The church was so prettily decorated, and was packed with about 130 people, and there were more than seventy communicants. The candidates for confirmation seemed particularly devout and earnest; the Bishop could not help noticing it. Their native pastor, the Rev. Ram Charan, though not a Santal, is the first man I baptized in this part of the country.

On Thursday, December 5th, we rode over the hills to a Pahari village called Ratanpur. (The Paharis live on the hills, the Santals in the valleys.) It was a tremendous climb, and in several places I thought our horses would scarcely manage to get up the almost stairs-like rocks. Then after several miles along the top of the hills we had a frightfully steep descent. At Ratanpur the magistrate of the district met and entertained us. We had two very nice services with the Paharis, among whom a good work seems beginning. I baptized two young men in this village many years ago, and for a long time they stood alone, but now the work is beginning to grow, and there are already about sixty Pahari Christians in that one place.

The next day we had a ride of about fifteen miles to Pathra, near Godda, where we have another Mission. We stayed there Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday about forty people were confirmed, and on Sunday there were about eighty communicants, though the mission is comparatively a new one. On Monday, the 9th, we rode eighteen miles through a lovely country to Dhamni, halting for an hour on our way, to have a little lunch in the dry bed of a sandy river. At Dhamni we met the little community of Christians, morning and evening, and the next day rode on to Hiranpur, a long twenty miles, but through such beautiful scenery that we could not feel tired, over hills and through woods, and over rocky streams, and down through shady valleys, and over wide plains of rice. At Hiranpur we had another confirmation of twenty or thirty. December 12th, we rode on twelve miles to Lukipur, a weary slow ride over rice fields and through muddy streams. To-night we have had a solemn service in one of our tents, and the Bishop has, as it were, instituted Sham (one of my newly ordained young men) as pastor among the people, first giving the people an address on their duties to him, and then addressing Sham, before them all, on the work that lies before him.

I shall not forget soon the long rides I have had side by side with the Bishop, and the long talks we have had over mission work, as we have passed through this beautiful country together. To-morrow at daybreak we have to ride ten miles to the railway station, and so will finish our very pleasant tour. Thanks be to God for all His goodness!

TWO BRAHMIN CONVERTS.

MONG the conversions to Christ reported from India this year there are some interesting cases of Brahmins. Let us look at two of these. The first, a faqir, was baptized by Bishop French last November at Narowal in the Punjab, in the church of which we gave a picture in the GLEANER

of June, 1876. The story of this "babe in Christ," as he calls himself, is thus told by the Rev. R. Bateman :

Years ago a Brahmin faqir was warned by a Mohammedan faqir that the truth lay in Christianity. Last year he had a striking dream to the same effect. Being an idolater, his first impulse on waking from his dream was to procure images of our Lord and His Apostles. He went on foot 60 miles armed with Rs. 18 to get them in Lahore. Happily he fell in there with the Rev. Imad-ud-din, who gave him a Testament, and with Babu Raha, who sold him for Rs. 2, instead of images, a complete set of Scripture pictures. These he bound up in a Bible, and on them he can now descant in a most interesting and profitable way. Long after this I found, however, that he was still keeping the balance of his money to make an image of the Saviour with. At last, feeling sure that he had turned to God from idols, I presented him to the Bishop for baptism. An infant was baptized at the same time. After the service he said, "Remember now that I am of the same age as this little one; we are both babes in Christ; feed me with milk, I pray you." Striking words to fall from the lips of a strapping fellow who had served his time in the army, and wore a presentation ring from the Maharajah of Kashmir, whose orderly he had been! He had a house of his own which was looted, and land of which he was dispossessed on becoming a Christian; so I was bound to find him a means of livelihood. He has been made Chowkidar of the Government Rest House at Narowal which adjoins the Christian graveyard. This, besides helping him, will be a means of protecting our graves, which the heathen are fond of disfiguring.

This same man was mentioned last year by the Rev. Bhola Nath Ghose, pastor of Narowal. From his letter it appears that in the dream the Brahmin thought the Mohammedan faqir, who had died, appeared to him, and threatened him with the heavy wrath of God unless he immediately got the "Injil" (Gospel) to read.

