rattled into huge wooden coffers covered with gratings, which stood conspicuously in front of the shrines. The larger wellmatted halls, through which we walked with shoeless feet, were capable of holding comfortably from 2,000 to 3,000 worshippers at once. Here was evidence, in the thronging multitude, of the intense vitality of idolatry in Japan. We were in the headquarters of the most dangerous opponents of Christianity-the Shin or Monto sect, the most influential amongst all classes, specially amongst the masses. It is a peculiarity of this sect to erect twin temples in the midst of the great cities, and to use every endeavour to compel the people to come in. These have given up penances, pilgrimages, fasting, seclusion, and the monastic life, and are no longer celibates. By vernacular preaching, by publishing sacred classics in the vernacular, where others use Sanscrit or Chinese, by meeting the people in their most crowded haunts, and by proclaiming a righteousness through "faith" instead of asceticism, these Buddhist "protestants" (as they have been called) have established a wondrous hold over the people. With this sect Christianity must be prepared for a mighty struggle. Close by their temples stands a new building in European style, a grand college for six hundred students, on the model of one of our Universities; its object, the thorough training of the younger Monto priests, that they may be able to cope with Christian Missionaries on their own ground. Some of the influential leaders of this sect have visited England, and have read portions at least of our Scriptures. We have no doubt as to the ultimate result of the struggle, but we must all strive together in prayer that our spiritual weapons may speedily prove successful, under God, to the pulling down of these strongholds of Satan.

TALKS WITH YOUNG WORKERS.

BY THE REV. J. E. SAMPSON.

CHAPTER IV.

HAVE been thinking much," said Mr. Harper, when next the party met, "of our talk together last time about prayer. It would be interesting if we could trace the power of prayer in the annals of our great Society-how it has affected and influenced all our missions. But God only can do that, and when the day comes we shall see that the secret, unseen, unpraised, praying souls have been the spring and life-blood of the work."

Yes, sir," said Welton, "we see the working, but God only sees the praying."

"And blessed be His name," interposed old Mrs. Hope, "He answers as well as hears."

"Our Society began with prayer. It was born of prayer. Prayer was its nourishment, and prayer almost only, for years after it was born. Certainly of the Church Missionary Society it is true, more clearly than of any other agency I know of, that its 'vital breath' was prayer." "I think, dear sir," said Mrs. Hope, "you need not have altered the poet's is into was. It is so now."

True, Mrs. Hope. I have only two or three times been in the Committee Room in London. If I am in town on a Committee day I do like to slip in unknown there. It does me good. There is a wonderful solemnity about their proceedings. Everything is discussed evidently under the impression of responsibility to God. I seem, when there, to breathe the atmosphere of prayer."

"It is very pleasant to think of this," said Mr. Welton; "tell us in what way prayer was so much concerned in the birth of the Society." "That was eighty years ago. The age of the Society goes with the century," was young Green's remark.

"I wonder what they did without it?" said Mrs. Hope, with a smile. "The century before this must have been a very lifeless affair."

"What did they do?" said Mr. Ryme, "why it seems to me they did nothing. When there was no missionary life in the Church, there was no life at all. The work at home didn't begin till after the work among the heathen had begun. Wasn't it so, Mr. Harper?"

"Well, the principle you state is quite true, I have no doubt." "Yes," interrupted Mr. Ryme, "I always say so. C. M. S. came before C. P. A. S. Indeed C. M. S. is the mother of all good work in the Church of England."

"Yet, Mr. Ryme, I think you are a little too hard upon the eighteenth

century. We are talking about prayer. We have said that prayer is the spring out of which all the streams of missionary effort have flowed, and are still flowing. I am disposed to think that many hidden streams, bright with faith and hope though accompanied by no visible efforts, were then irrigating the soil in which we are now working. I cannot think the devoted men of the last century-and there were men of deepest devotion and of real zeal for God-I cannot think that they were indifferent to the condition of the heathen."

"You see," said Welton, "they had no tools to work with. We have hammers and axes put into our hands, for the pulling down of the strongholds, upon which they could only look in praver and faith."

