THE SOCIETY'S ANNIVERSARY. NOTHER bright and stirring Anniversary of the Church Missionary Society, the Eighty-third, has been celebrated. The year has been a year of change and trial; but it has been a year of much blessing, and particularly there is cause for thankfulness to God that the burden of financial perplexity has not been laid upon us-that at a period when the Times says the agricultural interests of Great Britain are poorer by eight millions sterling than they were three years ago, the Society should have been able to extend its work, and yet to present a balance sheet unexpectedly satisfactory. Well do the Committee say in the Report that "when they remember the serious position of the finances only two years ago, they can but bow down in heart before God, and say, Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy Name give glory, for Thy mercy and for Thy truth's sake."

The report on the funds may be given in a few words. The legacies are £6,000 lower than last year, but apart from these, the General Income is almost exactly the same, notwithstanding a deficiency of £700 in Ireland. The total of the General Income (including certain sums not formerly reckoned in it) is £190,727. For the Extension Fund £10,554 has been received, making more than £20,000 since this Fund was started two years ago. For other Special Funds, £11,629. Total contributions, £212,910; besides certain extraordinary receipts from sales of property, &c., £8,225 more. A large part of these special receipts were not applicable to the year's wants, but the General and Extension expenditure, together £193,515, has been more than covered. Among the special contributions have been £848 additional for the Henry Wright steamer; £475 additional for the F. R. Havergal Memorial Fund; £507 in memory of the late Miss Venn; £1,520 for the Disabled Missionaries' Fund; and £2,200 given by W. C. Jones, Esq., to build one of three Training Institutions which he is generously proposing to found in China and Japan. The Anniversary proceedings were marked by some features of unusual interest. First, on the Monday morning, there was an ordination of eleven students from the Church Missionary College. Some of them had to sail before Trinity Sunday, and could not wait for the regular ordination of the Bishop of London, who therefore kindly authorised Bishop Perry to admit the whole number to deacon's orders at once. The service appropriately took place at the church to which Mr. Barlow has lately been appointed, St. James's, Clapham, and a very solemn and interesting service it was. Canon Hoare preached an impressive sermon on Eph. iii. 8-" Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ."

In the evening of the same day St. Bride's Church was as crowded as ever for the Annual Sermon. The Bishop of Ossory and Ferns, Dr. Pakenham Walsh, a former Secretary of the Society in Ireland, and one of its heartiest friends there, was the preacher. His text was ver. 9, 11, 12, of the 68th Psalm. Speaking of the Society, the Bishop urged that the income should speedily be raised to £300,000 a year. The collection was made, for the first time, from pew to pew, instead of at the doors; and it amounted to £90, against £53 last year. The hymns, "O Spirit of the living God,' Through midnight gloom from Macedon," and, "O Lord of heaven and earth and sea,' were sung with wonderful power; and the whole service was most inspiriting.

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The Breakfast on Tuesday morning was attended by some 150 of the clergy, and a most fervent as well as thoughtful exposition

of the 87th Psalm was given by Canon T. Green, a former Principal of the C.M. College. The rush into the great Hall at 10 o'clock seemed more cager than ever, and long before 11 every seat was full, and the gangways were blocked up by standing people; while 400 or 500 clergy occupied the platform. The English Bishops, some of whom rarely miss this meeting, were absent, having been summoned to Lambeth by the Archbishop of Canterbury; but the Bishops of Ossory, Ballaarat, Victoria, and Nelson, and Bishops Cheetham, Perry, Ryan, Beckles, and Crowther, were present.

After the reading of brief fragments of the Annual Report by Mr. Wigram, and a few words from the venerable President, Sir Bartle Frere rose, and was received with prolonged cheering. His speech was a most remarkable one, and we must quote some sentences. Referring first to the Report, he urged his hearers not to be content with the extracts just read, but to read, as he had himself done, every page of it. It would "fill them with astonishment and thankfulness." "To the ordinary mind," he went on, "I think the first feeling will be one of questioning-is it possible that these things can be true? Is there not some mistake, or perhaps pardonable exaggeration? Perhaps I may do some small service if I mention a few facts which appear to me to show that, wonderful as this Report is, it is a very sober and subdued statement of the truth." He continued:

