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tion and instruction. After a time he left Sandila, and came to Lucknow. Here he was discovered by Albert one day, and brought to me. Since then he has been receiving regular instruction. He seems in earnest, and has stood well one or two rather severe tests to which he has been purposely subjected.

But still I dare not speak positively about him. I hope for the best. He presses much for baptism. But even supposing him to be sincere, as I trust he is, he will need very careful teaching before openly admitted by baptism into Christ's Church.

II. EDUCATIONAL.

At the commencent of 1880, our educational work amongst Hindus and Mohammedans was carried on in two boys' and five girls' schools. Of the boys' schools, one was our Anglo-Vernacular Main School, in the Raja ka Bazar, and the other a small branch school, situated near the Huzrutganj Bazar. Of the girls' schools, four were zenana schools, held at different quarters in the city; and the fifth was a bazar school for poor Mohammedan girls, held in one of the Mission-houses. In the month of August, owing to the necessity of reducing our expenditure, we closed the boys' branch school in Huzrutganj, and transferred the four zenana schools to the Indian Female Normal School and Instruction Society. My Report, therefore, will only deal with two schools; (1) the AngloVernacular Main School for Boys, and (2) the Bazar Girls' School.

1. The Raja ka Bazar Anglo-Vernacular Boys' School. This school held on its way during the year under considerable financial difficulties.

From a secular point of view, in the way of Government examinations and so on, we have done fairly well.

Looked at from a missionary point of view, the work of the school goes on, I trust, hopefully. We have three excellent Christian masters, whose influence for good both upon the boys and the other masters I believe to be very great.

for the one solitary missionary to do more in the school than exercise a general supervision, and take weekly Bible-classes, with occasional lectures. Consequently, during the past year, Mr. Seetal has had to bear a considerable increase of responsibility, and I consider that he is to be congratulated on the very able and efficient way in which he rose to the occasion. His influence is great upon the boys, and I believe that many, especially in the upper classes, look to him as a friend. His ordination will, I feel confident, greatly increase his usefulness and efficiency as a Christian teacher.

The second master, Solomon Nehal Singh, baptized on Christmas Day, 1879, still holds faithfully on his way, and adorns the doctrine of God his Saviour in all things. His conversion, with his wife and family, has been an immense gain to the cause of Christ in Lucknow. In the school, with quiet, loving zeal, he brings the claims of the Gospel before the boys, and presses that Gospel upon their acceptance. He is there, as everywhere else, a bright example of Christian consistency.

William Webb, the Bible-teacher, is an earnest, faithful young man, and is, I believe, thoroughly devoted to his work as a teacher of Christian truth. His one work is to give Bible instruction to the various classes in turn.

With three such men associated together, I feel that the school is a powerful missionary agency. It is true we cannot instance any conversions, at least, of late years; but I submit that to judge of the school by this standard would be decidedly unfair. It is not a college. The boys are mostly minors, and therefore, even if they wished it, could not be baptized against the wishes of their parents or guardians. We can only sow the seed; but who would venture to deny that if the seed be sown in faith and prayer, it will appear, even though it be after many days?

It is true, school work is not one to which I feel myself specially attracted as a missionary, and no doubt the diffiMr. William Seetal, the head-master, culty of keeping up the school under whose ordination in June next we are present financial embarrassments is a all thankfully anticipating, still con- serious one. But, at the same time, I tinues his earnest and energetic labours. feel the work of Christian educationWith our present reduced staff, his prei. e. education based upon Christian sence in the school has been simply in- principles-to be one of such supreme valuable. It is an utter impossibility importance, that nothing but a direct

order from the Parent Committee would reconcile me to relinquishing it; and even then I should sincerely regret the discarding of such a mighty instrument for the regeneration of India's sons as a high-class Mission school. The number of names on the roll is over 300, and the average daily attendance about 260.

