GENERAL RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. arrived there much earlier. Kuang-tau is a large and important place on the Min, about fifteen miles from the mouth of the river, and twelve from the Pagoda anchorage, where the merchant ships harbour when they come for tea, &c. The population of Kuang-tau is of a mixed character. Persons from nearly all parts of the province live here, chiefly for purposes of trade, each speaking their own peculiar dialect; so that, passing through the streets, you will often hear three or more different tongues spoken at the same time. In one house, where I stopped for a few hours from the heavy rain, I heard the court dialect, the Hing-hua, the Ching-chin, the Kiong-neng-hu, and the native Fuh-chau, all spoken by different persons. It is therefore an important, though a most difficult field for Missionary labour. Its difficulties arise partly, of course, from the many different dialects which are spoken here; but the greatest difficulties arise, alas! from the intercourse of the lowest class of foreigners who frequently visit this place, and disgrace themselves, and the countries to which they belong, in the presence of the Chinese; yet this circumstance also renders it important as a Missionary station. The Chinese ought to be shown that foreigners, especially Englishmen, have a religion which prohibits and condemns the enormities which too frequently are committed by them when they come on shore in this and other places. The boat population is very great, and no attempt has yet been made to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation to either the shore-living or boat-occupying people. It is on the way to our out-station of Lieng-kong, and, with God's blessing, we hope to sow the seed, though it be only by the way-side. About twelve o'clock we got our books and baggage all ready, and started for Lieng-kong. It rained very hard. It was also bitterly cold, and it was by no means a pleasant journey. The scenery was grand, but there were too many depressing influences at work on my mind and body to suffer me to enjoy it. Cold and wet, and hungry, and weary in mind and body, we arrived at Lieng-kong about four P.M. The Mission-house was miserable enough. Rain came down through the roof, and cold came in through apertures in the walls, and there was no fire. I got to bed as myself up in the rugs and blankets, and soon as possible, wrapt considering all the circumstances, slept very comfortably till morning. The colporteur also seemed to have enjoyed his night's rest. early breakfast for Lo-nguong; and, as 21st, Lord's day.-Very heavy rain. 22d. Not quite so wet as yesterday. Went with Kuong-mi to examine the city. We went round it on the wall. It looked a large place from that part of the hill over the top of which the wall runs. The wall is probably about four miles in circumference. In the afternoon I visited the Roman Catholic chapel, and had some very interesting conversation with six or seven Roman Catholic Christians whom I met there. I was much impressed with their zeal, if one is to judge of zeal from words: but though they are, I believe, very sincere in their profession of Romanism, I fear they have little real zeal for the "religion of Jesus," or the truth. They told me there is no use to speak to the heathen; that it was impossible to turn them from their idols. This shows what their faith is; and how can we blame them, or wonder at their ignoranee, when they never have seen or read a copy of the word of God, except, indeed, the by which we gave them. Romanism and the word of God cannot live together. It is sad to the Christian Missionary to see these people apparently zealous for what tay think is Christianity, but which, in reality, is a species of modified heathenism, a paganized Christianity. Holy water, holy earth, holy pictures, and the holy mother, seem to make up the religion of these Romanists. They engage in all the unlawful pleasures of the heathen, as if there was no difference. Sabbath is the same as any other day. It is melancholy beyond description. The heathen here have also a sacred mother, "Sèng-mú," and they imagine, when the Romanists wership the holy Virgin Mary, that they worship the same Seng-mú as themselves. They both go by the same name. The priest tells them that some of St. Paul's dust, which was brought from Rome, is buried in their chapel as a relic, and is all-powerful against disease. &c. Is not this speaking lies in pocrisy?" Rome has much to answer -Church Missionary Intelligencer. MISSION-WORK IN ST. GILES'S. An agent of the London City Mission writes as under:-There are but very few persons, in or out of London, who have not heard of St. Giles's. The very name is suggestive of vice and crime of every kad and though, without doubt, the St. Gss of to-day is much improved, compared with the St. Giles's of a by-gone , yet it still justifies the character that ascribed unto it. The part which is alted unto me is that portion which árs just behind Holborn. It consists of frous courts and streets, which are the most part in a parallel line with Forn, and are within a stone's throw of that great thoroughfare. There are a few courts where respectable working men with their families reside; but for the most part they are tenanted by the