I well remember the time not only when we were told that Mohammedanism was an exceedingly vital and growing religion, and one which threatened to supersede Christianity in many parts of the world, but that it was utterly impossible to bring the faithful Mohammedan to look with any favour on the truths of Christianity. This I can say from my own experience, following up what is stated in the Report, that it is a most wonderful thing how much within the last ten or twenty years those foundations of Mohammedanism have been shaken by the labours of missionaries of this Society. (Cheers.) Let any one go to Peshawur-let any one go to any part of the great Indian empire where the Mobammedans form a large portion of the population, and they will, I am convinced, agree with me that Mohammedanism is now pervaded by the desire to know more of that religion which they have so long despi-ed, and that there is every prospect of the same fruits bing gathered in from the Mohammedan world as you have garnered from other parts of the human race . . . I pass on to the continent of Africa, and ask you to consider such wonderful things as the Uganda Mission. Who an ong the youngest of us who remembers hearing of the journeys of Burton and Speke and Grant and Livingstone would have believed there was any chance of a missionary being ever heard there? Then there is Mombasa. I had the honour of knowing both Krapf and Rebmann. I saw Rebmann when he was almost blind, when he could hardly walk across the room, when hẹ was remaining there to finish his dictionary of the native language; and I can testify to the state of utter barbarism which he found to exist when he first settled at Mombasa. There have been drawbacks since, but I think you can trust your old and valued missionary, Mr. Price, to correct them, and to bring you home such a truthful report as will enable you to secure in that part of Africa an abundant result. Mr. Price's name reminds me of the time when he first fell in with a few freed slaves, who were committed to his charge when he was missionary at Nasik, and when he spoke so hopelessly of doing anything with the utter barbarism that pervaded every fibre of their nature. I am sure when he looks back on those days he must lift up his heart in gratitude to God for the good work He has allowed him to do among the negro nations of Africa. Regarding your Missions in India, I may be allowed to remind you of the great fact that within our memory there pervaded the Government a real fear lest missionary enterprise should bring about political convulsion. Those days have long since passed, and I would only ask you to consider what spirit has animated the late orders of the Governor-General, Lord Ripon, in regard to the inquiry into the educational system; how he has frankly availed himself of the great and valuable experience of your missionaries to tell him how far the educa tional system of the Government requires amendment, and in what direction it should be amended. I confess when I read at length these port ons of the Report which relate to India, the first feeling that came over me was that it read like a record of the work of the first two centuries following the labours of the apostles. I believe if you turn to the pages of Gibbon, or even of any of our Church histories, and see how very

gradually the Church grew and yet how marvellous was the result, then how it was so often honeycombed with heresies, and torn asunder by schisms, and contrast the history of those two centuries with what you have heard to-day, you will come to the same conclusion which impresses any Christian reader, that truly the age of miracles has not yet passed, and that there is the same cause for thankfulness, the same cause for amazement, at the goodness of God in doing the work of the preaching of the Gospel in these days that would have been felt by any of the Christian martyrs under the reign of the Cæsars at Rome.

Canon Tristram followed with a vigorous sketch of the Society's work in Palestine, and a powerful appeal for extension there, which was heartily cheered. Bishop Burdon then eloquently put in a claim for extension in China, after which Mr. Bruce, with equal eloquence, put in his claim for extension in Persia, and Bishop Crowther his for extension in Africa. The good Bishop, who was received with much applause, said that "in conversation with a lady recently about the improved postal communication between England and the Niger, she asked him whether he was not troubled by so many letters. He replied that the only letter which troubled him was one from the Committee telling him not to extend. That was the only letter he grumbled about answering." The readers of the GLEANER know

The closing speech is allotted, by a long-standing custom, to a representative of the home clergy. It is the most difficult task of the day-to give the "application" of a "lesson" which has already lasted four hours! Some will remember how admirably the late Dr. Miller used sometimes to fill this place, not to speak of Mr. Goe and Canon Money in recent years. But no one has done it more effectively than Mr. Billing on this occasion. "The cry of the meeting," he truly said, "had been, Extension! If this was to be realised, they must first cry, Excelsior! They must rise higher, come nearer to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they would take a deeper interest in His plans, and be ready to deny themselves more for His blessed work."

