F. M. 18th 12.54 p.m. L. Qr. 25th.... 5.32 a.m.

2 T

3 F 4 S

5 S

[86. 15. 1 W Slavery abol., 1834. A God full of compassion and mercy, Ps. H. Williams lan. N. Z., 1823. His mercy is everlasting, Ps. 100. 5. Speke disc. V. Nyanza, 1858. His tender mercies are over all His Great are Thy tender mercies, Ps. 119. 156. [works. Ps. 145. 9. [blot out my transgressions, Ps. 51. 1. 11th aft. Trin. According to the multitude of Thy tender mercies

2nd Niger exped, at furthest point, 1854. I have compassion on He delighteth in mercy, Mic. 7. 18. [the multitude, Mk. 8 2. Unto Thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy, Ps. 62. 12.

10 F

11 S

16 T

17 F

18 S

19 S

E. Auriol d., 1880. His mercy is on them that fear Him, Lu. 1. 50. Peet d., 1865. I trust in the mercy of God for ever, Ps. 52. 8. [pitieth them that fear Him, Ps. 103. 13. 12 S 12th aft. Trin. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord M. 1 Ki. 22. 1-41. Rom. 1. E.2 Ki. 2. 1-16, or 4. 8-34. Matt. 22. 41 to 23. 13. 13 M II. Wright drowned, 1880. In Thee the fatherless findeth mercy, 14 T The Lord is very pitiful, Jas. 5. 11. [Hos. 14. 3. 15 W 1st Niger exped. entered River, 1841. The God of my mercy [shall prevent me, Ps. 59. 10. Gordon killed at Kandahar, 1880. My mercy will I keep for him, The earth is full of Thy mercy, Ps. 119. 64. [Ps. 89. 28. Let Thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, Ps. 119. 41. [glorify God for His mercy, Ro. 15. 9. 13th aft. Trin. Krapf ris, Rabai, 1844. That the Gentiles might M 2 Ki. 5. Rom. 16. E. 2 Ki. 6. 1-24, or 7. Matt. 28. 31-57. 20 M It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, Lam. 3. 22. 21 T Because His compassions fail not, Lam. 3. 22. [Ps. 103. 11. 22 W As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy, 23 T Rich in mercy. Eph. 2. 4. [His tender mercies? Ps. 77. 9. 24 F St. Barthol. Jowett to the East, 1815. Hath he in anger shut up 25 S 1st Miss, sailed for N. Z., 1809. Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up, Ps. 94. 18.] [with Thy mercy, Ps. 90, 11. 26 S 14th aft. Trin. Japan Treaty Ports op., 1858. O satisfy us early M. 2 Ki. 9. 1 Cor. 7. 1-25. E. 2 Ki. 10. 1-32, or 13. Mk. 1. 21. 27 M Thou in Thy mercy hast led forth Thy people, Ex. 15. 13. 28 T Mercy shall be built up for ever, Ps. 89. 2. [20.6. 29 W China Treaty Ports op.. 1842. Showing mercy to thousands, Ex. 30 T Lord Dufferin visited Metlatkahtla, 1876. My mercy shall not [depart, 2 Sam. 7. 15. 31 F Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my [life, Ps. 23. 6.

MORE JERSEY BREEZES.

VII. Our Efforts.

"Cut down for thyself."-Josh. xvii. 15. HE character of Joshua is eminently inspiriting. To him God's "biddings" were also enablings." Strong in the strength of the Lord, making mention of His righteousness only, he goes forth promptly wherever the voice of Duty calls, conquering and to conquer. We seem to see him up betimes in the fresh morning, full of buoyant elasticity and practical energy, a zealous friend and a formidable foe. Fixing his eagle eye on that of his Divine Master, he could look no lower for guidance with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, he stood before the King of kings, in noble self-reliance; counting not his life dear unto himself, if only he might be admitted into the joy of his Lord. No wonder, then, that he could not brook in others a supineness and dependence utterly alien to his own courageous nature. When the children of Joseph came to Joshua with a plausible expression of their merits and their needs, he replied at once, with incisive authority: "If thou be a great people, cut down for thyself."

