Church, so vividly depicted in one of our recent pictures. Then up the coast to Fuh-Chow; and here we shall have to occupy many weeks in trudging up and down mountain paths to visit the hundred towns and villages occupied in the Fuh-Kien Province. Still we are only in South China: Mid-China comes next; and here, in the great slow canal-boats, Bishop Moule will conduct us from Ningpo to Shaou-hing, and from Shaou-hing to Hang-chow, and also to many smaller places, all with their little bands of Chinese believers. It is pleasant to see them, and we thank God for them; yet the overwhelming feeling is, What are all of these, missionaries and teachers and converts too, among so many? Even after visiting all the stations of all the societies in China, and counting more than forty thousand converts, we remember this is only one Christian to every 9,999 heathen! But we must still push on towards the rising sun. Japan awaits our visit; and here, while admiring the great work of the American societies, we rejoice to find our own missionaries at Nagasaki, and at Osaka, and at Tokio, and at Niigata, and at Hakodate, and to meet many true and intelligent Japanese Christians gathered round them. and across We are now looking out over the broad Pacific; that ocean we must speed our course. The mail steamer will land us at San Francisco; and thence another steamer will carry us northwards to the coast of British Columbia. Long before we reach Metlakahtla we shall hear its fame; and presently we find it is by no means a solitary post, but that at Fort Rupert among the Quoquolts, and in Queen Charlotte's Islands among the Hydahs, and up the Nass and Skeena rivers among the Kitiksheans, our brethren are at work. But we want to get across the Rocky Mountains. The easiest way will be to return to San Francisco, take the Pacific Railroad half across the United States, and then go by the branch railway north to Winnipeg, the flourishing capital of Manitoba, close by the spot where, sixty years ago, the early C.M.S. missionaries lived in a log-hut among the Indians. But we can still find log-huts to lodge in if we like. If only we give time enough-say three years-we may traverse those vast dioceses of Rupert's Land, and Saskatchewan, and Moosonee, and Athabasca, and find station after station, and missionary after missionary, until we stand among the Esquimaux on the shores of the Polar Sea. Our canoe-men and carriole-drivers are Red Indians, but they will sing their hymns and join in prayer together ere they dig out their snow bed at night or march on in the morning; and we thank God with full hearts for such trophies of His grace. Which way shall we at length bend our course homewards? Let us take the annual ship from Moose or York in Hudson's Bay, and, escaping (D.V.) the icebergs of Hudson's Strait and the Labrador coast, we cross the North Atlantic and at last sight the Orkneys. But stop a moment. Even now we have left part of our task undone; we have missed New Zealand! A special voyage must be made to get there; and what shall we find? In one part, where Marsden landed among the cannibals seventy years ago, and slept soundly in their midst, smiling Christian villages and pretty churches. In other parts, flourishing colonies of white men, with whom, in the Colonial Parliament, Maori M.P.'s debate on equal terms; while twenty-seven faithful Maori clergymen (besides ten others gone to their rest) are ministering to happy and prosperous Maori flocks. The devil here, too, has been busy, as everywhere; and his best instruments are not coloured men; yet we can rejoice in the thousands of Maori believers that have died in the faith of Christ, and the thousands more that live to praise Him. So at last we return to highly privileged England with this prayer on our lips : -- "Bid the glorious Mission speed from sea to sea, Till the whole creation worship only Thee!" CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 1799. Foundation of the Society, at the Castle and Falcon, Aldersgate Street, April 12th. Rev. Thomas Scott, first Secretary. Letter sent to the Archbishop of Canterbury, trusting that he would be pleased favourably to regard this attempt to extend the benefits of Christianity," July 1st. 1800. The Archbishop of Canterbury, after thirteen months' delay, having at length "acquiesced in the hope expressed that the Society might go forward," the Committee resolved to "proceed in their great design with all the activity possible," August 4th. First linguistic and translational work undertaken, in the Susu language; and proposals considered for similar work in Arabic and Chinese. 