As usual, the Hall was again thronged the same evening, mostly by the younger and humbler friends of the cause; and the speeches of Bishop Cheetham, General Hutchinson, Mr. Sydney Gedge, the Bishop of Nelson, the Rev. John Piper, of Japan, and the Rev. J. A. Faithfull, were enthusiastically applauded. Frances Havergal's stirring hymn, "Tell it out among the heathen that the Lord is King," was sung with immense effect. On the Thursday morning, a more private gathering took

VIEW OF GAZA.

from Miss Tristram's articles the need of extension in Palestine. They know also something of the needs of China and Africa. Concerning Persia and Mr. Bruce's work there, we hope next month to give a full account. But with regard to extension, a few words from Bishop Burdon's speech should be quoted :

Remember this: the Church Missionary Society cannot stand still. It must go on. You cannot begin a work of this kind, and when you come to a point say, "Well, now we must stop." You can no more stop it than you can stop the rolling of a great rock down a hill. It must go until it reaches the goal appointed for it, wherever that, in God's time and providence, is. To stop is to die. But the Society, as a Society, has no right to run into debt. You must look to the supporters. It is upon them the burden is cast, and not upon the Committee. They have no right to go beyond their funds. It is said, "There are so many objects that we cannot do it." Would you like to go back to the early part of the century, when there were not so many objects? There was peace then. There were no begging bishops and no begging missionaries then. (Laughter.) But these very objects are a sign of Christian life among us, and we are bound as a sign of Christian life to support these objects. Many give up to their power and even beyond their power. Do we all do it? Are there not many who spend their money in useless things? Can we not spare some of these and give to God more? The thing is thrown back upon yourselves. Had the Society that £300,000 it would be a good beginning.

THE C.M.S. MISSION HOUSE AT GAZA.

place. Mr. Wigram had invited the Committee, Hon. District Secretaries, &c., to breakfast at Cannon Street Hotel, and more given by the Rev. Herbert James on the Epistle to the Church than 200 sat down. Afterwards a deeply impressive address was of Philadelphia, the main topic being "the power of a little strength." A discussion followed on Extension at Home, which was joined in by the Earl of Chichester, the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, Canon Money, the Revs. H. Sutton, E. H. Hockin, T. R. Govett, H. W. Webb-Peploe, S. Gedge, &c. The Bickersteth, A. M. W. Christopher, W. Allan, E. Lombe, W. whole proceedings were of a most animating character. Mr. Bickersteth took up the Bishop of Ossory's suggestion in the £300,000 a year, and gave as a motto for the year these words: sermon at St. Bride's, that the Society's income ought to be "Half as much again.' That is, let every one who now gives a penny give three halfpence; every one who gives 5s. give 78. 6d. every one who gives a guinea give £1 11s. 6d. If every friend throughout the country would do this, that would not give us the £300,000 a year, because large sections of the income are raised in other ways. But it would go far towards the desired end. We would call upon all our readers to take their little share in carrying out this great suggestion.

THE MEDICAL MISSION AT GAZA.

HOSE of our readers who have read the account of the Mission at Gaza by Miss Tristram in the GLEANER for February will be interested in seeing pictures of the town of Gaza, the house in which Mr. Schapira lives, and the interior of the Dispensary which forms so important an adjunct to Mr. Schapira's spiritual work. The great lever of Mr. Schapira's work is undoubtedly the Dispensary. Ophthalmia and fever are the scourge of Gaza, nearly every third person seen in the town suffering from partial blindness or severe inflammation of the eyes. From August to October six hundred natives were treated by Mr. Schapira and a native doctor, whom he had engaged temporarily until an English doctor could be obtained. Nearly 480 of these, or 80 per cent., were suffering from ophthalmia of the worst form. Writing about the Dispensary, Mr. Schapira says:

It is heartrending to see little children, who only a few days ago had splendid eyes, with spots on the eye, or else swollen up and in great pain, getting blind for the want of a little timely aid. Just to mention an instance. A few days ago two Moslem women came to see me, which, as you know, is a very unusual thing. To my surprise the younger, a former pupil of our school, who had since married, lifted her veil, and instead of the beautiful eyes she used to have, I saw that she had already lost one, while the other was highly inflamed and swollen. She threw herself on her knees and cried, "Take all I have, only save at least my sight." I sent at once for our native doctor, and he did all he could to release her from pain, but I am afraid he will not be able to save her sight. Her cruel husband has forsaken her in her trouble.

