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FIRST EXPERIENCES OF CHINESE TRAVEL.

ERY quickly have our brother and sister, the Rev. J. B. and Mrs. Ost, who only sailed for China last October, had to learn how to endure hardness in their missionary life, as the following graphic letter will show. It is pleasant to see peril and privation faced with so much Christian patience

and good humour :

SHAOU-HYING, CHINA, Feb. 20th, 1880. You will have already learned of our safe arrival in the "City of Perpetual Prosperity." You may be sure our hearts were made glad indeed when we reached this place. upon meeting with dear brother and Mrs. Valentine, and unitedly thanking our gracious loving Father for all His goodness to us by the way. We had special cause for devout thanks and grat tude, inasmuch as we were twice mercifully preserved from serious danger by water. We were shipwrecked setting out in the Australia, and our journey concluded with a boat accident.

I will not again refer to the former mishap more than to say that during the time the ship was in the greatest danger we felt that our Father in heaven was watching over us, and would not only rescue us but would also grant us our hearts' desire, and bring us safely to China. Here we are, living proofs that our trust was not misplaced.

Our second serious accident occurred to us between Ningpo and this city. We had spent a most happy week with dear Mrs. Russell, Mr. Hoare, Mr. and Mrs. Shann, and Miss Smith, and the former had arranged for our being comfortably situated on board the Mission boat during the three days it was supposed to take in performing the river and canal journey; but the second morning after our departure we were providentially awakened by our little dog barking most piteously-to find the boat fast filling with water. There was 1 feet of water in our cabin, and the water was flowing in very fast. We hurriedly got up, and my wife had to dress in the open part near the boat's bow, whilst the snow was coming quickly down. She was most fortunate in finding her things dry. I was less so. The previous afternoon I had fallen into the river and wetted most of my garments. I did not put on my dry change, but lay in bed intending to do so in the morning. Alas, in the morning I found my portmanteau filled with water, and everything saturated. I did the best I could under the circumstances, and that was to put on my overcoat and roll myself in a blanket.

As a boat conveying some coals for us happened to be alongside when we discovered the leak, all our effects were put on board, and we lay down on top of the coals until a boat could be hired to take us on as quickly as possible. We were then fifty miles from Shaou-hying.

A foot boat was procured after some time, and we were taken on in it. Our blankets were spread over the boat's bottom, and covering ourselves up we lay down in our limited space, and remained in a lying position for twenty hours. To move was dangerous, as the boat might easily be overbalanced, and we did not wish for another wetting. My wife's head was close to the stern, mine was towards the bows. It was bitterly cold, freezing very hard, and the snow was falling quickly the whole time. Drifting in on us our blankets were mostly covered, and this afterwards froze, making our covering anything but comfortable. My wife was ill most of the time.

I presented a most laughable picture on presenting myself to our good brother and his wife. I had a frozen hat (soft felt) on my head, an overcoat, partly frozen, over a flannel vest, a plaid shawl wound round my legs as a substitute for trousers, and a heavy pair of long Chinese bootsmy boys. It was some little time before our hosts quite took in my sad condition. They thought that wearing plaid shawls thus round one's legs was a part of the "latest fashion" in London. When, however, I bad fully explained myself, I was speedily supplied with all necessary articles. As I am rather slight, and Mr. V. is pretty stout, these were not a good fit, so when I presented myself at the breakfast table I was still an object of amusement. I must say I quite enjoyed the fun myself. It was with thankful hearts that we joined in the family prayers that morning for being so miraculously preserved from danger.

I am now settled in the house built by Mr. Palmer, and am hard at work studying the language. My wife sits with me, and goes over the same work with my teacher. I am thankful to say he is a Christian, so that he sympathises with us in our work. He regularly asks for God's blessing every morning before we commence work. He comes in time every morning for prayers, which he conducts for the Chinese on the premises, and I say the benediction, which I have studied so as to be able to take part in their devotions. He reads the lesson from the New Testament appointed by our Church for the day, and comments upon it for a few moments, and then cone udes with prayer. I forgot to mention that at the out et he gives out a hymn, which is sung very nicely. As he writes this out in Roman characters for us, we are able to join our voices with theirs in thus praising our common Lord and Master.

