Dr. Southon of the L.M.S., but he feared he would have to return to England.

The distribution of the staff was therefore as follows, at the latest dates In Uganda, O'Flaherty and Mackay; at Kagei, Pearson; at Uyui, Litchfield, Stokes, and Copplestone. Extracts from the letters will appear in our next.

WITH deep thankfulness we report the return of Bishop Sargent to Palamcotta, after his serious illness and absence of four months. A letter has been received from him dated July 18th, in which he says:"At last home again! How gracious has the Heavenly Father been to me! I arrived here among the congratulations of thousands of our dear converts, and was at once escorted to the church, where with united heart and voice we gave thanks to Him who had heard the prayers of many and brought me once more among them." In a previous letter, from Coonoor, he says, "I never knew how much the Native Christians loved me till I was brought low. Letter after letter has followed me from agents and from people of the several congregations, assuring me of their prayers for me individually, in the family, and in the places of public worship, telling me not to fret or be anxious on their account." May it please God to spare his valuable life, and prosper his labours, for many years to come!

On his return the Bishop found that during his absence 1074 new comers had been added to the roll of adherents, while 146 of those who joined in the famine had gone back.

BISHOP SARGENT also mentions the death of "one of the oldest and

choicest Native pastors," the Rev. M. Perianayagam. "His end was, as might be expected, peace-from full trust in the Lord Jesus."

THE "Church Assembly," or Conference, convened by Bishop Copleston to consider what steps should be taken in reference to the pending disestablishment and disendowment of the Church in Ceylon, met at Colombo on July 5th and 6th. All the C.M.S. missionaries then in the island were present; and the meeting was attended also by the pastors and lay delegates of the congregations connected with the Society. It did not appear to the Society's missionaries that these congregations were sufficiently represented, and accordingly, after some other business had been transacted, Mr. Ireland Jones moved a resolution that the Assembly, as then composed, did not adequately represent the Church of England in Ceylon, and was therefore incompetent to consider what its future constitution should be. This was supported by several influential European and Native laymen, but was voted to be "out of order" by a majority of 73 to 70. Subsequently a Committee was appointed, consisting of the Bishop, the Archdeacon, seven clergymen (named for the purpose), and two laymen to be nominated by each of the eight presbyters, to deliberate and report to the Bishop on the steps that should be taken with regard to the future constitution of the Church. Of the seven clergymen two are C.M.S. missionaries, and two others are gentlemen who, on the points likely to be at issue, are in accord with the missionaries. These have consented to act; and the Assembly has meanwhile adjourned.

THE University of Durham has conferred upon the Bishop of Sierra Leone, in his capacity of Visitor of Fourah Bay College, the honorary degree

of D.C.L. Also upon the Rev. C. A. L. Reichardt, of the University of Tübingen, one of the Society's missionaries at Sierra Leone and Professor at Fourah Bay College, the honorary degree of M.A. The following Fourah Bay students (Africans) have lately passed for the B.A. degree:A. E. Metzger, Thomas Taylor, and Samuel Taylor. The last-named was already a Licentiate in Theology, and is the Society's catechist at Port Lokkoh. Messrs. Metzger and T. Taylor have also offered for missionary service. The Rev. N. S. Davis, B.A., tutor in the College (African), has now also taken the License in Theology.

THE REV. T. F. Wolters gives an encouraging account of Salt (Ramoth Gilead), where there are 265 adherents of the Society's Mission, with the Rev. Khalil Jamal as their pastor :

In Salt there has been progress. A recent visit led me to contrast the present state of things with that of nearly four years ago, when I first visited the station. Then there was disorder; now there is order. Then there were quarrels ; now there is union and harmony. Then there was slovenliness in the services of the Church and other appointed means of grace; now these are presented before the people in a way calculated to draw, to interest, and to profit. Then there was a school, not worth the name, with five or six pupils; now there is a school with nearly seventy children. Of course, all is not perfect; but there is much to encourage; and there are also signs here and there of a deeper appreciation of the truth, and of its influence upon the life, especially so among the children who attend the school. Last summer a public examination was held, to which Mr. Jamal had invited all the principal persons in the town, Mohammedans as well as Christians. Some Bedouin sheikhs, too, were present. All were very much pleased, but the practical result is that some of these sheikhs have expressed their willingness to send their boys to Mr. Jamal for instruction. Mr. Jamal

thinks that he could easily obtain ten or twelve Bedouin boys, if only he had the means for boarding them.

Mr. Behnam Hassuneh's work, too, among the Bedouins, has been encou raging on the whole. He is gladly received in their tents, and has opportunities of preaching the truth.

