was that I would do what I could to help them in their desire to have a Native Christian (Ganapatti Pillay) appointed as the Deputy Collector, the highest native official in a district. He appears to have been formerly the Tasildhar for some years at Striviliputur, and to have earned the respect and affection of the people by his honesty and justice. I was pleased to receive such testimony as to the estimation in which a really Christian character is held by Hindoos.

I visited the church at Striviliputur, and was glad to hear that the congregation was increasing, and that it was found necessary to enlarge it. There are in the congregation some 50 or 60 Christians from the higher castes, in addition to about 100 others. The latter have recently been increased by the addition of ten families who were formerly Roman Catholics.

A petition was presented by the congregation of Purakadeianpatti, stating that there are about 160 Christians in the village, and that their present church is too small, that they have expended in materials for a new church about Rs. 250, and are prepared to give about Rs. 100 more, and asking for about Rs. 150 to complete the building. As they are not a rich community, and have themselves given very liberally, I should be very thankful, if some kind friends could send them a little assistance.

A petition was also presented by the congregation of Mángudy, stating that there are now 137 baptized persons and catechumens in their village, and that a church is urgently required. The Bishop of Madras kindly gave them Rs. 50, with which they have purchased a suitable site; and they have collected about Rs. 220 more. They beg for Rs. 250 to help them. They are a poor but deserving people, and a little assistance would be well bestowed.

From Striviliputur I went by night in a bullock bandy to Sunkeranainárkovil, about twenty-seven miles distant. It is a large town of about 6000 inhabitants. Here the Mission has a small school under the Native Church Council.

From Sunkeranainárkovil I went to Vageikullam, about seven miles distant, and much enjoyed a stay of three or four days with Mr. Vedhanayagam at his own home. There is a nice sub

stantial church at this place, with a good tower.

On Sunday I had the pleasure of being present at the baptism of a young Vellálar, the first fruits of Sunkeranainárkovil. He is about twenty-five years old, and has a private school of about 100 boys. For more than a year he has been studying his Bible, and has shown a deep interest in Christianity. May he be kept steadfast, and be the first fruits of a rich harvest!

On the following Monday I met the Agents of the district, and talked over with Mr. Vedhanayagam the affairs of the whole district. We concluded as usual with an address and prayer.

The next day I went in the bullock coach with Mr. Vedhanayagam to Kovilpatti, about sixteen miles off, where there is a station on the railway to Palamcotta. I was much pleased to find several Native Christians, whose villages we were unable to visit, waiting for us at the travellers' bungalow. Many of them had come from Puliampatti, an important village of Telugu Naidoos, of whom more than a hundred are Christians. They are a fairly wealthy class of people, and are about to build a substantial stone church in their village. As there were about two hours before the train was due, I gave them a little address, which Mr. Vedhanayagam interpreted for me, and he concluded with prayer.

Looking at Mission work generally in North Tinnevelly, there appears much to encourage, and much for which we should offer humble thanks to God. It was a Mission commenced with earnest and continued prayer, combined with self-denying and energetic labour. And God has rewarded, and is still rewarding the faith of His servants. The prayers of Ragland and his fellow-labourers have not been left unanswered. The corn of wheat has fallen into the ground, and died, and is now bearing precious fruit. The open opposition which the pioneers of Christianity first met has passed away. The Word is listened to with patience, and in many instances with respect. Portions of Scripture and tracts are freely purchased. In many villages inquirers are coming forward. Castes which formerly refused to listen to the Gospel message, are now offering their quota to building up the Christian Church. Zemindars who formerly looked

upon Christianity as a foe, are now begin ning to see that instead of injuring their subjects, it makes them better servants, and more faithful and trustworthy in the performance of their duties. The fields appear white for the harvest, and there is every promise of a rich ingathering, if only fresh energy were under God's mercy to be put forth by those who are earnest for the advance of Christ's kingdom.

It is no little encouragement to feel that the whole of the work in North Tinnevelly is now under the superintendence of a Native of the country, who by the grace of God is enabled to do his work well and faithfully. At the present time there is not a single European missionary in North Tinnevelly, and yet there is no field more full of hope and of promise. It is often said, that if ever India is to be Christianized it will be chiefly through the instrumen

tality of its own sons. Of the truth of this there can be little doubt.

That a Native Christian clergyman is fully capable of conducting an important Mission, appears evident from the present state of North Tinnevelly, and how can we wonder that one who had the privilege of living for so long with such a devoted man as Ragland, should have learned much from him, and drunk in, we trust, much of his earnest and self-denying spirit.

I need not add how greatly I enjoyed my lengthened sojourn with Mr. Vedhanayagam, how deeply interested I was in the work under his charge, how thankful I felt to God for the apparent success given to him, and how earnestly I pray that God may long continue him in his important work, and encourage him with an abundant harvest to the honour and glory of God.

advance during the year has been from 1786 to 1900, and in the whole of North Tinnevelly it has increased from 3676 to 4900. The number of adult baptisms, 101; Communicants, 710.