"Let us look at our great Society," suggested Mr. Harper, "what a It wide-spreading tree it is. It must have sprung from a sound acorn. must have been planted in good soil. The planting was in the last century, remember."

"There must have been men of great faith in those days," remarked Mr. Green.

They were giants," said Mr. Harper. "A few godly men met in London, their hearts yearning for the salvation of darkened heathens. They met to consult together-to ask one another, What can be done? But they met chiefly to ask the Lord of the vineyard, What shall we do?"

"I suppose many Christian people quickly gathered round the praying band?" said Mr. Green.

"Not so many. The thing was new. The people had gone on in thought the scheme was utopian. Many laughed outright at the idea of their quiet religious way so long, they didn't understand the call. They turning Africans into Christians. Others stood aloof, saying, We will see what it will come to. I assure you they had to stand alone a long timealone with God."

"How different it is now!" remarked Mr. Green.

promises. I adore the wisdom of God when I think of all this. The "Ah, now we have something to look at. Then they had only God's secret of subsequent success lies, I am persuaded, here."

"Perhaps," said Mr. Treddel, "this is why God keeps us waiting so long before we see the fruit of our work in the Sunday-school?"

'Certainly," said the good superintendent, "it throws you more upon God's word, and that is best for your soul as well as for your work.” "I see," said Mr. Welton, "in the Church Missionary Atlas that the Society was founded at a meeting of sixteen clergymen, on April 12th, 1799. What a happy meeting that would be!"

"It is happy for us, now that the tree they planted has grown so gradually. But it seems to me they were like the father of the faithfulthey went forth not knowing whither they went. Their difficulties were immense. Fifteen years passed away before a single bishop would sanction their proceedings."

"Perhaps that was permitted in order that they might depend more purely on the Heavenly Bishop," was Mrs. Hope's quiet remark. Mr. Harper smiled, and said, "I don't think it would have the effect of hindering their prayers."

"Ah, hindrances are our greatest helps," said the old lady. "What other difficulties had they," asked Mr. Green, "besides the lack of patronage ? Had they no good laymen among them?"

"Yes, several, especially the great Wilberforce, and Admiral Lord Gambier was the first president. But missionary work is very costly, more costly then than now. They had no experience, no previous successes or failures to guide them. Their income for the first five years did not average four hundred a year! "

"What an outburst of generosity for the evangelising of the world! " exclaimed Mr. Ryme.

"But they knew to Whom belongs the silver and the gold, Mr. Ryme. I have no doubt the income was often mentioned on their knees." "I wonder they didn't give it up in disgust," said Mr. Ryme, with a shrug, which implied, "I would if I had been there."

He might have said this, but dear old Mrs. Hope interposed, saying, very mildly," Men of faith never give up when they have God's command to guide them, and God's promise to support them."

"So they went on," continued Mr. Harper, "and other difficulties rose. They could not find men to go forth."

"Couldn't find men!" exclaimed the impulsive Mr. Ryme. "Why there's nothing I should like better."

"Ah, we little know ourselves. They wanted men made of stronger stuff than you, brother. They didn't want men who would give up the work in disgust. I think those were your words a few moments ago. They wanted men who could say with that great missionary of old, 'What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.' They couldn't find such a man in all England."

Mr. Ryme looked as if he were going to speak, but said nothing. "For ten years not a single Englishman appeared. Think what a trial of faith that would be! But," and Mr. Harper glanced at Mr. Ryme, "they didn't give it up. God has His own way of solving difficulties. I

am sorry to say our first missionaries were foreigners. A Missionary Seminary had been founded in Germany to train men for such a work. But it had no furds. Nay, worse than that, it was in debt. The head of the institution is reported to have said, The only fund the Missionary Seminary possesses is Jesus Christ, and His grace and favour.' It was well they were poor, or we should not have had such a legacy as that for our encouragement."

"I suppose," inquired Mr. Treddel, “they helped us with men, and we helped them with money?

"Just so.