1801. T. Scott preached first annual sermon, May 26th. Proposals for translation of Scriptures into Persian. 1802. Proposals for missionary work in Greece, Tartary, and Ceylon. Rev. Josiah Pratt appointed Secretary. M. Renner and P. Hartwig, from the Berlin Seminary, accepted as the first missionaries of the Society. 1803. Henry Martyn corresponding with the Society with a view to missionary work (but took East Indian Chaplaincy instead). 1804. First congregational collections for the Society. Renner and Hartwig sailed for West Africa, March 8th. 1805. First Local (congregational) Association started at Bentinck Chapel Paddington, by Rev. Basil Woodd. 1806. Second band of missionaries (three) sailed for West Africa. 1807. First C.M.S. grant to India: £200 for translational work. Slave Trade abolished. 1808. Mission at Rio Pongas, West Africa, begun. Marsden proposed a Mission to New Zealand. First Sunday school collection for the Society, on Christmas Day, at Matlock, £4 11s. 5d. 1809. First missionaries (Hall and King) sailed for New South Wales, August 25th, to reach New Zealand when possible. 1811. Admiral Lord Gambier first President of C.M.S. 1812. Claudius Buchanan, at request of C.M.S., wrote a work advocating an Episcopate in India. 1813. New Charter to East India Co. opened the door for Missions in India. Agra Mission begun by Abdul Masih. S. Marsden First large Associations in aid of the Society formed at Bristol, &c. 1814. First C.M.S. missionaries sent to India: Rhenius to Madras. Missionaries sent out in 1809 landed in New Zealand. preached first sermon there on Christmas Day. 1815. Greenwood and Norton sent to India (first two clergymen of the Church of England to go out as missionaries). Rev. W. Jowett (first University graduate sent out: 12th Wrangler) began Mediterranean Mission, at Malta. Rev. E. Bickersteth appointed Secretary. 1816. Sierra Leone Mission begun; E. Bickersteth's visit; first baptisms, on Easter Day. Travancore Mission begun by Norton and Bailey. Basle Missionary Seminary established, which afterwards gave 80 missionaries to C.M.S. 1817. Benares Mission begun. 1818. Ceylon Mission begun. 1819. Constantinople temporarily occupied. 1820. C.M.S. Tinnevelly Mission begun by Rhenius. Bombay Mission begun. 1821. First Female Schools in India opened for C.M.S. by Miss Cooke. 1822. North-West America Mission begun by West, at Red River. 1823. Up to this year fifty-three missionaries or missionaries' wives died in West Africa. 1825. Islington Institution opened, Jan. 31st. Abdul Masih ordained by Bishop Heber-first Native clergyman in any W. Williams (afterwards Bishop of Waiapu) to New Zealand; and S. 1826. West Indies Mission begun. Egypt Mission begun. Foundation stone of New Islington College laid, July 31st. Fourah Bay Institution, Sierra Leone, established. Samuel Crowther first name on the list. 1827. British Guiana Mission begun. 1830. Smyrna Mission begun. John Devasagayam, first Native clergyman in Tinnevelly, ordained. 1832. W. Smith and Leupolt began their forty years' work at Benares. Deccan (Western India) Mission begun. 1834. Krishnagar Mission begun. Slavery abolished in British dominions, August 1st. 1835. Earl of Chichester President of C.M.S. Waiapu and East Coast (N.Z.) Missions begun by W. Williams. 1837. Attempt to establish a Mission in Zululand. Hadfield (now Bishop of Wellington) sailed for New Zealand. 1838. Missionaries expelled from Abyssinia. C.M.S. Cottayam College, Travancore, opened. 1840. New Zealand ceded by Maori chiefs to British Crown. 1841. Henry Venn appointed Hon. Sec. of C.M.S. Archbishops of Canterbury and York and Bishop of London joined the Bishoprics of New Zealand and Jerusalem founded. 1858. Oudh Mission begun. Santal Mission begun. Athabasca Mission begun by Archdeacon Hunter. Speke discovered Victoria Nyanza, August 1st. 1859. Bishoprics of Waiapu and Wellington founded. W. Williams first Bishop of Waiapu. 1860. Mission to Kois begun, under auspices of Col. Haig. Sarah Tucker Female Institution established in Tinnevelly. 1861. Lagos became a British settlement. 1862. New Church Missionary House opened, March 7th. Sierra Leone Native Church organised on a self-supporting basis. 