lowest class of Irish, and by many of the criminal population of London. The number of visitable families, as far as I can ascertain, is nearly seven hundred, and nearly four hundred of these are Irish Romanists. Two hundred more are nominal Protestants, but in reality of no religion whatever; while scattered among these are to be found a few Christians, by whom Christ is loved, and God is honoured. Such, with a few persons of infidel views, are the people among whom I am placed. Poverty and distress abound on every hand, notwithstanding the means put forth to mitigate these evils. One cause is the dulness of trade, which is greatly felt by the poor of Loudon at this season of the year. But undoubtedly the great cause is the habit of drinking, which so much prevails among the inhabitants of the district. Not that all the poor are of this character. There are some among them who, through the means which have been employed, are now walking" soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present evil world.". The great mass of my people are Romanists; many of these refuse to let me speak privately with them, so that if it was not for out-door meetings they would never hear the Gospel. I have gone into some of the streets and courts where these people live, and have preached Christ unto them. Many will close their windows, in order to prevent the sound of my voice reaching their ears; but some of them, and the men especially, put their heads out of their windows, and listen to the Gospel. They are thus brought within reach of that Word which is "able to make them wise unto salvation." These meetings have not been in vain. We cannot often refer to instances where the Word has been blessed, as most of those who listen to it are strangers, and we never come again in contact with them. But there have been instances where, to all appearance, these means of grace have been blessed to the good of souls....... There is one feature connected with the district which is both interesting and important, and that is the valuable opportunity afforded of imparting some religious instruction to a portion of the migratory population of London. There are in the district nine common lodging-houses, where large numbers of the lowest class find a temporary refuge. The occupiers of these houses comprise all sorts and conditions of men and women. The ruined trades man and the countryman in London seeking employ; the Irish costermonger and the travelling tinker; the bankrupt spendthrift and the professional gambler; the expert pickpocket and the practised thief; the professional beggar and the street songster; with other mendicants of various orders, who go to make up the lowest strata of London life. Some of the houses give shelter to thirty or forty of these men and women, having a fire in the common room, where they can provide their food, and a place overhead where they can be sheltered for the night, or, as is the case with the great mass of them, by the day. They are charged for these accommodations at the rate of threepence or fourpence per head. Many of the persons who find their way to these houses only remain there for a very limited time, and then leave for other parts of London, when other wayfarers come, and fill their places. I have during the past year often visited these men and women, and though they are rather noisy, and do not behave with that decorum one might wish, and though some of them (but these are Irish) oppose me in every possible manner, yet on the whole I have no reason to complain of their behaviour. I visit them in the evening, when most of them are assembled in the common room. Many of them listen with much attention, and, I think, feel an interest in what is said to them. In my visits to these houses I have met with many who have come from various parts of the country, who in their childhood attended Sunday-schools, and who, up to the time of their coming to London, regularly attended a place of worship. They have come to the metropolis, associated with evil companions, and have sunk lower and lower, until they are to be found mixed up with the lowest order of society. It is most probable that, if it were not for the visits paid to these people, they would never hear the sound of the Gospel, as they do not attend the house of God. Several of them, in answer to the questions that I have put to them relative to their attendance at church, have informed me, that the last time they ever were in such a place was ten, twenty, thirty, and, in one instance, I was told forty-five years ago. There have been several who have felt an apparent interest in the truths they have had brought before their attention; and it is earnestly to be hoped that these truths have not been taught to them in vain. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. REBECCA, relict of Mr. Joseph WALFORD,* died at Whitchurch, Salop, on December 2d, 1866, aged seventy-three years. When very young she was thoughtful, docile, and more than ordinarily quick in acquiring knowledge. She highly valued good sacred poetry, and became very familiar with Wesley's Hymns, often singing them with the spirit and with the understanding also. On the 20th of December, 1807, she was admitted on trial into the Methodist Society by the Rev. John James, of whose kind and judicious attention to the young she often spoke. His farewell service in Whitchurch chapel made a lasting impression on her heart. At that time the Society was small, but it included some who exhibited a fervent and wellinstructed zeal. "Being justified freely through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," she made constant progress, and became "rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as she had been taught." In 1811 she became a Sundayschool teacher; and for thirty years laboured diligently for the salvation of the young: uniformly feeling it her duty to read, and think, and pray, and deny herself, for their profit. As a wife she "opened her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue was the law of kindness:" "her husband" could 'safely trust in her," and she "did him good and not evil." She anticipated his wants, and encouraged him in the discharge of church-duties. When, in the latter months of his life, he became distressingly feeble and nervous, her watchfulness was unremitting. In one of her letters to the writer of this sketch she said, "I feel overwhelmed, and know not what to do. I trust the Lord will undertake for us, and send deliverance in this trying time of need." She was not, however, tried above that she was enabled to bear; and a few weeks after her husband's death she wrote: "I am thankful for the sup * A Memoir of this excellent man was given in the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine, September, 1852. port I experience in this severe trial...... I trust that, as now my sole earthly prop has been taken from me, I shall more steadfastly rest on Jesus, the Rock of eternal Ages." To the church of her youth she had an enlightened and strong attachment, and considered that she was honoured in having frequent opportunities of showing hospitality to its ministers. The Rev. J. D. Tetley truly observes, "She was full of kindness, and especially to Methodist preachers...... This arose from her habitual respect for the servants of Christ, whom she delighted to call, after the style of the earlier Methodists, men of God. She was one of those old Methodists whose piety becomes a precious heritage to the church, in influencing aright younger ones growing up within its sacred precincts." She underrated her spiritual attainments, and sometimes shrank from service for which she was well qualified. Though repeatedly requested to lead a class, she always refused. In the year 1863 the infirmities of age were aggravated by a fall, which prevented her for nine weeks from attending the house of the Lord. Like the Psalmist, she longed to "come and appear before God." Her regard for public wor ship was not limited to the Lord's day; bat even in old age she was often at the week-evening services. She was a humble, yet discriminating, hearer, and enjoyed enversation on the subject of the sermon. Taos, by "building up herself on her Best holy faith, and praying in the Holy Ghost," she "kept herself in the love of God." When her bodily infirmities so increased that she became unable to leave her dwelling, and could not even get upstairs, she was not cast down by the severe suffering: "tribulation" again "wrought patience," and she " abounded in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost." She had been an excellent correspondent, but now writing was a difficult and painful task; yet the subdeed cheerfulness by which she had long beea characterized never forsook her. Occasionally she spoke of her "precious husband," and habitually anticipated re on with him in heaven. The concasion of her course was more sudden than her friends expected, and during the last twenty-four hours she spoke very little. Happy they whose life is a preparation or death! We need not be anxious repecting their feelings; for He who has "the keys of death, and of hades" hath assured us of their safety. Resting on His JOHN CASSIE was born at Aberdeen, July 22d, 1841. His parents were pious and consistent members of the Methodist Society, his father being a leader and Local preacher, and his mother a woman eminently devoted to Christ. He was, therefore, trained in "the nurture and admonition of the Lord," and visited from earliest childhood with the grace of the Holy Spirit. This, however, he resisted till the close of the year 1857, when, under the ministry of the Rev. R. Leake, he was deeply convinced of sin, and began to seek redemption in the blood of Jesus. He was admitted into the Methodist Society in June, 1858; but it was not until October 19th of that year that he obtained peace with God. He thus describes the experience of that memorable day. "I retired to pray previously to going to class, and in an agony of spirit pleaded the promise, 'him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out.' A sweet peace possessed my soul: the words, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace,' were written upon my heart, and I rejoiced with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.' I went to class, and related the joyous event." No sooner had Mr. Cassie experienced this blessed change, than he endeavoured to exert himself for the good of others. He began to exhort, and pray in public, and distribute tracts. In the Sunday-school, also, he sought to direct the young to Christ; and he