:

Suppose we seek to lay up this grand lesson among our heart's treasures. It may reveal to some of us the secret of true success in life, and make us glad with the perfect freedom of prayerful self-help. We too are anxious to follow the leadings of a mighty Joshua, a Divine Deliverer, even the Great Captain of the Lord's Host, Jesus our Almighty Saviour. Christian warfare

is not so much a fight as a wrestling; less a combat among many than a strife betwixt two. And herein lies its difficulty. We like to associate ourselves, to stand shoulder to shoulder, to rise and fall together. The subtle sense of companionship seems to lighten our responsibility. Let us divest ourselves of all fictitious imaginings, and realise our individuality in the sight of our Maker. He watches the windings of our career as narrowly as if our erring self alone were walking through this earth. By the Word of Truth, by the power of God, by honour and dishonour, by sorrow and joy, He seeks to draw us aside from the multitude, that He may loose our stammering tongue; until, having at length learned obedience by the things we have suffered, we bow our heads and cry, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?

What a step in advance when we come to this! It may help us if we imagine Him replying: "Cut down for thyself. Shake off dull sloth; cease ye from man; have not I commanded thee? Only be thou strong and very courageous, and thou shalt see the salvation of the Lord." And then we set our daily life to a new key, following the sweet firm dictates of the Master, whom having not seen we love. We put on the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left; we keep fast hold of the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Satan himself will flee before its fearless flashings, and the walls of pride and worldliness and prejudice will fall down flat at the ringing shout of Omnipotence.

As to our foes, their name is Legion; each best knows his own; each must fight single-handed. They torment us, like thorns in our sides; hydra-headed, they spring up where we fancied them effectually slain. We want to be veritable Missionaries, true soldiers of the Cross. Then let us remember that it is by what we do, not by what is done for us, that we become strong or good. Beginning from the mighty host which beleaguer our own soul, and try hard to take it captive, let us fight the good fight every hour; in sober vigilance, let us keep the faith. And when we have learnt somewhat of our own weakness, and of the strength of trust, let us lift our eyes and look upon the many Mission fields lying ready to our hand and heart. A place awaits us all in God's army, that invincible company of willing workers, so united in counsel, so alone in execution. And in whatever direction our efforts may eventually tend, whatever may be the trials which are sent to test the depth of our faith in our Defender, let us look up brightly, hopefully, obediently, as He whispers at every critical turn: "Son, daughter, cut down for thyself." A. M. V.

THE NEW BISHOP FOR JAPAN.
OR some years past it has been felt by the mission-
aries of the Church of England in Japan, and by
others who know the circumstances of that remark-
able country, that an English Missionary Bishop
ought to be sent there. Hitherto, Bishop Burdon,

of Hong Kong, has exercised such episcopal jurisdiction as was possible from a distance of 1,500 miles, having been commissioned to do so, at the time of his consecration in 1874, by the Archbishop of Canterbury. He has visited Japan three times in nine years, and his presence was of great advantage at the Conferences held on those occasions. But considering (1) the progress of Christianity in Japan, (2) the fact that the Protestant Episcopal Church of America had its Bishop there, (3) the completeness with which other American Missions were organised, it seemed a pity that the English Church alone should be unrepresented in its full organisation among such a people as

the Japanese. One difficulty after another, however, presented itself. The late Archbishop felt it necessary to consult the American Church regarding the future relations of the two Bishops one to another, and it did not prove easy to adjust them. Then, although the C.M.S. was quite ready to maintain the English Bishop entirely, as in the cases of Travancore, Mid China, the Niger, &c., the Archbishop did not think this a good arrangement, because the C.M.S. is not the only English Church Society in Japan. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel also has a Mission, so that the new Bishop could not well be wholly identified with one society. The C.M.S. then agreed to pay a definite sum as part of the episcopal stipend on certain conditions; and the S.P.G. having offered a like sum, the matter was so far settled. It then remained for the Archbishop to find the man, but he died before this was done. The new Archbishop lost no time in making himself acquainted with the whole matter, and his choice has fallen upon the Rev. Arthur W. Poole, late C.M.S. missionary in South India, to the great satisfaction of all C.M.S. friends.