1863. Madagascar Mission begun. 1864. Bishop Crowther consecrated, June 29th. Rev. C. C. Fenn appointed Sec. of C.M.S. 1865. Volkner killed by Hauhaus in New Zealand, March 2nd. Kashmir Medical Mission begun by Dr. Elmslie. 1866. Bonny Mission begun. 1867. Missionaries expelled from Abeokuta, Bishop Ryan's Letter to Lord Chichester began movement against East 1868. Missionary Jubilee in Ceylon. First English missionary (Rev. G. Ensor) sent out by C.M.S. to Japan. 1869. Rev. R. Bruce began Persia Mission. First Native Church Council in Tinnevelly, February 12th. 1970. Bishop Hadfield consecrated to see of Wellington, N.Z., October 9th. Lahore Divinity College opened. 1871. Parliamentary Committee on East African Slave Trade obtained, mainly by exertions of C.M.S. 1872. Henry Wright appointed Hon. Sec. of C.M.S. Bishops Royston, Russell, and Horden consecrated to sees of Mauritius, 1873. Henry Venn died, January 13th. Gift of £20,000 by Mr. W. C. Jones for support of Native evangelists. 1874. Church Missionary Gleaner started, in new and enlarged form, January 1st. Bishop Burdon consecrated to see of Victoria, Hong Kong, March 15th, Bishop Bompas consecrated to see of Athabasca, May 3rd. W. S. Price to East Africa, to revive Mombasa Mission. 1875, Rev. W. H. Barlow appointed Principal of C.M. College. Persia Mission formally adopted by C.M.S. Frere Town Freed Slave Settlement established. Seychelles Mission begun. Important Conference at C.M. House on Missions to Mohammedans, Prince of Wales met Tinnevelly Christians, December 10th. 1876, Victoria Nyanza Expedition started. Fourah Bay College affiliated to Durham University. 1877. Conference at C.M. House on Missions to Non-Aryan Races of India, February 21st. Bishop Sargent consecrated for Tinnevelly, March 11th. BISHOP WILBERFORCE ON THE CHURCH Extract from the Speech of Samuel Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford, at the HEN I fix my mind on the humble room in which, fifty years ago, were gathered together that little company of overworked parish priests, labouring together day and night in their holy vocation, in the midst of the almost overwhelming multitude of the world of this metropolis, and called to mind what glorious thoughts were then struggling in their souls-what mighty impulses God's Spirit was working in their hearts as I look back to that scene, I feel humbled with admiration and wonder at the means then used for producing these great results. I hardly know of any period since the time when the whole Church of Christ was gathered together in that upper chamber, with the door shut upon them for fear of the Jews, when mightier issues were struggling in fewer minds. It was purely and entirely a work of faith. They undertook that work, not as shallow and capricious men often undertake benevolent beginnings, to lay them aside at the first blast of a strong opposition, but gravely and thoughtfully, as men who knew that it was a great thing to labour for God, and a mighty trust to begin anything in furtherance of His kingdom. They saw the Church slumbering in the midst of the world, and, all unlikely as it seemed to them that they could arouse its slumbering heart, they said, "Nevertheless, if God be willing, we will go forth in this undertaking." Many were the difficulties that arose in their onward path. There was first the difficulty which always waits on any mighty work of Godthe certain opposition to it always stirred up by the great enemy of Christ and man, and exhibited in the hatred-in the direct opposition-in the mocking scorn-and often in the cold and pretended sympathy-of the world around them. But this was not their only difficulty. There was still a greater difficulty to be met and overcome. Not only were they met by the opposition of the world, but by the utter coldness and apathy of the Church herself. The beginning of this work was in what was perhaps the darkest and coldest time in the whole history of the Church of England-a period of coldness and of darkness of which we in these days, and with our knowledge of what now exists, can hardly have a conception, without going patiently back and inquiring into the events and circumstances of that time, and comparing the principles of action in every single department of Christian work, Christian labour, and Christian self-denial then current, with those which are now admitted and acted upon by all