From El Hosn the news is very cheering. Our catechist, Mr. Suleiman Nas

sar,

has repeatedly visited the villages on Jebel Ajlun. His message is received with readiness by Mohammedans as well as Christians. Some of the former gladly borrow Christian books and read them with interest.

On the whole, our work beyond the Jordan is just now very encouraging. There are drawbacks, no doubt. The poor inhabitants feel the weight of Turkish misrule, and the desire of being protected from the oppression of the Government is not altogether absent from the calculations of those who attach themselves more or less to our Mission. But such motives are less prominent than on that side of the Jordan. There is more independence of character, and a greater prospect that the Gospel message will be received for its own sake.

TOPICS FOR THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER.

THANKSGIVING for the encouraging account of the Palestine Mission given by Canon Tristram (p. 544). Prayer for all the work there, pastoral, evangelistic, educational; and for all the stations, Jerusalem, Nablous, Nazareth, Jaffa, Gaza, Salt, &c.

Thanksgiving for good reports from the Punjab (p. 535), Usagara (p. 554), New Zealand (p. 561), the Saskatchewan (p. 565). Prayer for the missionaries, the Native Christians, and

the still unconverted in those countries.

Thanksgiving for Bishop Sargent's recovery and return to his post (p. 571). Prayer for continued growth in Tinnevelly.

Prayer for the Church in Ceylon (p. 571).

.SELECTIONS FROM PROCEEDINGS OF COMMITTEE.

General Committee, July 11th.-The Rev. T. H. Canham, who is proceeding to join the Athabasca Mission, was introduced to the Committee. The Honorary Clerical Secretary read the supplementary instructions of the Committee, and he was commended in prayer to the favour and protection of Almighty God by the Rev. F. M. Harke.

The appointment of General Hutchinson to the post of Lay Secretary of the Society having created a vacancy on the General Committee, C. E. Chapman, Esq., late of the Punjab, who had long rendered material service to the Society's work in India, was elected a member.

Reference having been made to the Resolutions of the Committee of Correspondence of July 5th, recommending to this Committee the desirableness of making known among the Society's friends the call for extension in Persia in connexion with the Extension Fund, the Secretaries submitted a draft of a circular to be issued inviting contributions to the Extension Fund, and drawing attention to the need not only of Persia, but of the Upper Niger and the Fuh-Kien Province of China; which was adopted.

A letter was read from Mrs. Henry Wright offering to the Society a magic lantern and slides, for use at meetings under the direction of the Committee, which were thankfully accepted.

Committee of Correspondence, July 19th.-The Rev. J. Sheldon, who had returned from the Sindh Mission, being present, asked the Committee to reconsider their decision of April 12th in reference to sending the Rev. A. E. Cowley, now of Manitoba, who had offered to return to Sindh back to that Mission. Mr. Sheldon urged the importance of an experienced married Missionary being stationed at Karâchi, and stated that even in his present state of health he would not have thought it right to leave but for the hope that the Committee would send a suitable married Missionary to supply his place. The Committee, considering the peculiar circumstances of the Karachi Mission, resolved to recommend to the General Committee to accept Mr. Cowley's offer.

The Secretaries stated that they had been unable to find a suitable married Missionary to take charge of the Alexandra Girls' School at Amritsar, as directed by a Minute of March 1st, but that Miss Henderson, who had been formerly in charge of the School, was being sent out this autumn by the Church of England Zenana Missionary Society, and that that Society was willing that she should take charge of it again. Letters having been read from the Rev. R. Clark expressing his views of the suitability of Miss Henderson for the post, sanction was given to the Punjab and Sindh Corresponding Committee to place her at the head of the Alexandra Girls' School, and the Committee tendered their thanks to the Church of England Zenana Missionary Society for their assistance.

The Finance Committee having reported that three additional Missionaries might be sent out on the Extension Fund, it was resolved that three be selected for the Niger, Persia, and Foo-chow Missions.

General Committee (Special), July 19th.-The Rev. R. Lang, Vicar of Silsoe, Beds, was appointed a Clerical Secretary of the Society, and having been introduced to the Committee was commended in prayer to the favour of Almighty God by the Rev. Canon Hoare.

A Sub-Committee was appointed to procure plans and estimates for the proposed Henry Wright mission steamer.

Committee of Correspondence, July 26th.-The Committee had an interview with the Bishop of Sierra Leone, who had recently returned to England, and expressed to his lordship their hearty thanks for his untiring and devoted labours during his lengthened episcopate, and especially for his recent visit to Abeokuta, and his valuable services in connexion with the slave question there. The Rev. F. F. Gough, on his return from Ningpo, after more than thirty years' service, was introduced to the Committee, and conversation held with him on the position and prospects of the Cheh-Kiang Mission.