It was not till fifteen years after the Society had been

texts, and had made most attendances, and had most marks for pennies put in the box, should have the best book out of four or five that the Vicar gives every year. So, at the end of 1879, we found that the box contained (or had contained, for it got so full that we had to open it) £2 9s. 7d. It was made up to fifty shillings. And they have started 1880 as cheerful-nay, more cheerfulfor they say that they must not go back, but forward. Seven of the men have begun to take the GLEANER this year. SHEFFIELD, February 2nd, 1880. A SCRIPTURE Reader.

BY MRS. W. II. DUNCAN.

"And now surely the young Society was out of its difficulties ?"

"Not by any means. There was not a solitary source of help or of hope, which did not present difficulties almost insuperable, excepting GOD. Never were men more thoroughly cast upon Him than were the founders of our great and good Society. They had no other help."

"Thank God for it," said Mrs. Hope, over and over again as she trudged homeward that evening.

OU remember the new name Jesus promised to Simon (see Lesson 1)-Cephas, or Peter, a "stone." Simon had now been two years with Jesus, and, being with the Rock, had become more rock-like. Now he can take his new name.

(1) But first Jesus examines him (like school exam.). "Whom do men say that I am?"-"Whom say ye that I am?" They are not now amid the thronging multitudes, but away in a lonely place-people have turned against Him-even some disciples gone back (John vi. 41, 52, 60, 66)—is Simon's faith shaken ? No"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God"-not "We think," but "Thou art"-he is sure of it, and not afraid to say so. And now Jesus says, "Thou art Peter"-not "Thou shalt be," as before, but

"Thou art."

(2) Yet Jesus calls him by the old name too-"Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona"-why? To remind him of his weakness. And next we see him very weak, not a "stone" to be built into the Church (see Eph. ii. 20; 1 Pet. ii. 6), but a stone in the path for men to fall over! He would like to go forth at once, and rouse the people with the cry, "Messiah is come!" But Jesus says, Not yet (ver. 20)-why? Because something else first-Jesus must die, and now He tells them this (ver. 21). How does Peter take that? Can't believe it-angry with his Master for saying it-and what does Jesus now call him? Not "Peter," but "Satan!" Not a foundation-stone, but an "offence "-that is a stumbling-stone (Greek, skandalon), in the path. Why this? Tempts Jesus (like Satan, Matt. iv. 9) to take the crown without the cross.

(3) But after the cross, the crown shall come. Ver. 27-"The Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father." Peter understood it afterwards: see his own Epistles, 1 Pet. i. 11, 19-21; iii. 18, 22; iv. 13;

v. 1.

THESE ARE THE TRUTHS TO BE TAUGHT.-(1) Jesus is God; (2) Jesus died for sinners; (3) Jesus rose, and reigns, and will come again. These are what our missionaries take to Africa, India, China.

Do we know these truths ourselves? We say them all in the Creed; but have we taken them in? Are we thankful for them? Do we long for others to know them? Every penny in the missionary box helps to teach the heathen of Christ the Son of God, Christ crucified, Christ enthroned. Is not that worth giving for?

ANOTHER WORKING MEN'S MISSIONARY BOX. EAR SIR,-I was much pleased with the account of "A Working Men's Missionary Box" in the February GLEANER. Let me tell of another "Working Men's Missionary Box" in connection with my adult class. At the beginning of 1878 I began the box. I thought that they might think it bal yish at first, so I told them that now was an opportunity of doing some thing for Jesus. I had brought a book with me with all the names of the men in, and fifty two spaces for every Sunday in the year opp site each; and I got two to go round, one to book, and the other to carry the box. I told them that I did not expect more than a penny per Sunday, because many of them had large families. It was a success. When we opened the box at the end of the year there was £2 in it. I then proposed that those who had found most

ANY of our friends whose hearts have been wrung with the tidings of famine and suffering in Kashmir, now extending over so long a period, would no doubt like to know something of what our devoted missionary Mr. Wade has accomplished during the last trying eighteen months, during which he has been labouring amongst the Kashmiris.

To quote his own words, "I arrived in Kashmir from England in June, 1878. At most stages on my way through the hills I heard accounts of the sufferings the people had endured during the previous winter, and I met numbers of starving people trying to escape out of their country. As soon as I had crossed the Pass, and descended into the valley of Kashmir, unmistakable signs of famine were seen everywhere, and the fresh graves without the villages, and the skeleton forms within, bore witness to some of its terrible effects."

