66 weather, the crops, the Afghan war, the Lahore durbar, Lord Ripon's Christianity, the last murder (there have been five in this district lately), Russia, Ameer Yakub Khan, the railway to Attock, trial by jury, conversions to Christianity, and dozens of other topics upon which I was expected to give the very latest and best and most authoritative information. Eight of our party had seen three rajes or governments, the Afghan, the Sikh, and the British. "Now which do you like best?" I said to the Khan's great uncle on my left. "Answer me, please, without any attempt to flatter because I am an Englishman." Well," replied the old gentleman, "the Sikhs were great tyrants, and the Afghans were not much better, but still we prefer Muslim rule." "No," said my loyal host, with great emphasis; "the English are the best of the whole three. Why, look at this village! Under the Afghan rule there were not more than fifty wells for irrigation; now, through the English protection afforded us, we have at least five hundred wells, and we are wealthy and at peace." "And yet," I said, "even now, under British rule, you manage to murder one another pretty freely, for there are at the present moment twenty Afghans in the Peshawar jail under sentence of death." "Man's heart is evil," said an old Sufi mystic, who formed one of the party. As I sat in the midst of this little company I could not help thinking of the marvellous change which has come over these parts since I first came to Peshawar sixteen years ago. It was not then considered safe to travel in the district, but now a Christian missionary is the honoured guest of a leading Afghan chief who does not hesitate to invite an Afghan convert of his own village to dine on the same carpet. I have already reported the baptism of the wife and two daughters of Yahiyah, the Cabul Christian. We have not heard from them since their return to Cabul, but Ameer AbdurRahman has always been well-disposed to the Armenian Christians in that city. The mother of Sardar Ishaq Khan, who is now ruler of Turkistan, is the son of the late Ameer Azim Khan by an Armenian Christian wife. This Christian lady is now in Cabul, and is a person of some influence in the Ameer's zanana. Another Afghan is a candidate for baptism, and will, I hope, be baptized with his whole family at Christmas. He was the Mohammedan tutor of the Christian Syud, Yusaf Ali, who was baptized a few years ago. In this case the disciple has become the teacher. The erection of our Memorial Church in the city has been delayed in consequence of the high rates of material and labour; but now the war is over I hope we shall soon have a place of worship in the very heart of the city of Peshawar, which shall be a centre of spiritual influence and Christian life. I attach great importance to our presenting the devotional side of Christianity to the Mohammedan mind, rather than the polemical, and I believe a well-ordered Christian church, with its worship conducted by a clergyman himself a convert from Islam, will do this. There seems to be little chance of our establishing a Mission either in Cabul or Candahar: may I therefore beg of you to press home the fact that both Peshawar and Banu are in Afghanistan, and in the midst of Afghan people. Afghanistan extends to the Indus, and the British possession of Peshawar, where the ancestor of many of the Barakzai chiefs have lived and died, has always been a source of grief to the Cabul Ameers. The national poet of the Afghans was a native of Peshawar. If you can only get Christian people to realize this, perhaps those who are so much interested in the Afghan people will come forward to support our Afghan Mission, without asking us to follow in the wake of war and bloodshed, and of political strife, into the regions beyond for the present. T. P. HUGHES. [A later letter tells us that the Mohammedan Afghan tutor above mentioned was baptized on December 26th.] "I'LL BE AN ARROW." "He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand hath He hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in His quiver hath He hid me."-Isa. xlix. 2. 'LL be an arrow! swift and free; A polished shaft, Lord, aimed by Thee; A spirit-sword to reach the soul- We praise the warrior, not his sword; Be hidden, arrow! hidden, sword! Let dauntless faith and vanquish'd will GOSPEL TROPHIES. CLARA THWAITES. "Out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”—Rev, v. 9. | V.