more precious than Christian ministers, at home or abroad, are often permitted to see as the fruit of their life-work. It will be noticed, also, that Mr. Barnum was much pleased with results thus far, and prospects, in the Arabic (Mardin) portion of the field; and specially with the faith and earnestness of the few poor Protestants at Sert. It may be hoped that Mr. Williams's letter (page 120), respecting the visit of Pastor Thomas to the United States, and the propriety of such movements, will be read and pondered.

Syria. Mr. H. H. Jessup, now in this country, wrote February 14: “I have one item of most gratifying intelligence from Syria. Rufka, the well-known teacher, [in the girls' boarding-school at Beirut,] has found the Saviour, and is rejoicing in the Lord, consecrating her all to him, and full of zeal for the conversion of souls. Surely this is in answer to prayer, and should call for devout thanksgiving. Several Maronite monks have escaped from their monasteries to become Protestants. Elias, the young man converted a year ago, has gone to labor as a native preacher in the regions around Tripoli, his former home."

Nestorians. Mr. Shedd writes, (November 16,) that on the western side of the mountains, the light of truth seems to have opened the eyes of the people to Papal errors; and the results of "a raid upon the Nestorians, by the Chaldean Patriarch, and French monks," have been "very meagre." Mar Shimon has ceased his persecutions, and there is some prospect of more quietude." The two mission seminaries opened for the winter, with 36 pupils in the male and 32 in the female school. Of the last, "a considerable number" are "new and promising pupils." Priest Yacob, who has labored for some years as a colporter in Russia, chiefly among the Malakans, has been ordained. Mr. Shedd says: "He desired ordination that he might be able to administer the ordinances to the converts he has been the means of gathering among that hopeful Russian sect. He is a man whom we delight to have among us, - so full of the

Holy Ghost and of faith." Four other persons were also ordained, in connection with meetings of "district conferences of preachers and delegates," in the divisions of the Oroomiah field. "One was ordained an Elder, or Priest, and four as Deacons." "The ordaining prayers and laying on of hands were by Mar Yohannan."

A letter from Mr. Cochran, just returned to this mission (page 115), presents a gratifying account of the annual gathering of native helpers; the reports presented, from Tabreez and from Shirwan in Russia especially; and "the cream of the meeting," found in "the devotional exercises."

Mahrattas. The case of two young brahmins, and the opposition and riot excited by their embracing Christianity, as mentioned in a letter from Mr. Harding, published in January, will be remembered. The older of the two united with the church at Shalapoor in September last, but the younger was so influenced by the opposition and the persuasions of friends, that he returned to his Hindu relatives. Mr. Harding wrote again respecting him, December 27th: "He returned to us about two months ago. We have thought it best, on his own account and for the effect on the community, to defer his baptism a little longer; but I have now good reason to hope that he is a truly converted young man."

The exceedingly interesting statements respecting this mission field, in an article on pages 107-113, will not be overlooked.

Madura. Mr. Herrick writes that he spent the last Sabbath in December at Mallankinaru, at the request of the native pastor, attempting, he hopes not unsuccessfully, to aid in healing certain difficulties in the church there. Two adults were admitted to the church and five children baptized. He states: "We are again threatened with great scarcity of food. Not half the usual quantity of rain has fallen since the first of October; much of the grain in this district is already lost; and if rain does not come very soon- a thing uncommon at this time of the year there will be a general failure of the rice crop."

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Hazen, and Miss Pollock, who sailed from Boston August 10, 1867, reached Madras, after a long but pleasant voyage, on the 29th of December. Mr. Taylor writes that there was some religious interest on board the vessel, so that "the voyage seemed to be blessed to the spiritual good of two or three of the men, while good impressions were made on other minds."

Ceylon. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders and Miss Townsend, who sailed from Boston for Ceylon, October 9th, by way of England, reached Jaffna December 18.

Senecas. Mr. Wright reports that five persons, from the Tonawanda Reservation, and, also, one who was formerly a member, and one of the oldest boys at the Orphan Asylum, were received to the church on the second Sabbath in February, at Upper Cattaraugus. "Four of these were pagans but a few months ago." The brethren of the church have several times "sent delegations from among themselves to look after this good work at Tonawanda," where several others, recently pagans, appear to have been converted, and where a church organization is desired. "A large share are in the prime of life, and there is a freshness, and an appearance of vitality in their Christian experience, which seem to augur well for the success of such an enterprise." The brethren at Upper Cattaraugus "are beginning to move in the matter of providing support for a pastor"; and in other ways, "have been raising more money than usual for religious purposes."

OTHER MISSIONS.

London Missionary Society. An enthusiastic meeting was held in Exeter Hall, London, in December last, "to inaugurate the formation of Young Men's Auxiliaries to the London Missionary Society, throughout the kingdom." It was stated that, at that time, the actual expenditure of the Society was at the rate of £20,000 ($100,000) a year more than its income.

