know that this plan is being adopted by an increasing
number of our home churches. May it soon become general.
» * »

Ix the Chinese edition of the Manual and Atlas which has
recently been issued, the maps have been drawn by native
artists. Mr. Bonsey says : " with such help and explana-
tion as will be given by the Missionaries, it will be a means
of education to the Chinese churches. We hope that the
sympathies of the Christians will thereby be greatly en-
larged, and that their hearts will be kept right on the
missionary question. There is no doubt," he adds, "that it
has already been a source of quickening, and an inspiration
to many of our brethren and sisters."

• • •

In relation to our Annual Meeting we have abundant
reason for thankful praise. The manifest tokens of our
loving Father's presence and blessing should be gratefully
acknowledged. I gladly avail myself of this opportunity of
expressing our warm appreciation of the helpful service of
our respected chairman, and of the able speakers. Many
will also agree with me that the valued assistance of the
devoted branch secretaries and members who worked so
hard to ensure a good audience deserves the heartiest
recognition.

« « «

All who thus laboured must have felt that their efiEorts
were fully rewarded. It was considered remarkable that at
the Annual Meeting held last year in the Cannon-street
Hotel, an assembly of about 700 should have been secured.
But it was estimated that at the Meeting in the City
Temple, this number was doubled, and that not less than
1,400 were present. It was truly a grand and inspiring
gathering, which was indeed to some who took part in it a
revelation of the growing power and influence of the Band.

During the proceedings a telegram was handed in bearing
the message : " Gideon Branch, Bristol, sends greetings.
Phil. iv. 6." This kind and thoughtful communication
conveyed through the President of the Branch, the Rev.
J. Maclldowie, was heartily received by the Meeting.
A very welcome and much appreciated greeting was also
received from the Chinese members of the Hankow Branch.

* « «

A copy of the Third Annual Report will be found
enclosed in the present number of the Chronicle, and as
every " Watcher " should be a reader of our Magazine, all
should thus receive it ; and if each will use it to obtain at
least one additional member, our enrolment will immediately
be doubled. Additional copies may be obtained through the
branch secretaries, who will be supplied on application with
the number required. James E. Liddiard.

176

A N^NOUJ^CEMENTS.

June, 1895-,

NEW BRANCHES.

London.

Brunch.
Cheshunt (Hertford Heath)

Country

Bovey Tracey

Brecon (Glamorgan Street)
Brighton (Union Street) ...
Hereford (Eign Brook) ...
Plymouth (Batter Street)
Preston (Lincaster Road)

Sheerness (Bethel)

Sheffield (Darnall)

Torrington (Howe)

Secretary.
Mr. A. W. AndersoQ.

Miss Florrie Bovey.
Miss Amy Arlette.
Miss Dorling.
Rev. F. A. Warmington.
Mi85 L. Mitchell.
Mr. Charles Hague.
Mr. Ernest Noble.
Miss Stimpson.
Miss H. A. Clare.

Aus

Neio South

Gerringong

Parramatta

Sydney (Bourke Street) ...
„ (Burwood)
„ (Croydon)
,, (Homebush)
„ (Newtown)
„ (Petersham)
„ (Pitt Street) ...
„ (Redfern)

West Maitland

WoUongong

Ya3s

rR.\LASI.\.

Wales Division.

... Miss M. Watkins.

... Mrs. Mills.

... Mrs. F. Quelch.

... Mr. J. C. Pepper.

... Miss Edith Nutter.

... Miss Myles.

... Mrs. Rea.

... Miss Smith.

... Miss "Wills.

... Mr. F. D. Hobbs.

... Miss Noble.

... Miss M. Haylep.

... Miss Rutherford.

South Australian Division.

Adelaide (Clayton)

„ (Hindmarsh Square)
„ (Stow)

Glenelg

Mount Lofty

Norwood (Church of Christ)

Victoria

Ballarat

Geelong

Melbourne (Collins Street)

„ (South Melbourne)

,, (Carlton)

„ (Malvern)
(Kew)

„ (Hawthorn) ...

„ (Prahran)

Miss E. H. Frost.
Miss Rachel Cox.
Miss Lily Goode.
Miss Scrutton.
Mrs. Thos. Kyte.
Mr. James Hill.