Mr. Poole was educated at Shrewsbury School and at Worcester College, Oxford, and graduated in 1873, 3rd Class Lit. Hum. In 1876 he was ordained by the present Bishop of Oxford, and was for some time curate to the Rev. A. M. W. Christopher, of St. Aldate's. In 1877 he went out as a C.M.S. missionary to the Telugu Mission, together with his friend the Rev. E. N. Hodges: Mr. Hodges being appointed Principal of the Noble High School, and Mr. Poole RugbyFox Master. He was nearly three years in India, doing a most useful and promising work, not only in the school, but by lectures to educated Hindus and private intercourse with them. In 1880 he was invalided home, and has since then won much acceptance as a deputation for the Society. His speech at Exeter Hall on May 1st will be fresh in the memory of all who heard or read it. Some extracts were printed in the GLEANER of June. As the selection of Mr. Poole for the

began on June 2nd. Hodges took the chair, and, after a short prayer (during which a few stood), spoke of our plan, discouraging public discussion, but inviting to private conversation. We had 80 or 90 present. My principal subject was the "fulness of time" in relation to the Jewish and Gentile world. The second lecture was delivered on June 9th, on the growth of Christianity. The attendance was even better. This provoked the adversary, Damódarayya Garu, the Government pleader and an old opponent, who had taken notes at both lectures, and announced a lecture on Christianity for the following Saturday, at the Hindu School. Of course I was there. There was a large attendance, and the Deputy-Collector in the chair. The lecture was in Telugu, and very long, but one of our Christian masters who was present gave me the sum of it afterwards. The Chairman and others, at the close, dissented from the lecturer's views of the absurdity of a "book revelation." He had laid down three conditions which a revelation should fulfil before it could be accepted: it must be (1) universal, (2) clear, (3) demonstrable. He ended by a few isolated passages of Scripture, pitted against one another as contradictory, and took up the position that, inasmuch as God had made the world once for all with fixed laws, revelation on His part and prayer on ours were equally absurd.

Next morning, June 16th, I gave my third lecture. The DeputyCollector consented to take the chair, and at the close expressed his dissent from the lecture of Saturday, and urged the importance of reading any books and attending any lecture which would help us in securing the happiness of the world to come. My subject was "The Claim of Christianity to be Absolute." It gave me an opportunity of bringing out Bishop Butler's arguments on the three points raised the day before. Next Sunday, June 23rd, I discussed" Non-Christian Witnesses to the Historic Truth of Christianity." June 14th, fifth lecture: District Moonsif in the chair; subject," Christianity and the Bible."

Owing to my having to go to Madras, there was delay in giving the sixth. I delivered it, however, on Oct. 5th; subject, "Christianity a Continued Miracle.' The Hindu lecturer was absent through severe illness. I sent to know if he could see me, but he sent word that he was too ill. On Oct. 21st, he and his eldest son (a clever young student at Rajahmundry College) died within a few hours of one another. It made a great impression on the Natives.

The missionary who has done work of this kind is exactly the man for a people like the Japanese -quick-witted, inquiring, speculative. We would commend Mr. Poole to the prayers of all our readers, that God will give him much grace and wisdom for the important and responsible post to which he is now called.

Japan Bishopric was the spontaneous thought of the Archbishop himself, it can scarcely be doubted that that speech had no little share in commending him to his Grace's notice.

It will interest many readers to print here a brief account of Mr. Poole's first lectures to educated Hindus at Masulipatam, which he sent to the Society in 1878:

While in Madras I delivered a lecture for Mr. Satthianadhan in the Chintadrepettah Hall. It was an extempore address on Oxford. Through a notice of this in the Madras papers, the news reached Masulipatam, and soon after my arrival I was constantly asked when I was going to begin lectures. I thought that a repetition of the same lecture would be best as an introduction to them, so on April 20th (Saturday afternoon) I delivered a lecture on the "History, Constitution, and Studies of Oxford." We had the school-hall well filled. A large number of Native officials, and masters and boys of the Hindu school, as well as our own, were present.