-Benjamin Cameron; or, "They shall come from the North." ARIOUS interesting accounts have been recently given us of the "Wild North Land," which forms the North-West Territories of the Dominion of Canada. Not the least striking of these word paintings is the description of the boat-traffic in the short summer months. Magnificent as is the river scenery, there must still be "a sameness of splendour" about it, to judge by the following description:- "The lower course of the river presents for the last thirty miles a picture of grand simplicity, and it must be confessed monotony. Flowing, like all other prairie streams, deep below the surface of the plain, there is nothing to be seen but the dead calm of an unruffled, mirror-like sheet of water, glaring in the sun, and as far as the eye can reach, two walls of dark green foliage, with the deep blue firmament above them." The rivers, however, by no means flow on continuously in broad and shining tranquillity; they widen into lake-like reaches, and narrow into roaring cataracts. After rounding "some pine-clad island, or projecting point, a tumbling mass of foam and spray, studded with rocks and bordered with dark-wooded shores," will be found to bar the way. To shoot these rapids, and still more to ascend them, is a kind of exercise which, it will readily be conceived, requires a practised hand and eye to be accomplished with safety. many of his countrymen. He would not, however, cease his WHAT CAN WE DO FOR MISSIONS? The voyageurs are sometimes of pure Indian blood, but more frequently represent a considerable mixture of races. BENJAMIN CAMERON, the subject of this brief sketch, was, we believe, of unmixed Indian blood. He was engaged in the above-mentioned boat-traffic, and in the course of his wanderings came in contact with a Native missionary, the late Rev. Henry Budd. He acquired from this new friend some knowledge of Christian truth, but it was somewhat dim and confused. Spiritually he saw men as trees walking," but the day-star had arisen in his heart-he was not long to remain in the shadows. Another Native We command as addressed to themselves! and what a burden it missionary, the Rev. J. Settee, had planted a mission station at Lac La Ronge, and having been requested to interest himself in Benjamin Cameron, promptly applied himself to that task. 66 Benjamin learned to read the syllabic characters, and began to read the Scriptures to his family and friends. Two main ideas impressed themselves on his mind-those of sin and holiness. 66 He carried the Baptist's message, Repent ye," to his brother Benjamin continued to read the Scriptures to his Indian brethren, and would hold services on Sunday for the entire camp. He presently took up his abode at Sandy Bar (a place about fifty miles from the mouth of the Red River), and there Mr. Settee used to visit him. On one of these occasions, in the autumn of the year 1876, Mr. Settee spent a bright and pleasant Sunday with this old and tried friend. He celebrated the Holy Communion, and Benjamin invited many of his countrymen, and also some Icelanders in whom he had interested himself, to hear his friend tell that "old, old story of Jesus and His love," which was ever new to him. An old man and his wife were laid up (it was supposed) by fever, and were visited by Mr. Settee. It presently appeared that they were suffering from a yet more fatal disorder. Small-pox broke out at Sandy Bar, and when Benjamin (who had been staying for a little time near his friends) returned there, he found his own family stricken, and stricken to death. He had been in some anxiety about the spiritual state of his daughter, but that anxiety was entirely removed before her death. He visited constantly all who were sick, and did his best to heal both body and soul. One woman assured him, "I shall go and tell Jesus that you are trying to bring many of our poor to Him." But before long, Benjamin was himself called into the Master's nearer presence, to hear that Master's "Well done." He was soon stricken with that fatal disease, which had carried off so "Make me thereof a little cake first." HAT a blessing all Christians would receive if all took this 1930 "ME." God's prophet; therefore, as God's representative, asking for it in God's name. Whatever we give, let us give it to God first, and then to His representatives on earth (Matt. xxv. 40). "THEREOF." Out of a large fortune? No, the last scanty meal of a poor widow, who had no earthly prospect of replenishing her store. How many of us excuse ourselves from helping in God's work because of the badness of the times! Let us follow this poor widow's example, and, if the store be ever so scant, give God the first-fruits of it, and be sure a similar blessing (if not such a miraculous one) will rest on the remaining portion. "A LITTLE CAKE." Not a great gift, but what she had, and what God asked