men. They lived at the close of a period when the Church was so apathetic, that not only had she done nothing towards her great work of evangelising the heathen, but allowed her influence at home to wither and decay in her hand, leaving our own increasing population to grow up in heathenism, and only showed her semi-vitality, or rather her anti-vitality, by casting out from her bosom that great and good man -that saint of God-John Wesley. It was at the close of such a period as this, when all was darkness around them, that God put these thoughts into the hearts of these men. They knew that God's Word remains sure, and they determined to act upon it; and so the blessing which waits always upon faithful endeavours was vouchsafed unto them-not given at once, not given without days of waiting, without nights of prayer, without self-denial, without the frown of the world, without " fightings without," without "fears within "; but given in God's time, given surely, given abundantly. Surely we may thank God heartily that He gave them the zeal, that He gave them the wisdom, that He gave them the ability, to lay these foundations, upon which others since have built; that He suffered them in that day to freight their vessel with His truth; that He allowed them, in the daring of true faith, to set it upon the tides of His mysterious providence, leaving to Him to guide its course, leaving to Him to accomplish its adventure. .... MISSIONARY ALMANACK. F. M. 3rd 5.47 p.m. L. Qr. 11th.. 6.30 a.m. April. CHRIST THE SAVIOUR. N. M. 17th 6.38 p.m. F. Qr. 25th.. 12.55 a.m. [4. 14. 1 S The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world, 1 John [upon an ass, Zec. 9. 9. 2 S 6th in Lent. He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding M. Ex. 9. Mat. 26. E. Ex. 10 or 11. Lu. 19. 28, or 20. 9-21. 3 M H. Budd d., 1875. Saved by His life, Ro. 5. 10. 4 T Stanley's meeting with Mtesa, 1875. Look unto Me, and be ye 5 W Behold the Lamb of God, John 1. 29. [saved, Is. 45. 22. 6 T He hath poured out His soul unto death, Is. 53. 12. Good Friday. Even the death of the cross, Phil. 2. 8. M. Ge. 22. 1-20. Jo. 18. E. Is. 52. 13, & 53. 1 Pe. 2. 7 F 8 S Miss, Children's Home opened, 1853. He shall save the children, [Ps. 72. 4. 9 S Easter Day. Exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, Acts 5. 31. M. Ex. 12.1-29. Rev.1.10-19. E. Ex. 12. 29, or 14. Jo. 20. 11-19, or Rev. 5. 10 M My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour, Lu. 1. 47. 11T My refuge, my Saviour, 2 Sam. 22. 3. [Lu. 19. 10. 12 W C.M.S. established, 1799. To seek and to save that which was lost, 13 T Freed Slaves bapt. East Africa, 1879. Redeemed out of bondage, [Deu. 13. 5. 14 F 1st Af. bapt. S. Leone, 1816. Redeemed from the hand of the 15 S Their Redeemer is mighty, Prov. 23. 11. [enemy, Ps. 107. 2. [our justification. Ro. 4. 25. 16 S 1st. aft. Easter. Delivered for our offences, and raised again for M. Nu. 16. 1-36. 1 Cor. 15. 1-29. E. Nu. 16. 36, or 17.1-12. Jo. 20. 24-30. 17 M The Author of eternal salvation, Heb. 5. 9. 18 T Proclam. of Sultan of Zanzibar against slavery, 1876. Who gave [Himself a ransom for all, 1 Ti. 2. 6. 19 W One Mediator bet. God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 1 Ti. 2. 5. 20 T1st bapt. at Ningpo, 1851. His arm brought salvation, Is. 59. 16. 21 F Waganda Envoys arr., 1880. All flesh shall see the salvation of 22 S Show forth His salvation fr. day to day, Ps. 96. 2. [God, Lu. 3. 6. [1 Pet. 2. 21. 23 S 2nd aft. Easter. Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, M. Nu. 20. 1-14. Lu. 17. 20. E. Nu. 20. 14 to 21. 10, or 21. 10. Eph. 6. 10. 24 M Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation, Ps. 35. 3. 25 T St. Mark. He loved me, and gave Himself for me, Gal. 2. 20. 26 W 1st bapt. at Kagoshima, 1879. Thy salvation cometh, Is. 62. 11. 27 T We look for the Saviour, Phil. 3. 20. [Heb. 9. 28. 28 Unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time, 29 S Imad-ud-din bapt. 1866. Mighty to save, Is. 63. 1. [Me there is no Saviour, Is. 43. 11. 30 S 3rd aft. Easter. 1st C.M.S. bapt. at Constantinople, 1862. Beside M. Nu. 22. Lu. 21. 5. E. Nu. 23 of 24. Col. 2. 