How one longs to have a loose tongue to be able to speak to these people about the Lord Jesus!

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IR,-i find this Missionary Tea is Comming off again these teas remember What you Said last year you give us a hotten [hot one] or two in Speaking you Said Something about Self sacrifice you said some might do with a little less Beer that i could not do without giving up all together then you Said some might do with a little less tobaco which i do Not use then Sir you Said some might do with a feather or two less them things i never wore in my life but Sir you had me after all i had a hobby which Cost me six pence a week one penny a day. Well Sir i thought on the first Working day of the week i would Save that Penny which i have sent to you for the Church Missionary Cause and i hope you will except it and i hope the GREAT MISSIONARY of all will except it then i know it will Bring down a Blessing on some poor soul.

So no more from your humble Servant,

A VISIT TO JAPAN.

BY THE REV. A. B. HUTCHINSON, C.M.S. Missionary at Hong Kong.

VI.

Hiyeizan, the Sacred Mountain-Lake Biwa-A terrible tragedy-Otsu-The Gospel in a prison-A night in an inn.

ITH much regret we bid adieu to the courtly and polished people of Kioto, leaving behind us countless unexplored mines of interest in temples and antiquities, arts and manufactures.

We are bound for Hiyeizan, the sacred mountain, and ere long have to leave our jinrikishas and secure, coolies to carry our luggage, for we have before us a long and steady ascent until we shall cross the summit some 3,000 feet above the sea. The city is soon hidden from our view as we turn a spur of the mountain and commence ascending a lovely valley. We are accosted in a kindly way by the dwellers in a little Swisslike hamlet that clings to the mountain side, warned to prepare for rain, pressed to take one more tiny cup of fragrant tea; and then we plunge into the everlasting hills.

After some hours of steady up-hill walking, amidst varied and most beautiful scenery, we turn an angle in the path, and the first impression is of an enormous chasm in the horizon, which slowly resolves itself into a vast lake, bosomed amid dark hills whose outlines are lost in the distance to our left. We are gazing upon the famous Lake Biwa, which is some sixty miles long, and which forms a marked object in the very centre of the map of Japan. Turning round we behold beyond and below us the valley of Kioto, and still farther off the plain of Osaka and faint gleams of the yet more distant inland sea.

More climbing brings us across a shoulder of the mountain, through a magnificent fir forest, and we emerge upon the plateau of an imposing temple. Below us we can detect numerous massive roofs with their grand curves nestling amid the forest giants that clothe the thirteen valleys which open out from under our feet. Pagoda spires peep out here and there; and long flights of granite steps, whose pearly grey contrasts pleasantly with the dark foliage, indicate the steepness of the descent towards the lake beneath us, across which in the distance fairy steamers can be seen threading their way amongst fleets of fishing boats whose sails gleam white as the wings of the snowy herons which line the shores.

This lovely site has been the chosen home of Buddhism for the past ten centuries. Hundreds of temples were flourishing here when the Conqueror landed on the shores of England. Three hundred years have just elapsed since these hills and vales were the scene (in 1571) of a massacre almost without parallel in history. The great warrior and minister Nobunaga perceived the danger to the state of the grand monastic institutions, the forts and arsenals of these belligerent monks, who led lives of

on the mountain an impress of the foot of Buddha, and every now and then one comes upon a well or a bell sacred to the memory of some ancient hero who drank of the one, or carried the other a fabulous distance.

We observe that large sums are being even now expended in restoring some of the larger temples. One was being newly roofed with copper, in thin engraved sheets, whilst the massive timbers of another were being carefully replaced, the ancient carving being exactly reproduced. The impression upon the mind of a visitor is that the Japanese are liberal and openhanded in religious matters, a characteristic which we may be sure, when sanctified by the Gospel, will materially aid in the rapid extension of Christian effort.