Through the generosity of friends, a fund has been raised to send out a skilful medical man, and we are glad to say that Dr. George Chalmers, of Edinburgh University, has been appointed to take up this important work.

NOTES FROM EAST AFRICA.

BY THE REV. W. S. PRICE.

HRISTMAS DAY, 1881.-Once more I open my eyes in Frere Town. Praise the Lord for all His goodness, and especially for bringing me here in safety. Morning service at 11 A.M. The place which serves as a church, a good large building, was tastefully decorated with palm leaves and other tropical products, and was well-filled with a decentlydressed and decorous congregation. There were some whom I have known for years, and whom I brought up in India, and others who came to me six years ago fresh from the miseries of slavery. I was deeply moved as I looked around. Strange feelings crowded in upon me. Have the last five years been a dream? It was a faint foretaste of the joy of the great day, when those who are united in the Lord shall meet again over there." In the afternoon there was a special service, when thirty-two persons-eighteen adults and fourteen children-all freed slaves who came to me in 1876, were baptized. Mr. Menzies assured me they had all been carefully instructed, and that they well understood what they were doing in making this open profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Monday, Dec. 26th.-A general holiday. Two bullocks were killed and distributed amongst the people. Suitable presents were given to the children. In the afternoon there were athletic sports-running, jumping, tug of war, &c.-in all of which, Shaw, with his fresh English vigour, was

life and soul. In the evening he gave an exhibition of the magic lantern. The room was crowded with old and young, and they seemed thoroughly to enjoy it, though two or three told me afterwards that they had seen these pictures several times, and would like to see something new.

Dec. 31st. The last day of the old year. How difficult to realise it! God be praised for all His mercies to me and mine, and not least for having brought me here in safety, and for permitting me to see some fruit of the labours of past years.

Sunday, Jan. 1st, 1882.-A happy new year to all dear friends far and near. May it be a year of grace and blessing to them and me. And whatever of duty or trial it may have in store for us, may we ever find "that as our day our strength may be."

Jan. 2nd.-A general holiday. Gave a feast to the children. Three sheep were converted into curry, and about 200 children, besides some mothers, who crept in, farei sumptuously. There were two weddings to-day-young folks from the dormitory. I was sorry to find they had set their hearts on having a ngoma" (heathen dance), but on my telling them so, they readily gave it up.

Jan. 6th-Conversation with Abi Sidi and Petros, who had come from Giriama. They were very pleased to see me again. Got a good deal of information about Godoma and Full doyo. I tear the good work at both places is rather at a stand. How can we expect it otherwise? The door was open years ago, and no one entered. Sowing comes before reaping. It is a capital sphere for a young and zealous mi-sionary.

Sunday, Jan. 8th.-A memorable day. I took the sermon at morning service, and for the first time ventured on a short address in Kisuaheli. I then spoke at more length fron John x. 27, "My sheep," &c.

Jan. 10th.-Gave a short address at morning prayers. Prayer for four young men going to Fulladoyo and Godoma as teachers, Tom Sangvoo, Christopher Boston, Charles Denny, and George West.

Jan. 11th.-Launched the "Alice." She looks very well with her new rigging, and seems to sail splendidly, but she is too small for a sea-boat.

Jan. 13th.-At noon set out in the "Alice," with Shaw as my companion, for Kisulutini. Only now and then, owing to the windings of the creek, could we get a puff of wind to help us on, so between sailing and rowing we did not reach Jomvu till 3.30 P.M. The comfortable cabin of the Alice," which was her main feature, has given place to a poor awning, which afforded scarcely any protection from the sun. We reached our landing-place at 5 P.M., and found porters sent down by Binns, and a number of other men, chiefly my old Sharanpur boys, awaiting us. There were also two donkeys, but we were warned that they were not on good terms, could not bar sight of each other, and that, therefore, we must keep them well apart. I mounted mine, and trotted away at a good pice. About two miles from Kisulatiui, I was startled by the discharge of guns, when immediately a group of men and women came forward to shake hands and give me a welcome. They then fell into the rear aud kept pace with my donkey. A little further on another volley and another shaking of hands, and so on at every convenient turn of the road, until I found myself surrounded by a surging crowd of some two or three hundred people, running, leaping in the air, shouting, and singing. The women took up their position in frout, and gracefully dancing, led the way, whilst men concealed behind every available thicket on the line of route fired off their guns, and so, amidst a scene of the wildest excitement, which I have no words to describe, I made my entrance into Kisulutini. In the midst of it all many thoughts came into my mind, sacred memories of the past, joys and sorrows, trials and encouragements, which can never be forgotten. I was overcome, and glad to steal away from the crowd and seek the quiet of the Mission-house, where Binns was ready to give me a cordial welcome.