of her. Do we all give that? "FIRST." Surely here is the secret of her gift and her blessing. Faith in God's Word, and entire consecration. When we receive our income (daily wages, weekly pay, or quarterly salary), let us give the first-fruits to God as an acknowledgment that all is His, and simply trust that He will make the remainder sufficient for our needs. Are there not many who can testify, after having done this, how it has been expanded to meet them, as was the widow's store? E. H. B. What another Village does. England, the total sum collected for the C.M.S. during the year was Na small village of a little more than 200 people in the south of £79 7s. 5d. Seventeen boxes are out; eleven persons are monthly, and thirteen are annual subscribers. A collection was made on the Day of Intercession. There is a working party who meet throughout the winter. Six meetings, with a tea, are held in the parish during the year to give information. During the present year ten of the annual subscribers have doubled their subscriptions. M. A Farthing a Week. THE District Visitor of the poorest district in my parish lately brought me £1 3s. for half a year from farthing-a-week subscriptions. C. V.C. [That is, at least forty-three subscriptions, even assuming all were regular.] DE A REQUEST FROM A CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL. EAR MR. EDITOR,-Our convalescents give yearly about £3 to the dear C.M.S. cause. We all greatly enjoy reading the "GLEANER," and I would like to suggest to some of its readers that they make a Missionary Album for the dear little children. I have found it a pleasant occupation, and also that it wonderfully interests little ones in Foreign Missions. The album should be made of sheets of unbleached calico (any size you like) bound with pink tape, and the pictures out of old, well-read Gleaners, and Juvenile Instructors, and Quarterly Tokens, neatly pasted on, interspersed with missionary hymns (cut out of old hymn books) or stories; also dried flowers (buttercups do best) and ferns and leaves give a bright and pretty effect to the whole. The cover may be made of American cloth bound with coloured braid. Every Wednesday at family prayer we especially remember the C.M.S. CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL, BLACK ROCK, HENRIETTA WANSTALL. BRIGHTON, February 9th, 1881. A MISSION SELDOM HEARD OF. OME of the most efficient and useful Missions of the Church Missionary Society are those of which very little is heard. All readers of the GLEANER are familiar with Metlakahtla, and Bonny, and Frere Town, and Peshawar, and Fuhchow; but how many of them know anything of Kurrachee, and Jubbulpore, and Bezwara, and Trichur, and Jaffna, and Kwun-ho-we, and Kaitaia, and Stanley? Could our best candidates in the last Examination say where these are? At all events, if they know, we are afraid they did not get their knowledge through the GLEANER. Of one of these Missions, JAFFNA, the last Bishop of Colombo, Dr. Jermyn, wrote in 1872, "I am surprised and astonished at the completeness, the perfection, of the Church Missionary Society's work in this district." Jaffna is the little peninsula at the north end of Ceylon, which can be seen in any map. Our senior Missionary there, the Rev. J. D. Simmons, has sent us photographs of the Native minister and his family, and of the oldest Christian at Nellore, one of the Jaffna stations, which we have engraved. OLD PHILIPS, OF NELLORE, CEYLON, AGED 86. (Baptized in 1831.) He accompanied them with the following brief account of the station : The Rev. Joseph Knight commenced Church Mission work at Nellore in the year 1818, and continued his faithful work just twenty years. In 1824 the Rev. W. Adley joined Mr. Knight; he also resided at this station, and laboured for about the same period. Their time was divided between evangelistic, literary, and educational efforts; they toiled for nearly seven long years before their hearts were cheered with a single convert. At the close of the seventh year Mr. Adley's horsekeeper was admitted to the fold of Christ by baptism. A start having once been made, it continued, not rapidly, but surely and steadily. At the end of the year ten Christians formed the nucleus of the Native Church; one of these, Mr. Philips, is still living. [See the picture.] He was the first catechist of the Mission; for many years he has retired from the office, but it may be truly said that now, at the advanced age of eighty-six, he is exercising as much influence for good as any individual in the Church, even though he be the good pastor. He spends much time in visiting and teaching both the heathen and Christians, and still more in reading God's Word and in prayer. In the second decade the Church increased to twenty-five; but it is worthy of notice that there was not yet a single woman in the congregation. In 1841 the old Portuguese church of St. John's at Chundicully was transferred to the C.M.S. The congregation numbered ninety souls. The Rev. C. David, a convert of Swartz, had been for many years its pastor. From this time the work was carried on at Nellore and Chundicully. 