We leave the sacred precincts by a long avenue of stone lanterns, and gladly hail the sight of a roadside jinrikisha station, where these convenient little vehicles stand ready for passers-by. In spite of a steady rain, we enjoyed the ride by the shores of the mountain-encircled lake, wondering when the name of Jesus should be as well known here as on the Galilean lake eighteen

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JAPANESE PEASANT AND WIFE.

lawlessness, luxury, and riot; so, suddenly surrounding the thirteen valleys with his troops, he devoted the whole of the buildings to the flames, and the thousands of their inhabitants, without regard to age or sex, to the sword; an order ruthlessly carried out, to the dismay of the worshippers of great Buddha. Now all is quiet and peaceful, with nothing to recall the terrible tragedy. Many of the temples were rebuilt, and on the occasion of great festivals their halls are thronged with pilgrims and worshippers, and their lovely grounds with pleasure seekers. We paused ever and anon to wander round some colossal pile, to admire its symmetry and proportions or to question some slowpacing monk as to its history. There is said to be somewhere

ROADSIDE SHRINE IN JAPAN.

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JAPANESE POSTMAN (BEFORE 1870).

centuries since. We felt keenly how much there is yet to be done, as we turned aside, and passing under an old red torii of wood, gazed upon a well-known object of worship, the famous pine-tree of Karasaki, which stands by the lake side and covers an irregular space of some 350 feet in circumference with its sacred shade. It is very aged, the trunk being some 25 feet in circumference. The massive branches are upheld by more than 300 posts of different lengths and sizes, some being 40 feet high. The people believe it to be the abode of a spirit.

Resuming our journey along the western shore, we again alight on reaching the important town of Otsu. Climbing some flights of granite steps and passing through beautiful woods, we emerge on the granite paved platform of the Mi-idera, or temple of the three wells, from which we can look down into the busy streets below us and note also the way by which we have come a lovely perspective in the clear light after rain; the mountain range on the left sloping away gracefully to the lake on the right. In the middle distance a white walled enclosure marks the site of the barracks where is stationed a garrison of Imperial troops. Close

by is the prison. When a fire broke out here recently, the 100 prisoners, instead of trying to escape, rendered essential service in subduing the flames. Inquiry into the cause revealed the fact that they had been listening to the reading of the New Testament by one of their number, a literary man to whom it had been given by the officer in charge. He had received it from Mr. Niishima, whom our readers will remember at Kioto. Thus the good seed of the Word is being sown, and is quietly fructifying to the glory of the Almighty Giver of all good, in ways unknown and unsuspected.

We noticed that the lake was narrowing to its outlet, and after passing one or two villages and a long wooden bridge, we came to our resting-place for the night at Ishiyama, or Stone Hill. Selecting the better-looking of the two hotels, called Marutaya, or the Round House, although it was as rectangular as any other Japanese dwelling, we took off our boots on the threshold, and were glad to plunge our feet into hot water, brought at once for our refreshment by a sturdy waitress of the Aino type. The upper floor was placed at our disposal, a well-matted room some fifty feet long and about eighteen broad, but capable of division by sliding screens into five smaller apartments. Along the front,

JAPANESE WAITRESS. (Drawn by a Japanese Artist.)

which was quite open to the sky, ran a narrow balcony of carved wood work, and sitting upon its low balustrade one commanded a view of the whole river front of the village. A quiet, sleepy little place it seemed this summer evening, although, doubtless, busy enough when filled with pilgrims at the oft-recurring festivals.

We were entertained in native fashion. Dinner was soon served by attentive maidens, who brought to each a small lacquered table about six inches high with two small lacquered bowls and three earthenware dishes, containing portions of fish, omelet, soy, pickles, and vegetables, all very clean and appetising. A bucket of rice being brought, the kneeling servant, making obeisance by touching the ground with the forehead, begged us to eat. This we did with the clean chopsticks provided for us, and having satisfied our hunger, finished with a few cups of tea from a small earthen teapot brought on a little tray, and replenished from a copper kettle set on a hibachi or brass bowl containing charcoal ashes and embers.

As night fell, closely fitting screens were placed in the grooves of floor and ceiling, which shut us in, and then our sitting-room was turned into a sleeping apartment by preparations for a Japanese bed. Four or five large cotton quilts called futons were

A MEAL OF RICE AND FISH.

