months after his arrival at Zanzibar. Nine years have elapsed since then. The news of one of the L.M.S. missionary parties reaching Ujiji was lately received in London in thirty-five days! Surely God has a gracious purpose to be fulfilled for Africa in this marvellous change. WE regret to hear that Mrs. Crowther, wife of the Bishop, who had been long ill, died at Lagos on Oct. 19th. Adjai, afterwards Samuel Crowther, and Asano, afterwards Susanna Crowther, were children of the same tribe. kidnapped, rescued, and landed at Sierra Leone about the same time, and scholars at the same C.M.S. school. They were married in 1829, fifty-one years ago. The Bishop had been absent from home nearly six months, visiting the Upper Niger. On Oct. 17th, he returned to Lagos in the Henry Venn, and found his wife at the point of death. "It was," he says, "one of her earnest wishes, during her long illness, that she might die in my arms"; and so she did, although she was never conscious after his arrival. Much sympathy will be felt for the Bishop by his many friends in England. THE Auckland Church Gazette reports the death, on Aug. 30th, of Mr. Philip Hanson King, who was a son of Mr. John King, one of the first band of C.M.S. missionaries in New Zealand. John King landed with Samuel Marsden at the Bay of Islands in December 1814, accompanied by his wife and this son, then an infant sixteen months old. Philip King was sent to England when fourteen years of age, to be trained as an industrial missionary, and was for a short time at the Church Missionary College. On his return to New Zealand he served the Society for some years, and then retired, to settle on some land he had purchased. He was afterwards one of Bishop Selwyn's Lay Readers, and, the Auckland Gazette says, "has ever done his best to further the work of the Church." THE Rev. H. Evington, who has been alone at Osaka, Japan, during Mr. Warren's visit to England, sends an interesting account of recent baptisms, and of the death of his servant: Osaka, Aug. 23rd, 1880. Since I last wrote to you the affairs of the Mission have gone on, for the most part, with very little change. We have had, however, one or two events worth noticing. On Trinity Sunday morning I baptized one of those mentioned in my two last letters to you. The man who has come out boldly for Christ is yet silently opposed by his wife, who is urged on, I believe, by her mother. It was a morning of special joy to myself, for this man is the firstfruits of my three years' work in the city. Dr. Strachan, of the S.P.G. Mission in Madras, gave us a very stirring and faithful address, which I interpreted. The remainder of that day will ever be impressed upon my mind. The afternoon Sunday-school was as usual. At the English evening service Dr. Strachan The gave us some account of the work near after I wrote to you telling you of the hæmorrhage of the stomach, and Saturday, 22nd, saw him laid very low. When I came back from visiting the sick girl I found that he had been crying and asking for me; and when I sat by his side, he took my hand in both of his and begged that I would not forget my promise that I would baptize him. I did not fear the worst then, but said if there was any real cause to think that he would be taken from us, I should baptize him immediately. I asked him if his trust was in the Saviour, and he quoted Matt. xi. 28. I sat with him some time, and then, with his permission, left; but only to be in bed about two hours before I was called to see him die. At two o'clock he seemed almost gone, and I baptized him by the name Mark. He rallied, however, and was told that he had been placed amongst the members of the visible Church. He afterwards asked for 1 Cor. xv. to be read to him, and then, having asked me to show kindness to his wife, he asked them to be quiet that he might pass away in praise. One more slight struggle occurred, and he quietly passed away. I am almost afraid to put my pen to the paper with reference to this man, for my heart is always so full that I am in danger of saying too much. To be brief, his history in connexion with me is that about twelve months last February he and his wife came as servants in my house. They were not Christians, nor even thought of being such, but they were faithful and considerate, and made my house feel like a home and not a lodging. The man had never been strong, and after my return from the north he had a first attack of the hæmorrhage, which made him think with some slight concern of his soul. They had both he and his wife-been regular in attendance at morning and evening family prayers, and in the evenings, being alone, I had given them some general instruction in the elementary truths of Christianity; but I always warned them against the deception of seeking to become Christians or attend services merely to please me. However, he asked to be instructed, and was still more earnest after his second attack in January. The man was a faithful boy from the first, and of a very quiet, steady character, liked by all who had to do with him, and I trust that he is now among the ransomed souls above. On August the 8th I received four more by baptism into Christ's Church. The first two-a man and his wifewho have been regular attendants during the whole of this year, give me great encouragement. They are as diligent in the use of the means of grace, both in chapel and at home, as any of our Christians. The man is a sawyer by trade, and I think that his wife does some little work in addition. The woman testifies to an entire change of character in her husband since he took an interest in Christianity; and some time ago she told me that they had both determined, come life, come death, to follow the Lord Jesus. He hesitated at first about the Sabbath; but I told him that when he had learnt the value of it, he would be quite willing to give it up, and from one month after that time his place