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1 F Go work to-day in My vineyard, Mat. 21. 28. The people had a mind to work. Neh. 4. 6.

[of faith and labour of love, 1 Th. 1. 3. 13th aft. Trin. Bp. Bowen consec., 1857. Remembering your work M. 2 K. 5. 1 Co. 12. 8. & 13. E. 2 K. 6. 1-24, or 7. Mk. S. 14-30.

2 S

3 S

4 M 1st freed slaves rec. Frere Town, 1875. Establish Thou the work, [Ps. 90. 17. 5 T Bp. Horden's 1st Confirm., 1873. Are not ye my work in the Lord? 6 WI know thy works, Rev. 2. 2. [1 Co. 9. 1. 7T Employed in that work day and night, 1 Ch. 9. 33. 8 F Did the work faithfully, 2 Ch. 34. 12. [labours, Jo. 4. 38. 9 S Renner, 1st C.M.S. Miss., d., 1821. Ye are entered into their thy exceeding great reward, Ge. 15. 1. 14th aft. Trin. Frere Town in peril, 1880. I am thy shield, and M. 2 K. 9. 2 Co. 1. 23 to 2. 14. E 2 K. 10. 1-32, or 13. Mk. 10. 1-32.

10 S 11 M French and Stuart sailed for India, 1850. For My name's sake 12 T And hast not fainted. Rev 2. 3. [hast laboured, Rev. 2. 3. 13 W Always abounding in the work of the Lor3, 1 Co. 15. 58. 14 T 1st bapt. in N. Z., 1825, and on Niger, 1862. Your labour is not [in vain in the Lord, 1 Co. 15. 58. 15 F A full reward be given thee of the Lord, Ruth 2. 12. 16 S The work is great...not for man, but for the Lord God, 1 Ch. 29. 1. [receive a reward, 1 Co. 3. 14. 15th aft. Trin. Ember Wk. If any man's work abide, he shall

M. 2 K. 18. 2 Co. 9. E. K. 19, or 23. 1-81. Mk. 14. 1-27.

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17 S 18 M That which he did, the Lord made it to prosper, Ge. 39. 23. 19 T Bp. Crowther capt, at Iada, 1867. For the work of Christ nigh 20 W Why should the work cense? Neh. 6.3. [unto death, Phil. 2. 30. 21 T St. Matthew. Occupy till I come, Ln. 19. 13. 22 F Bps. Stuart and Sargent's 1st ord., 1878. The Lord working with 23 S Work, for I am with you, Hag. 2. 4. [them, Mk. 16. 20. [my God, Is. 49. 4. 16th aft. Trin. J. T. Tucker d., 1866. Surely my work is with M. 2 Chr. 36. Ga. 3. E. Ne. 1, & 2 to 9, or 8. Lu. 1. 57. 25 M He did it with all his heart, and prospered, 2 Ch. 31. 21. 26 T Bp. Wm. Williams ord., 1824. They rest from their labours, 27 W And their works do follow them, Rev. 14. 13. [Rev. 14. 13. 28 T 1st C.M S. bapt. in China, 1851. Thou shalt see greater things [than these, Jo. 1. 50. 29 F St. Mich. and all Angels. That do His pleasure, P. 103. 21. 30 S Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with me, Rev. 22. 12.

24 S

OFFERINGS AT A RECENT ANNIVERSARY. EAR MR. EDITOR.-We have just been privileged with a visit from

Dr. they

many hearts, as the following donations received for their special funds will
show:-
£ s. d.
0 06

"One who wishes to live entirely devoted to Jesus Christ"
A Working Girl, for China and Persia

A Working Woraan (taken out of her savings bank)
Sisters in Jesus.....

"Something I wanted," given to Mr. Bruce's work in Persia
Harry, to help in Persia

Nina, Harry, and Susan

Four who love the heathen (working girls)

Offerings by Children at the Juvenile Meetings

Holy Trinity Boys' and Girls' Day Schools (by their own request)

Money laid by for new clothes

1 0 0

1

0 0

0 2 6

0 4 6

0

1 3

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EPITOME OF MISSIONARY NEWS.