The following table will show you that the district has been making a steady progress from 1857 to 1880, for it was in 1857 handed over to a station missionary :

24th October last, when Mr. Arden was here. He is the firstfruits in Sunkeranainarcoil, one of the most important towns in Tinnevelly. This young man has been listening to our preachings for several years together, with no apparent result till the middle of last year; when he began to read the Bible for himself with a real concern for the salvation of his soul. While so doing, he did not shrink to declare his belief of the truth of the Bible to his friends and relatives, and his intention to become a Christian before long, though he knew for certain that by telling them so he would have to undergo a great trial; and so it proved. They began to abuse and speak contemptuously of him, and threw obstacles in his way of prosperity. He had a young woman espoused to him, and the intended union would have taken place some eight months since, had it not been for the interference of his heathen relatives, who condemned him to be an outcaste, and would not allow the wedding to take place. He was not, however, discouraged at this great disappointment, but went on his way, steadily looking to Jesus, proclaiming the Gospel, as usual, to the heathen around him, exposing the folly and sinfulness of their idol worship and other superstitious practices with his usual sarcastic way; for he is a clever and witty man. He keeps a private school of 100 children. It is a mercy that his change of religion has not affected his school. May he prove the firstfruits of a rich harvest in the town. We are so thankful that one at least from this town has at last been reclaimed; for this town, as well as Strivilliputtur and Kalugumalei, which are the most important towns in North Tinnevelly, stood for many years unmoved against the repeated and earnest pleadings of the itinerating missionaries, whose message was only treated with contempt and ridicule by the people of those towns. It is evident, however, that a shaking of dry bones is now taking place in these towns. New converts from good families are now coming to join us from them, though not without their respective trials and conflicts. In the case of one of these converts the trials have been so fiery, and the temptations so strong, that he was led to go back, though only for a time.

The case referred to is that of a young Vellalar of 22. He had the courage to face all the oppositions of his parents and relatives, and was baptized last year, after six months' trial; and, although he was known to have lost his caste through his baptism, he was not free from their annoyance, who continued to entreat him to go back. But he stood firm, and turned a deaf ear to their entreaties. Hoping he might prove a useful Mission agent, I sent him to Mr. Kember's Theological Institution. But no sooner his friends saw he had been sent to Palamcottah, than they plotted a design by which he was enticed to go back. Poor fellow, he now feels regretted for what he has done, and bitterly repents for it. He has a private school at Kurunjakulam, an important Naik village where he is using his influence for good. Indeed he has already gained an intelligent young Naidu of good connexion.

We have also been blessed with a conversion of a respectable and influential man during the year. He is a Naidu of Puliampatti, where good old Perinba Naik lives. He is a village official invested with a sort of authority over the whole village, receiving an endowment land as his pay for the post he holds. He had heard the Gospel preached to him for several years, and read the Bible carefully, though not with an intention of coming over to Christianity. Every time I saw him, and urged him to become a Christian, his reply was, "I am already a Christian, reading the Bible, and praying to God." He had so many hindrances standing in his way of becoming a Christian; one of which being that he would lose the favour of the zemindar. But when I saw him in May, seven months since, and spoke to him seriously on the necessity of his coming over to Christianity at once, he promised to do as I advised him, and so he has done. The zemindar, knowing he was a man of decision, and would not easily go back from his new profession, knowing also that his change of religion would not affect his own interest, did not meddle with him. The man is looked up to with respect by the Hindus, as well as Christians, in that neighbourhood. He is a diligent reader of the Bible, from which he is able to quote suitable texts, even such passages from

the Old Testament prophecies as are now being fulfilled. Moreover, his zeal for the service of God is praiseworthy. He, of his own accord, has undertaken to pay the expenses of the lighting of his church, and expressed his opinion, more than once, that the contemplated substantial church in his village should be so large as to contain all the people of the village. May his expectations be realized, and may he be faithful unto the end!

In the district there are also several individuals belonging to respectable classes of people, who, though still remaining heathen, are anxious for the advancement of Christ's kingdom. Let me here give an instance in illustration of what I have asserted. There lives a Vellalar of nearly 45, at Peruir, near Sunkeranainarcoil. He has read the whole Bible. His knowledge of the way of salvation is clear. His esteem and veneration for Christ is great, and his preaching to his heathen friends is touching and effectual. He does not worship idols, nor allow his wife and children to do so. His heathen neighbours take him to be a Christian, though he has not yet become one. He has a private school of his own, and gets a large Result grant. I have every reason to believe that he will, through God's mercy, soon come forward for baptism. He seems to have had an idea for a long time that baptism was not necessary to obtain the favour of God through Jesus Christ. This I tried to remove from his head by my frequent conversations with him on the subject, and now he has come round so far as to promise to come for baptism with his little son, with as little delay as possible. About two months since he came to see me from his village, which is ten miles from here, and attended one of my Sunday services, and had his meals with me. He is one of the most in