China. The Presbyterian Record states: "The report of the Ningpo mission, October 1st, mentions the admission of seventy persons to the communion of the six churches in the bounds of the mission during the preceding year, making the whole number of communicants three hundred and twenty-nine." Since then (November 10) five adults were admitted to the church at Sing-z, in that mission. Ten were admitted in the Canton mission during the same year, and one in November.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has instructed its Board of Missions to "look for and appoint a missionary or missionaries to China."

West Africa. The (English) Wesleyan Missionary Notices states: "From Abbeokuta intelligence reaches us of a violent outbreak of popular fury, instigated by the Bashorun, and which has issued in the expulsion of both missionaries, and in the temporary suspension of the mission. For some time past, the injurious effects of the civil war in Yoruba have been felt in Abbeokuta, and the natives have looked with sullen suspicion on all Europeans." "On Sunday, the 13th of October, all the mission premises at Abbeokuta, with the exception of those occupied by Mr.

From the first of August the authorities of the town had been persecuting the Christians, at last destroying a new chapel foundation, burning the houses of converts, robbing them of all their property, imprisoning them, etc., and Mr. Grimmer wrote, November 4th: "I fear it will be a long time before we can occupy Abbeokuta again, unless we could go under British protection." From publications of the (English) Church Missionary Society it appears that a portion of the Abbeokuta community were hostile to the missionaries because their influence was a most effective barrier to the renewal of the slave-trade; yet the violence would hardly have occurred but for political complications with the British authorities at Logos. It is also stated that the present ruler in Abbeokuta attributed the destruction of missionary property to the unauthorized acts of a turbulent populace, and disavowed any intention of injuring the churches; and that a friendly disposition had been manifested, since the outbreak, by some of the war chiefs and by the civil authorities.

It is difficult to get at the exact facts in the case, but it would seem that three or four missionaries of the Church Missionary Society, two of the Wesleyan Society, and one of the (American) Southern Baptist Board were driven away, robbed of almost everything they had; near $2,000 "in cash and cowries," stolen from the different stations; dwellings, furniture, schoolhouses, printing-press, and churches mostly ruined.

The Evangelical Christendom, for January, states: "In October last, Bishop Crowther, while on a visitation up the Niger, among other places, visited a place called Ida. After some palaver between the bishop and the natives, the latter resolved on detaining the bishop until a ransom, equal in value to one thousand slaves, was paid for his release. Hereupon the viceconsul at the confluence of the Niger, Mr. Fell, and a party of Europeans, proceeded,

...

India. An article in the Chronicle of the London Missionary Society, for January, states respecting one field in India: "The Travancore mission has now been established more than sixty years. The settled agencies, which have shaped it into its present form, have been at work just half a century; and none who contrast the present state of the province with what it was when the mission began, can fail to mark the wonderful progress which it has made during these sixty years in every element of true prosperity... Sound knowledge, and freedom of thought on the most important subjects, prevail to an extent utterly unknown at the commencement of the present century. At the same time, the direct work of the mission has met with the most encouraging success. In the seven districts of the mission, recently reduced to six, the great number of native churches, the large congregations, the number of scholars, the order and general purity of Christian society, and the liberality with which the agencies of the gospel are supported, exhibit that success in a striking manner. The crowning proofs of blessing and prosperity are seen in the congregations prepared for complete self-support; in their great liberality; in the large band of well-educated native preachers and teachers; in newlyappointed elders; and in excellent and tried native pastors."

hindered for want of means." The total receipts of the Union for ten months of the current financial year, to the close of January, were but $86,036.22, "leaving, in round numbers, $139,000 to be provided for in the two remaining months."

Burmah. The Macedonian, of the Baptist Union, for March, gives several interesting items from Burmah. Dr. Wade wrote, October 1: "Sau Quala, our pattern native missionary, refuses a salary, and lives with the Christians wherever he goes, accepting from time to time a contribution from a church or a inissionary, for traveling expenses, &c. He is now with his two daughters in Mata, superintending a school, but in very bad health. Help us pray that his valuable life may be prolonged, to direct the mission to the Karens in Siam."

“Mr. Brayton, on account of waning health, had contemplated returning to his native land; but the Karens having heard of it, made his case a matter of united prayer. Without any apparent reason, except that God is a hearer of prayer, he began at once to recover, and will continue to pursue his work."

A letter from Mr. Norris, of Maulmain, says of the meeting of the Convention in that place, that it was a season of deep interest and great profit. "Unbroken harmony and good feeling pervaded all the deliberations; but the devotional part of the exercises was especially precious and encouraging. The native delegates showed such tokens of spiritual earnestness and power, such an advance towards Christian manhood, as to give us all abundant occasion to take renewed courage and go for

ward."