Reference having been made to the Minutes of July 5th, 11th, and 19th, respecting a call for extension in Persia, the Secretaries were directed to correspond with the Rev. J. J. Bambridge, now at Karâchi, with a view to his being transferred to the Persia Mission.

The Rev. J. Martin, one of the Islington men recently ordained, was appointed to the Fuh-chow Mission in pursuance of the Minute of July 19th. The Calcutta Corresponding Committee having communicated an offer from Sir William Muir to assign the balance of the Thomason Memorial Fund, amounting to Rs. 14,000, of which he was trustee, for the support of a Scholarship in connexion with the Society's proposed Divinity College at Allahabad, the proposal was accepted, with thanks to Sir Wm. Muir for his kindness.

A letter was read from the Bishop of Victoria regarding the Society's work at Hong Kong. It was resolved that the Rev. J. B. Ost, now at Shaou-hing, be invited to remove to Hong Kong, and, if this arrangement should be carried out, that the Rev. J. Grundy be directed to turn his special attention to work on the mainland, residing at Canton.

The Minutes of the Japan Missionary Conference were read respecting the establishment of a Training Institution for the Japan Mission; also letters from the Revs. C. F. Warren and H. Maundrell on the same subject. The Committee, without determining the question of the ultimate location of a central Training College for Japan, were of opinion that in view of the actual existence of a Theological Class at Nagasaki, it would be desirable to maintain and develope it; and also that the Missionaries at Osaka should be encouraged to commence a similar class.

Minutes of the Bombay Corresponding Committee were read, communicating the resignation by the Rev. T. Carss of the Principalship of the Robert Money School. Mr. Carss' resignation was accepted, and the Rev. H. A. Bren, M.A., of Wadham College, Oxford, who had lately offered himself as a Missionary of the Society, was appointed Principal. The Committee placed on record their appreciation of the energy with which Mr. Carss had always thrown himself into the working of the School, and of the scholastic efficiency it had attained under his charge.

An important and comprehensive Report on the Society's Palestine Mission, drawn up by the Revs. Canon Tristram and E. H. Bickersteth, who had recently visited the Holy Land, was presented. The Committee received the Report with much thankfulness for the evidence contained in it of the encouraging indications of progress and of the divine blessing resting upon the work, especially in connexion with the schools for Mohammedans, and returned their cordial thanks to Canon Tristram and Mr. Bickersteth for the care and attention with which they had conducted their inquiries. Various recommendations in the Report were considered, and a series of Resolutions agreed to, including the following:-(1) That in consideration of the circumstances of the Palestine Mission, an English clergyman of University standing should be sought for to undertake the duties of Secretary, who would be willing to devote himself to the acquisition of Arabic, with a view to his

ultimately developing the Preparandi Institution at Jerusalem as a Training Institution worthy of the great work before the Society in Palestine in the education of a Native pastorate. (2) That the Rev. T. F. Wolters, to whose zeal and earnestness Canon Tristram bore strong testimony, be directed to remain in Jerusalem for work among the Turkish population, and to superintend St. Paul's Church and the out-stations, assisted by the Native pastor, the Rev. Michael Kawar. (3) That the Palestine Conference be requested to consider the question of the ordination of Mr. Ibrahim Baz, the assistant teacher in the Preparandi College, and also of Mr. Nyland, the Society's Lay Missionary at Ramallah. (4) That steps be taken as soon as possible for the establishment in Palestine of Native Church Councils, similar to those in India. (5) That the Rev. F. Bellamy be requested to take steps for occupying Midan, a suburb of Damascus, as his head-quarters for systematic evangelistic work among the Druses and other inhabitants of the Hauran and contiguous districts. (6) Various grants for the development of the work at Es Salt, Gaza, Haifa, &c.

The Committee took into consideration the circumstances of the Nyanza Mission, with respect to the ordering of supplies, &c., at Zanzibar, and letters were read from Dr. Baxter and others upon the subject. The Secretaries were directed to make inquiries for a competent Christian layman to act as the independent and responsible agent of the Society at Zanzibar and undertake the secular business (on the coast) of the Usagara, Unyamwezi, and Uganda Missions, it being desirable that such lay agent should, if possible, be qualified to take command of the proposed Henry Wright steamer. Committee further appointed Mr. C. Stokes to be general leader and superintendent of the caravans from the coast to the interior, instructing him to carry out his important functions in a missionary spirit, regarding the porters, and the people of the countries throughout which he would necessarily become known, as his special sphere of evangelistic work.

Contribution List.

The

In the following list of receipts from July 11th to August 10th are acknowledged all remittances from Associations, Benefactions, and Legacies of 51. and upwards, and Collections of 10s. and upwards. All other sums are acknowledged in the Annual Reports. Parties not finding such payments duly acknowledged are requested to inform the Secretary without delay.