8. THE CHURCH MISSIONARY GLEANER can be ordered through any bookseller in town and country. As accounts reach us that it is not always easily procured, we beg to say that it has never once been late in appearing, and there is no reason why it should not be in the hands of every subscriber by the 1st of the month. All back numbers are kept in stock. Orders can also be sent direct to Messrs. Seeley & Co., Fleet Street; or to the Church Missionary House, Salisbury Square, London, E.C. One copy, post free, 13d.; for twelve months, Is. 3d. Twelve copies, post free, 18. 3d.; for twelve months, 15s. P. O. Orders payable to General George Hutchinson, Lay Secretary. The GLEANER has been localised in several parishes as a Parochial Magazine. Apply to the printers, Messrs. James Truscott & Son, Suffolk Lane, E.C. A THE CAMBRIDGE MISSIONARY EXHIBITION. VERY remarkable sight was presented by the spacious Corn Exchange at Cambridge on the 7th, 8th, and 9th of March. By the enterprise of the Rev. John Barton, a Loan Exhibition of objects of interest from the various countries in which the Church Missionary Society labours had been projected, and articles had poured in from all parts of quarters. The result was most surprising. The Africa, India, China, Japan, and North America courts, as well as others, were full of interest; and everything was arranged with the utmost taste. Our only regret was that the Exhibition was so little known beyond its immediate locality, and that it could only be kept open three days. It ought to have been visited by the Society's friends from all parts of the country. The place and the date of the Exhibition were singularly appropriate. It was Charles Simeon, of Cambridge, who originated the idea of a Church Missionary Society, and March 8th was the 78th anniversary of the sailing of the first missionaries for West Africa. It was impossible to walk round this Exhibition, and at the same time to look back to those days of old, without the exclamation rising to the lips, What hath God wrought! EPITOME OF MISSIONARY NEWS. The annual C.M.S. sermon is fixed for Monday evening, May 1st, at St. Bride's, when (as before mentioned) the Bishop of Ossory will preach. The annual meetings will be held next day, Tuesday, May 2nd. Among the speakers appointed for the morning are Sir Bartle Frere, the Bishop of Victoria, Canon Tristram, the Rev. R. Bruce, and the Rev. R. C. Billing. The address at the Breakfast is to be given by the Rev. Canon T. Green, formerly Principal of the C.M. College. Bishop Cheetham, of Sierra Leone, will preside in the evening. Further arrangements are in progress. We greatly regret to announce the retirement from the Principalship of the Church Missionary College of the Rev. W. H. Barlow, who has accepted the Vicarage of St. James's, Clapham. On February 20th a social gathering and conference was held at the C.M. House for the purpose of considering the best ways of fostering Juvenile and Sunday-school Missionary Associations, which was attended by a large number of representatives from Sunday-schools supporting the Society. The Rev. F. E. Wigram presided; and the Revs. J. M. West, H. Sutton, and Gordon Calthrop, General Hutchinson, and many others spoke. The conference was of a very practical and helpful character; and it is proposed to repeat the meetings three or four times each year. Our last number quoted a letter from the Rev. J. Deck, Vicar of St. Stephen's, Hull, respecting the late Mr. Vaughan. Before that number appeared, Mr. Deck also had been taken to his rest. By his death the Society has lost a faithful friend, who for forty years promoted its interests in Hull. Another old and valued friend has also passed away, the Rev. R. Collins of Kirkburton. The Society's venerable missionary, the Rev. J. T. Wolters, of Smyrna, and Mrs. Wolters, died almost together on February 17th and 20th. Mr. Wolters, like Hoernle, Pfander, and others, was first a missionary of the Basle Society in North Persia, whither he went in 1832. On that Mission being expelled by the Russians, he, like them, joined the C.M.S. in 1837. He was stationed first at Syra, and then at Smyrna, and at the latter city he lived forty years, to the day of his death, although the Society's Mission was closed in 1877. His son, the Rev. T. F. Wolters, is one of our missionaries at Jerusalem. The Rev. Piripi Kingi Patiki (i.e., Philip King Patiki), one of the C.M.S. Maori clergy, and the senior in the Diocese of Auckland, died on October 4th, at the age of about seventy. He was baptized by the Rev. W. Williams (afterwards Bishop of Waiapu), in 1839, and ordained by Bishop Selwyn in 1861. "As a preacher he was unequalled