1848 the Christians had increased to eighty at the former station. In 1849 a new station was opened at Copay; and in 1862 Mr. In Hensman, the present highly-esteemed pastor, was ordained by the Bishop of Colombo. Two years later Messrs. Handy, Hoole, and Champion were admitted to holy orders; the former as pastor of Nellore, the second as successor of the Rev. C. David at Chundicully, and the last as pastor of the new congregation at Kokkuville, which was till now considered a part of Nellore district. In 1862 the work was extended to the Cocoanut Estates at Pallai, a district commencing at the nineteenth mile east of Jaffna town and extending to the thirty-third mile; it includes a population of about 7,000. Since that period a catechist has been placed at Mullativo, a town on the east coast, about seventy miles from Jaffna, and another catechist has carried on evangelistic work at and around Vavania Velanculam, a town, and now a Government Assistant Agency, on the central road to Kandy, ninety miles south of Jaffna. In 1842 the Nellore Girls' Boarding School was commenced. About 250 girls have passed through this school; many have become the wives of those who are engaged in Mission work, as pastors, evangelists, and schoolmasters. The statistics for 1879 are at Nellore 169, at Chundicully 247, at Copay 237, at Kokkuville 58, at Pallai 47, Mullativo and Vavania Velanculam 29; total 787, being 110 more than there were in 1868; communicants 329, being 92 more than in 1868. This shows the increase in number to have been just ten per year since 1868. Supposing that the births exceeded the deaths, surprise may be expressed that the rate of increase in the last ten years has not been greater. Certainly the adult-baptisms have been more than ten per year. From the year 1875 to 1879 we have had ninety-five adult baptisms; the remaining years' statistics I cannot find. The net increase being no more than it is can be accounted for by the large number of educated young men who leave Jaffna to seek employment in the southern parts of the island. The Colonial Secretary told me in conversation a few days ago that if Government offices which are filled by natives were open to simple competition no doubt nine-tenths of them would be obtained by Jaffna men. THE REV. T. P. HANDY, NATIVE PASTOR OF NELLORE, CEYLON, AND HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN. There are 39 boys' schools; scholars, 2,488. Girls' schools, 13; scholars, 431. Sunday-schools, 31; attendance, 884. Three of the boys' schools are English teaching, of which Chundicully Seminary or High School is the chief; there are twelve teachers in it, and 220 boys on the list. These English schools are independent of the Mission funds. The education of 2,919 youths and girls, including the girls' boarding-school and a training boys' school, costs the Society only £480 per year, exclusive of the Missionary's salary. Much the largest portion of the converts is the fruit of the schools. There is a Native Church Council, composed of the four pastors and nine lay delegates, who are chosen by the communicants as their representatives. The sum contributed for all religious purposes in 1879 was 1,762 rup. 11 pic. (about £155); in 1868 the amount was 755 rup. 25 pic. The Nellore and Copay Churches greatly need some repairs and fittings. The congregations are unable to bear this burden in addition to the support they give to the pastors; I therefore ask friends kindly to help us. J. D. SIMMONS. JUBBULPORE, CENTRAL INDIA: THE RESIDENCY, IN WHICH THE ENGLISH WERE SHUT UP DURING THE MUTINY. ANOTHER MISSION SELDOM HEARD OF. N the preceding article we have mentioned the names of several C.M.S. stations where good missionary work is going on of which the readers of the GLEANER have scarcely ever heard, and have given some account of one of them-Jaffna in Ceylon. Let us briefly notice another, JUBBULPOBE (or Jabalpur, as it is now spelt, though the old spelling is the best guide to the pronunciation). Jubbulpore is almost in the very centre of India, and is an important station on the great line of railway which runs right across the peninsula from Bombay to Calcutta. It was