The other case is reported by the Rev. F. G. Macartney, of Malligâm, in the province of Khandesh, in the Bombay Presidency. There is a small congregation at Malligâm, and a Native pastor, the Rev. Shankar Nana, a Nasik Brahmin, baptized in 1849; but the work in the province, with its 2,758 towns and villages, has been a great trial of faith, and such a conversion as this is a real encouragement to the patient missionary:— Paulus Ramchandra Patea is a young Brahman, twenty-one years of age, whose father died when he was quite a child. Paulus was then adopted by a respectable and educated Brahman, who was an assistant engineer in the Public Works Department. When a boy he was sent to our Anglo-Vernacular School at Malegam, where he first learnt about Christianity; but at the time of his leaving school it does not appear that he had the least leaning towards our religion. He was married to the daughter of the deputy-collector of Dhulia, and thus became influentially connected. His conversion is owing (humanly speaking) to the act of a pious officer, named Colonel Bell, who many years ago was the executive engineer for the Khandeish district. Upon his leaving this part of India he gave a large quarto Marathi Bible to Paulus's father. This book the worthy Brahman thought was a present, the utility of which would be of a very doubtful kind; and had he foreseen what it was destined to accomplish, it would no doubt have been committed to the flames long since. Between two and three years ago Paulus often heard our Dhulia evangelists preach in the town, and was so impressed with what he heard that he sought out our little school there, and began to visit the catechist. At the same time he commenced to study the Holy Scriptures at home. His relatives were very indignant at this. He was told that the Sahib's book was a present to be looked at, but not to be looked into. He, however, persevered in his determination to become acquainted with the Bible, so much so that he read through the whole from Genesis to Revelation. After some months he ran away from Dhulia, and came to Malegam, asking Mr. Roberts to baptize him. He remained here three days, broke caste by eating and drinking with our Native Christians, and it was thought that nothing would shake him in his determination. His friends, however, managed to decoy him away under false pretences, and with great expense he was taken to Nasik and received into caste again. For some months he abstained from visiting our people; but the old desires came back again, and after reading the New Testament for some time with the catechist, he sent me the following letter:

Gracious Sir, many salaams,

Dhulia, Nov. 3rd, 1878.

Although I do not know you, yet, as you now occupy the place formerly held by the Rev. Roberts, I write to inform you that just as, ten months ago, I was drawn by the love of Christ (to declare myself a believer in Him), so now I am drawn. I therefore most importunately request that you will come to Dhulia as quickly as possible and baptize me. Do not let there be any delay in this matter. My faith and fortitude are known to the Rev. Shunka Nana, the Rev. Roberts, and Mr. Samuel

Your unknown Servant,

RAMCHANDRA PATEA.

A day or two after the receipt of this I went to Dhulia, and, after examining Paulus before four of our agents who were present with me, I sent and gave notice to his friends that he would be baptized that afternoon. When it became known, a crowd soon collected about our small Mission premises, and as many as could squeezed themselves into the front apartment of the house. Then commenced a scene I shall not easily forget. The entreaties, the threats, the adorations to which Paulus was subjected were distressing to behold. This went on for two or three hours; and when it was found that he turned a deaf ear to all that was said, all friends, except a few of the most intimate, left the house. Paulus was baptized before a crowd of Dhulia people, who remained very quiet during the ceremony. Great surprise was expressed at the simplicity of the service. They thought that at least Paulus would have been made to eat some cow's flesh, or drink some intoxicating draught, whereas the Padre only poured clean water on his head!

After the baptism the crowd increased, and there was great excitement in the town. Vakeels from the court, and clerks from the Government office, came in to see and abuse the renegade. A meeting was held, at` which it was determined to send letters to the great centres of Brahmanism -Benares, Nasik, Trimbuck, &c., asking if a baptized Brahman who had broken caste twice could be received into caste again. It was decided that if a Brahman had been a Christian ten years, and then wished to return to his old faith, he could be received. From this we see that Christianity is feared more than ever, and that the Brahmans are prepared to go to any lengths rather than lose one of their number.

