still holds on its way, amidst the din of war, and the murmur of war's rumours; and international exhibitions all date their birth from that May morning when the sun shone on the first palace of glass.

On that same day, far away in the remote East, our missionaries dated letters containing joyful tidings of the first baptisms connected with the C.M.S. Mission at Ningpo; and these formed the first links in one amongst the many chains which bind the Church to her Lord, and which shall not be broken, we trust, till, through war and tumult (it may be) clearing His victorious way, the Prince of Peace Himself shall have come, claiming China, as well as all lands, for His own.

Mr. Russell (the late Bishop) wrote thus of Bao Yüoh-yi, the elder of the two men baptized on that memorable occasion :

He is a tailor, who, for the last two years has been employed by us, giving much satisfaction by his industry and good behaviour. His views of the great truths of Christianity seem clearer, and his general acquaintance with Scripture, larger than those of his companion; but this may be only from his natural superiority of intellect, he being a very clearheaded and sharp-sighted fellow. He is, I trust, equally sincere in his acknowledgment of Jesus alone as his only and all-sufficient Saviour. Yüoh-yi, a learner of righteousness," was the name chosen by the tailor himself as his baptismal name. May his future life testify to the reality and sincerity of his profession!

Bao's family history was related once by himself in the course of an open-air address. Mr. Russell was preaching with Bao in the streets of Sing-kô, when he observed, he writes, "an odd-looking character, with a very arch expression of countenanee, in appearance and manner not at all unlike one of my own countrymen in Ireland, pushing his way through the crowd, until he came within a few feet of where we were standing, when he commenced as follows:- You have come to exhort us all to be good. Well, that is a very good thing. But what is the use? Just look round upon them all, you see they are all opium smokers. What's the use of exhorting opium smokers to be good?" The sly slap at foreigners, hinting at their incon

needs imitate his vices also, and soon became a wretched victim to the opium pipe, dying at last in poverty and disgrace. apprenticed to a tailor, and in process of time, by my own exertions, "Then I appeared on the scene, penniless and friendless. I got myself scraped together sufficient to purchase a wife, and set myself going in the world. Alas! one day I found several of my fellow-tradesmen reclining in an opium den. They invited me to have a pipe. 'No, no', said I, opium ruined my grandfather and my father, and I am not going to involve myself in the same fate.' 'Oh,' they replied, 'habitual smoking is of course bad, but an occasional whiff does not signify.' Will you believe me, in another minute I was reclining by my companions, so." Here the catechist put his hands to his mouth in imitation of an opium smoker, to the great amusement of the hearers. "Now," he continued, "my grandfather might have been deceived by the persuasion of an unprincipled foreigner, but what excuse was there for me, after the warnings of two generations ?"

sistency in vitiating the Chinese with opium, and yet exhorting them to be good, was appreciated by the crowd, and raised a loud laugh. Then Bao, "taking our funny friend familiarly by the hand"-a very characteristic action, by the way, of Bao when speaking earnestly-" proceeded to give him his family history" :

"My grandfather," he said, "was a man of independent fortune, with every kind of comfort and luxury about him. One day he met a foreigner in the streets of Ning po selling opium, and hearing from him loud praises of the drug as a soother and quieter of the feelings, and a renovator of the springs of animal life, he purchased a small quantity, and ere long became the victim of a vice from which he could not extricate himself, squandering both his life and fortune on the awful delusion. When he died he left but a moiety of the property to my father, yet sufficient to maintain him in comparative ease and comfort. But alas! my father, imitating like a dutiful son my grandfather's virtues, must

Whether this narrative be authentic, or coloured somewhat to point the moral, I cannot feel certain. It gives at any rate a good idea of Bao's ready tact with cavilling opponents. He appears to have escaped soon from the meshes of the terrible snare in which he represents himself as entangled; and through God's loving providence he became, as narrated above, connected with Christian missionaries.

Very early in their career the missionaries engaged in itinerating; and in connection with this work, just one year after Bao's baptism, Mr. Russell refers to him thus:

It will be interesting to you to learn that Yüoh-yi, one of our converts, accompanied me in these excursions, and frequently addressed his own countrymen in so clear and impressive a style as often to draw tears from my eyes.