The Valedictory Dismissal of missionaries going out in the autumn took place (as briefly mentioned in our last) at St. George's Hall, Langham Place, on July 18th. Sir W. Muir presided, and there was a large gathering of friends. The missionaries "dismissed" were-Miss Alice H. Ansell, going to the Annie Walsh Institution, Sierra Leone; the Rev. J. A. Maser, returning to Lagos; the Rev. Chas. Shaw, appointed to the same station; Mr. J. Alfred Wray, to East Africa, as a lay agent; Dr. George Chalmers, to the new Medical Mission at Gaza; the Revs. William Latham, Randolph R. Bell, and Arthur J. Santer, to Calcutta ; Miss Henrietta J. Neele, returning to Calcutta for the proposed Girls' Boarding School, and Miss Alice Sampson, who accompanies her; Mr. Arthur J. Shields, B.A., who will (after his ordination) go out to join the Santâl Mission; the Rev. Charles Harrison, appointed to the Gônd Mission, Central India; the Rev. John Field, late of Lagos, now appointed to Trinity College, Kandy; the Rev. George L. P. Liesching, also appointed to Ceylon; the Rev. Albert R. Fuller, to Shaon-hing, Mid China; and the Rev. David J. S. Hunt, to the Blackfoot Mission, Saskatchewan. The special address was given by the Rev. H. E. Fox, Vicar of Christ Church, Westminster. Two alterations of location must be noticed. The Rev. C. Shaw, who received his instructions for Lagos (as mentioned above), is appointed to Fuhchow instead, on grounds of health. The Rev. G. H. Weber will not retura to India, but go to Mauritius, to take charge of the Mission to the North India coolies there.

A very old friend and supporter of the Society has been taken to his rest. The Hon. Sidney Campbell Henry Roper-Curzon was a member of the Committee from 1840 to 1856, and in 1857 was appointed a Vice-President. He died on June 13th, at the age of seventy-one.

We announce with deep regret the death of one of the young missionaries sent out only last autumn. The Rev. J. S. Bradshaw was one of the Islington men ordained at St. Paul's Cathedral on St. Peter's Day last year. He was appointed to the Yoruba Mission, and went out in October. He broke down in June, and had to be sent home; and he died at Liverpool within an hour or two of his being carried on shore, on July 14th. Much sympathy will be felt for his young widow, who also came home very ill, and has now this sore trial laid upon her.

We hear with much sorrow of the death of Mrs. Painter, of Travancore. She was a sister of the Rev. C. A. Neve, of that Mission, and of Dr. A. Neve, of Kashmir. She sailed for India in October last year, soon after her marriage to the Rev. A. F. Painter, and died on June 28.h, a few days after the birth of a daughter.

In response to the earnest request of Bishop Burdon, of Victoria, Hong Kong, and in view of the considerable sums he has raised for the purpose, which he will pay over to the Society's Extension Fund, the Committee have agreed to open a new Mission in Western Quan-tung, the extreme south-west corner of China. The Quan-tung Province is in area twice as large as England, and has a population of nineteen millions; and in the western districts no Society is yet at work. The station will be at Hoi-how, on the north coast of the large island of Hainan, whither there is frequent steam communication from Hong Kong, and it is hoped to open an out-station at Pak-hoi, on the opposite mainland. Both these places are ports recently opened to foreign trade, and have resident British Consuls.

The Bill creating the new Punjab University appoints the following clergymen Fellows:-the Bishop of Lahore, Archdeacon Matthew, the Rev. E. Bickersteth (Cambridge Delhi Mis-ion), and the Revs. R. Clark, W. Hooper, and T. P. Hughes (C.M.S. missionaries).

On Trinity Sunday the Bishop of Lahore admitted to deacon's orders the Rev. E. Guildfo d, C.M.S. missionary, Amritsar, and the Rev. Yakub Ali, Pastor of the CM S. Native Church, Lahore.

The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge has granted £250 to Bishop Crowther towards building churches and schools on the Niger.

Bishop Sargent, of Tinnevelly, has been on a visit to Australia and New Zealand. He arrived at Melbourne on May 17th, and afterwards proceeded to Sydney, and thence to Auckland. He proposed to be back in India about the time these lines appear.

The Rev. W. S. Price arrived in England on July 21st. Before leaving Frere Town he made two excursions into the Shimba country, south of Mombasa, on one of which he was nearly captured by the robber chief, Mbaruk. Serious charges were afterwards made against him to the Sultan of Zanzibar by the Wali of Mombasa; but the Sultan, on hearing his reply in person, was completely satisfied, and bid him farewell in terms of the utmost confidence.