This young man has lost a great deal, in a pecuniary point of view, by becoming a Christian; and rather than go to law with his relatives, he freely gives up his claim he has upon his share of the family property. He desires now to make himself useful as a preacher among his fellowcountrymen. Surely our friends will join in the wish and prayer that he may become a faithful witness for his newly-found Saviour in this part of India, unhappily, as yet, so barren in spiritual fruits.

UP THE NILE TO UGANDA.

JOURNAL OF MR. R. W. FELKIN. (Continued.)

[During their stay at Khartoum, the missionary party received the greatest kindness from Colonel Gordon. On August 13th they bid him farewell, and proceeded in another steamer on their voyage southwards. (See the map in our last number.) The same boat took some Waganda, who had come to Khartoum as an embassy to Colonel Gordon from King Mtesa, and were returning to Uganda.]

UGUST 13.-Mtesa's embassy consists of two chiefs-one a thin sharp fellow, the other a very fat one, who keep their eyes open-and fifteen men, a dreadful-looking lot of fellows. One's heart sank when one saw them; they do indeed need the Gospel to elevate them. They cannot talk much, but wanted brandy, which of course they did not get. Gordon Pasha has bought and given to us with their freedom five slaves, a boy each, and a man cook, and a young woman to grind durah, wash, &c. This is a personal present to us.

Aug. 14.-A dismal sight met my eyes this morning. All was wet, the rain dropping down, and I wet through. All the morning spent in getting things dry, and a waterproof sheet put up to preserve our goods. Land all flooded on each side of river; nothing to be seen except trees submerged in water.

Aug. 16.-Got books out to-day; hope to do some work, especially Arabic. Our girl bitten by a scorpion, which we caught on her dress. Mosquitoes have made their re-appearance; are very large. River water very nasty.

Aug. 17.-At 5.30 the cook brings coffee and a bit of bread; get up and read privately till eight; breakfast; dinner at 12.30; tea at six; prayers at eight, and then to bed soon after. We have now left off ties and shirts, with collars, &c., and are dressed in blue serge trousers and jacket, made like a Garibaldi shirt, only with military collars; under this we wear a thick under-vest. Our bread is mouldy, and has to be soaked in water before we eat it, so if you want to eat as we eat, keep your home-made bread till it is dry and mouldy, then soak it in cold water and eat it wet. Aug. 18.-A great many grass islands passed us to-day; they are formed by the water undermining the banks, and then they float down stream. The grass is six to eight feet high; sometimes wild beasts are on them; huts, too, have been known to float off in like manner.

Aug. 22.-On going on deck this morning Fashoda lay before us. It is a fortified town, and the gate is about 200 yards from the river. The walls and Government houses are built of baked bricks, rest of the town of mud or wooden huts, thatched with sugar-cane. We had towed up a new Mudir to this place, the other being dismissed for slave dealing. He was on board to pay his respects to us, and ask us to go on shore with him; all the soldiers were in two lines from the fort to the ship to receive him. He wore the Cross of the Legion of Honour, having fought in Mexico, and two other French medals. We refused, however, and he went off. The troops presented arms, and the drum and bugle band played very well as he walked up the lines to his new home. This is a great garrison, generally 800 or 1,000 men, as the "Shillooks" (a neighbouring tribe) used to attack this place every night.

FASHODA, ON THE WHITE NILE.

CHIEF OF THE NUEHR TRIBE, NEAR SOBAT, ON THE WHITE NILE. (From Baker's Albert Nyanza.)

The people crowded round and were very much amused. Most of them were naked, or nearly so, here. We then went and paid a visit to the Mudir, and then I inspected the hospital and prison. They have no idea of letting light or air into these places. After this we went and bought some things from a Greek merchant, the last chance we shall have. We bought a native-made bell for our church in Uganda for 15s., some penny looking-glasses for 3s. each, and half a dozen cakes of Windsor soap for 1s. 3d. a cake. This will give you an idea of the prices.