has never been vacant. These are Mr. and Mrs. Takayama. The next one was my late boy's wife, Osada Nami. She has shown a very clear acquaintance with much of Scriptural truth and the plan of salvation, and had been more or less under its influence before her husband's death. I should have kept her waiting a little longer, but her father insisted upon her going home for a time; and I thought that it would strengthen her for the conflict if she had boldly stood out and declared herself on the side of Christ. Her mother was present at her baptism, and has been instructed by me whilst staying with her daughter in my house. She wishes to learn and follow, but confesses that she has learnt but one thing, and that is, "There is one God, the Creator, who preserves us, and cares for us day by day, and He only is to be worshipped." She has ceased from the worship of idols; but whilst she confesses herself a sinner, there does not seem to be that deep conviction which leads to repentance, and the feeling of real need of a Saviour. May God grant that this may come by His Holy Spirit! Her determination thus far will help her daughter, who is now removed from Christian fellowship for a time. She needs our prayers. The fourth candidate was the wife of the foreign police superintendent. THE SOCIETY'S PUBLICATIONS. HE Committee have just issued a circular drawing the attention of their friends throughout the country to the importance of promoting the circulation of the Society's Publications. In the first place, it is evident that in the present day, when so many Christian enterprises compete for the support of the public, the continuous advance in the Society's Funds, which is absolutely required if the work to which God has been pleased to call it is to be vigorously prosecuted, can only be secured by making that work known. And the Committee feel that it only needs to be known more widely to elicit greatly increased sympathy and support and prayer. In the second place, the larger the sale of the publications, the less expense will they be to the Society. A certain expenditure in circulating information is plainly legitimate; but it is desirable to keep this as low as possible consistently with the requirements of the case; and reduction. can be made with an actual increase of efficiency by the simple expedient of extending the sale. A complaint was lately made by a correspondent of the Record newspaper that the Society spent, in the year 1879-80, 32871. upon its publications. The analysis of this sum, which appears in the printed accounts, shows that about two thirds were expended upon the Annual Report and the other gratuitous issues which are absolutely necessary. The other third is the balance between the cost of the selling publications and their proceeds. This balance is much less unsatisfactory on examination than it at first sight appears. For instance, 2067. seems a large sum to be spent on the Gleaner; but it will be seen to be relatively not large when we find that it is the balance between 14527., the cost of production, and 12467., the proceeds of a sale averaging some 35,000 copies per month. Still, even this, and the losses on the Intelligencer and Juvenile Instructor also, might be materially reduced, or even turned into profits, if the Society's friends promoted the sale more actively. Meanwhile, it is a fact worth noting, and quite unique in the experience of missionary societies, that the C.M.S. received last year-over the counter, so to speak -no less than 2500l. by bona fide sales of its publications. Concerning the three monthly periodicals just mentioned, it is needless to say more. Their annual volumes, however-those, at least, of the Gleaner and Juvenile Instructor,-make most attractive presents or prizes, and might well be much more largely used in this way than they are. There are now two other annual publications which may be commended to the friends of the Society. The Church Missionary (Sheet) Almanack is now in its fourth year. More than forty thousand copies were sold of the first issue (1878), but this number has not increased in subsequent years, as might have been expected. It has been localized as a Parochial Almanack in about sixty parishes. The Church Missionary Pocket Almanack and Kalendar was produced a year ago for the first time; and it is evidently quite unknown as yet to the Society's friends generally. It contains, however, the most complete and compendious account of the Society and its work in a small space which has yet been issued (in addition to the ordinary features of such a publication), and will, it is believed, become a recognized vade mecum for all who wish to have that account in a handy form. (The edition for 1881 is of a more convenient shape than last year, and cheaper. It can also be had as a pocket-book.) Attention may also be called to the new series of Church Missionary Tracts and Leaflets, first issued in connexion with the last Day of Intercession. These have already attained a large circulation; and some of them will be found particularly suitable for distribution at meetings and otherwise. Also to the new Selection of Hymns for missionary meetings. Of the larger publications, the Church Missionary Atlas is the most inportant; but the universal approval it has secured, and the fact that 1200 copies of a half-guinea book of the kind have been sold in two years, render further recommendation of it needless. The books on the Society's Missions also sell fairly well. The Lost Continent, or, Africa and the C.II.S., has had a considerable circulation. The first edition of 1000 copies of The Story of the Fuh-kien Mission was exhausted some time ago, and a new edition is in preparation. The Story of the Chekiang Mission is in its second edition, but the number printed was smaller. Japan and the Japan Mission and Metlakahtla and the North Pacific Mission are recent issues. Other publications might be mentioned; but particulars of all will be found in the List lately issued, any number of copies of which may be obtained on application. No difficulty can now be experienced in obtaining any of the Society's publications. They can be had direct from the Church Missionary House, or from Messrs. Seeley and Co.; but such orders must be accompanied by a remittance. There is, however, this advantage in ordering through the local booksellers, that thus the books or periodicals ordered become better known in the trade. Specimen copies of the Periodicals, Almanacks, Tracts, &c., can be had on application to the Church Missionary House. REPORTS, &c., RECEIVED FROM THE MISSIONS, From October 15th to December 15th, 1880. Yoruba.