The new missionary party for East and Central Africa reached Zanzibar on June 19th, all well. On the 21st Miss Havergal was married to the Rev. A. D. Shaw, of Frere Town. Mr. Stokes had been making active preparations for the journey of the Nyanza contingent, and all being ready before they arrived, they started for the interior on the 28th.

Archdeacon Henry Johnson has sent a full and interesting report of the Mission on the Upper Niger. At Onitsha there has been a remarkable revival of the work since the town was destroyed by a British gunboat (see GLEANER, February, 1880). The scattered Native Christians have been rallied by Archdeacon Johnson and his helpers, and set systematically to work to preach the Gospel from house to house among their neighbours. A great increase in the number of attendants at church was the immediate result, and on Christmas Day Mr. Johnson preached to a congregation of 1,100 people. At Gbebe, the Native lay agent was lately successful in preventing a human sacritice being offered on the death of the king. The report appears in the C.M. Intelligencer this month.

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THE CHURCH MISSIONARY GLEANER.

THE WORKING TOGETHER

OCTOBER, 1882.

OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH IN THE

EXTENSION OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM.

BY THE REV. J. B. WHITING, M.A., Vicar of St. Luke's, Ramsgate.

VII.

HE Missionary represents the Church which sends him forth; he is also the instrument through whom the Holy Spirit exerts His mighty and divine influence on those who listen to the preacher, or watch his Christian life.

What manner of man then ought this missionary to be? Such a view of the position to be occupied lifts our ideas to a great height. Failure in the Mission field, an imperfect Christianity among our converts, must result from inefficient agents. Better send no man at all, than send a man who is not in all points such an one as the Holy Spirit has indicated in the Acts of the Apostles. The apostles of the Churches must be men who have an experimental knowledge of the Lord Jesus from His incarnation to His being "taken up." Acts i.

They must know Him, and the power of His Resurrection, or they will never" with power give witness of the Resurrection" of Jesus Christ.

They must be men who can "speak the things they have seen and heard." Acts iv. 20; 1 John i. 1.

They must be men "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost." How can they preach that in which they have no faith? Men "mighty in the Scriptures" like Apollos, who can "show by the Scriptures, that Jesus is Christ." Men who will preach the truth. Acts iv. 12; xxvi. 18.

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The herald cannot glorify Christ, unless "being full of the Holy Ghost" he can "look steadfastly into heaven" and see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Acts vii.

They must be men of discernment, able to detect impostors like Simon Magus. Acts viii.

They must be so "filled with the Holy Ghost" that they shall be able to reprove men like "Elymas the Sorcerer." Acts xiii. They must be men of prayer like Paul, or Peter, Acts ix., x. They must be men who only ask, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" Acts xvi. 7. Men that are ready to hazard their lives for the name of the Lord Jesus.

They must be men well reported of by the Church where they live, as Timothy. Men of prudence. Men who know when to stand on their rights, and when to yield. Acts xvi. Men of holy character, who answer to the high standard Paul set before the Ephesian Elders. Acts xx. God honours character with extensive influence. "Barnabas was a good man." The converts will never be multiplied except by men "who walk in the fear of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost."

Thus an impression is left on the mind while reading the Acts of the Apostles that the Holy Spirit attaches as much importance to the fitness of the agents by whom He works, as to the indispensable exercise of a human agency. Unhallowed talents injure the work. Not every pious young man who wishes to be a missionary is fit to be a herald of the Churches, or an instrument by whom the Holy Spirit affects the world.

SACRIFICING AT THE GRAVES OF DECEASED

(

ANCESTORS IN CHINA.

BY THE REV. LLEWELLYN LLOYD, Fuh-Chow.

SEE in the GLEANER for August, 1881, a picture of

a Chinese tomb, and a letter from Mr. Davys giving a description of it, and it may perhaps interest your readers to know what takes place when sacrifices are offered at these tombs. The ceremonies