In the afternoon we saw a war dance. The Captain, Mayor, and the Commandant of the town came on board for us, and we put on our best helmets and dresses to make as imposing a show as we could. On entering the fort, the company of soldiers on guard presented arms, and the cannon were fired. We were conducted to a raised platform before the Mudir's house, where seats were prepared for us, and that worthy and his numerous attendants were assembled. On taking our seats the drum and trumpet band, stationed below on our left, began to play, and the music was good, but it was too near to be enjoyed.

A wide square was formed by soldiers, their wives and children, and some people from the town. Soon a noise of bells was heard, and a band of Shillooks rushed pell-mell into the square, yelling and leaping in a remarkable manner; at the same time their young chief, Kakkum by name, came up and kissed hands and sat with us. He is a splendid young man, tall and well built, and his beautiful face not spoiled by the numerous cuts which so much disfigure the men and women generally; he gives one the idea of great power, both of body and mind. His interpreter was quite six feet four inches, a most massive-faced man, a regular study for an artist. Well, the warriors came up in a sort of line to the platform and saluted us, dropping their lance points to the ground and half bending the right knee; it is very graceful. Round each head a band of leather was tied, into which was woven long grass, forming a sort of "glory" round the face, and waving with each movement of the head or wind. Round the left arm another leather was tied, to which hung a long black sheep's tail; the ankles and fore arms were adorned with rings of copper or brass, and small bits of metal were loosely tied round, or rather below, the knee. Some also had belts tied above the right elbow. Some were dressed in leopard skins just tied over one shoulder; others had a skin round the loins; others nothing but a belt round the waist, from these belts rows of iron rings hung.

Their arms are simple but very good-a 7 ft. lance, with broad sharp head, shields made of skins oval in form, bows, arrows carried in the hand, and clubs, being all they possess. A drum, however, I must not forget, as they keep splendid time to the beat of it, made by one hand and a stick. The noise is not pleasant even to my unmusical ear.

A circle was formed by the men round the drum, and they danced or rather went round it in long strides, sinking the whole body at every stride and covering it with the shield, at the same time making a lunge forward with the spear; yells and cries as unearthly as you like to imagine were uttered at regular intervals, and the whole had a certain rhythm about it. The dance lasted about two hours, coffee and sherbet (water, sugar, and lemon) being handed round.

It appears to be a rule here to marry your servants, the principal reason being that if the man wishes to run away, his wife gets to know of it and tells you, so the flight can be prevented. We left early next morning for Sobat.

Aug. 23.-Soon after leaving Fashoda we saw the old encampment of Baker on the right side of the river, marked by a remarkable tree, the name of which I cannot find out. At this place he lost more than half of his men from sickness. This was almost the last tree, as all round they had been cut down for fuel for the steamers. There is difficulty now in getting wood, and it will soon be much worse. On coming to the Sobat we noticed the great difference in the waters, the Sobat water being a dirty red white-the White Nile is blue. The village of Sobat is composed

of bell-shaped huts, thatched with sugar-cane, and surrounded by very strong stockades. There are some soldiers here and lots of woodmen. Aug. 25.-We had started at six, and were going up the White Nile. Just as we sat down to breakfast a tremendous torrent of rain came down, which soon stopped the steamer, all hands taking refuge in the paddle-boxes or the engine-room. (In the paddle-box we have our only chance of a bath. When the steamer stops we get through a little door, climb down the wheel, and it is very jolly, as the crocodiles can't get in.) My nice clean things got a good soaking; I got to my cabin and sat urder a waterproof sheet until the rain left off. It is fearfully damp and steamy; we all feel it much. May God keep us from all harm!