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laid upon each other, and one was rolled up to form a pillow, to the great amusement of the servants, as, like the Chinese, the Japanese use stiff curved boxes for the purpose. Over all was then placed a large semi-transparent curtain of dark gauze to keep off the mosquitos and other flying visitors, which by this time had become too numerous for our comfort, they being attracted by the candles burning on two spindle-legged candlesticks of bronze. This curtain was suspended from the sides and corners of the room, thus forming a little dressing-room over the beds. The night lamp was next lit; this is a circular or square screen of oiled paper about two feet high surrounding a slight pedestal, supporting a small saucer of oil from which the lighted wick projects. Soon after nine we were asleep, alone in the midst of these strange people, yet feeling as secure as if housed in some hotel in Christian England. We were roused about an hour later by a strange noise made by sliding the outer thick wooden shutters along the whole front and rear of the house, after which all was quiet till sunrise. A flood of daylight and sound of merry laughter roused us; the screens were already down and preparations making for sweeping out the rooms. Signals these for the bath and breakfast which were to precede another day's journey.

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2 W Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. 3 T Called to be saints. Rom. 1. 7.

4 F Faithful is He that calleth you. 1 Th. 5. 24. 5 S S. Hasell died, 1879. The Master is come, and

[1 Pet. 2. 9. calleth for thee. [John 11. 28. Jer. 33. 3. 7 M Gen. Lake d., 1877. Called unto His kingdom and glory. 1 Th. 2. 12. 8TH. Venn' str. entered Niger, 1878. I will call them My people [which were not My people. Rom. 9. 25. 9 W Call upon Me in the day of trouble. Ps. 50. 15. 10 T The Lord will hear when I call. Ps. 4. 3. 11 F St. Barnabas. S. Crowther ord., 1843. Here am I, for thou calledst 12 S I have called you friends. John 15. 15. [me. 1 S. 3. 5. [earth shall He be called. Is. 54. 5. 13 S 3rd aft. Trin. Mackay reached Lake, 1878. The God of the whole M. 1 Sam. 2. 1-27. John 20. 1-19 E. 1 Sam. 3 or 4. 1-19. Jam. 4. 14 M Persia Mission adopted, 1875. Thou shalt call a nation that thou 15 T All nations shall call Him blessed. Ps. 72. 17. [knowest not. Is. 55.5. 16 W He calleth His own sheep by name. John 10. 3.

6 S 2nd aft. Trin. Call unto Me and I will answer thee.

M. Judg. 4. John 16 16. E. Judg. 5, or 6. 11. Heb. 11. 17.

17 T Adjai brought to S. Leone, 1822. Jesus called a little child unto 18 F Thou shalt call me, My Father. Jer. 3. 19. [Him. Mat. 18. 2. 19 S Kirkby in Arctic Circle, 1862. All that are afar off, as many as [the Lord our God shall call. Acts 2. 39. 20 S 4th aft. Trin. 1st C.M.S. Miss. sent to Palestine, 1851. Thou shalt be [called, Sought out. Is. 62. 12. 21 M Call the labourers, and give them their hire. Matt. 20. 8. 22 T He is not ashamed to call them brethren. Heb. 2. 11. 23 W The Gentiles, upon whom My name is called. Acts 15. 17. 24 T St. John Bapt. Called, and chosen, and faithful. Rev. 17. 14. 25 F1st bapt. at Osaka, 1876. From the rising of the sun shall he call 26 S Called unto the fellowship. 1 Cor. 1. 9. [upon My name. Is. 41.25. [1 Cor. 1. 26. Not many noble are called. 28 M Before they call, I will answer. Is. 65. 24. [holy calling. 2 Tim. 1.9. 29 T St. Peter. Bp. Crowther consec., 1864. Who hath called us with an 80 W The same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. Ro.10.12.

M. 1 Sam. 12. Acts 4. 1-32. E. 1 Sam. 13, or Ruth 1. 1 Pet. 5.

27 S 5th aft. Trin. Ld. Lawrence d., 1879.

M. 1 Sam. 15. 1-24. Acts 8. 5-26. E. 1 Sam. 16 or 17, 1 John 2. 15.

NOTES.

This is a month, as regards its missionary anniversaries, of beginnings and endings. Beginnings: the first C.M.S. missionaries sent to Palestine (20th); the first within the Arctic Circle (19th); the adoption of the Persia Mission (14th); the first baptisms at Osaka (25th); and particularly in Bishop Crowther's life-his landing as a child at Sierra Leone (17th)-his ordination (11th)-his consecration (29th)-and the first entrance of the Henry Venn steamer into the River Niger (8th). Endings of three valuable and useful lives-Edward Lake, Samuel Hasell, John Lawrence (7th, 5th, 27th).