2. The Bazar Girls' School is under Mrs. Durrant's care, and is held in one of the unoccupied Mission houses. The average attendance is about forty-five or fifty. The head-mistress is a Native Christian of some experience as a teacher, and she is assisted in her work by a monitor, one of the elder girls, who is a professed inquirer. This girl has been under instruction for a considerable period, and would in all probability have been baptized some time ago, but her mother refuses to let her leave her home, and as the home is one morally unfit for a young Christian to live in, her baptism has been deferred.

The

Native pastor had arranged a comfortable home for the girl with a good Native Christian woman, but her mother utterly refused her sanction to the plan. We trust, however, that in time all difficulties will be overcome. The children in the school learn reading, writing, arithmetic, knitting, besides Barth's Bible Stories and Christian hymns. It is not work which results in much outward show; but we trust that the foundations of a purer and nobler life are being laid in the heart of each child, and that the truths we teach may prove rays of light not only to the children themselves but to the dark hearts and homes of many of the parents.

III. PASTORAL.

Under this head I include (1) the Pastoral supervision of the Native Christian congregation, and (2) the Education of their children.

1. Pastoral Supervision. This has been faithfully and laboriously undertaken during the year by our excellent Native pastor, the Rev. D. Solomon. As to the general condition of the congregation, I should be simply misrepresenting facts if I spoke of it in terms of unqualified praise. Thank God, there are some members upon whom our eye rests with unmixed satisfaction; men and women who are adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things; who are the salt of our little community,

and to whom we look as, under God, the hope of the Native Church, and the messengers of salvation to their nonChristian fellow-countrymen. But alas! there is much also to sadden and depress, much to send us to our knees in earnest prayer that God will revive His work amongst us, and that His blessed Spirit may raise the standard of personal holiness which is now so painfully low in very many of our congregation. There is one thought, however, which never fails to cheer and strengthen, viz. this, that if the Spirit of God be really in the hearts of His people there must be progress, and a progress always upward. It may be slow, it may sorely tax faith and patience; but I trust that with all our trials we may say of the Church of Christ in Lucknow that it is advancing, and that, though the goal be yet very far away, it is "going on unto perfection." One thing to my own mind is quite clear-the Native Church is as yet very far from being able to stand alone. For many a long year, I am afraid, it will need a guiding, helping hand.

2. Education amongst our Native Christians.--The " Epiphany School," as it is called, supplies a plain, elementary course of study for the children. This school has during the year taken a new position altogether. It is now in direct connexion with the Native Church Council, and is under the control and direction of the Native pastor.

I find that I have omitted two subjects in this letter, which, however, I may dismiss in a few words.

The Colportage work has been car ried on by an agent in connexion with the Colonel Roxburgh Fund. The sales are small, but the colporteur, I believe, tries to do his duty faithfully.

The English service has been continued as in former years.

In conclusion, I would earnestly request that, in the midst of the absorbing and (to some) more attractive claims of newer and younger Missions, the claims of the older, but not a whit the less attractive, Mission-field of Oudh may not be forgotten or ignored. The multitudes of these densely-populated districts mutely cry to us for help, and to give them up now, after we have for so many years prayed and laboured amongst them, would, in my opinion, be distinctly wrong.

THE MONTH.

HE following names have been added to the list of Vice-Presidents of the Society:-The Right Rev. G. E. Moule, D.D., Missionary Bishop in Mid-China; the Rev. Prebendary Daniel Wilson, Vicar of Islington; the Rev. Canon E. Hoare, Vicar of Trinity Church, Tunbridge Wells; Joseph Hoare, Esq.; and Arthur Lang, Esq. The following, having rendered very essential services to the Society, have been added to the list of Honorary Governors for Life:-The Rev. Canon Battersby, Vicar of St. John's, Keswick; the Rev. Dr. Boultbee, Principal of the London College of Divinity; the Rev. R. J. Knight, Vicar of All Saints', Derby; the Rev. C. E. Lamb, Vicar of St. George's, Leeds; the Rev. J. C. Raw, Vicar of Ainderby, Yorkshire; the Rev. Cornwall Smalley, Rector of Little Thurrock, Essex; the Rev. F. Storr, Vicar of Brenchley, Kent; the Rev. E. D. Wickham, Vicar of Holmwood, Surrey; T. F. Allison, Esq., of Louth; Sydney Gedge, Esq., of Mitcham; and F. E. Watson, Esq., of Norwich.