telligent men I have seen in these parts, being well versed in Hindu shastras and able to silence any heathen objectors. He has been, in his younger days, a Hindu schoolmaster under the American missionaries in Madras. But it is twenty years since he came here, which is his native place. His relatives are in Sunkeranainarcoil, and his own sister, who is married to an able Taluq pleader, being influenced by his constant exhortation, begs that her husband would allow her to be baptized. Indeed, her only son, who is now learning in our Anglo-Vernacular School at Sunkeranainarcoil, calls himself a Christian attending the means of grace. So a little movement is going on in the man's family circle. May many souls be gathered into the folds of Christ through his instrumentality!

Schools, and school children, have also increased during the year, as you will see from the above scale. Good resulting from Christian schools is incalcul able. Our Native Church Fund is being improved through Result grants. Hundreds of non-Christian children are being taught in the way of salvation, as set forth in the Bible, and their knowledge is likely to be imparted to their respective parents, and brothers and sisters. Moreover, we can point out many people in our district alone as the fruits of our Mission schools.

Preaching to the heathen is steadily going on. The Jones Fund catechists in these districts are a great boon. All the heathen towns and villages in the district are regularly and systematically

visited.

May we ever depend upon Jesus for success, and daily look up to Him in the spirit of the following hymn!

"Jesus, cast a look on me,
Give me sweet simplicity;
Make me poor, and keep me low,
Seeking only Thee to know."

We

EFORE saying anything of the events of the year under review, it may be well for the sake of new readers of the Society's Publications, to endeavour to give, in a few words, some idea of the work carried on in this Institution. There are about 250 boys in the school, of ages varying from 10 to 20, nearly all of whom are non-Christian Hindus. teach up to the standard required for matriculation at the Bombay University. This examination requires a knowledge of English composition, paraphrase, grammar, idiom, etymology, &c; second language; algebra to simple equations inclusive, arithmetic; geometry, first four books with deductions; history of England and India; elementary chemistry, astronomy and natural philosophy. The examination is conducted in English, which greatly increases the difficulty of passing. Fourteen of our lads appeared at the last examination, ten of whom passed: a result which, I need hardly say, causes our school to occupy an honourable place in the list of Institutions which present candidates.

a

I desire now to speak of the Institution as a field of missionary labour, for, though fond of teaching, I never allow my scholastic duties to cause me to forget the privilege and responsibility that are mine as an ambassador of Christ in this heathen land. I am glad to report that the young Brahmin who was baptized last year is going on well under the careful training of Brother Roberts at Nasik. At the beginning of this year, there was every prospect of another Brahmin convert from the school. The lad had left Bombay for about two years, during which time I corresponded with him. At last he decided to become a Christian, and came to Bombay to be baptized. Whilst preparing for baptism he fell ill, and was obliged to leave Bombay.

Old scholars come to see me almost daily. Some, of course, come from selfish reasons-to get a letter of recommendation, to get help in their studies, &c.-but a few come from higher motives. No matter what motive brings

them, I try to take advantage of every favourable opportunity of speaking to them of those things which belong to their everlasting peace. One matriculated student has come to me one evening every week for the last three years. He is a great reader of the works of those who see good in every religion except Christianity. Many would regard the conversion of such a man as hopeless, but I do not. I can see that the man's mind is in a state of unrest; he has given up Hinduism, but the truths of theism, which he now holds and preaches, seem to give him no peace. He would be baptized at once, if I would dispense with a belief in the Divine nature and sacerdotal character of our Blessed Lord. If the Spirit of God produces in him a deeper sense of the burden of sin, he will find no difficulty in believing that a Divine Priest is necessary for its removal.

The religious instruction in this Institution gives me much anxious thought. We know that in all lands the carnal mind is enmity against God, but in this country we have, in addition, to contend against a strong feeling in the minds of our pupils that it is a waste of time and energy to study a subject which forms no part of the examination for which they are preparing. We seek to remove or lessen this feeling by trying to make the Scripture lesson the most attractive of all, and by never allowing the Bible and punishment to be associated together in their minds. When teaching Divine truth, I seek to win the boys to a knowledge and love of the Bible by laying aside as far as possible the character of the schoolmaster, and appearing before them as the minister of Christ and their friend. I encourage the boys to ask questions and to state freely all their difficulties and objections. Whilst teaching other subjects I find or make opportunities of speaking of Christ, and I encourage the boys to come to me privately for conversation. We would ask the prayers of some of God's people that the seed which is sown here daily with prayer and in faith may bring forth fruit to the glory of the Saviour.

In November, we were favoured with