:

For such a month the word CALL is especially suitable. "Unto you, O men, I call "-with these words, which express the reason and the purpose of all missionary work, the month opens (1st). Then, in the more effectual sense of the word, our mission really is, like the "promise” (Acts ii. 39), "unto all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (19th). And then, when we stand in the presence of death, the death of the loved faithful worker, we remember why it is so"The Master is come, and calleth for thee (5th) Call the labourers and give them their hire" (21st).

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See to what we are called: "Into his marvellous light" (2nd)—“to be saints" (3rd)—"unto His kingdom and glory" (7th)- -"unto the fellowship of His Son" (26th). See what we are called: My people" (8th)— "friends" (12th)-" brethren " (22nd).

But our texts refer to another call altogether-our call to God. It is He who invites us to call: "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee" (6th) —“ Call upon Me in the day of trouble" (9th). We respond with thankful confidence, knowing "the Lord will hear when I call" (10th); for He has even said, "Before they call, I will answer" (28th). And when we think of the Africans and Hindus and Chinese and Red Indians-of Brahmin and Buddhist and Mohammedan and Pagan-what a grand assurance is that which closes our selection of texts for the month (30th), "The same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him!

دو

Topics for Thanksgiving and Prayer. THANKSGIVING for the financial result of the year-for the Centenary of Christianity in Tinnevelly-for the safe arrival of the Waganda Chiefs-for the settlement of the Ceylon difficulties. Prayer for increased funds-for men and means to penetrate Africa, East and West-for Ceylon, Tinnevelly, Japan.

EPITOME OF MISSIONARY NEWS. The Bishops of Bedford, Auckland, Melbourne, Toronto, Caledonia, Travancore and Cochin, and Jerusalem, and the Bishop-designate of Liverpool, have been elected Vice-Presidents of the C.M.S.; also the Deans of Chester, L'andaff, and Peterborough; the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University (Dr. E. H. Perowne); Arthur Mills, Esq., late M.P. for Exeter; and A. Beattie, Esq., who has just completed his fiftieth year of service as a member of the Society's Committees in England and India.

The Day of Intercession was observed by the C.M S. Committee on May 11th. A Prayer Meeting was held at the Society's House, and a Communion Service at St. Dunstan's Church, with a sermon by the Rev. G. E. Moule, Bishop-designate for China.

Negotiations with the Bishop of Colombo, consequent upon the advice of the Five Prelates before referred to, have resulted, we are thankful to say, in arrangements being agreed to under which the Bishop is prepared to recognise the rights of the Society in its Missions, and to license and ordain candidates on its nomination. The Bishop and the Rev. J. Ireland Jones have since returned to Ceylon.

The three chiefs from Uganda, sent by Mtesa with a letter for the Queen, arrived in England, with four attendants, and accompanied by the Rev. C. T. Wilson and Mr. R. W. Felkin, on April 21st. Their attendance at the C.M.S. meetings, aud at the Royal Geographical Society, is referred to on another page. They have been shown such things in this country as were likely to interest them, including a review by the Queen at Aldershot; and they were received by Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace on May 14th. Their names are Namkaddi, Kataruba, and Sawaddu.

The Royal Geographical Society has voted a presentation gold watch, value £10, to Bishop Crowther, in recognition of his services to geograpical research and commercial extension on the Niger.

On January 18th, the Bishop of Auckland ordained Wiki Te Paa, the thirty-seventh Native of New Zealand admitted to the ministry, and the twenty-eighth still labouring. The ordination sermon was preached by the Rev. J. Matthews, who has been a C.M.S. missionary since 1831.

The Bishop of Auckland has appointed the Rev. Wiremu Pomare, one of the C M.S. Maori clergy, and minister of the Ngatiwhatua tribe, to be one of his chaplains.

Bishop Speechly arrived at Cottayam, Travancore, on January 27th, and received an enthusiastic reception from the clergy and people of the Native Church. On Sunday, February 1st, he was publicly installed in Christ Church, Cottayam-" Benjamin Bailey's church," of which a picture was given in the GLEANER of October last.