Jan. 14th.-Attended early morning prayers. A good large room was crowded by an orderly and attentive congregation, who joined heartily in the singing and responses. The men and women sat on different sides, a goot arrangement; but the place is altogether too small. very anxious for a church, and certainly one is greatly needed.

Binns is

Visited Polly, the widow of Isaac Nyondo. She is an earnest Christian woman, but just now in great sorrow owing to her late bereavement.

Sunday, Jan. 15th.-Just seven years ago I was lying in a miserable cottage at this place, very ill with fever, and apparently nigh unto death. Poor Rebmann was here, stone blind, and almost worn out with twenty-nine years of unbroken service in this trying clima e. There was no house fit for a European to live in, and only a few wretched huts, occupied by about a dozen or so of natives in one way or another connected with the Mission. No wonder that Rebmann took a desponding view of things, and came to the conclusion that the poor Wanika were not prepared for the Gospel, that God's time had not yet come. But in this he was mi-taken. It isn't always given to the labourer to reap where he has sown. But God's promise doesn't fail, His word prospers, and sooner or later the night of toil is followed by the harvest of thanksziving What would Rebmann think if he could see his dear Kisulut ni now. With its young missionary, living in a decent double-storied house, and surrounded by some 400 Africans, Wanika and others, occupying their own cottages, supporting themselves by honest labour, and who, having laid

aside their heathen customs, come together daily to be instructed in the things of God. For myself, when I thought of Kisulutiui, as I knew it seven years ago, and compared it with what it has now become, I could only lit up my heart in thankfulness and praise to God for what He has wrought.

Jan. 16th.-Started at 6 A.M. to return to Frere Town. The tide being against us, we were close upon four hours in getting down the creek. There was no breeze, and the heat was very fierce. This is a kill ng journey, and more missionaries have lost their lives or been disabled by it than from any other cause. Any rich friend who wishes to confer an inestimable boon on the East Africa Mi-sion, can scarcely do better than make it a present of a small steam launch, which would lessen the distance between Frere Town and the landing for Rabbai to an hour and a-half.

The first news that met us on our arrival was, tha. Meuzies, whom we left three days ago in apparently good health, was seriously ill, and that both he and Mrs. Menzies had been confined to their bed the whole of the previous day.

Jan. 18th.-I grieve to write that our brother Menzies is in a very critical state, and his wife, who bas borne up bravely hitherto, is beginning to fear the worst. A man-of-war passed to the northward this evening, and I am hoping it may be the "Philomel."

Jan. 19th-Went outside the harbour at 5.30, in the hope of finding the "Philomel" at anchor, but no trace of her. She has probably gone on to Lamoo. Menzies very ill to-day. Taylor and I laid our heads together, and did all we could for him. Shaw is a capital nurse. Our poor brother is in a sad way, and we are very helpless; but our comfort is to feel that the Good Physician is near. The season is against him. I am sitting in my room to-night, with windows and doors all wide open, and there is a fair breeze, yet, though I have doffed my coat, the perspiration is literally rolling off me.

Sunday, Jan. 22nd.-A messenger came at 4 A.M. to call me to Menzies. Mrs. Menzies fears he is sinking. I find, however, he has a good pulse, and I hope he has taken a turn for the better, though he will have to be carefully nursed and watched. I stayed with him, intending to have a short service of prayer with him and his poor wife, but she was too weak to hear it, so all we could do was to attend to the poor suffering body, and commend him to the loving care of the Good Shepherd.

Jan. 24th.-Menzies had a bad night-seemed to be sinking-but a little revival this morning. About 1 P.M. saw a man-of-war entering the harbour. Our hopes revived. Is it the "Philomel"? No, she shows the French flag, and proves to be the " Adonis." I went off at once, and saw the captain, who at my request kindly came on shore, bringing with him his doctor to see poor Menzies. He examined him carefully and prescribed for him. He gave tremendous doses. But having called him in, we must do what he orders, and certainly a great burden of responsibility is taken off our shoulders. Finished off with a very bad headache, the natural result of undue exposure to the sun and worry.