vary somewhat in different parts of the Empire. Let me then ask you to accompany me, in thought, to one of our Fuh-Kien villages, situated high up in the mountains, amidst beautiful waterfalls and magnificent trees, with terraced rice fields rising one above another as far almost as the eye can reach, and still higher yet other fields of sweet potatoes. It is the 15th day of the eighth moon, and we notice that comparatively few people turn out to see the "Foreign Child," instead of the crowd which usually surrounds him. Why is this? Have they no curiosity, or what is the reason? We find on inquiry that almost all the villagers are away in the hills, offering sacrifices at the tombs, and only those who are considered unfilial and altogether bad will stay away on such an occasion. Fortunately for us one family is a little late in starting, so we can walk along with them and have a chat. But let us first have a look at them as they pass by. In front we notice a man carrying two bamboo baskets, one on either end of another bamboo carried across the shoulder. We shall see what these baskets contain presently. Next comes a man also carrying baskets and two joints of bamboo closed at one end and with a small hole at the other. These are wine bottles, and contain native wine or samshoo. The next comer has a hoe over his shoulder and several strings of paper money, i.e., paper punched in the shape of cash, and also five strings of paper boats, covered with tinfoil, each string containing 300. These represent ounces of silver. Now comes a boy carrying a brass cymbal and a stick with which to beat it. Two or three other men with baskets follow, and although women are often present we see that there are none amongst these.

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As we walk along the mountain path let us enter into conversation with these villagers. They seem nice civil men. They are much surprised to see a foreigner, and their first question, the usual one in China, is, Teacher, where do you come from?" "Where are you going?" It would be almost rude to ask such questions of strangers in England, would it not, and I am afraid if we did so we should very often be told to mind our own business; but we must remember that we are in China, and that it is the proper thing to do here. So having told them that I lifted up my body at Kwang Tong, and am going to Ku-Cheng City, let us ask them where they are going. "To worship at the grave," they reply; and on further inquiry we find that the grave is that of their grandfather, and is about three li (a mile) distant.

And now we must reply to a whole string of questions which are put to us. Why, for instance, I have no pigtail; whether my hair grows long or not; why I wear such a large and, to all appearance, heavy sun hat; what country I come from; how old I am, and so on, until presently the question I have been waiting for comes, viz., "Teacher, do you on the other side of the sea sacrifice to your ancestors?" Of course I say "No," but it would not be right merely to say "No" or they would think that we were therefore unfilial, and so I go on to explain why we do not do so, and how we do love and honour our parents and grandparents, namely, by doing all we can for them

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PHILOSOPHER'S MOUNTAIN, AT THE HEAD OF LO-NGUONG VALLEY. while they are alive, and looking after them when they are old and feeble, reminding them of the fact, which they acknowledge, that many children in China who, while their parents were alive treated them badly, after they are dead sacrifice at their graves, hoping thus to atone for their conduct in bygone days. And now an opportunity is afforded of telling them what we believe with regard to death and the future life.

Meantime we have reached the grave, prettily situated in a spot carefully selected by a "Chooser of Lucky Sites," and we will sit down with them while they have a rest and a smoke, and try to find out what they really believe with regard to the spirits of the dead. We will ask them where they suppose their grandfather is. 66 Why," they say, "we don't know; some say he is in the coffin, others that he is in the ancestral hall in the village." "But," I say, "if he is in the coffin, what power can he have to protect you as you are about to ask him to do? and if he is in the

VIEW FROM A WINDOW IN SIOH-CHUO.

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ancestral hall why come here to worship him?" Sing Sang," they reply, with a laugh; "we cannot tell. We just do it because our forefathers did." "But," I say, "that argument is not a good one; doubtless some of your ancestors smoked opium, gambled, and did other bad things; ought you, therefore, to imitate them ?" "No," they say, "certainly not.' "Well, so it is with this worship; it is useless. Your ancestors have no power to help you. I hope you will one day believe in the one True God and Jesus Christ our Saviour, and then you will cease all this sort of thing." They listen quietly and respectfully, and we will now sit quietly by while they commence their worship.

The hoe is first brought into requisition, and the weeds, &c., which have sprung up in and around the tomb since their last visit are carefully removed. While this is being done the baskets have been opened and their contents taken out. We notice there are two roast ducks, some pork, and cakes of all