originally taken up with the special view of reaching the Gônds, a wild aboriginal people inhabiting the hills and forests of the "Central Provinces," as this part of British India is officially called; but for twenty-five years scarcely anything could be done for them, as all that time there was only one missionary, and he quickly got absorbed by the work among the Hindus and Mohammedans of the town. The first solitary labourer was Mr. Rebsch, and he was shut up in the Residency (see picture) at the time of the Mutiny. Then came the Rev. E. C. Stuart, now Bishop of Waiapu, New Zealand; and then the Rev. E. Champion, who for twenty years carried on the work, and again and again begged for a brother missionary to take his place in the town while he devoted himself to the Gônds. A year or two ago the Committee were able to send two men there; and now the Rev. H. D. Williamson and Mr. Champion will go into the forests and seek the lost sheep among the Gônds, while the Rev. T. R. Hodgson has charge of Jubbulpore itself. At the same time an experienced Native clergyman, the Rev. Madho Ram, has been appointed pastor of the Jubbulpore congregation, numbering ninety-one souls, thus setting Mr. Hodgson free for constant work among the heathen. These Christians are well spoken of. They contributed last year to religious objects nearly £30, a large sum in India from so small a number; and "harmony and Christian love among them has rarely been disturbed." At Christmas last they had a mela or festival in the native manner, only "sanctified by prayer and praise." An excursion was made to "the lovely scenery of the Nerbudda Valley," and the day ended with "a magnificent display of fireworks." There have been some interesting converts at Jubbulpore: one a learned Mohammedan, Moulvie Safdar Ali, who is a high official in the Government Education Department. But many inquirers shrink from publicly confessing Christ. Mr. Hodgson mentions a respectable merchant as "a sort of daylight Nicodemus, who comes in the quiet of hot mid-day, when no one is astir to mark his visits to the Padre Sahib." ("Padre Sahib " is the regular native term for English clergyman.) As to the Gônds, Mr. Williamson writes that over and over again the listeners have with one voice protested that Prabhu Isa Masih (Lord Jesus Christ) shall be their God, and that they will give up their idols; and on a second visit, twelve months after, they have declared that they had indeed ceased praying to the idols, and had repeated daily the short prayer taught them. GOD'S POEM. ["We are His workmanship," Eph. ii. 10-in the Greek, His poiema, a word only used in one other place in the New Testament, viz., in Rom. i. 20," the things that are made." From it is derived our word poem, literally, "a thing made."] HE poet labours to reflect a mind Endued with sweetest grace, in choicest words, In him He sees the image of His Son, Though dimmed by sin and sometimes hard to trace, And nought shall e'er the Poet's lines efface. Church Missionary College. A. J. SANTER. MISSIONARY ALMANACK. MAY.-" EVER." O world of death and change! Shall soon depart and swift remove; O blessed word, for ever Thy God abides, and never Shall change His covenant of love. First Qr... 6d. 19h. 44m. a m. Full Moon 13d. 10h. 24m. p.m. MAY. A. E. M. Last Qr... 20d. Sh. 7m. p.m. New Moon 27d. 11h. 36m. p.m. Lever and ever. Ps. 48, 14, 1 S 2nd aft. Easter. St. Philip & St. James. This God is our God for M. Nu. 20. 1-14, or Is. 61. Jn. 1. 43. E. Nu. 20. 14 to 21. 10, or 21. 10, or [Zec. 4. Col. 3. 1-18 2 M C.M.S. Ann. Serm. Let them ever shout for joy. Ps. 5. 11. 3T C.M S. Ann. Meetings. His praise endureth for ever. Ps. 111. 10. 4 W Livingstone d., 1873. Before God for ever. Ps. 61. 7. Tokio Miss. Ch. op., 1878. In this house will I put My name for The Son abideth ever. John 8. 35. [ever. 2 Ch. 33. 7. Who is over all, God blessed for ever. Rom. 9. 5. [may be there for ever. 3rd aft. Easter. Frere Town Estate bought, 1875. That My name 5 T 6 F 7 S 8 S M. Nu. 22. Lu. 24. 13. E. Nu. 23 or 24. 1 Th. 5. 9 M Blessed be His glorious name for ever. Ps. 72. 19. 10 T 2 Ch. 7. 16. Indian Mutiny began, 1857. The Lord is king for ever. Ps. 10. 16. 11 W Rebmann discov. Mt. Kilimanjaro, 1848. Thy throne, O God, is 12 T My portion for ever. Ps. 73. 26. [for ever and ever. Ps. 45. 6. 13 He that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 Jo. 2. 17. 14 S Queen rec. Waganda Envoys, 1880. Whatsoever God doeth, it [shall be for ever. Eccl. 3. 14. 15 S 4th aft. Easter. 1st Santal bapt., 1864. My salvation shall be for M. De. 4. 1-23. Jn. 4. 31. E. De. 4. 23-41, or 5. 1. Ti. 4. [ever. Is. 51. 6. 