I was so encouraged by this that I determined to try a course of lectures. I announced a course of six lectures on Christianity as an Historical Religion," to be given on Sunday mornings at 7 A.M. We

What is the work of the Church of England in Japan, over which the Bishop-Designate will preside? The C.M.S. has on its list at present eight clergymen, one layman, and three ladies (besides the wives). The S.P.G. has four clergymen, one layman, and one lady (besides wives). There are three or four other English clergymen working in various capacities in Japan. The C.M.S. has 304 baptized Native Christians by the last returns, and the S.P.G. 147 (according to the last Report, but we think the figure should be larger); and there are a few others. On the other hand, the American Episcopal Church has a bishop, six clergymen, four laymen, and three ladies (besides wives). It has 126 "average attendance on public worship," but how many of the attendants are baptized Christians we are not told. The great successes in Japan have been achieved by other American societies, particularly the Congregationalists and

Methodists. The Russo-Greek Church and the Church of Rome also have strong forces there. We trust that Bishop Poole may be privileged to develop and extend largely the Missions of the Church of England, and that by their means multitudes of Japanese Buddhists and Shintoists may be brought to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

(The picture above represents the Matchless Mountain of Japan, as Fusiyama is called by common consent. It is 13,977 feet high. It is the central object in the background of all Japanese ideal and allegorical pictures. It is painted at the bottom of the delicate china cup from which he sips his tea, and on the lacquer bowl from which he eats his rice. It appears on his fan, on the back of his looking-glass, on the skirts of his garments.)

A GRATEFUL FAKIR.

T the end of a public road in Agra, North India, there stands a small, plain brick building, which bears a close resemblance to an ordinary English barn or shed.

It appears from what I afterwards learnt that the place was once the abode of a "fakir," that is, a holy man of the Hindus, who never works, and seldom eats, but passes his whole time in contemplation and prayer. This fakir, in order to secure a place of retirement from the noisy and

sinful world outside, digged a well, and afterwards built over it a rough place of bricks as a covering. By these means he obtained two necessaries of life; a house to live in, and water to drink. Only one thing more was wanted, and that was food. This he managed to secure from a neighbouring bazaar, the shopkeepers of which are in the habit of daily feeding these holy men in order to get their prayers and blessing. For several years the fakir lived alone in this curious place; and seldom, if ever, did any visitor call to see him. At last a godly man named Mr. Fraser, who held a very important position as Judge in Agra, found him out. And what do you think he did? Why, once or twice in every week Judge Fraser found time, in spite of his numerous engagements, to go and read a portion of the Christians' Bible to the Hindu fakir. This pleased the holy man of the well exceedingly. His own sacred books were nothing compared to the sahib's Bible. And so he listened eagerly to every word the sahib read.

Shortly after the commencement of the good judge's visits the fakir died. But so grateful was he for the good he had received from the reading of his kind friend's book, that on his death-bed he bequeathed the well he had dug and the house he had built "to the sahib who used to read the Bible."

What a touching tribute of praise this is to the excellency of the Word of God! If a poor, ignorant fakir could value it, how much more should we? Thank God that we have such a Bible to give to the heathen. HENRY LEWIS.

St. John's College, Agra,

OVER THE WATER. BY EVELYN R. GARRATT.

CHAPTER VIII.-HOLDING BACK.
ETTA, I want to tell you something."

Netta Ogilvie, engaged at the moment in unfastening her necklace before the glass, turned round rather hastily at Sasie's words, wondering from the tone of voice what the something could be.

Netta was Sasie's contrast in everything; tall, dark, with grave steadfast brown eyes, a firm resolute mouth, and a decidedly queenly figure. In her black net dress and pearl necklace she made a picture upon which any lover of beauty would have looked with pleasure.