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IN TINNEVELLY.*

N sending some notes from my journal, I am fulfilling a kindly duty, in first of all stating how deeply I feel the sympathy and love shown me by our Native Christians from all parts of the Tinnevelly District. It seemed to me that if I had lived for nothing else than merely to gain the goodwill and affections of so many fellow-men, I have humanly speaking not lived in vain. But when I look deeper, and see how many of these love me for the Gospel's sake, and how many have pleaded with God to restore my health, I feel on returning to my work

sorts and sizes. Some look very nice and some very nasty. GLEANINGS FROM BISHOP SARGENT'S JOURNAL These are placed on plates upon a ledge, just in front of the tombstone, some three feet from the ground, and again in front of these a row of wine cups is placed. From another basket one of the number now produces an official hat with a red tassel and a long blue robe, such as the literary class usually wear. These he puts on, as he has been appointed to read the liturgy appointed at these sacrifices. All being ready, the boy beats the cymbal very vigorously to wake up the poor old grandfather and let him know that his grandchildren have not forgotten him, and certainly, if it were possible, the noise is sufficiently great to arouse him. The grandly dressed gentleman now begins to read. He asks the Spirit of the Mountains to protect his grandfather and let him rest in peace, to keep evil influences from his grave, &c. He then addresses the deceased, asking him to protect these his descendants, to preserve them from evil spirits, to give them a good harvest, and to grant them a long life and many children, &c. The worshippers then kneel in front of the grave three times, wine being poured into the cups at each prostration. The paper money and incense is now burnt in front of the grave, the idea being that in some inexplicable manner the money is available for the use of the grandfather in the nether world. All being now finished, the food is collected together and taken home, where a feast is made, and on such occasions unfortunately some of them frequently take too much wine and become very boisterous and rude.

The next day (Sunday), at Ku-Cheng, the Native clergyman, the Rev. Ngoi Kaik-Ki, preached a very appropriate sermon on this subject, selecting as his text the first six verses of the tenth chapter of Hebrews. He pointed out the folly of this grave worshipping, showing how, apart from any scriptural teaching on the subject, their own books testified that it was of comparatively

as if entering on most pleasurable
duties with new and enlarged re-
sponsibilities and encouragements.
From the railway I was escorted
almost direct to the church, where
the loud response of so many hun-
dreds of
of Christian worshippers
showed their hearty belief that
God had answered their prayers,
and impressed me with the serious
self-inquiry,--why have I been
brought back? Surely the earnest
desire ought to be mine of coming
among them in "the fulness of the
blessing of the Gospel of Christ."
I am perhaps somewhat more out-
spoken on this subject than some
people may think correct, but I do
so because it is a generally sweep-
ing charge against our Native
people, that they have no gratitude.
I cannot join in this sweeping
charge, and as my experience does
not accord with it, I must give my
testimony as I find.

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14th July, 1881, Thursday.-A few hours before I got back to my post a Native pastor had passed to bis account, with whom for many years I had held the most pleasing intercourse. The Rev. W. Perianayagam had been educated in our English school under Mr. Cruickshanks; and Mr. Newman at first employed him in Mission school work. After a few years of preparation in our Theological class, be was admitted to Holy Orders in 1859, being then 34 years of age, and was appointed to the Palam cottah or Tinnevelly District. For a few months in 1863 he was on an emergency removed to Strivilliputtur, and next year to Alvaneri, where he laboured to the end of life. There are few men with whom I felt more at home in conversing on social and religious subjects. He had a very tender spirit, sympathising deeply with his people when in trouble, and dealing kindly and lovingly with those who opposed him. He was a thoroughly reliable man-truthful and painstaking in discharging his duties, but naturally somewhat timid and diffident. When he took charge of Alvaneri there were 1,323 Christians in that district, and at the close of his service there were 2,146. How many were aided in their religious life by his example the great day will declare. During my absence on

BISHOP SARGENT, OF TINNEVELLY.

late origin; that even Confucius, their great sage, never commanded it; that he was unable to find the grave of his own father. He then went on to show how directly contrary to the teaching of Scripture such worship was; how all sacrifices, even those ordained temporarily by God Himself, had now ceased since the one great Sacrifice of Calvary had been offered; but that there were certain spiritual sacrifices demanded of us, viz., praise and thanksgiving, a contrite and broken spirit, and the offering up of our own selves to God as living sacrifices.

Will not the readers of the GLEANER pray that the Chinese may be led to see the uselessness and folly of ancestral worship, so that this great impediment to the spread of Christ's kingdom in this land of Sinim may be speedily removed?