among the Maori clergy.' We hear with much regret of the death of Isaac Nyondo, one of our best Native agents in East Africa. He was son of the late Abraham Abe Gunga, and for many years personal attendant to Mr. Rebmann, and he has worked most faithfully under the Rev. H. K. Binns, of Kisulutini. His portrait was in the GLEANER of May, 1877, with that of his wife "Polly." In December there was a renewal of persecution at Bonny, the still heathen chiefs prohibiting the attendance of the Christians at church. Bishop Crowther advised them to stay away a Sunday or two until he could arrange with the chiefs; but as the latter paid no attention to him, the people resolved to attend, and on Christmas Day between 400 and 500 were present at St. Stephen's. Two or three were arrested, and threatened with death; but on the rest avowing themselves also guilty and demanding to be killed too, the chiefs gave way, and withdrew the prohibition. On October 31st Archdeacon Crowther baptized eighty-six candidates at Bonny, of whom he writes, "They had all been well prepared in class. Most of them had been under training for the last eighteen months." **In a footnote in our February number it was stated that the Rev. W. H. Perkins, S.P.G. missionary at Cawnpore, was killed in the Mutiny. This was a mistake, which we much regret. Mr. Perkins is living in England now. Received:-From "The Little J's," for Japan, 10s. "S. R." should apply to a good local printer. "J. G. C." is requested to write to the Rev. F. E. Wigram, Hon. Sec. THE CHURCH MISSIONARY GLEANER. MAY, 1882. THE WORKING TOGETHER OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH IN THE EXTENSION OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM. BY THE REV. J. B. WHITING, M.A., Vicar of St. Luke's, Ramsgate. R IV. EADER, the Gospel is not only a priceless blessing to a sinner's own soul. Salvation sets the believer free to work out the will of God in the salvation "of the world." "Ye are the light of the world;" "Ye are the salt of the earth." To the disciples, men and women, gathered on the side of Olivet, the ascending Saviour said, "Go ye into all the world;""Ye shall be My witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth." Since all cannot go, some must be sent as messengers of the Churches." Where are the men, and of what sort are they? Before we reply, we must read another lesson out of the Acts-x., xiii., xiv., xv. Driven by persecution, unauthorised evangelists went "as far as to Antioch." Tidings came to "the Church in Jerusalem." The watchful "Church" immediately sent a well-chosen man to guide and organise the company of believers. The evangelists, loyal to the Church at Jerusalem, at once acknowledged Barnabas. A "Church" was immediately formed (xi. 26). In that Church "the middle wall of partition" was completely broken down. Jew and Gentile were gathered under one new name, the glorious name of Christian, which does away with all race distinctions. In the city to which this high honour was given of finding a common name for converts of every land the foundation was laid of Church missionary enterprise. Internal indications at Antioch point to external action. To the believers assembled as a "Church" the Holy Ghost manifests His will: " Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." The Church laid their hands on them after "prayer and fasting," and "sent them away. So they being sent forth by the Holy Ghost went away" to their missionary work. Here is the combined action of the Holy Spirit with "the Church" in "that city," in the selection and mission of the men. On their return they rendered an account of all that the Holy Ghost had done by them in a missionary meeting of the Church (xiv. 27). And being brought on their way by the Church" at Antioch, they were received of the Church at Jerusalem, and again related all that God had done by them. In after years the Churches of whose formation we read in the Acts are still separately exhorted to maintain a missionary spirit. The Roman Church must take a missionary interest in Spain. Some Churches must be "robbed" that the Gospel may be preached in Corinth, giving "wages." The Thessalonians must pray with missionary energy that "the Word of God may have free course and be glorified." To older Churches all owe the missionary labour which led to their conversion, and by "the Church" is made known the manifold wisdom of