A Kashmir famine fund was started, and supplies of grain forwarded from various places in the Punjab. In the western parts of the valley the famine was very severe, and, in his account of an itinerating journey he made there, Mr. Wade gives a graphic picture of the distress and suffering--of the emaciated creatures flocking around him with cries and struggles for bread for the hungry, and medicine for the sick.

As soon as permission could be obtained, some famine relief works were commenced. Building was strictly prohibited (so great is the jealousy of the Maharajah of Kashmir of foreign interference), but they set the poor coolies, men, women, and children, to the work of levelling waste lands, filling up holes, and repairing roads. For this the adults were paid one anna per day, and the children half an anna, thus earning six annas a week, equal to about eightpence of English money. For this miserable pittance they flocked in crowds, only too thankful to earn something that would keep them from starvation. The women and children each brought a small basket in which to carry earth and stones: the men did the harder work with spades, pickaxes, &c.

Some of them were nearly naked, but all carried their kangri, a small earthen pot, in which some live coals are cherished, surrounded with wickerwork, and having a handle at the top. Men and women alike wear the choga, a loose gown, under which they carry the kangri, and frequently burn themselves in consequence. The women can cleverly manage to carry a basket of earth on the head, a child on the arm, and a kangri under the dress. Sometimes when fresh fuel has been added to the fire, they look, with the smoke pouring forth around their necks, almost like walking chimneys.

The old Kashmiri catechist, Qadir Bahksh, now nearly one hundred years old, and almost blind, gathers the coolies for a quarter of an hour each day, and, by his clear voice and lively manner, fastens their attention as he tries to show them the way of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Then Mr. Wade began to collect the poor little orphan children whose parents had died in the famine, and who used to sit shivering and crying near the Mission houses. The Maharajah was prevailed on, through the efforts of the missionaries and the British officer on special duty, to build an orphanage where more

UP THE NILE TO UGANDA.

JOURNAL OF MR. R. W. FELKIN.

[We now resume Mr. Felkin's journal. Mr. Litchfield's letter in our last brought the party to Foweira. (See map and explanation then given.) From Foweira to Mruli they went in boats up the river. At Mruli they finally left the Nile, and the Egyptian escort provided by Colonel Gordon, and were conducted through Unyoro to Uganda by King Mtesa's inen. Our two pictures, from Baker's Albert Nyanza, show us the country and people now passed through.]

AM at this time, January 26th, 1879, eight A.M., in a ricketty old native boat, paddling at about one and a half miles an hour to Mruli. We had rather a bad time of it yesterday, for she leaked very much, and once or twice we thought it was all up with us. Pearson and I were baling her nearly the whole day-hard work it was, too, in the cramped position in which we were placed, and in the burning sun. By sunset we had not reached our camping-place, and it was indeed very exciting; boat leaking worse than ever-we could not make way-men tired out we could hardly see; it was no enviable situation to be in, and I confess I had my swimming-belt ready, though the hippos and crocodiles

would soon have made short work of us had we gone down. But God took care of us, and at seven we saw the light of a fire ahead of us, and, after a shot from Wilson's revolver, saw a flash in reply, so we knew our men were in advance, and had a fire ready for our arrival.

We soon landed on a miserable place-very swampy, with mosquitoes in swarms, but they had got poles placed for our curtains. The fire was of palm leaves, and it threw a ruby light on the wild scene. Hippos grunting all round, and at a distance the howl of divers wild animals, and the trumpet of the elephant still further off, with a chorus of frogs, &c., close at hand, making the evening concert complete! Litchfield had fever, so the first thing we did was to put him straight for the night, then made our own beds right, and we sat on boxes round the fire.

Jan. 27th.-Up at five A.M. And wasn't it cold and damp! Coffee soon put us all right, and we started at 6.30. I changed boats to lighten a little, so I am now alone. The scene is glorious-the sun setting, casting his golden beams on the broad river, which stretches as far as eye can reach, mountains on either side-all the colours subdued to a soft tone. It does look like getting to our journey's end now. O God, grant that we may! Just been refreshed by reading a sermon by the Bishop of Rochester-so thankful for it-it is in Good Words for last year.