Netta Ogilvie was worth knowing, though not easily understood. Some mistook her so utterly as to put her down as cold and proud-those who loved her admired and reverenced her as well. Perhaps, indeed, more reverenced than loved her, just because they did not understand her. Those who were weak or sad looked on her as a kind of saint; and more than one on the verge of despair had learnt to hope through knowing her. Among those who did not understand her was her own sister Sasie. It is possible that a slight feeling of jealousy may have been at the root of the misunderstanding. Netta was held up to Sasie by her aunt as a pattern to be copied; and even her father, though perhaps specially fond of Sasie, always turned to Netta if there was anything to be decided or done. If Sasie ever offered help, which, however, was seldom, her father would pat her on the shoulder, with the words, "No, no, my dear, you are sure to make a muddle of it, leave it to Netta, there's a good girl." For a game of tennis, or ride, or in fact anything in the way of pleasure, he would look to Sasie; but apparently he thought her incapable of being useful or helpful.

It may have been also that Sasie felt Netta to be much better than herself. She was conscious of there being a gulf between them, and had considered till this evening that it was hopeless to try and bridge it over. Sasie had long been convinced that Netta was a servant of God, and had found out the secret of being happy and at rest. This knowledge had till now had no effect on her, save to make her feel uncomfortable at the sense of the difference between them; but for the last two or three days, in fact since the Missionary Meeting, the thought that they were treading the same path drew Saie to her sister, and she felt instinctively that Netta, whose love for her was very great, though unexpressed, would be glad to hear that she could now sympathise with her in her longing to please and serve God.

Consequently when Netta went into her bedroom one night Sasie followed her, and, lingering by the fire, waited for some opportunity in which to speak. Netta, however, seemed in a silent mood, so that there was nothing for it but for Sasie to open the subject.

When Netta turned round quickly at Sasie's words, her sister was leaning against the mantelpiece, her face resting on her arm, gazing absently into the fire. "Well, Sasic, what is it?"

"You and I are very different, Netta."

"Yes, in some things."

'In most things, I think. I sometimes have wished we were more alike than we are, but I think I'm not quite so far away from you as I was." "Far away, dear-how do you mean?" and Netta drew nearer the fire, and looked more closely at the pretty dreaming face of her sister.

'It seemed to me that we were so very, very far away from one another a little while ago, there was no subject on which we could meet and sympathise, and now

"And now, Sasie?"

shown me something of myself and Himself before I'm any older. It was dear old Mr. North that made me really begin to think about religion first."

"Mr. North?" asked Netta, in great surprise, for she had never seen him, and had only heard him spoken of as a feeble, almost childish old man. "Yes, he has been praying for me, and God has answered his prayers." Sasie began now to long to do some more definite work for God; and knowing that Sunday-school teachers were always wanted, she resolved to see Mr. Bennett, the rector, about it.

"I shall ask for a boys' class," said Sasie to herself, as she hurried towards the rectory one morning. "I always get on well with boys, and I don't believe I should mind them being a little troublesome at first." It was with a certain amount of trembling that Sasie found herself entering the study and shaking hands with Mr. Bennett. He had known her ever since she was twelve years old, and Sasie was continually running in to see his wife, and to play with his children, with whom she was a great favourite. But it was a very different thing to find herself in the rector's study, sitting opposite to him while he waited for her to speak.

It was with hesitation that Sasie told him what she had come about, but she managed to explain herself sufficiently to make him understand, and his words of encouragement were remembered by Sasie all her life. He was glad, he told her, that she wanted to teach in the Sundayschool, particularly as his infant school was at that moment suffering from an insufficient number of teachers.

"I should prefer taking a class in the boys' school, if there is one for me," said Sasie; "I faucy somehow I could manage boys, for I'm really fond of them."

"At present I have no vacancy in the boys' school: all the classes are filled up; but I'm very much in want of infant school teachers." "But," said Sasie, rather aghast, "I am afraid I never could make up my mind to that."

'But should you not try to cultivate it ? "

"Yes, I suppose so; but-oh I am not half good enough to teach infants; and besides, on a hot summer Sunday-oh dear!" "It would doubtless be a work of self-denial.”