Division.
... Mr

A. Wilson.
Mrs. Gibbins.
Miss NorgroN e.
Miss Lyell.
Mr. W. KiDg.
Mr. W. G. Holden.
Miss Wood.
Miss A. Robinson.
Miss Sergeant.

Asia.
China.

Hankow

Bellary (Bruce Petta)

Neyoor

Vizagapatam

Mr. Huing.

South India.

Mis3 Haskard.

]Mr8. Baylis Thomson.

Mrs. Thomas.

ANOTHER BAPTISM AT BEJRHAMPUR.

THE Rev. A. Sims, of Berhampur, and his colleagues in that
Mission, are rejoicinp in the baptism of another young-
Hindu. Bijoy Gopal Rai Chowdhury comes of a very respectable
family in the Koolnah district, east of Calcutta. " One day he
came here and said that as he was passing through Khagra in
the morning, he saw our evangelist, Bishonath Babu, and myself
(Mr. Sims) preaching opposite our entrance school, and having-
already previously read much of the Bible, and thousrht seriously
of Christianity, the message came home to him : ' Why not be a
Christian now ? ' So he inquired about us, and afterwards
called here, read the New Testament daily for about a week,,
and then finally confessed his faith in Christ, and wished to be
baptized." Mr. Sims seods a translation of a most pathetic letter
from the convert's cousin, who reproaches him for having
" brought such a stain upon our family," and asks him : " Were
you not able to worship Jesus in secret ? " ; at the same time
urging him to return to his wife and friends without a moment's
delay. For the present, Mr. Sims has secured some pundit work
for the new convert, but hopes eventually to find him a place
on the Khagra School staff. He was baptized on April 7th, in
the English chapel, at the morning Bengali service. He
answered the questions put to him very nicely, and afterwards
quite voluntarily witnessed a good confession. He seems very
happy.

ANNOUHCEJWENTS.

ARRIVALS IN B5TGLAND.

Miss Bbown, from Madras, South India, per steamer Goorkha, April 18tb-

The Bkv. John- Brown and Miss WalI/Ace, from Taunc;. Bechuanaland,
South Africa, per steamer Guelph, at Southampton, April 20th.

The Re7. S. H. Daviks, L.K.C.S., L.R.C.P., and Miss Connie Marriott,
from SAMOA, South Paolflc, per steamer Austral, April 27th.

The Rev. A. L. Allan and Mrs. Allan, from Nagercoil, Travancore,
South India, per steamer Oriental, April 27th.

The Rev. W. E. Clarke, Mrs. Clarke, and child, from Samoa, South
Paclflc, per steamer Ophlr, May 8th.

Mrs. PAHKEa and child, from Ben ares, North India, per steamer Clan
Grant, May 12th.

BIRTHS.

Rees.— January Slst, at Chi Chou, North China, the wife of the Rev. W,
Hopkyn Rees, of a daughter (Khonwen).

REES.—March 25th, at Inyatl, Matebeleland, South Africa, the wife of the
Rev. Bowen Ree?, of a son (Gordon Gwalla).

Marshall.— April 17th, at Yercaud, South India, the wile of the Rev.
C. G. Marshall, Trlpatoor, of a son.

DBATHS.

Newell.— March 19th, at Upolu, Samoan Islands, South Paclflc, Marjorle
Honor, infant daughter of the Rev. J. E. Newell, aged 16 months.

Cox.— March 23rd, a.z Neyoor, Travancore, South India, Mr. John Cox,
formerly missionary of the Society In Travancore, aged 84 years.

TO SUBSCRIBERS.

It is requested that all Contributions, Remittances, and Payments be
made to the Rev. A. N. Johnson, M.A., Home Secretary, 14, Blomfleld
Street, London, B.C. ; and that, if any portion of these gifts is designed
for a special object, fall particulars of the place and purpose may be given.
Cheques should be crossed Bank of England, and Post-office Orders mad«
payable at the General Post Office.

All orders for Missionary Boxes, Collecting Books, Cards, Magatinet, Ac,
should be addressed to the Rev. George Covsms, Editorial Secretary
Blomfleld Street, London, E.G.

Teleeraphic Address-MISSIONARY, LONDON.