DEATHS.

Ar Ashburnham, Mass., January 17, Miss Catharine Fuller, many years since from 1829 to 1836-a teacher in connection with the Cherokee mission.

At Harpoot, Turkey, December 31,1867, Mrs. Lucretia L., wife of Rev. Henry S. Barnum, of the Eastern Turkey mission. Mrs. Barnum had been but a few months in the foreign field, but she had already

greatly endeared herself to the mission circle. Her husband had been seriously ill, and her care of him probably brought on her own sickness. Mr. Allen wrote, January 6th: "Mr. Barnum was just beginning to get about when Mrs. B. was taken sick, with what proved to be a malignant form of typhus fever. For more than a week we watched at her bedside with alternating hope and fear; but all our efforts were unavailing. She sank rapidly under the disease, and at the close of the last day of the year she fell asleep in Jesus... We are left a stricken band. Though our departed sister had been here so short a time, our hearts were drawn to her as to one who had been with us for years. Her love to all made her beloved by all our circle. Her love for the Master's work, and her hearty sympathy with us in it, made us hope that she was to be an instrument of much good. She had given herself with enthusiasm to the study of the language. But the Master has called her to a higher service.”

...

Another letter from Harpoot states: "Mrs. Barnum's was one of those quiet home-lives which present few salient points for an obituary notice. It was a power for good to those who came within the circle of its influence, but that power was exerted so quietly and constantly, that those even upon whom it acted were often almost unconscious of it.

"She was born in Guilford, Conn., March 11, 1841, and spent her whole life, until her marriage, in May last, at the old homestead. She united with the First Congregational church in Guilford at the age of twelve, and when very young felt a desire to be a missionary. At the age of sixteen she lost her older sister; and two years later her mother died, leaving her to take the mother's place to the four younger members of the family-one of them but six years of age.

"For two seasons she took charge of a neighboring school, in addition to her household duties, and found teaching a most congenial and delightful work. Still she felt that her sphere was home, and when invited to share in missionary work and a missionary home, it was not till after much prayer that she could consent to

leave her father's house, and trust the dear ones there to the care of the Father in heaven.

"After receiving many kind and substantial tokens of regard from her numerous friends, she sailed in July last, with her husband, for her new field of usefulness. They reached Harpoot September 26th, and her life closed with the old year, December 31st, just before sunset. No other adult member of the station has died since the work began here, and it seems a strange providence which has called her away so soon. Yet her life here was not in vain; for her uniform sweetness of disposition, and her childlike trust in God, (often spoken of since her death,) have left behind a heavenly influence to bless us who survive.

"During her few lucid moments she gave gratifying evidence that the Saviour was with her. In a somewhat incoherent prayer, but two or three hours before her death, she repeated over and over again, Washes away all sin. Washes away all sin.' How soon she had done with sin forever!"

The death of Rev. Edward Johnson, of Waioli, Sandwich Islands, is reported, as announced by telegraph from San Francisco. Mr. Johnson sailed in the Morning Star a few months since, from Honolulu, to visit the Micronesia mission, and the statement is that he died there. No letter announcing the 'death has yet been received.

A LETTER TO THE CHILDREN.

DEAR CHILDREN, -I have been asked to write something for you, to be printed in the Missionary Herald. But do children read the Herald? Yes, I know of some boys and girls who will read every word of any letter if it is only written in a story form, so that they can understand it. They have invested some of their money in the missionary cause, and you know that all sensible people are very particular to find out all they can about that in which they have invested property.

I know of some children in this land who will be delighted to read a story in the Missionary Herald, because they were born and have lived away off, thousands of miles, among the people who are being brought out of darkness into the blessed light of the gospel. And these children have been real missionaries themselves, in a great many little ways, without know ing it. I, too, was once a missionary, and I remember one little boy, the son of a missionary, who lived not far from where the Garden of Eden was. He used often to eat fish for his dinner, that were taken in a great net from the river Tigris, which in the Bible is called "the great 10

VOL. LXIV.

river, which is Hiddekel"; and it was, you know, one of the four rivers that flowed around that beautiful Garden of Eden. He used to talk with the native people, in the Arabic language, quite as readily as with his parents in English; and every Sabbath evening, at family prayers, his father would ask for an account of the sermon which he had preached. The students, and the native members of the family, would tell all they could remember, and then this boy, nine years old, would repeat much more; and his little sister would also have something to tell.

Often, the native people, on calling and finding his father engaged, would ask this little boy to explain to them the meaning of some things in the Bible. He could also give them a great deal of information about the way things are done in America.

But more than all this, the obedient and truthful life of these children made a great impression upon the people. When they went to call or visit at the houses of their native friends, sweetmeats were always placed before them; but if they had been told by their parents not to eat them away from home, they always obeyed. The native people would look on and