SEVERAL members of the C.M.S. Committee and the Secretaries were present at the dinner given by the Lord Mayor on May 7th to Dr. Moffat and the representatives of the Missionary Societies. Canon Hoare spoke on behalf of the C.M.S.

Ar the recent Oxford and Cambridge Preliminary Theological Examination for Holy Orders, three C.M.S. Islington Students, Messrs. W. H. Ball, H. S. Lewis, and J. Martin, passed in the first class, and Messrs. W. G. Faulconer, E. Guilford, and W. Windsor in the second class.

In the Annual Report presented on May 3rd, the Committee refer to their recent efforts for the development of the Society's Home organization, and mention with thankfulness (1) that a large number of additional Honorary District Secretaries have accepted office, by no means as an honourable sinecure, but as involving real responsibilities to the Society; (2) that the following counties are now entirely mapped out into defined districts, with an Hon. Secretary for each district:- Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Devonshire, Hampshire, Hunts, Leicestershire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Notts, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Warwickshire, and East and West Yorkshire; (3) that in other counties similar arrangements are in progress; and (4) that Church Missionary Unions on the Norfolk plan have been already organized for Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, and Hunts; for Essex; for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight; for Leicestershire; for Notts; for Suffolk; and also for East London.

WITH reference to the supply of missionaries in the year 1880-81, and to the resolution come to last year to send forth only five new men each year for three years, besides permitting each year eight of those who might be at home on sick leave or otherwise to return to the field, the Annual Report says, "Several friends whose hearts God had touched with a just sense of humiliation at the failure of His people to provide the means for support for the agents He had raised up in answer to their own prayers, generously

came forward and offered special contributions for the purpose of sending out at once some of the detained men. The Committee could only thank God for these offers, and accept them as indications of His will; and although they felt the responsibility of making an increase to the staff which must add to the Society's liabilities in years to come, they have, after full deliberation, sent forth three of the five allotted to the present year one year sooner, and seven others whose expenses are guaranteed for three years. Besides these, yet five more have been permitted to go under special circumstances; making fifteen in addition to the original five. Of these twenty, fourteen were Islington men (leaving eight still detained at home); two were graduates of Cambridge, one of Oxford, and one of Dublin; one was from St. Bees; and one was a lay agent. In addition, again, to all these, a Cambridge graduate already in Madras has been accepted as an honorary missionary."

A PRIVATE letter from the Rev. G. Litchfield, dated Kagei, Jan. 20th, mentions that a fleet of canoes had arrived from Uganda, bringing letters from Mr. Mackay and Mr. Pearson, who were together, and both well (date not given). Mission prospects there were stated to be in statu quo.

THE Bishop of Sierra Leone was engaged in visitation of the Yoruba Mission, and the Native Churches connected with it, from Dec. 17th to Feb. 20th. On Dec. 21st he admitted the Rev. S. Pearce, Native Curate of Breadfruit District, to priest's orders. On New Year's Day he held a solemn dedication service for the new church of St. Paul, Breadfruit, which has been built mainly through the energy of Archdeacon Henry Johnson; and 1200 Native Christians were present on the occasion. This church now belongs to the independent Native Pastorate organization; and the Rev. James Johnson has been appointed minister. It will be remembered that he was in charge of it under the Society before he went to Abeokuta. From Jan. 7th to 25th the Bishop was at Abeokuta, where some important meetings of the Native Christians were held on the subject of domestic slavery and the redemption of slaves by the Church. At Abeokuta, Shunren, Badagry, Leke, and the Lagos stations, he held confirmations, the total number of candidates being 479. On Feb. 13th, at St. Paul's, Breadfruit, he admitted Mr. Isaac Oluwole, B.A., Principal of the Lagos Grammar School, to deacon's orders.