The Rev. G. M. Gordon writes from Kandahar, describing his conversations with Afghans of high position. "I am reading," he says, "the Bible and Pi'grim's Progress daily in Persian and A'ghani with a munshi of the town; and I hold weekly services in Hindustani for some Native Christians attached to the regiments."

The C.M S. Mission in Kiu-shiu, the southernmost of the large Japanese islands, is spreading. Forty-two adults were baptized by Mr. Maundrell last year. Ten Christian students are being trained.

There

The Rev. E. N. Hodzes, Principal of the Noble High School, Masulipatam, reports another conversion of a high-caste Hindu s'udent. He was baptized by the Rev. I. Venca'arima Razu on Dec. 20th. was little excitement, and no tumult, as on most former occasions, nor has the school suffered. When the first two converts came out in 1852, the numbers attending fell instantly from 90 to 4, and it took two years to regain the former figure. There are now 287 pupils.

The Rev. J. C. Hoare has now twenty-nine men and boys, Chinese Christians, in his college at Ningpo. Scripture and the Prayer-book, Greek, and mathematics are mentioned in his Report as leading branches of study; and he speaks high y of the intelligence of the students, especially the younger. He was joined at the cl se of last year by his sister and her husband, the Rev. R. Shann.

The annual letters from the Revs. R. W. Stewart and Ll. Lloyd of Fuh-chow give a painful account of continued opposition and persecution on the part of the Chinese authorities. Yet the past year has exceeded all previous years in the number of baptisms, 400 having been admitted to the Church. Ung-kung, the well-known tailor of Ang-long, who has been so remarkably blessed in his efforts for the conversion of his countrymen, is dead.

Another most encouraging letter has come from Mr. Peck, at Little Whale River (see GLEANER of May). He has baptized the first eight of his Esquimaux converts; and there are thirty more candidates.

An Auxiliary Association of the C.M.S. has been formed at Lagos, and a remittance for £180, the contributions of the first year, has been received. The bulk of this is subscribed by Native Christians.

An important Public Meeting on the Opium Question was held in London on May 7th, at which the Rev. A. E. Moule and other missionaries gave sad accounts of the evil effects of the Opium traffic in China. Mr. Moule is the author of a valuable pamphlet on the subject, The Opium Question (Seeleys, 1877).

THE CHURCH

MISSIONARY GLEANER.

JULY, 1880.

BIBLE THOUGHTS ABOUT MISSIONARY WORK.
BY THE BISHOP OF SODOR AND MAN.
VI.

"Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?"

Psalm cxv. 2.

E can understand, I think, at once the force of this remonstrance with God's ancient people, Israel. What nation in the world had been blest as they were? The wonders of God's salvation had been freely and repeatedly exercised on their behalf. The sea had been made to divide its waters for their deliverance. The desert had been required to supply their wants. The nations had been vanquished and driven out that they might have the inheritance bestowed upon their fathers. And not only had they the experience of the past, but they were richly favoured in promises for the future. The assurance of victory was theirs if they would only look to God. When, therefore, Israel failed to prosper, when the surrounding nations triumphed over them, it was indeed a most serious question for their consideration, "Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?"

But if this was a serious consideration for Israel, is it not equally so for ourselves? True, the calling of the Christian Church is different from that of the Jews. They were as a nation the depositary of God's truth, but they were never called to missionary work. The Christian Church is essentially a Missionary Church. An obligation is resting upon us. As long

as there is a nation, indeed as long as there is an individual in ignorance of Jesus, so long the obligation lasts, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature."

Is not our experience, however, of God's salvation in the past, is not the promise of power and blessing to the Christian Church, far exceeding that vouchsafed to Israel? "All power is given unto Me," says Christ, "in heaven and earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations." These are the terms of our commission; and we have the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. We look back upon the work which was accomplished by the first preachers of the Gospel, against Jewish prejudice and all the opposition of the heathen world, and what was the result? Their idols were overthrown, their philosophy was brought to nought; and Christianity so rapidly advanced that within forty years of our Lord's Ascension, in spite of bitter persecution, it had reached Imperial Rome and was manifest in the Palace of Cæsar.