God. How beautifully does Ephesians iv. blend the responsibilities of the individual with the action of the whole body! Thus the Churches were instructed to seek the spread of the Saviour's kingdom. It was as much an essential part of their Christian life to unite in missionary operations as to unite in public worship. Is this the case now? Does the " Church," or body of believers in each separate parish, find the missionary idea not only engaging attention now and then, but entering into the substance of its "life," so that it can be said of that Church, "It is clothed with the testimony of Jesus"? How few are our parochial churches" where the pleading of Isaiah is fully realised: "Arise, shine, for thy light is come!" 66 NOTES FROM EAST AFRICA. Sent for the GLEANER by the REV. W. S. PRICE. N December 9th, just three weeks from leaving England, I landed at Zanzibar. A sudden transition from wintry winds and overcoats and snug firesides to the temperature of a Dutch oven, where everybody night and day is melting away, and the only luxury is a bit of ice from the Sultan's machine. To my dismay I found I was just a week too late. The N.E. monsoon had set in steadily, and as Frere Town, my destination, lies 120 miles to the north, I was sorely puzzled to know how to get there. Few native craft will venture the passage at this season, and those that do are generally two or three weeks tacking about among reefs and currents before they reach the port. Zanzibar is not a pleasant town to live in at any time, especially in the hot season and when you have nothing to do; and to make matters worse, just now, owing to the cruel massacre of Captain Brownrigg by Arab slave-traders, the gloom of the shadow of death hangs over the place and finds its way into every house. The lamented officer was deservedly popular-a kind-hearted, genial man, and the very life of the station-and so every one seems oppressed with a sense of personal bereavement. No wonder I was restless and anxious to get away-longing to reach Frere Town, and set about my work. But my wings were clipt, and I had to learn, not for the first time, that, in East Africa, Patience is a cardinal virtue. My only comfort was in the thought that the Lord knows all about it, and that no doubt there is some good "wherefore" for my detention. At the end of a fortnight, one evening as I was at dinner, to my joy came a note from Colonel Miles to say that the Sultan was sending some troops next day to Lamoo, and that His Highness was kind enough to offer me a passage as far as Mombasa in his steamer. I gladly jumped at the offer, as giving me my only chance of escape perhaps for weeks to come. Not that the prospect was in any way inviting, but it promised at least to give one a new experience, and some faint idea of what "the middle passage " used to be. Next morning I rose with a light heart, packed up my traps, and having taken a hasty leave of the Consul and other friends who had shown me much kindness and hospitality, I went on board the Sultan's little Star. As it was nigh upon Christmas the name naturally suggested to my mind "the Star of the East"; but, alas! the happy train of thought this might have led to was soon sadly disturbed by my surroundings and the necessities of the moment. Presently boat after boat came off laden with sepoys going to the war in Lamoo, firing off guns and shrieking and yelling as only East Africans know how. Then came a scene of indescribable confusion. The decks swarmed with a dusky crowd of men of all ages and sizes, clothed and armed after every possible fashion, scrambling for places amidst piles of boxes and iron cooking-pots and kegs of powder. Soon after 5 P.M. the last instalment came and we steamed away, and very glad I was to find myself on the wing again, and to watch the Sultan's electric light fade away in the distance. Verily it was a night long to be remembered. Pigs and sheep in a railway truck in England have a jolly time of it as compared with our condition. Travelling under such circumstances makes one acquainted with strange bed-fellows. Here in a boat with bare accommodation for 20 passengers, there were 200 of the dirtiest, noisiest, most disreputable-looking fellows that even Zanzibar could produce. Some of them were just recovering from small-pox, whilst others were suffering from disagreeable ulcers; and I had to shake down with this filthy herd in the best |