-Rev. D. Olubi (Journal, half-year ending June, 1880, Kudeti); Mr. S. Johnson (2 Journals, half-year ending Dec., 1879, and June, 1880, Oke Aremo); Mr. W. S. Allen (Journal, half-year ending June, 1880); Mr. D. O. Williams (Journal, half-year ending June, 1880, Ido); Mr. A. F. Foster (Journal, half-year ending Dec., 1879, Iseyin); Mr. J. Okusende (Journal, half-year ending June, 1880, Ogunpa). Niger.-Rev. E. Phillips, Rev. S. Perry (Annual Letters). Mediterranean.-Rev. J. Huber (Journal for quarter ending Sept. 30th, 1880); Rev. F. Bellamy (Journal of a Missionary Tour on the East of Jordan and Hauran, July and Aug., 1880); Rev. J. R. L. Hall, Rev. W. T. Pilter (Annual Letters). Persia.-Rev. R. Bruce (Journal Extracts, Nov. 13th to Nov. 25th). North India.-Mr. P. M. Zenker, Rev. F. T. Cole (Annual Letters). Punjab.-Report of Kotgur for 1879 (printed). Japan.-Rev. H. Maundrell (Account of Visit to the Interior of Kiu-Shiu). N..W. America.-Rev. J. Hines (Journal, March 1st to June 30th, 1880); Rev. E. J. Peck (Journal, Jan. 11th to Aug. 8th, 1880); Rev. G. S. Winter (Annual Letter). NOTES OF THE MONTH. ORDINATIONS. The Rev. Dr. G. E. Moule was consecrated Bishop of Mid-China in St. Paul's Cathedral, on Oct. 28, 1880.-On Nov. 30, the Rev. F. Glanvill was admitted to Priest's Orders by the Right Rev. Bishop Moule, acting under a commission from the Bishop of London. RETURN HOME OF MISSIONARIES. Nyanza.-Mr. R. W. Felkin left Mombasa on Oct. 9, and arrived in England on Nov. 30. South India.-The Rev. R. H. and Mrs. Maddox left India on Oct. 16, and arrived in England on Nov. 13. DEPARTURE OF MISSIONARIES. Western India.-Rev. J. G. Deimler left Genoa on Nov. 24 for Bombay. Mrs. Crowther, wife of Bishop Crowther, died at Lagos on Oct. 19, aged 70 years. SELECTIONS FROM PROCEEDINGS OF COMMITTEE. General Committee, November 8th.-The usual annual grant of 1001. was made to the Directors of the Strangers' Home for Asiatics, for the purpose of continuing their missionary efforts among the heathen to be found in London and large provincial towns. Committee of Correspondence, November 16th.-A letter was read from the Rev. L. Nicholson, who had entered the Society's service in 1857, and finally returned home in 1879, stating that the condition of his health precluded his return to the mission-field, and that he had accepted the living of Osmaston. The Committee expressed their regret at Mr. Nicholson's resignation, and their appreciation of the faithful manner in which he had served the Society in the West Africa and Yoruba Missions. A letter was read from the Rev. R. H. Weakley, who had entered the Society's service in the year 1860, and had now accepted a chaplaincy at Stockholm, together with work in connexion with the Bible Society there. The Committee received Mr. Weakley's resignation with regret, and expressed their appreciation of his faithful services in connexion with the Turkish Mission. General Committee (Special), November 16th.-A Report was presented from the Sub-Committee appointed September 13th to consider the steps to be taken in consequence of the death of the Rev. H. Wright, making certain proposals for better arrangements for conducting the foreign business of the Committee of Correspondence by means of three Sub-Committees, each to be charged with a group of Missions. After full discussion the scheme was adopted. A Report was presented from the Victoria Nyanza Sub-Committee with reference to various questions referred to them, and resolutions thereon were agreed to. (1) On the subject of the reception of escaped slaves, the Committee sympathized with their Missionaries in the tender feelings which the sufferings of the fugitive slaves must call forth, and recognized the propriety of their doing their utmost to alleviate the sufferings brought under their notice; but considered that while the status of domestic slavery continues in East Africa under Mohammedan and heathen masters, the efforts of the Society's agents must be principally directed both by persuasion and example to win the slave-owners to some acknowledgment of the claims of humanity. It was further resolved that the Missionaries be directed, in accordance with the Report on the Fugitive Slave Question, to explain fully to the Wali of Mombasa, and request him to make it publicly known, that the missionary settlements at Frere Town and Rabai being in the territory of the Sayid of Zanzibar, no slave escaping thither would be retained, save where the claims of humanity might require it; but that either the slave would be induced to return to his master, or the Wali be informed of the event. The Secretaries were instructed to inform H.M. Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the difficulties in which the Missionaries at Frere Town had been placed, of the instructions now agreed upon to be given to the Missionaries, and also of the Committee's hope that Dr. Kirk might be enabled to visit the station periodically. They were further directed to forward a copy of the instructions with regard to escaped slaves to Dr. Kirk, and to ask him to represent to the Sultan of Zanzibar the cruelties practised on the slaves attempting to escape, and |