Shortly after this he was appointed a probationery catechist, and continued to give great satisfaction to the Mission by his earnestness, zeal, and ability as a speaker. All too soon, however, the defects in this most hopeful character appeared. In a letter dated June 20, 1856, Mr. Russell writes as follows:

We were preaching at a place called T'sông-ky'i-gyiao, when a man pushed his way to where we were standing, and asked in rather an excited manner, "What is the cardinal truth?" The catechist Bao, who, with all his excellencies, is, I am sorry to say, occasionally somewhat too rash in his judgment, and pettish in his manner, prejudging the poor man as a mere captious opponent, replied to him in rather an abrupt and sarcastic tone, telling him that he was surprised he asked such a foolish question, which even a child could answer. On this the poor fellow seemed quite disconcerted, and shrank back into the body of the crowd. He re-appeared, however, in the evening, still with the same question on his lips.

Bishop Smith hoped to ordain Bao, but in consequence of an exhibition of his temper deferred doing so "for three months." Alas! the three months were lengthened out to sixteen years, the Bishop's hopes being again and again deferred; and Bao died at last without having been admitted to the ministry.

My own earliest remembrance of Bao is a scene in our little mission-house at Yu-yaou in October, 1861. I had been in China only six weeks, and understood no more than a few words of the language. But I well remember my pleasure at hearing

in the chapel below, as I sat writing upstairs, the voices of my brother and the catechist Bao, repeating again and again in the course of their addresses the ever blessed name Jesus. In the evening Bao prayed, as my brother told me, a most Christian and touching prayer; it was a little prayer-meeting, held by us with Bao and a younger Christian, of which my brother's diary preserves the following note :

After prayer and a hymn we read, verse and verse, Rev. ii. 1-7, Bao remarking on "him that overcometh," and the other on forsaken thy first love." After another hymn, "Give to the winds thy fears," Bao prayed more feelingly and spiritually than I remember to have heard him, confessing his censoriousness, want of pity and love, and desert of punishment, and then pleading for Yu-yaou. He had wept when he rose from his knees.

Alas! that these defects should have clung to our brother well-nigh throughout his long Christian career of twenty-three years. In 1863, annoyed at charges brought against himself and his family with respect to the appropriation of spoils left behind by the fugitive T'ai-p'ing rebels, he suddenly threw up his employment. These charges were inquired into, with the result that nothing was proved beyond a certain want of judgment, and this result was made known to the Christian community as clearly as possible; but the mere inquiry into his conduct appeared to Bao a serious affront. He separated himself from the Church, returning to his business as a tailor, and even working for some months on Sundays. For more than a year he angrily rejected the affectionate and

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earnest manner, apt illustrations, and ready tact. occasion they were mobbed by boys, and stones were thrown, though without serious injury. Bao," he says, "followed me, giving a very good address.' "Bao made use of the opportunity to speak a word for our Master." "I was pleased with Bao's easy and proper answer." "Bao nicely and methodically addressed the audience."

In the year 1872 he was again guilty of inconsistent conduct; but as his sun was setting and eventide drew on, there was

Oh! that for each convert in heathen lands, as well as for each one entering the fold in Christian lands, the blessed prayer of the Baptismal service. may be realised, "that they may lead the rest of their lives according to this beginning.'

earnest entreaties of his native brethren to return to the Lord. Repentance and restoration were granted at last; and for nine years after this sore calamity he was spared to work again for his Master. But he never recovered fully his former energy and zeal; neither could the Mission repose the same confidence in him, nor commit to his charge the responsibilities of former years. He was for some time associated with the Rev. J. D. Valentine, and accompanied him on his itinerating trips round the country. Mr. Valentine refers continually to the old man's

NOTE.-The portrait of Bao, and the picture above, as well as the four views that accompanied Bishop Moule's portrait in our last number, are all from The Story of the Cheh-kiang Mission, a book written for the Church Missionary Society by the author of the foregoing article, the Bishop's brother, and edited by the Bishop himself. It gives a most interesting account of the work in the Cheh-kiang Province. To be had at the C.M. House, or of Messrs. Seeley, price 3s. 6d.

OVER THE SNOW TO CHURCHILL.

BY BISHOP HORDEN, OF MOOSONEE.

[The following is the first section of the journal promised in our January number. The little map in that number shows the positions of York and Churchill.]