The Bishop is on the point of returning to England and resigning his see, after a service in Africa of eleven years, the longest episcopate since the Sierra Leone Bishopric was founded. The first three bishops, it will be remembered, died at their posts within a year or two of their consecration. The Society is deeply indebted to Dr. Cheetham for his untiring and devoted labours from first to last, and not least, for the important service rendered by him in this last visitation, especially at Abeokuta.

THE REV. A. E. Moule communicates the following, gathered from his brother's letters to himself:

Bishop Moule reached Ningpo on Friday, March 18th, after spending some days in Shanghai (the earliest station of the C.M.S. in China). He received a warm welcome from the English missionaries, and from the inany Native Christians at Ningpo. On Sunday, March 20th, the Bishop held two confirmations, the first at Grace Church, in the city, where he found "his dear old pupil," now the Rev. Dzing Tsz-sing, as pastor of the congre

gation. The service was conducted" with excellent decorum and devoutness, and the singing too was pleasing." (This latter owes much to the care and pains bestowed by the late Mrs. Gough, and by her daughters.) In the afternoon the confirmation was held at Tsông-gyao, the first out-station occupied by the Ningpo Mission. This large town lies about five miles north of the city. The Bishop found here "a crammed and overflowing chapel." The Chinese schoolmaster read the lessons, Mr. Hoare the evening service, and the Bishop confirmed and addressed the candidates and the people. Seventeen were confirmed on this day. On Monday, the 21st, service was held in the new church, built by the lamented Bishop Russell close to his own house, and to the boys' and girls' schools. Here another of Bishop Moule's old pupils, the Rev. Wông Yiu-kwông, is pastor. He assisted the Bishop in the administration of the Lord's Supper, and, with Mr. Hoare, marshalled the candidates. Thirty-one were confirmed, and there were about sixty communicants. It was a moving service," the Bishop writes. He expected to spend Sunday, March 27th, at Shaou-hying, and to reach his headquarters, Hang-Chow, on the 28th or 29th.

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Fresh

MR. DUNCAN sends the following terse summary of the material progress at Metlakahtla in the past year:-" Good progress made. Large congregations. Over 300 Indians from Fort Simpson and Kithratla spent Christmas with us. Our village growing. Over 100 new houses up. machinery introduced. A telephone at work to the saw-mills. A furniture manufactory and sash shop at work. Our females have been taught spinning and weaving. The shawls, blankets, and cloth manufactured by them have caused great rejoicing."

AN interesting letter has been received from Captain Brownrigg, R.N., of H.M.S. London, the senior officer on the East Coast, describing a visit paid by him to Frere Town in March last. "In sailor parlance," he writes, "I caught every one aback. I saw them in their daily life. I can truly assure you I spent a most pleasant two days, and left much and deeply impressed with all I had seen." Captain Brownrigg not only attended the various services and classes, but also very kindly himself took a class in the Sunday-school. "I took," he says, "the first class of boys, and was much struck with the intelligent answers. The answers were not given parrot fashion. They seemed clearly to understand justification by faith, and several other questions I put to them. Mr. Streeter is most energetic."

MR. STREETER reports on Frere Town as follows:-
:-

For the past two years it has been with a spirit of thankfulness that I have begun my Annual Letters. This year Ising a new song "-Praise ye the Lord, praise thy God, O children of Frere Town: be joyful in your King; for He hath blessed thee, He hath given peace in thy borders, and filled thee with the finest of wheat; and we do praise Him for His mighty acts, and for the excellent greatness He hath shown

us.

In the first place, in looking back, I

think we began our year well; the forty
houses built by the people themselves,
scattered over what used to be all jun-
gle, and the favourite haunt of lions and
leopards, looked pretty and imposing,
and made our people think more of their
town; and as each had his own plot of
ground, they worked with a will, turn-
ing up with their big jembies the hard
ground (which no Arab or Swahili
would touch) in great rough clods to
stand "our winter sun"-like a Britisher
would his plot with a spud, to be mel-

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