In the spring of last year, Bishop Sargent was very ill, and was absent from Tinnevelly four months. The journal from which we have taken some extracts for this and succeeding numbers of the GLEANER begins at his return to work in July, 1881. During his four months' absence, no less than 1,046 persons joined the Christian community, to be instructed for baptism, while 146 of those who joined during the famine three or four years ago went back. Within the six months after his return, Bishop Sargent confirmed 2,565 Native Christians.

the Hills he got very sick, and went to Nazareth for medical advice under the Rev. A. Margoschis of the S.P.G. There was a complication of ailments, the chief source of suffering being a large carbuncle on the back, near the spine. Mr. Margoschis formed a bad opinion of the case from the first, but did all that medical art and Christian brotherly kindness could suggest. In informing me of the event, Mr. Margoschis says in his letter, "I regarded him quite as an old friend. A great change took place yesterday, and he died this morning at 10 o'clock. He was full of faith and love towards his Saviour, and Death was robbed of all his terrors. God grant that my last end may be like his. I cannot grieve for him, but I feel that the Church in Tinnevelly has lost one of its brightest ornaments."

28th July, Thursday.-At 10 A.M. sat down to breakfast with 20 Native pastors; after which the whole day was occupied almost exclusively in transacting business with the Church Council. There were 20 Native clergymen and 25 laymen present. One subject in which many seemed to take a deep interest was the proposition that the Tinnevelly Church should send agents to the north of the Godavery among the Kois, and should supply funds for their support. It has struck our people as an argument highly encouraging to them that a person in Major-General Haig's position should come out from the comforts of an English home, and give himself to do what he can, personally, for awhile, to help forward this good work. I trust that the ardour now manifest will daily increase, and that the plan may have a fair trial.

In conversation with some of the pastors, the Rev. Perianayagam told me that we had only last week lost a very good Christian man in Paneikulam. Several present exclaimed, "Yes, he was a remarkably good man, so exemplary in Christian duties and so liberal to the poor, especially beggars who might pass through the village; he would take them to his house, feed them for the night, and send them away in the morning with a few pice in their hand." The pastor added, not long ago he sold a bullock to a heathen man from another village, settled the price and got the money, 21 rupees; but being Wednesday the purchaser did not like taking the bullock home, as that day is considered unlucky. So after paying for it and settling the matter finally, he said he would come next day and take the bullock away. Next day when he came the bullock was found dead in the stall. The man began to express sorrow at his loss, knowing according to general usage that he had no claim for compensation, but old Savarimutti Nadan at once said, "Don't grieve-your money shall be restored," and so saying, he gave back the 21 rupees, to the great astonishment of the heathen man.

30th July, Saturday.-Arrived at Panneivilei at 3 in the morning. At 9 o'clock met the Native clergymen at breakfast, and had the opportunity of learning from each the condition of his pastorate. After this, received deputations from several congregations sent to congratulate me on my return among them. At 12 o'clock the Church Council met, and business occupied us for several hours. In one village it was found that several had relapsed into heathenism, owing to their falling sick, and as the doctors who treat them are heathen, so soon as they find that the remedies they prescribe fail, they assert that the evil arises from the malignant spirits and that they must be propitiated by offerings or sacrifices. In the evening several parties came to congratulate me on my return to work; among others was a man whom I took for a Christian, but he came nearer and almost whispered in my ear, "Not altogether a Christian according to your opinion, but in reality more than three-quarters so. But what can I do, having so many relations around me? I am a Brahmin." This arithmetical proportion is a favourite way with natives in describing many things a disease is said to be cured or 14

31st July, Sunday.-Attended the early morning service, when only prayers are read without a sermon. After prayers many left, but a goodly number remained for Bible classes. With pencil in hand I noted down the attendance. On the side for males there were 10 classes, containing 130 men and boys. On the other side for females were 6 classes, containing 105 women and girls. I was unable to take a class myself, but the Rev. Mr. Isaac had a very interesting one of 27 women, young and old. The mid-day service was well attended-the church full to overflowing. preached from Mark x. 51, and could not have desired to address a more attentive audience.

I

In the evening started for Streeviguntam, the most important town in this neighbourhood. The chief man of the place hearing that I was to visit the village, came out about half a mile on the way to meet me and have a little quiet talk before I should get surrounded by my own people. He professed the sincerest pleasure at seeing me after my trying illness, and observed how he had heard from all quarters that the Christians were praying for me, and he added, "I may say not they only but many Hindus have thought of you in the same way, and now we see that Providence has kindly brought you back to Tinnevelly." Service is here held in the English schoolroom. As I entered it, I found it filled from end to end. Some 70 and more people had come from Pudukudy, half a mile off on the other side of the river. The Christians of the place are chiefly our school-teachers and a few Government officials. Here also is a most worthy East Indian family (connected with the Department of