UNDAY, Feb. 1st.-At 4 o'clock, soon after the close of the Indian service, drove from York Factory eight miles through willows and woods to a house occupied by woodcutters, with whom I held a very interesting service, taking for the subject of my discourse Christ's Temptation; congregation numbered 13. Temperature, 30° below zero. Monday, Feb. 2nd. After service and breakfast, set out on our way to Churchill; the cold was severe and the wind high, so high indeed that the guide had some doubts about crossing Nelson River, which we reached soon after starting. Where we crossed it was eight miles wide, and very rough, the ice piled high most of the distance; it was the most difficult travelling I have ever experienced; we were obliged to cross miles higher up than the route some of my companions had taken in coming to York only a few days previously, the ice having been broken up by the fierce winds which have lately raged. Having crossed without accident, we went down the northern bank of the river towards the sea; at noon we took dinner, when our guide thought we had better put up for the night; we all went to Benjamin Kayamawililew's tent; he was very kind, and enlarged his tent, so as to accommodate the whole of us; we spent a very pleasant evening, I conducting our service in English and Cree. Temperature, 27° below zero. My companions on this journey were Dr. Matthews, an English gentleman, who kindly volunteered to accompany me, three half-castes from Churchill, an Indian, and a halfcaste from York; we had among us two carioles, two sledges for baggage and provisions, and sixteen dogs.

Tuesday, Feb. 3rd.-After prayers and breakfast, resumed our journey, for a short time through woods, and then over more open country. The wind was high and cold, and the drifting of the snow did not permit us to proceed after 12 o'clock. We made a very good encampment at Island Bluff. Temperature, 23° below zero.

Wednesday, Feb. 4th.-Bitterly cold, with a cutting wind, blowing directly in our faces; our way lay over plains interspersed with belts of trees; encamped between 1 and 2 o'clock at Partridge Creek. Temperature, 30° below zero.

Thursday, Feb. 5th.-Cold still more severe; wind as yesterday, right in our teeth; could not travel after 11 o'clock, when we encamped at the edge of Stoney River Plain. With the exception of myself, all were frozen, the guide and James Isaac, my special attendant, very severely. Temperature, 36° below zero.

Friday, Feb. 6th.-No change for the better, but obliged to proceed, as food for both men and dogs was but limited; the crossing of the large plain was terrible, and all suffered a great deal. At 3 o'clock we encamped at Owl River. Temperature, 38° below zero.

Saturday, Feb. 7th.-We had very bad weather to-day, the wind very high and cold, with a little snow and much drift; could not proceed after 11 o'clock, when we encamped on the edge of the Big Plain; we were joined by an excellent Indian, Joseph Kichekeshik and his son, who will accompany us to Churchill. Indians killed two deer to-day. Temperature, 32° below zero.

Sunday, Feb. 8th.-We started very late, and at once faced the plain. In looking over it, one could fancy himself beholding the frozen surface of the sea; no trees or bushes break the uniform level of white, and over it we jogged as rapidly as possible. Riding in a cariole over such a surface is by no means agreeable, one does not experience the sense of rapid movement over a smooth surface, one rather feels as if moving slowly over a rough road, more than anything else it resembles that of being in a springless cart in a rugged country lane; for the snow lies in ridges, hardened by the wind, over which the cariole is incessantly jumping. At 11 o'clock we reached Bwaak, and proceeded no further. It was terribly cold. We made a very good camp, but there was no making oneself thoroughly comfortable, and during the night I suffered rather considerably. Temperature, 46° below zero.

Monday, Feb. 9th.-Started early; weather not so cold. At 2 P.M. reached the south end of a belt of woods, called Robinson's Bluff, when it was snowing somewhat thickly, and as this was a good place, with plenty of good wood, we encamped for the night. Temperature, 28° below zero.

Tuesday, Feb. 10th.-The weather somewhat better, and we made a good day, encamping in the evening among the eastern woods. Temperature, 31° below zero.

Wednesday, Feb. 11th.-A fine day, bright and cold, without wind, passed over several plains and small lakes, and through some belts of woods. At noon we took dinner at Statehookun Ridge, and there fifteen miles from Churchill, made a great smoke to signal our approach; eight

miles further on we made another, and were soon met by men from the post, with a team of dogs, by which we sent forward our doctor, who, with his fresh team and drivers, could get on much faster than we could do. We now made a descent of a couple of miles through a wood, which brought us to the bank of the Churchill River, here four miles wide; the crossing was somewhat disagreeable, from the great roughness of the ice, although it was nothing like as bad as that which covered the Nelson River. At half-past 4 o'clock I arrived at Churchill House, where the warmest of receptions was given me by Mr. Spencer, the Hudson's Bay Company's agent, and his wife, the former of whom was years ago a member of my Moose congregation, the latter a sister of our missionary, the Rev. Robert Phair. In the evening held a service, attended by all at the post, when I was much gratified by the attention displayed, and by the ability shown by nearly all the adults to read the English books they held in their hands. Thanks be to God for his great mercy in bringing me bere, and for allowing me to see that something has been already done for His glory and the good of souls in this very distant part of my diocese. Temperature, 30° below zero.