16 M The word of the Lord endureth for ever. 1 Pet. 1. 25. 17 T Wong Kiu Taik ord, 1868. Trust ye in the Lord for ever. Is. 26. 4. 18 W The lip of truth shall be established for ever. Prov. 12, 19. 19 T He that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. Jo. 6. 58. 20 F So shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Th. 4. 17. [Ps. 89. 2. 21 S Hinderer visited Ibadan, 1851. Mercy shall be built up for ever. [abide in Thy tabernacle for ever. Ps. 61. 4. 22 S 5th aft. Easter. Rogation Sunday. 1st Maori ord., 1853. I will 11. De. 6. Jn. 7. 25. E. De. 9 or 10. Tit. 1. 23 M Thou, O Lord, remainest for ever. Lam. 5. 19. Ps. 25. 15. 24 T Intercession Week begins. Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord. 25 W His mercy endureth for ever. Ps. 136. 1. [ever. Heb. 10. 12. 26 T Ascension Day. When He had offered one sacrifice for sins for M. Dan. 7. 9-15. Lu. 24. 44. E. 2 K. 2. 1-16. Heb. 4. 27 F A priest for ever. Ps. 110. 4. 28 S Metlakahtla founded. Peace for ever from the Lord. 1 K. 2. 33. [you for ever. John 14. 16. 29 S Sun. aft. Ascension. Another Comforter, that He may abide with M. De. 30. Jn. 11. 17-47. E. De. 84 or Jos. 1. Heb. 4. 14, & 5. 30 M Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever. Heb. 31 T He ever liveth to make intercession for us. Heb. 7. 25. [13.8. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. H. H.-We do not offer opinions on our contemporaries; but in response to your question we may just say that the illustrated missionary paper to which you refer, which is undenominational, frequently copies from our pages without acknowledgment. A friend one day showed us an article in it, and said, "Now, why can't you give us interesting things like that in the C.M.S. periodicals?" We looked at it, and then replied, "That is copied bodily out of the GLEANER!" We rejoice that our information should be so much valued, but would prefer the usual courtesies to be observed towards us, as we invariably do to others. In this case we have remonstrated more than once, but in vain. S. S. TRACHER-It is better for Sunday-schools to support the General Fund of the Society than to give all their money to support particular children in mission-schools; better for the givers, and better for the work. Hints on Juvenile and S.S. Missionary Associations. Topics for Thanksgiving and Prayer. FOR THE DAY OF INTERCESSION. See Thanksgiving for the changed disposition of the Afghans of the Peshawar Valley towards Christian missionaries and converts. (See p. 55.) Prayer for enlarged work on the Frontier. Thanksgiving for good work done in Uganda. Prayer for the future of the Nyanza Mission. (See last number.) Prayer for Mid-China, its Bishop, its Missions, and its 156 millions of heathen. (See p. 50.) Thanksgiving and prayer for the Native clergy of the West Coast of Africa and on the Niger. (See p. 51.) For the Giriama Christians, and all the work in East Africa. (See p. 52.) For the Hong Kong Mission. (See last number) Prayer for Jaffna (p. 58), Jubbulpore (p. 59), the Native Church Councils of India (above), and the Turkish Ulema, Ahmed Tewfik (above). Prayer for means to send out the men God has given us, and many others. EPITOME OF MISSIONARY NEWS. Monday and Tuesday, May 2nd and 3rd, will be the days of the C.M.S. Anniversary. Dr. Boultbee is to preach the Sermon on Monday evening, The Rev. Canon Fenn will address the clergy at the breakfast on Tuesday morning. The Earl of Chichester, President, takes the Chair at the Annual Meeting. The list of speakers is still incomplete while we write; but among them will be the Bishops of Norwich and Moosonee, the Rev. Canon Money, and the Rev. E. H. Bickersteth, who will give an account of his visit to India and Palestine. At the evening meeting Bishop Ryan will preside, and the Rev. W. Boyd Carpenter and several missionaries will speak. Tuesday, May 24th, being the Tuesday before Ascension Day, will be the Day of Intercession for Foreign Missions. Papers for distribution can be had on application at the C.M. House. The Committee will observe the day, as usual, by a Communion Service at St. Dunstan's, Fleet Street, and a devotional meeting in Salisbury Square. The distinguished Turkish Ulema (Mohammedan priest), Ahmed Tewfik Effendi, who was arrested by the Turkish Government in October, 1879, for helping Dr. Koelle of Constantinople in translating Christian books, and who was only saved from execution by the firm action of the British Ambassador (GLEANER, February, 1880), escaped lately from the island to which he was exiled, and has come to England; and since his arrival, that same island, Chio, has been visited by