Therm.

Jan. 28th.-4.15 P.M. Am now just crossing the river in sight of Mruli. Have had an awful day of it-men would not go on. 100°, and now it is 96°, so it has been hot. Well now we say good-bye to the old Nile, after rather too long an acquaintance with it.

Mruli.-When I got here I found my three companions holding a levée of several Uganda chiefs sent to meet us. They sat on the ground on mats in a semi-circle, with some thirty or forty followers behind them. It was a picturesque scene, and when I came up they all rose and said "salaam." They are a far better-looking set of men than I expected. Their white head-dresses were quite curious, and one or two reminded me of dinner napkins done up on company nights! The sun is burning hot. I don't know how we shall manage the march-six days' jungle, with one river to cross; then a day's rest, and then we hope to reach Rubaga. This place is the last Egyptian station, and is strongly fortified. Feb. 3rd.-Woke this morning by the drums of the Waganda, and the men rushing to pick up the light loads. Wilson turned out and sent them off till eight, as it is too early to start on account of the unhealthy marsh, and we must be careful. Good words for me in Daily Light today. We hope in ten or twelve days to be in Rubaga.

The soldiers were out, and drawn up in two lines along the road we had to go, and as soon as all was ready off we went, Ibrahim Effendi carrying our flag until we had gone down the lines, which we did in single file. This small ceremony over, we heard the last salaam from Egyptian bugles; and I must allow a shade of sadness passed over me to leive the land in which we have experienced such signal kindness and attention. I must, indeed, pay a last tribute of deep gratitude to all the officials, for they have been good to us, often giving us of their own poor and dearly bought stores to make us comfortable. The last adieux were said, poor Ibrahim Effendi looking quite down-hearted as he clasped our hands for the last time, and then the march began.

We are now at a small collection of huts-a camping ground of the Waganda-about ten miles off Mruli.

The men are now engaged variously-some in bringing water, some in getting wood, some in making huts for us, as there are signs of a storm coming; but by far the larger number are sitting round and looking at our every action. One man has been to tell me he has a snake in his inside; another has brought me his gun to mend. Possibly I can cure the snake, but doubt if I can the gun. There is a most curious collection of this latter article here, from the modern breechloader to a flint stock of a past century. The men have built the huts very nicely. Litchfield, Wilson, and I have one large hut. Pearson, a small one to himself, which just took a quarter of an hour to build, n t counting the cutting of the sticks, of course. There are only a few mosquitoes. This is a boon, after the tortures we have endured.

Feb. 4th.-Passed a very good night. No wild beasts disturbed us, though there were many about. The men up early, and we too started early at 6.30. Road good-very little high grass. We walked very fast. The men told us we must go on for seven hours. We came up to a large body of men at work making our huts. This was very good, and I was glad to rest. Some 200 men here, and a letter from Mackay, and the C.M.S. periodicals for June [1878]. Mtesa had sent a message to me that he was glad that I was coming, and hoped I should come on quickly, as he much wanted to see me. I wrote him a short note, thanking him, and telling him I hoped by God's help to be of some use to him and to his people. Within two hours quite a large encampment had been formed, some 300. buts or more having been built, and soon fires were lit and cooking operations were going on. The evening was very fine, and as we sat before our huts enjoying the fire, the scene was very lively and interesting. True, there were no sentries or attentive soldiers, but groups of men formedsome smoking, and drinking pombe, or rather sucking it through tubes from the large gourds, others were playing a kind of flute, others cleaning arms, or making walking-sticks.

Feb. 5th.-More men came-we must have seven or eight hundred, quite a small army. Rump of cow for breakfast; roast bananas very good, almost like roast apples; they brought us some very large sweetpotatoes, 14 ft. long, and weighing 4 or 5 lbs. The big chief took us to see his wives-about twenty! they were a very pleasant set of women, good-looking for the most part; they seemed pleased to see us, laughed and talked, and got the chief to take off Wilson's hat for them.