Aug. 27.-Finished taking in wood; piles as high as possible on deck. Aug. 28.-Passed the Bahr-el-Ghazel, or Gazelle River, which has numerous branches, and was mapped out by Schweinfürth. It is about two hundred yards wide; before the mouth of the river a barrier exists across the Nile proper, and is formed of floating islands. There is the greatest difficulty in getting along, and sometimes the river is quite blocked up. The water channel is often only ten or twenty yards broad, though the real banks of the river are from six, eight, and ten miles off,

the space being filled with floating marsh, as it is called. The grass is from 15 to 20 feet high, and you can't think how curious it is to be steaming through it, turning about so often and so sharply that water is only seen a few hundred yards at a time. Often and often the steamer has to stop till the current carries away the blocks of grass.

The wood does not burn well, so we don't make much progress, though we steam night and day. How the men manage to keep up is a mystery, for they work harder than I have ever seen men work.

Aug. 29.-One of the Waganda died in the night; the others said nothing to the captain, but just threw him overboard. Nothing to be seen all day but grass, grass. Have been working hard all day trying to make myself a pair of trousers of some strong cloth they use here, and when nearly finished found I had made a mistake and had to undo them. Don't I wish I had a wife, or a sewing machine!-which?

The river curves very much. To-day we steered N.E. and N., which is good when going to a place S. What a wonderful river it is! Saw several large expanses of water, but not in connection with the watercourse. Had to stop at night, men tired out. Wood getting short.

Aug. 30.-Rather an exciting day. Wood is nearly finished, and if we do not get more to-day shall have to stay till a steamer comes from Khartoum, perhaps six weeks; as the wood got lower the excitement got intenser. However, at six P.M., we arrived at two trees growing together

(From Schweinfurth's Heart of Africa.)

in a remarkable manner in the marsh; they serve as a landmark. The captain, after a good deal of pressure, consented to cut down enough to go on a little way.

The noise the mosquitoes make is like what the buzzing of all the flies in all the butchers' shops in Wolverhampton collected on the hottest day would be, if you can imagine that. I fear you will think I have mosquitoes on the brain; well, I have, they are so very trying! Colonel Gordon told us, and we find it almost true, that we should have to stay in curtains fourteen hours out of the twenty-four.

Aug. 31.-After tea we went on the bridge, and found to our horror the wood would only last another hour. Neither the captain nor pilot know where they are, they keep no reckoning. Our anxiety was very great, for although we have been well so far, a long stay in such an unhealthy marsh is not desirable. It got darker and darker; from where we are they say it is still two days' journey to Shembeh.

At about eight P.M. we got into a large lake, and then could not find the way out, and no more wood either, so we dropped anchor and waited for the day. We tried to get the captain to cut down parts of woodwork, but he refused.

Sept. 1.-We can now truly say we are in Central Africa, for if we were to walk N., E., S., or W., it would bring us to almost the extremes of the continent.

Sept. 2.-After working two days the men have enough wood to burn three hours. They have to go three-quarters of a mile up to the neck in water to the fast ground, and then it is knee-deep. For this reason we cannot get on shore.

Sept. 3.-I must tell you of last night. By the way, the nights are very damp, and although 80°, are very cold to us. We dress up in blankets, and handkerchiefs tied over our ears-old woman's dodge-to keep off our enemies. Big gloves preserve my hands, though I have forty bites on one; waterproof leggings, but they are not much good, as the mosquitoes get in at top and bottom.

At eight it was so misty we went down from the bridge, as the malaria is supposed to be in this mist. At last, after a battle royal to get into my curtains, I lay down, just getting to sleep when a splash of water in my face told me something was up. In a few minutes a storm was over us, torrents of rain coming down, so in a short time I was soaking, and a dark cabin reeking hot and lit up by lightning is, I assure you, no place to sleep in, especially when you are wet. At last I did sleep, rocked by the swing of the boat, and sung to by mosquitoes and waves, occasional drops of rain on my face beating time.

Read Isa. liii. this morning. What did not our Lord bear for us, and shall I complain at these little things? No, never, by His help.