Public Works), a pattern of Christian propriety to all around. I wish I could speak more favourably of the results of our Anglo-Vernacular school in this place. I think that only some two cases of conversion have occurred among the higher classes during the 30 years that the school has been in existence. This town is the head-quarters of Hinduism in these parts, and the large body of Brahmins, the temple, the processions, the festivals, have all their influence against convictions which would lead a respectable young man to desert the customs and practices of his family. 7th August, Sunday, Parappadi.-Arrived here very early, but not feeling strong enough, was unable to attend the early morning service. At the mid-day service, which was well attended, I preached to an orderly and attentive congregation. When the plate was being carried round for the offertory, I observed a poor old woman near the door put in something which had a strange appearance. On nearer view I found it was a ball of clean white cotton pressed by the hand into shape. This was all she could afford, while others put in their 3 or 6 pie. I did not observe a single piece of silver. Still I must give the headmen the credit of being liberal. I have been paid 400 rupees to hold in trust till they can collect enough to build a substantial church. Feeling better toward evening, I proceeded to Zion Hill, a place about two miles to the south. Many people here are, apparently, earnest, good people. A pastor has lately been located in the village, which is almost entirely Christian, and the people are collecting money with the view of erecting a substantial church in lieu of the one now in use, which is built of sun-burnt brick, and the roof thatched with palmyra leaves. I tried to find some likeness to the celebrated place of Scripture times, but could find none. Not even a mound of any dimensions to catch the eye. The only thing suggesting a resemblance was the fact, that close by, on the south, lies a potter's field." Originally the place was called Pannimooli or Pig's corner." Then the people changed the name into Panimali, as more euphonius. But dear d Mr. Schaffter thought, while the place would surely be improved by the introduction of the Gospel, the name might also be improved, and so called it Zion Hill, and thus in all our Mission reports it has gone by this new name. We had a full assembly for service, but I thought the young people were not so ready in answering questions as they are in many other places.

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8th, Monday, Suviseshapuram. Had a very busy day here. Deputa tions from all parts of the district came in to congratulate me on my recovery to health and return to work. The people of this district seen to think that they may claim a larger share of sympathy in me than others, because here it was I began my Missionary work. They seem to say that if others are my children, they are my grandchildren, and tender indulgences must be allowed them! I was sorry to see the amount of sugar each party presented-sugar of the finest description. The bazaar men must have had a profitable time of it. I now arrange, when expersive presents are thus made to me, to have the articles sold and carried to the Church Fund. The fruit is always given to the school-children, who, no doubt, wish that I could come there more frequently than I do. From all that transpired in the reports of the agents and the remarks of the lay members of the Council, I was pleased to think that in my absence from Tinne velly matters had gone on so quietly and orderly in these parts. The schools have done well in their examination by Government inspectors, and the congregations have not fallen off in numbers or in their contributions to the Church Fund.

9th, Tuesday, Kodengulam.—I left Suviseshapuram at 10 o'clock last night, and about 2 this morning on the main road was aroused by the torchlights and cheers of our Christians from the neighbourhood. On arrival at the village in half an hour I found the church lighted up in an extravagant manner, the Native pastor expecting that I would wish at once to have service with the people on this my first visit to the place. But such a duty was quite out of my mind, for I had left Suviseshapuram more or less because I could not stand another hard day's work there. I wanted rest and quiet. This place, containing 192 Christians, has been occupied by a pastor only within the last six months, and is attached to the Alvaneri Circle of Palamcottah District. It lies almost on the direct road across country to Suviseshapuram, and fills up a space which had hitherto been a blank in our Missionary map. One of our very nice congregations, in a village close by, has been sadly persecuted by the landowners from the time they became Christians, three years ago. But now matters have quieted down, and as the people will not go back, and since they prove by their respectful and orderly conduct that they are worth some consideration, the landowner has kindly come to terms.

I had the school-children for an hour; heard the upper classes of boys and girls read, and catechised them. They are all Christians, and were fairly up in Scripture subjects, which had lately formed part of their lessons; but, with only one or two exceptions, they did not seem familiar with other subjects of Bible History. The church here, though built of sun-burnt brick and roofed with palmyra leaves, is a very neat building. The schoolroom stands at the opposite end of the village. There are two families of Naicks living in a hamlet about half a mile off, who have greatly befriended our Christians in temporal matters. They have not as yet professed themselves Christians, but they have given up more or less Hindu

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