Jan. 25th.-Had a shocking night. Maddening pain in the head, and other symptoms of fever. Maktub, who was sleeping on his mat near my door, heard me groaning, and went and called Ishmael, and he and James came and nursed me through the weary night. About 3 A.M. a messenger from Mrs. Menzies, to call me to her husband. He is much exhausted by the powerful medicines he has taken, and she is naturally auxious. It was impossible for me to move, so Shaw, who is himself also not feeling well, went in my place. Had no sleep all through the night, but most thankful to God for some relief this morning from that dreadful pain in the head. The heat was very overpowering yesterday, and several of us have been more or less effected by it. This morning early there was continuous lightning from the south, followed by an unbroken rumbling of thunder, and ending in a steady downpour. This will, I hope, cool us down a little.

Feb. 4th.-Since last entry I have passed through the "valley of the shadow of death." The exposure from boarding the "Adonis" in the heat of the day brought on a severe attack of fever; and for eight days I have been hanging between life and death. God has been very good to me, and I trust I am now fairly over it.

Sunday, Feb. 5th.-Took part with Shaw in the Communion Service, all, for once, in Kisuaheli. It was a special thanksgiving service, for God's mercy in raising up Menzies and me, and for bringing G. David, W. Jones, and their families safely from India.

Sunday, Feb. 12th.-A heavy storm last night is followed by a sultry and oppressive day. There was a better attendance at morning service. Shaw read prayers, and Taylor preached, being interpreted by George David. The congregation very well behaved, and apparently attentive; but one wants to see more life. May God the Holy Spirit soon raise them up a preacher, who shall be able to speak to them in their own tongue, rom the heart to the heart. I am reading over again the life and labours of Johnson, of Regent's Town. What a remarkable awakening of souls at ended his ministry, though it would appear that he preached in English, a language only imperiectly understood by the people. Oh! that we might see similar results in this place. We must be more in prayer for this blessing.

66 ADVANCE ALONG THE WHOLE LINE." (Suggested by some words in Canon Tristram's Speech at Exeter Hall, May 2nd, 1882.)

TEADY advance along the entire line "

Courage, ye valiant soldiers of the cross! Ye fight beneath an ever-conquering sign, Press forward bravely, count all else but loss.

Close in the ranks, and onward one and all!
See, step by step the foe begins to yield;
What if before the victory ye fall?

Ye shall be knighted on the battle-field.

And straight from thence, from conflict nobly fought, While in your ears the shouts of triumph ring, With everlasting joy, ye shall be brought

Into the presence-chamber of the King.

ALICE J. JANVRIN.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ANOTHER MISSIONARY BOX. To the Editor of the GLEANER.

AVING understood that you want to glean more facts about boxes, I venture to send some picked up out of my own history. You will see it is very different, not only from that of my relative, whose account of himself or herself has been given in your columns, but I fancy from all other boxes that you ever heard of.

In the first place, you must know that I am an Indian-I think I may now say, judging according to the natural life of a box, an old Indian. I came into being at a place which curiously enough is called Salem, though the only connection between it and the holy city of peace was that it was blessed by a mission of peace. My complexion is, of course, dark, I may almost say black, as I was made of black wool, though, as I have heard, European box wool is white. The haud that fashioned me were also black, but it was under the superintendence of a white German missionary with an English wife.

I was made to order, and intended as an accurate model of an Idol Temple to the village Mother Goddess. My mouth is large enough to admit a rupee or florin, but not a half-crown, tough a penny will just go in. On the basement or walls are four texts, as follows:

"The silver is mine, and the gold is mine."

"To communicate forget not."

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Freely ve have received, freely give." "Let nothing be lost."

These are all very good and suitable, but, judging from my experience, a still better might be found. It is "Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down and shaken toge her and running over shall men give into your bosom"; for I am convinced, from my own experience, that the more that is entrust-d to my care the more is left in my patron's keeping. Though I am bound to secrecy, and can neither speak nor write except by a machine. I may, without any breach of confidence, tell some facts which may be useful to other boxes. As a rule they are mostly placed in the hands of poor children, or in poor cottages, or on the counters of shops to receive the offerings not of the owner, but of others who are a-ked to put in. On the contrary, I have passed nearly all my life on a table in the hall, and have never asked any one to put in even a penny I could never understand why rich people should be anxious to get pence or farthings from the poor, and not put their own pounds and shillings into their own box. By doing so they can comply with other texts beside those that I show them. For instance, they could “Do their alms in seer t, not letting the left hand know what the right hand doeth." They could also very conveniently "On the first day of the week lay by in store as God has prospered them"; or they could acknowledge special answers to special payers or other special mercies by a special offering dropped into the box.