The temperature given is that registered within the Fort at York Factory. The actual cold we experienced on the trip would be, at least, two degrees more in intensity than those I have given, on account of our exposure, and of our journeying northward. Every evening from an hour to an hour and a half was expended in preparing our barricade, on which much care was bestowed; the snow was first cleared from the ground, a wall of pine trees with the brush on was then raised, over four feet high, so as to protect us effectually from the wind; at some distance in front of this the fire was laid, the whole space between it and the wall being thickly laid with pine brush, which formed an agreeable carpet and bed; the quantity of firewood cut was enormous; a small fire, and one not constantly replenished, would make but little impression on air 40° below zero. Cooking and taking supper occupied some time, and then we would sometimes get a story from one of our companions of his travelling or hunting experience, in which pluck, endurance, and selfall seemed to join with great heartiness; in the morning, before starting, reliance shone with becoming lustre. All closed with a service, in which another service was always held. From all I experienced the greatest kindness, my faintest wish was constantly complied with, if it had not been already anticipated. All were willing, all were cheerful; an angry look or an angry word was not interchanged the whole way.

WHAT CAN WE DO FOR MISSIONS?

To the Editor.

IR,-It is strange that we are not ashamed to let our missionaries beg of us for means to go. If we really loved Christ, gold would pour into His treasury; those of us who are in duty bound to work at home could still give enough for the workers abroad. In the Jewish dispensation the tenth was dedicated to God. Surely we should not give less.

"What!" some people will say, "if we receive £1,000 we are to deprive ourselves of £100, to deny ourselves, to live more humbly!" One almost laughs to think what we should do in these days if threatened with persecution. What! give up not part merely, but all! not our goods merely, but life itself! Who among us would be ready for such an holocaust? Besides, for the comfort of selfish Christians, solemn promises are made by God that even in this world we shall not be losers if we give our tithes to Him. "Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase. So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine" (Prov. iii. 9, 10).

"Oh, but," people say, "that is only for Jews." Well, in the New Testament the tenth appears to have been modified by Christians giving much more (Acts iv. 34; 2 Cor. viii. 2—5).

Will the readers of the GLEANER unite in reviving the good custom ? Let us consecrate to God the tenth of all our increase and the tenth of all our incomes. By this means all good works will be well supplied. At all events let us try it for a time, and prove our God herewith if He will not pour us out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it (Mal. iii. 8—10). Assuredly God will not disappoint us. A. C.

DEAR MR. EDITOR,-May not many follow the plan of the good laundress, who determined to give all she gained by crimping to the C.M.S.? If a grocer were to give all his gains on selling spirits or one particular kind of spirit, a bookseller his gains on certain books or periodicals, &c., what large sums might be realised! The upper classes might well deny themselves a little finery and luxury: dress is one of the items out of which much might be taken with great benefit to many. I think this plan of sacrificing something extends to all. May not very many rise half an hour earlier to give it to Mission work according to their various ability? I knew an invalid who gave half an hour from rest, feeling her days were numbered in which she could thus show her love to her Saviour. JENA.

Pendleton.

CATTER the Word, 'tis a seed of might,

The fields are waiting it far and near; Hasten, ye harvesters, golden white

The corn-stalks bend with the fruitful ear.

Dally not, scattering, young and old,
Eagerly sow in valley and plain;
Dally not, reapers, in hearts untold
Daily is ripening goodly grain.

Scatter, though some of you may not reap;

Reap, though it be what ye have not sown;
Day-through and night let us watch and sleep,*
Looking to God till the corn is grown.
Yea, if there be on the Master's land

Aching of heart with sweat of the brow,
Ever in kindness the work is planned,
Side by side are the sickle and plough.
He who is clearing the furrowed soil,

He who is sheaving the harvest sheaf,
Each of them brightens the other's toil,
Each of them lightens the other's grief.
Soon, very soon, from the yoke released,

Lord, we shall come to that home of Thine, Where there is joy of the harvest feast, The fatted calf and the new red wine.t

* Mark iv. 27.

OUR PORTFOLIO.

Japanese Buddhism, poin'ing as it does to an unattainable perfection,

VEN at its best and highest there is an intense mournfulness about

and holding up the terrors of hell to those who fall short of it, but recognising no availing “sacrifice for sin,” no “merciful and faithful High Priest," no Father in heaven yearning over mankind with an infinite love, no higher destiny than practical annihilation, being "without hope, and without God in the world."-Miss Isabella Bird's "Japan."

LEARNED and influential Buddhist priest in Japan, Mr. Akamatz,

A told Miss Bird that although he did not expect Christianity to make

much way in the large towns, it might in the country districts, "for many," he said, "are weary, weary, weary."