went into the lanes and alleys to sow the good seed of the kingdom. He became a diligent student of God's word, and acquired very extensive and accurate acquaintance with it. He removed to Manchester in the year 1860, and was immediately placed on the prayer-leaders' plan. Soon afterwards, he became a Local preacher; and henceforth the work of preaching the Gospel of God became the absorbing object of his life. He was regular also in his attendance at the weekly class-meeting; and often did he bear testimony to the great benefit which he derived from communion with the people of God. His class-leader, Mr. T. Willshaw, to whom he was strongly attached, had a young men's class at his own house, for the study of theology, according to the system laid down by the late Rev. Richard Watson, in his " 'Institutes." To this class Mr. Cassie belonged; and such was his attachment to it, that for a long time he came from Bolton to Manchester every week, in order to be present at its meetings. It is worthy of remark, that some of the friendships formed in that class have been firm and enduring; and that from that little circle, some eight or ten have gone into the ranks of the Christian ministry at home and abroad, while to many others its exercises have been the means of mental and spiritual quickening; and still the Divine blessing continues to rest upon it. Soon after Mr. Cassie began to exercise his gifts in exhortation and preaching, he felt a strong and deepening conviction, that he was called to devote himself to the Christian ministry. He was accepted as a candidate by the Conference of 1864, and sent to the Richmond branch of the Theological Institution. Here he was very happy in his studies; and made considerable progress in them; but soon fears began to be entertained respecting the state of his health. Very unfavourable symptoms appeared; but such was his habitual cheerfulness, that many of his friends supposed, for some time, that no danger was to be apprehended. In the beginning of 1866, he had a sudden and alarming attack of hemorrhage from the lungs, which brought him very low. The governor and tutors showed him great kindness while he remained at Richmond; and when he was a little recovered, he was conveyed to his father's house in Hull. After some time he removed to his sister's home at Bolton, where he remained, with the exception of a few weeks, until his death. He As the summer advanced, he occasionally rallied a little; and at these times was sanguine that he should recover his vigour, and yet be employed in that work on which he had set his heart. went over from Bolton to Manchester to the closing meeting of the theological class to which reference has been made. That meeting was one never to be forgotten. As he attempted to express his gratitude for his connexion with God's people, for the benefits received in that class, and for the comfort and joy which had been vouchsafed to him in his affliction, he was completely overcome, and his young friends mingled their tears with his. Many of his words were words of holy triumph in Jesus; and on these it is pleasing to linger now that he has passed away. The closing scene may be given in the words of a sister, who was his constant attendant. "The last hours of my beloved brother were calm and peaceful. Although so much wasted by disease, he entertained, even up to a few days of his death, hopes of ultimate recovery, and longed to preach the cross of Christ. It was on Sunday, February 3d, 1867, that he was apprized of the opinion of the physician, that his case was hopeless. He received the intelligence with great calmness, and said, I should have liked to live, to have a few years of service for my Master, but it is all right: living or dying, I am the Lord's.' "At another time, having referred to the blessedness of those who are the instruments of leading sinners to the Saviour, and of the great reward awaiting them in heaven, he appeared depressed in spirit that he could not enter upon the work that seemed to open to him, and partake the joy of those who 'turn many to righteousness.' The remark was then made, It is in your heart to work for the Lord Jesus. He is sending for you; do you think that He will let you suffer any diminution of glory for not duing what you have so longed to do? O, no! the reward will assuredly be yours." With a smile he said, 'Yes, I suppose it must be so.' "To the other members of his family he sent a comforting assurance of his happiness in Christ. Tell them,' he said, 'that I love Jesus, and that I have no other hope. I am building on Him, and trusting in Him, and have found Him a present help in trouble. He is all my salvation and all my desire. Alas! since first I trusted in Him, I have been guilty of many wanderings of heart, and sometimes my faith has been weaker than a bruised reed; but He has borne with me, He has sustained me, and unto Him would I dedicate body, soul, and spirit. O Spirit Divine, proceeding from the Father and the Son, O everlasting Son of the Father, sway Thy sceptre over my entire being.' "During his affliction, he was graciously saved from doubts and fears. He rested with unshaken constancy on the atonement of Christ, and his peace flowed as a river. He spoke of his approaching end with the greatest calmness, and desired to |