We cannot for a moment doubt, then, as to the ultimate success of our missionary labour, if only we continue faithful to the principles on which the first preachers of the Gospel acted, faithful in doctrine, faithful in practice, faithful in prayer. The truth and Word of God are the same now as they were then. The Gospel is still the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. If therefore at any time we fail to prosper, it is well to see if there is not some fault or error with ourselves. The Lord will be true to us, as we are true to Him. "Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?"

NEWS FROM UGANDA.

T is with much thankfulness that we report the arrival, on May 26th, of letters from Uganda written as late as Jan. 9th, at which date Mr. Mackay, Mr. Litchfield, and Mr. Pearson were well. Strange vicissitudes have occurred to the Mission since the previous news left. Our readers will remember that in March, 1879, great trouble and anxiety fell upon our

brethren, partly through the influence of the Arab traders at Mtesa's court, partly through the arrival of a party of Jesuit priests, and partly through Mtesa misunderstanding certain letters sent to him from Zanzibar. In the following June, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Felkin left Uganda with the chiefs whom the king was sending as an embassy to Queen Victoria, and who have since been welcomed in this country. Shortly afterwards more Romish missionaries arrived, and the difficulties that ensued were described in the GLEANER of March last. We have now five months' further news.

For some time the prospects were most encouraging. Our letters hardly mention the Jesuits, and how they fared we do not know. But king, chiefs, and people grew more and more friendly with our missionaries. The desire for instruction was rapidly increasing; and the little printing-press was hard at work sup

plying the demand for printed alphabets, texts, prayers, &c.

On Nov. 2nd Mr. Litchfield writes:

I am very thankful to be able to report progress. Not of our work or of our deserving, but purely from God's good hand upon us. Peace is upon us, and there is a wonderful change from the days of our troubles here. In fact it is like clear sunshine after storm. Miesa is now taking up the question of Education in earnest, and is ordering all his chiefs, officers, pages, and soldiers, to learn the alphabet, &c., in English characters. Mackay and myself are never free from learners, some of whom are waiting with the daylight. We have our hands full of work to supply them with brain food, and the small printing-press sent out with us from England is in daily requisition. With knowledge will come the desire for literature, and our next work, and most important, will be the translation of the Bible. I am afraid it will be another twelve months before we could venture on this task; but our tongues are gradually becoming loosened, and we can both teach simple scripture lessons in Kiganda.

These last three months I have been very busy building, and have now finished a house for myself, a house for my boys, and am getting on with a fence which will enclose one-third of the Mission compound. Some one hundred banana trees are already planted, and I hope to get four or five hundred more yet, as several chiefs have offered to give me them. Mackay and myself are now on visiting terms with every chief in the capital, without an exception, and not a day passes without our house being filled with visitors. You can think how all this cheers our hearts and makes us praise Him who has wrought this change. In medicine, too, there has been some progress, as this last month's journal shows over 200 cases, most of which are cures. Mtesa has sent us no food supply for four months, but we have managed to buy, and have never wanted. We live, as regards food, exactly as the natives, and find our health keeps good, and no ill effects ensue.

The king and others are asking for baptism, and we hope for bright days ahead. Pray for us.

But another dark cloud was approaching, and just before Christmas it burst upon the Mission. It seems that the chief deity of Uganda is the demon-god of the Lake, who is an evil spirit called Mukassa. This spirit is supposed to reside in a human being, and to appear from time to time in Uganda to assert his supremacy. It is surprising that we have heard but little of this before, and that national superstition has not more actively resisted the Gospel. But Satan has been using, as we know, other instruments; and now that these have failed, he has brought up this Mukassa as a reserve force. In December it was announced that the god was coming, in the person of a medicine-v e-woman or sorceress (though the spirit is regarded as male). Mr. Mackay boldly denounced the superstition, and at first carried the king with him; but the power of evil was too great, and on Dec. 23rd, at a grand council of chiefs at the palace, it was resolved unanimously to have nothing more to do with either Mohammedanism or Christianity, but to go back to the old religion. The Sunday services were discontinued; the people were forbidden to come any more to learn from the missionaries; and on Jan. 9th, a fortnight after, our brethren were just waiting the issue of this great crisis. Mr. Mackay writes:—

For several months I have found the word lubare more or less in every

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