"Very great self-denial," said Sasie, thoughtfully. "I am afraid I look upon infants as very uninteresting; besides, I should not know a bit if they were taking in what I told them. I fear I should find it rather dull work."

"It is a happy thing for our little ones that all are not of your opinion, Sasie. God's work should never, and need never, be dull work." Sasie was silent for a minute.

"Mr. Bennett," she said, after a pause, " would there be any objection to my waiting for a month or two, for then there might be a vacancy in the boys' school? "

"Possibly there may be, but do not refuse this class without praying about it. We should not turn our back on any work God gives us to do. Be quite sure in your own mind that He does not intend this work for you before you refuse it.

"By all means. Give me your answer this day week if you can ; we will pray about it before you go."

A

Sasie's face wore a very sober expression as she walked homewards. struggle was going on within her. She had for so long done only that for which she felt inclined, that it was most difficult now to make up her

mind to do that which, except that it was work for God, was very distasteful to her.

If she undertook a class she was resolved to be regular in her attendance was she therefore willing to give up all her Sunday afternoons in order to teach a quantity of tiresome fidgety little infants? Boys were a different thing; she was convinced that she would get interested in them, that it would become a real pleasure to her, and imagined it would cost her very little. Had she known more about it, she would have understood that to teach a class of boys was by no means so easy as she imagined, that it needed much more patience and perseverance than Sasie was prepared to give. But Sasie felt that she was not willing to give so much time and trouble as infant school teaching would require.

"Shall I offer unto the Lord of that which doth cost me nothing?" The question arose suddenly in Sasie's mind and changed the current of her thoughts. Was she only willing to serve God in ways that gave her no trouble, and that cost her nothing?

A MISSIONARY READING SOCIETY.
To the Editor.

EAR SIR,-I think some of your readers may be interested in hearing of a small Missionary Reading Society, which has now been in existence for nearly three years. We have found it very useful ourselves, and should be glad to think the idea would be a help to others. The following has been our plan up to the present time :-Early in every month the reading for the month is sent to each member. It consists of two or three articles, selected by the examiner from the C.M.S. periodicals. These have to be carefully studied, and towards the end of the month a paper of questions on the reading is sent to each member to be answered from memory. The answers are sent to the examiner by the end of the month, and he looks over and marks them. Any member failing to send in a paper of answers, or to obtain half the full number of marks, pays a fine of 2d.; and at the end of the year a small prize is given to the member who has obtained most marks. We are now, however, trying a new system. At the beginning of each month the examiner now draws up a paper of questions embracing much larger portions than formerly of the Intelligencer and Gleaner. These are at once sent out to the members, who answer them before the end of the month, reference being allowed to the periodicals, and to any other books or maps. We hope this plan will enable us to master a larger portion of the mass of information provided for us by the C.M.S., and that the finding and writing out of correct answers will impress it on our minds as much as our old system. I must add that the Rev. R. R. Meadows, formerly of North Tinnevelly, most kindly acts as examiner, and I need hardly say that his kind help is the greatest possible advantage to us.

We shall be very glad to receive new members, and any of your readers who wish to join the Society should write to Miss Williams, Bridehead, Dorchester, and put the letters M.R.S. in one corner of the envelope. F. L. W.

HOW I GOT THE "HALF AS MUCH AGAIN." ROM March, 1881, to March, 1882, I collected for the Bride when any Society something like £1 6s. I was present at St. Bride's when the Bishop of Ossory made such a stirring appeal for more labourers, and for funds, and after hearing what a great effort was being made in order to raise the" Half as Much Again," I resolved that I would try and see if I could not accomplish it.

One day I was reading a missionary publication, when the writer said that he thought instead of people keeping old coins for curiosity, if they were to give them to Foreign Missions it would be much wiser. I had no coins, but I had an old silver watch which was probably made in the last century. "Well," I said, "I will pull you to pieces, and consign the case to the melting-pot," which I accordingly did, and being of a similar craft as the Demetrius we read of in the Acts, I converted the old case into the following articles, viz., a pair of solitaires, a mount for my stick, and lastly, but not least, a Silver Missionary Box. I had the name of the Society engraved thereon, polished it, and had it sealed up. You can guess the size of it when I tell you it will take nothing larger than a threepenny piece.