a terrible earthquake, which destroyed 5,000 people. Bishop Sargent, we greatly regret to hear, has been very seriously ill. May it please God to restore him to his most important work! Bishop Moule has been warmly welcomed in China. What mighty oppor tunities of work lie before him will be seen from his brother's article, and the map, on another page. The Archbishop of Canterbury has conferred the degree of B.D. upon the Rev. R. H. Maddox, late C.M.S. Missionary in Travancore. On February 25th, Bishop Burdon ordained at Hong Kong another Chinese clergyman for the Fuh-Kien Mission. The Rev. Ngoi Kaik-Ki is a literary graduate, converted through the gift of a Chinese Bible to him by an unknown missionary twenty years ago, and has literally suffered the loss of all things for Christ, father, mother, brethren, wife, child, and the much coveted "button emblematic of his degree. He has been the chief tutor in Mr. Stewart's Training College. At the same time the Rev. Sia Seu-Ong (GLEANER, November, 1880) was admitted to priest's orders. Mr. A. Neve, a brother of the Rev. C. A. Neve of the Travancore Mission, has been accepted as a medical missionary for Kashmir, to succeed Dr. Downes, who is coming home shortly. The Waganda Envoys, with Mr. O'Flaherty, Mr. Stokes, and Mr. Litchfield, reached Kagei, at the south end of the Victoria Nyanza, on January 8th. Almost all the C.M.S. Native Christians in India are now connected with Native Church Councils, formed with a view to self-government and selfsupport. The Punjab Council held its fifth annual meeting at the close of last year; the Telugu Council its fifth; the North-West Provinces Council its fourth. Those of Madras, Tinnevelly, and Travancore, are of still older standing. Those of Bengal and Western India have just been formed. On the occasion of the inaugural meeting of the Western India C.M.S. Native Church Council, held at Nasik in December last, Major G. A. Jacob, Inspector of Army Schools, delivered a public lecture in the Marathi language on Krishna and Christ," which was presided over by a (heathen) Brahmin Government official, and was listened to with deep interest, and applauded with enthusiasm by a crowded audience of educated (heathen) Brahmins, although Major Jacob earnestly set forth the claims of Christ, and gave his own personal experience of the peace gained by receiving Him as a Saviour. The number of Native Christian adherents of the C.M.S. Mission in China has risen during the past year to 4,667, an increase of 13 per cent. ; and of these, 1,700 are communicants, an unusually large proportion. There were 520 baptisms, more than two-thirds being adult converts. Dr. Downes, of Kashmir, reports that he had last year 6,230 out-patients, who paid over 12,000 visits to the Mission hospital. On an average there were 55 in-patients. The operations performed numbered 700. The Rev. T. B. Wade reports on the general Mission work in Kashmir. He had had many opportunities of preaching the Gospel among the famine-stricken people employed on the relief works, and has sold, or lent, or given away many books. In the Orphanage there were 56 children. The C.M.S. Divinity School for Bengal, of which the Rev. W. R. Blackett is Principal, is now established in the buildings of the late Cathedral Mission, Calcutta. The Divinity School for the North West Provinces, of which the Rev. W. Hooper is Principal, will shortly be opened at Allahabad. In the Divinity School for the Punjab, at Lahore (Rev. F. A. P. Shirreff, Principal), there are 16 students. From this latter college ten Natives have been ordained since Mr. French began it in 1871. The Rev. J. H. Bishop, who has lately returned to Travancore after three years at home, writes that he observes a decided advance in the Mission "all along the line." "The Christian Church is gaining, slowly, but surely, a position of influence in the country. I am astonished to find the number of Native Christians holding important Sircar posts [i.e., under Government]. Native Church principles are being developed. The idea of ultimate selfsupport is everywhere recognised as being nyayam (just)." In a recent sermon in Peterborough Cathedral, the Hon. and Rev. E. Carr Glyn, Vicar of Kensington, referred to the "Plea for Missions," which appeared in the GLEANER of February, calling it "a most dismal diagram," and founding upon it an earnest plea for enlarged missionary effort. **The Editor has received several small sums contributed to the Society as Census Offerings; also 6s. for the Henry Wright steamer. The Prospectus of the next GLEANER Examination is printed on a separate slip of paper inserted in this number. |