Feb. 6th.-Marching about twelve miles to the river Lugogoa-road lay through a forest-it was slippery, and we were glad when we stopped; the men had our huts ready. We saw here one of Mtesa's flags for the first time; it is white, red, and blue. It has been sent to do us honour, also one of the large war drums.

As I write, some fifteen or twenty Waganda are looking at me. Well, if it generates a wish in their minds to learn how to write, I do not object. Example speaks louder than words sometimes. May it be so with our example in every way for good!

The evening was truly grand, the moon was at her full, a few fleeting clouds passing rapidly over head; we were seated by a glorious fire, all round us were huts, and groups of men sitting eating or enjoying the soothing pipe; we were talking of the glorious future of Uganda-if our day dreams come true, and why should they not?

Feb 7th.-Our boys brought our coffee at the unearthly hour of ten minutes to four A.M. The moon was shining brightly, and the men were beating the drums and playing the flutes for a start. The chiefs soon got on the march, each preceded by drums, and followed by their wives. We marched about two and a half hours to our present camp. I have just had a present brought me of sweet potatoes. When giving a present the men kneel down before you with down-cast eyes, in a very penitent sort of way.

The drinking vessels and bottles of the Waganda seem to be gourds ; when on the march they stuff up the neck of the gourd with leaves and put a drinking straw in; this is very convenient, as the water is not spilled and you have not to stop to drink. Even on the march the Waganda are very clean with their food, and wash before and after eating. They often use large banana leaves as plates. Of course they eat with their fingers, at least so far as I have seen.

About sunset we went a walk and came upon the chiefs, who were sitting in court-martial on a man who had not built our huts quickly this morning; he was ordered a flogging, and it was curious to see how he came back, and kneeling down, thanked the chiefs for his punishment. Feb. 8th.-About two A.M. we were awakened by a great beating of drums and horn-blowing. In the moonlight were two long lines of men passing, some with our boxes, and all armed, and I can assure you it was a most fantastic sight. They went at a quick pace, calling out time, drums beating, &c., all combined to make such a strange scene as I have never before seen. When four or five hundred had passed, the big drum was brought, and it was followed by the old chief and his wives. We had a hasty breakfast and followed.

Four miles an hour over slippery ground, with stumps and bushes in the way, is a good pace. The moon was shining gloriously, throwing our shadows and the shadows of the trees sharply on the ground, and making the dewdrops on the grass and leaves glisten like thousands of diamonds all around. The drums and voices of the men and the flutes were the only sounds, and a really pleasant march of four hours followed. The air was cool, and the novelty of a moonlight march quite enlivening. We saw no wild animals: our friends in advance sent them away with the noise. About 5.30 the moon began to dim, and the faint rosy tint of dawn to steal over the land from the east, and the quick change from night to day, which is a peculiarity of the tropics, was very well seen; at six all was changed, and the strong sunlight showed us the fog, so fatal to those exposed to it. I hope we shall not suffer; if quinine and pipes can prevent it we shall not. We passed through several swamps, being carried through the worst ones.

Great care was taken to guard against attack, because when the men were on their way to fetch us they were attacked just here. Men were sent out on each side and ahead of the party, and about every mile we passed, small parties of men were perched upon old ant hills on the look-out. At 7.40 we had a rest for three-quarters of an hour, and Mr. Wilson saw not far before us a large tree he had marked as a landmark, about two miles from the river which divides Unyoro from Uganda. Could it be true? for we had expected a much longer march; yes, we had made a forced march, and in half an hour more we saw the desired land, a range of well-wooded country higher than the part we were on, and the river at our feet. I do not think the Israelites of old could have been more thankful than I. Here we are in Uganda, safe and in good health, and the Nile route has been a success. The river we had to pass was some 400 or 500 yards broad, muddy and full of grass. We waded through and put our feet first on Uganda land about 9.30 A.M.

I cannot close to-day without saying how thankful I am to God for all His goodness and mercy to us all this long journey; surely they have followed us all our days. May our sojourn in this land be indeed blessed to the glory of our Lord and Master!