Let me conclude with a few pieces of advice, the result of twenty-five years' experience:

1. Let all who want to do good and prosper, whether rich or poor, have a missionary box.

2. Let the owner first take heed to feed it himself or herself.

3. Open it quarterly.

4. Gather up the fragments, such as books and papers no longer wanted, discount on ready money payments, and unexpected gains of all kinds, and give them or their tithe to me.

5. Lastly, remember that a free heart is the essence of acceptableness in offering, and therefore never impose your own rules on your neighbour's box. AMMAN KOYIL.

TEN WEEKS IN INDIA.

Extracts from Letters to my Children during a Winter Tour.
BY THE REV. E. H. BICKERSTETH, M.A.,
Vicar of Christ Church, Hampstead.

V.

CALCUTTA, January 17, 1881. Y last letter closed with our departure from Benares for Calcutta. At 10 o'clock on the night of Monday, January 10, we got into a carriage rough as the Adriatic, which made us all sickly; so after four hours we discreetly changed into one equally good, where there was only one clergyman, who kindly welcomed us. We passed Patna and Dinapore, and through vegetation which became more and more tropical (palms, &c.) we slid into the night and slept as well as our jolted heads would allow us, and next morning reached Calcutta just at 6 o'clock. The kind Bishop (Dr. Johnson) had sent his carriage to meet us (the same carriage that Bishop Wilson had), and met us on the stairthough at 7 o'clock in the morning. case, and his sister soon came and gave us the kindest welcome,

On Thursday morning the Bishop of Calcutta gave his charge to some sixty-five clergy in the Cathedral. On Wednesday and Thursday there was the Diocesan Conference. Edward was asked to speak on Education, and spoke admirably. On Friday and Saturday there was the retreat. I took the mid-day address on Friday, and the Bishop on Saturday. The only thing I did not like was the unbroken silence. It is not natural, to my thinking. I cannot imagine our blessed Lord enjoining silence on His Apostles, when He called them to come apart into a desert place and rest awhile. However, many men, many minds-but I love liberty.

On Friday evening I spoke at the C.M.S. quarterly meeting to a full room, and walked home alone, by moonlight, some 21 miles. On Saturday afternoon M and I made an expedition by ourselves to the Botanical Gardens, which lie across the Hooghly river, beyond what was the Bishop's College. We got into a most quaint boat, the rowers sitting sideways to pull. There was a wonderful banyan tree in the gardens, under which I should think a thousand people could stand, and lovely palms and orchid houses. We got back by moonlight. Yesterday I preached in the cathedral in the morning, and at the great church of St. John's in the evening; and to-day have had long conversations with Mr. Parker, the C.M.S. Secretary, and others, at his house. Ope young Brahmin of the highest caste came, the son of a rich Brahmin, who used to allow him large moneys, but has now cut off every shilling, because his son attends Mr. Parker's Bible Class. It is hard to realise what genuine enquirers have to suffer.

This afternoon M, and Edward, the Bishop of Colombo, and I called on Keshub Chunder Sen, to whom I had sent Professor Monier Williams' note of introduction. He was most courteous and interesting, and showed us his little prayer-meeting room in his house.

CALCUTTA, January 23, 1881.

We had the most charming "outing" from Tuesday noon to Saturday noon last week. It was a great matter to travel nearly 800 miles to see mountains which might be wrapped in mist and cloud--but God was most gracious to us, and we have seen scenery we can never, never forget. We travelled all Tuesday afternoon and night, and woke up at Siliguri, some 330 miles from Calcutta, to get into a quaint steam tram-car, which, with Himalayan range to Kurseong. the most enterprising little engine, was to mount 30 miles of the The foliage was luxuriant; ancient forests, gigantic reeds, tree ferns, tea-gardens, and then precipices on either side, our little railroad taking the sharpest