How

Mr. Hasell was a student of the Society's College at Islington, and contemporary there with Rebmann, Koelle, and Hinderer. He went out to India in August, 1847, and for sixteen years laboured most zealously and efficiently at Calcutta and in Krishnagur. His journals were amongst the most graphic and full of interest which the Society's publications have ever contained. In 1863 he returned home in weakened health, and soon afterwards became Association Secretary for Lancashire and the North-West district. In 1871 he was appointed Central Secretary in London, the duties of which office are to supply deputations for meetings and sermons, to correspond with the Association Secretaries and other friends throughout the country, and generally to act as chief of this branch of the home work. Mr. Hasell fulfilled these duties many of our readers know well; but only those who were associated with him in Salisbury Square know how arduous and wearing they are, or with what untiring devotion and unfailing cheerfulness our deeply-lamented friend worked on day after day, year after year, in the cause he loved. He was emphatically a whole-hearted man. His whole soul was in the Church Missionary Society. Yet not so much in the Society, dear as it was to him. Rather in the sacred mission it strives to fulfil, in the Gospel it preaches, in the service of its Divine Master. That the heathen are without Christ-that to preach Him amongst them is the very first duty of the Church at home-that to that duty everything else should give way-this was his profound conviction. To bring others to the same conviction was the work he set before him in the last fifteen years of his life, and if ever a man could rightly take up as his own St. Paul's words, "This one thing I do," it was Samuel Hasell.

The loss to his colleagues and fellow-workers is not to be expressed in the cold words suitable for print. The loss to the Society and to the missionary cause would be irreparable, but that we can turn to Him who "is alive for evermore," who "walketh in the midst of the golden candlesticks," and who in His unerring wisdom appoints "to every man his work," and when He sees that work is done, calls the faithful servant to receive the blessed welcome, "Well done.! enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!"

EPITOME OF MISSIONARY NEWS. With reference to the paragraph on Ceylon in our last number, it is right to say that although difficult questions are still pending, events have since occurred which warrant the hope that they may be satisfactorily settled. Any explanation in a few words could only be misleading, and we, therefore, again refer any who may wish to know more to the C.M. Intelligencer.

On Trinity Sunday, June 8th, the following students from the C.M. College at Islington were ordained by the Bishop of London :-Messrs. W. Banister, J. Ilsley, J. Johnson, A. Manwaring, C. Mountfort, C. A. Neve, J. B. Ost, G. Í. Parsons, W. G. Peel, J. C. Price, J. Redman, J. C. Verso, T. C. Wilson, and G. S. Winter; also Mr. Nasr Odeh, a native of Palestine. Mr. G. G. M. Nicol, B.A., of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (Bishop Crowther's grandson), was prevented by illness from receiving holy orders at the same time.

Dr. E. Hoernle, the Medical Missionary appointed to Persia, was also ordained by the Bishop of London on Trinity Sunday.

Twelve of the C.M. students went up to the last Oxford and Cambridge Preliminary Examination for Holy Orders, two of whom, Messrs. Neve and Redman, passed in the first class, and the others, Messrs. Banister, Ilsley, Johnson, Mountfort, Ost, Parsons, Price, Wilson, and Winter, and Mr. Nasr Odeh, in the second.

Our last number mentioned that General Alexander had, among others, been appointed a Vice-President of the Society at the recent Anniversary. At that very time he was lying on his death-bed, and on May 16th he entered into rest at the age of eighty. He had been a zealous member of the Committee for nearly thirty years.

Bishop Samuel Gobat, of Jerusalem, whose death we just mentioned last month, was for eighteen years a C.M.S. missionary. He was a native of Switzerland, and a student of the Basle Missionary Seminary. From thence he came to the C.M. College at Islington (then just opened) in 1825, and sailed for Abyssinia in November of that year. For ten years he laboured there amid difficulties and trials innumerable. He was afterwards at Malta, then a C.M.S. station. In 1846 he was consecrated Bishop of Jerusalem, and in 1851 he invited the C.M.S. to the Holy Land, from which time, until his death, he proved himself a wise and true friend of the Palestine Mission.

We much regret to announce the death, in New Zealand, of the Rev. T. S. Grace. A sketch of his life, with a portrait, appeared in the GLEANER of February, 1877.

The King of the Belgians has addressed an autograph letter to Bishop Crowther, expressing warm interest in his work on the Niger.