IN undergraduates

December, 1857, when on his first visit home, Dr. Livingstone

WILLIAM JOSEPH SMITH. Matt. xxvi. 29.

MISSIONARY LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF ST. PETER.

X.-Bold Testimony.

"We cannot but speak the things that we have seen and heard."
Acts iv. 1-22; 23-31: v. 17—32, 40—12.

ASY to swim with the stream, to sail before the wind; but to
struggle against stream or wind, a very different thing.

A delightful time, those first days of the early Church. Peter, filled with ardour, preaching away; hundreds believing; the believers full of faith and love (ii. 42-45); miracles in the name of Jesus (iii. 1-16): how glorious! See Peter pleading at the Temple Gate (iii. 19, 25, 26)—oh, if he might win the whole nation now! Suddenly-dragged off to prison (iv. 1—3). So again, a few weeks later, wonderful success (v. 12-16): and then, prison again (v. 17, 18). But God's angel sent-deliverance (19)-what a triumph!-yes, but still to suffer-"beaten " (40) the thirty-nine lashes according to Jewish custom (2 Cor. xi. 24).

Not easy to be brave and faithful at such a time. But see Peter before the great Council, twice. First, in chap. iv. Look at ver. 10-" Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised." And ver. 11"Whereby we must be saved," we, all of us, even you priests and rulershow?" none other name" but the name of Jesus. And ver. 19, 20"We cannot but," we must speak. Then in chap. v. Look at ver. 29-32: "We ought to obey God rather than men "-"Whom ye slew and hanged on a tree "-"Him hath God exalted," &c.

But surely missionaries now not in danger like that. Not often: but sometimes. Henry Martyn in Persia; Judson in Burmah; Mayer among the Afghans (GLEANER, Dec., 1876). But often so with Native missionaries and converts. Ling Sieng-Sing at Kiong-Ning-fu: the girl Moyoade at Ibadan; Ogawa at Hakodate (GLEANER, Feb., 1878; Feb., 1876; May, 1876).

But we at home: any such peril and need of boldness for us? Yes, every one of us, at home, or in school, or in business, or when visiting, or when travelling-tempted to shrink from confessing Christ, from being interested in missionary work. How be like Peter, bold and faithful? (1) Think of the things that we have seen and heard "-God's love, all about Jesus, promises and commands to us, bright examples in others. How be silent? "We cannot but

وو

(2) Pray. What for? What did Peter and the early Christians pray for? See chap. iv. 23-30. Not to be saved from trial and persecution; no, they left that to God's will. Only that "with all boldness" they might preach the word. See the answer, ver. 31-" were all filled with the Holy Ghost"-" spake the word of God with boldness."

course of his address he said :

"People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. Can that be called a sacrifice which is simply paid back as a small part of a great debt owing to our God, which we can never repay? Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word in such a view, and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say, rather, it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this be only for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall hereafter be revealed in, and for us. I never made a sacrifice. Of this we ought not to talk when we remember the great sacrifice which He made who left His Father's throne on high to give Himself for us."

AT

T the opening of a new church lately at Ngawhakarawa, New Zealand, a sermon was preached by the Rev. Arona T. Haua from the words, "If the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be." He said, A tree would lie and rot where it fell if left to itself; but many trees were not left, but taken and used for many useful purposes, and some for church building. He likened this to humanity; it was fallen, and there it would lie and rot were not some external power applied to raise it. God was this power. When He saw a person with some good in him, like the tree with plenty of heart, He raised that person up, and put him to some good use. The Church is built of persons thus raised. When a person was altogether bad, like a tree all sapwood, God allows it to decay, it is useless.

ABUD-" REFUSED FOR LACK OF FUNDS." UR readers will remember an article with this heading a year and a half ago, in which was mentioned the need of a teacher at the village of Abûd, near Jaffa, in the Holy Land; also that a kind lady, having read that appeal, offered the £60 a year required to maintain the teacher. In a Report lately received from the Rev. J. R. L. Hall, of Jaffa, the result is alluded to:

In Abûd we have now not only a boys', but also a girls' school. Last June my teacher at Abûd, Mualim Ibrahim Hasb, married, and his wife immediately opened a girls' school, which is very well attended, as there is no other school for girls within twenty-five miles of the village. The people here are very ignorant, and it was with the greatest wonder and astonishment that they heard from us, when first we commenced work amongst them, that religion is a spiritual thing. Now, however, it is most enjoyable to meet with them for worship, the constant Amens and other ejaculations during prayer showing the reality which they now feel communion with God to be, and reminding one of happy hours spent in revival work in England.