I soon began to show my box, and it soon began to fill. Soon afterwards we had a meeting, on which occasion we were addressed by Mr. Nicol, a Native clergyman from the Gambia. In the course of the evening several articles from Mission lands were shown, and I did not forget to show my box, when the vicar put in a "threepenny," and so did others who happened to have them; many were sorry that they could not get a sixpence to drop in, and when our vicar's son was trying to get one more coin in, out came the bottom, and when the money was counted there were twenty-one silver pieces, and some of the audience gave me other money to change into threepenny pieces, which soon made the "Half as Much Again," which I transferred to my ordinary C.M.S. box, and I am happy to say that altogether I sent in through our vicar last year a little under £2.

As so many people were sorry they could not drop a sixpence in I determined that I would have a larger one, which would admit not only sixpences but also shillings. I have tried it, and find it will hold over £2. It is made of silver, and has got "Church Missionary Society" engraved on it.

W. H.

O! they come, a host in white,

Hark! they sing the gospel psalm;
Victors through the Saviour's might,
Bearing in their hands the palm.
Near and nearer they advance,
Louder pæans stir the air;
Angels downward bend their glance,
Welcoming a sight so fair.

Once in shades of heathen night
Wounded unto death they lay;
Now uprisen to the light,

Zionward they take their way.
Messengers of Christ went forth

North and south and east and west,
From the farthest bounds of earth
Bade them come to Him for rest.
England! let thy pulses thrill!
Glorious work to thee is given!
Sow the seed of life until

Christ return to bless from heaven. Give what makes thee great-His word, Bend the knee-unite as one,

Till the kingdom of our Lord
Stretch from east to set of sun.

EAR MR. EDITOR,-An account of the anniversary just held in the parish of Aston, Sandford, Bucks, may interest some of the readers of the GLEANER. The Rev. Thos. Scott, our first Secretary, was rector of this parish, and it was here the first missionaries of the Society were trained. On Sunday last sermons were preached in the neat little church, and reference was made to the fact that it was eighty years since Scott, when the sum of £17 2s. 6d. was collected, as announced in the the first sermons were preached there for the Society by the revered Thos. Report for 1804.

On Monday afternoon tables were spread on the rectory lawn to regale friends with tea, &c., &c., and at half-past four it was a pleasant sight to see no less than 109 persons sit down to partake of the goodly fare provided for them. As the parish only contains 50 people it is evident that many of the neighbours from surrounding villages had come to assist in ringing of a bell, and a company of over 120 assembled. The proceedings the proceedings of the day. At six o'clock all were summoned by the commenced by the singing of "O'er the gloomy hills of darkness." After prayer and the reading of the 2nd Psalm, the rector, the Rev. A. C. Alford, made a few opening remarks, stating that he remembered in years gone by, when his father was rector of the parish, attending a meeting in the barn close by, when the deputation was a missionary from Sierra Leone, and again this evening they were to hear one who had been a missionary for some years in that same place. Three of the neighbouring clergy then gave short addresses, one of them specially commending to the company the reading of the GLEANER. The hymn, "Jesus shall reign," was then sung, after which the deputation spoke.

Referring in the first place to the gratifying fact that for eighty years without interruption the Society had been supported in the parish, he then pointed out that it was in the year 1804, when their first contribution was sent to the Society, that the first missionaries were sent to the West Coast of Africa. He called attention to the fact mentioned in the Church Missionary Almanack, that it was forty years that day since Bishop Crowther was first ordained, and then proceeded to tell the story of his remarkable life.

Another neighbouring clergyman then said a few concluding words, and a collection was made during the singing of the hymn, " From Greenland's icy mountains," and the rector having pronounced the blessing, by eight o'clock all were able to depart again to their homes, and thus a very happy and pleasant, and we trust a profitable anniversary came to a close. J. H.