The Rev. Reginald Shann, B.A., Curate of Trinity Church, Tunbridge Wells, has been accepted by the Committee as a missionary for China, where he will be associated with the Rev. J. C. Hoare (son of his present vicar) in the work of the Institution for Native agents at Ningpo.

Mr. Archdall Burtchaell, of the Sierra Leone Mission, was ordained by Bishop Cheetham at Freetown on May 11th. He and Mr. J. A. Alley are labouring with much encouragement at Port Lokkoh in the Timneh country.

The Henry Venn steamer has been in imminent danger, but has been mercifully preserved. Her light draught enabled her to ascend the Niger in the dry season, but when coming down again she struck, on April 3rd, upon a snag, and was with difficulty saved by being run upon a mud bank. She sustained much damage, but has since been repaired. The leading persecutor among the Native chiefs at Bonny, who had taken the name of "Captain Hart," died on April 5th. On his deathbed he publicly renounced all trust in his idols, and ordered them to be thrown into the river, complaining that though he had been their upholder, they could or would do nothing to save his life. No sooner was he dead than the people turned in fury upon the idols, and threw two canoe-loads into the river, breaking in pieces those that would not sink. We must give the whole narrative more in full shortly.

A harassing war still prevails in the Yoruba country. The Rev. James Johnson, the Native superintending missionary, gives an interesting account of the Christian contingent in the army of Abeokuta, commanded by John Okenla, the Christian balogun, or war-chief. His men are conspicuous for their bravery, and the heathen will not go out to battle without them. After one skirmish with the Ibadans, some of these Christian warriors were missing, and the liveliest grief was manifested by the whole army. The same chief Okenla has taken a leading part in resisting the "rum and gin invasion," which is doing so much mischief in Abeokuta, At a meeting of the Christians on the subject of strong drink, he rose and said, "I for my part am resolved to have nothing more to do with it."

In November, 1876, Mr. W. H. Collison, then Mr. Duncan's helper at Metlakahtla, began a Mission in Queen Charlotte's Islands, which lie off that part of the North Pacific coast. The natives are the Hydahs, the finest and fiercest of Red Indian tribes. We rejoice to say that a remarkable blessing has already been vouchsafed to the work. Chiefs and medicine-men have given up their degrading heathen customs, and a large number of men and women are candidates for baptism.

MARCHING ORDERS.

BY THE LATE FRANCES RIDLEY HAVergal.

VII.

Prayer also shall be made for Him continually.-Psa. lxxii. 15. ERY reverently yet rejoicingly let us accept these words exactly as they are written. Most likely we have read them with private revision of our own, and supposed them only to mean "Prayer also shall be made unto Him continually." But see! there it is, "For Him!" To many it may be a new thought, to some a very startling one, that we are not only to pray to our King, but for our King. Yet words cannot be plainer, and we lose untold sweetness by gratuitously altering them.

For whom shall prayer be made? There can be no doubt as to this. The glowing, far-reaching statements and promises of this most magnificent Messianic psalm could never apply to any mortal monarch. Solomon in all his glory is but the transparent typical veil through which we discern the far-excelling glory of Messiah, and "the glorious majesty of His kingdom." And the only word which for a moment seems to dim the clearness is this one: "For Him." But gaze once more, and let love arise and come to the aid of faith, and her quick eye shall pierce the shadow and trace new splendour through it.

The more fervently we love any one, the more we want to pray for them. The very thought of the loved one is changed into prayer when it glows under pressure of spirit. Intercession is the very safety-valve of love. We all know or have known this. There is solace and relief and delight in doing something for the object of our love; but the more our circumstances or ability or relative position hamper us, and make us feel that our acts can bear but small proportion to our love (especially when gratitude is a large element in it), the more we feel that prayer is the truer and greater outlet. And when we feel that we can do nothing at all in return for some remarkable kindness and affection, how exceedingly glad we are that we may and can pray !

Should there not be analogy here with the "depth and height" of the love of Christ? We have talked unhesitatingly, sometimes even a little boldly, of "working for Jesus." And even a glimpse of His "kindness and love" has been enough to set us working "for Him," as we call it. Then comes a clearer and brighter view of "the exceeding great love of our Master," and we are pressed in spirit, and all the work we ever could or can do for Him is seen to be just nothing, and oh! how we do want to do more "for Jesus!" Now has not our God provided a beautiful safety-valve for the full hearts of His loving children, in this most condescending permission and command? Not only "to Him shall be given of the gold of Sheba," but "Prayer also shall be made for Him!" Yes, we may pour out our hearts in prayer for our King, besides spending our lives in working for Him. And I do not know that there is any purer and intenser joy than such prayer pressed out by adoring love. There is no room for looking at self and difficulties and troubles and fears, when there is a gush of prayer summed up in " Father, glorify Thy Son!" We know that He hears this. And we go on pleading His own great promises to the Son of His love, rejoicing at the same time in their certainty; praying that Jesus may see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied, even in our own poor inful hearts and lives, and in those for whom or over whom we are | watching, and in myriads more; asking that the heathen may be given Him for His inheritance, and that all nations may call Him the Blessed One; and widening out to the grand prayer for Him with which the psalm closes, "And let the whole earth be filled

with His glory. Amen, and Amen." For this psalm is not only Messianic but emphatically Missionary; and the prayer which is so graciously suggested and ordered in it is really the sum and culmination of all Missionary intercession. And it is the spirit of it which ennobles, and ought quite to transfigure all our Missionary intercession. Let us keep the bright thought before us, that this is really, even if indirectly and unconsciously, making prayer "for Him"; and I would humbly say that if we take it up, and so frame our petitions that they shall be directly and consciously "for Him," we shall hardly fail to find freshness of power and gladness in thus entering simply and literally this singularly bright vista of prayer which God has opened for us.

THE GLEANER AS A PAROCHIAL MAGAZINE. BY. THE REV. W. ALLAN, M.A., Vicar of St. James's, Bermondsey. ANY parochial clergymen find a difficulty in deciding what is the best magazine to localise in their parishes. Four years' experience enables the writer to speak confidently of the advantages of introducing the CHURCH MISSIONARY GLEANER, of the success which has attended its introduction, and of the means whereby that success has been attained. It has repaid tenfold the trouble which it has cost. (1) For localising purposes it offers a larger blank space than any other magazine. (2) It is well and profusely illustrated. (3) It possesses an educational value. Instead of pandering to the popular taste for tales and novels, it imparts in a pleasing style varied information of the most recent date, and thus tends to instruct and elevate the reader's mind. (4) And, best of all, it kindles an interest in the spread of the Gospel in foreign lands, in those who have been heretofore uninterested, and deepens that interest in those whose sympathies have been previously awakened. Thus it is the best possible handmaid to the local Church Missionary Association. Instead of proving a drain upon the clergyman's pocket, it may become, as it has in the case of the writer, a constant and steady source of income, supplying means of helping parochial charities, as well as home and foreign missionary work. The direct and actual profits which the writer has gained in four years, after paying every expense, have amounted to £35, of which £9 4s. have been given to the C.M.S.; £17 10s. to home missionary societies, and £8 5s. spent in parochial charities. The largest profit was made when two pages were filled with advertisements, and one only retained, besides the title page, for local matter. But this arrangement was inadequate for the necessities of a large parish, though it would probably be the best plan where the clergyman did not need much space each month for himself. For the last three years, three pages have been filled with advertisements, and two additional pages, and not unfrequently four, filled with parochial information, have been given monthly. The increased expense for printing and for paper has not been covered by the increased number of advertisements obtained, so that the balance in hand at the close of the year is less now than it was at first, the profit the first year having been over £11, and since then having averaged over £8. On the other hand, the circulation has increased largely, the average number sold during 1875 having been 350, whereas it has now a steady sale of about 550, and having risen on special occasions as high as 800. Its popularity has been materially aided by the gift each February of a chromo-lithograph to every regular subscriber, the cost of which has been paid out of the profits of the magazine, without trenching upon