SOME FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS. Of Taiku, where Mr. Williams has resided for five years, he writes hopefully. Notwithstanding many setbacks, the gospel is surely winning its way. Of some individual church members Mr. Williams says: "Brother Wang has a mat shop opposite the city chapel on the south street. His shop has been closed on Sundays for the past year, a great red poster on the closed door giving the reason to all who pass by. Recently a bakery, opened by three men not yet baptized, has also closed its door on the Sabbath. The mat merchant's wife is bitterly opposed, and accuses the foreigners of deceiving her husband and taking the bread out of their children's mouths. Not long since, when Deacon Lin went to their village to exhibit magic-lantern pictures she ceased. not to storm and revile. Their oldest boy is in the Taiku school. Their third child, being a girl, and being born on an unlucky day, was, in the absence of the father, drowned in a tub of water by the unnatural mother. In a recent prayermeeting, Brother Wang said the thing he desired most was the conversion of his wife. "Mr. Lin, a bookkeeper in a large village store, was converted two years ago. He then had to face the question of leaving a lucrative position, or of disowning Christ and worshiping idols. (Every one in the employ of a shop, large or small, must worship the god of wealth in the shop.) Friends and relatives were all on one side and the proprietors of the store offering promotion, with advanced salary; only a few paternal acres in a mountain village for his support, and shame and persecution with Christ on the other side. He was long in deciding, but at last came out on the Lord's side, and is growing daily in the truth as it is in Jesus. "Mr. Wang was a village terror,' and proprietor of a gambling tent. He has been cured of the opium habit, and is truly converted, as evinced by a complete change of character and reputation. His wife is of the same mind and peculiarly receptive of the truth. Their eldest son, a fine lad, is in the Taiku Boarding School. "Deacon Lin was cured of the opium habit after eating it twenty years. Converted eight years ago at the age of fortyfive, he is wonderfully instructed in the Scriptures and takes deep hold of spiritual truth. He is the strong pillar of the Taiku church, an eloquent, fearless preacher, a true and tried helper in every line of Christian activity. His wife is a woman of strong character, who left off opium without assistance before her conversion, an honest and wise Christian woman. Their daughter-in-law has unbound her feet in the face of opposition and ridicule on the part of all except her own immediate family. "Helper Wang Chung was converted four years ago and thereby lost a good position in business. He is now a quiet, studious Christian, exerting a greater influence through his life than by his words. His elder brother, his servant, and his friend have all come into the fold through his influence. His wife is no true helpmeet and mourns over temporal losses which Christianity has brought upon them. helper in the medical work at Liman, was a pupil in the Bridgman School at Peking. She is a power for good among the women, a worthy helpmeet to her husband, who is a graduate of the North China College at Tung-cho.” Other persons are mentioned by Mr. Williams, among them several who seem near the kingdom but are yet unwilling to break away from their ancestral faiths. Mr. Williams concludes his letter by referring to his recent reading of the Book of the Acts and he says: "Our Taiku church is much like those primitive churches. I believe it is truly founded in the Lord and is being guided by the Holy Spirit. When you pray for us, and give for us, and think about us, be assured that it is worth your while, for the church of the living God in China is a reality." Notes from the Wide Field. INDIA. HOW A VILLAGE OPENS. The following extract from a letter of a missionary in the Madras district of India gives, in brief, a description of the way in which Christian work is opening in one village of India. The story may stand, in substance, as an illustration of movements now going on in multitudes of villages in many sections of India. This writer, as quoted in the Harvest Field, says: "We reached the place at 9 P.M. and found that the people had been waiting for us from five o'clock. This is a trial station and we have had a school in it for less than four months. The caste people have shown themselves violently opposed to our work, and it has been very uncertain whether we should be able to make good a footing in the place. We have as yet no property in the village, neither teacher's house nor school. The people have erected a small shed for the teacher, and a covered veranda is used for the school. I found a neatly decorated pandal put up in which to receive me, a table with a neat covering on it placed in front of an earthen pial where I might sit, a Testament, lyric book, and school registers laid in order for my use and inspection, and a company of more than 100 people gathered to receive me. They sat down very orderly and in rows, the women, alas! behind the men, for the present. We first sang a hymn and prayed, all kneeling. Then I took up a sheet of paper and called the names of the heads of families who had expressed a desire to become Christians. They stood up and their wives with them, and confessed their desire before all. Altogether there were on the list nearly thirty families, with a total of ninety-six persons in them, old and young. They were all ready and hearty in their profession of a desire to become Christians. I next called up the young men of the night school and heard them sing a hymn; after these the day school similarly. These preliminaries ended, I read a few verses and gave to all present a sort of Sunday-school lesson on our need of a new nature, That which is born of the flesh is flesh,' etc. The scene and the service were most encouraging; but let no one think that all uncertainty is over, and that these people are now freely and intelligently settled in their desire to be Christians. We never know what foolish hopes may be lurking in their minds, or how soon many of them may be offended and turn back. It will be many months before we can so much as think of baptism, and when we come to administer the rite, probably not more than one third of those who have given their names will be found worthy or willing to enter the church." POLYNESIA. NEW GUINEA.- Wonderful transformations are taking place in various sections of New Guinea in connection with the labors of the London Missionary Society. Rev. James Chalmers writes of a meeting which recently took place at Mabuiagi. Twenty five years ago the natives at that place were wild, naked, and nomadic savages, but recently a remarkable assembly convened for the dedication of a church costing $1,250, a large sum for this people, yet it was all paid for. The people came together in great numbers, filling the house completely. The singing was good and there were many speakers, chiefs, deacons, and evangelists as well as missionaries. The service lasted two hours and was followed by a well-ordered and abundant feast. The change within a quarter of a century was vast, and there is promise of yet greater advance in the future. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL. Miscellany. Korea and Her Neighbors. A narrative of Travel, with an account of the recent vicissitudes and present position of the country. By Isabella Bird Bishop. New York: Fleming H. Revell Co. Whoever desires to know about Korea and to learn about the country and people which are the latest revelation to the civilized world should by all means read Mrs. Bishop's new volume on Korea. Scientists naturally love to study the primitive and simplest forms of life. Those who make mankind a study will find much of intense interest in the accounts of people like the Koreans, who have come to their present condition, such as it is, little affected by the outside world. As is well known, Mrs. Bishop is a close observer, seeing not merely that which it is easy to find, but searching every remote corner. Her style is most limpid and attractive, and a dull subject would be enlivened by her pen. Sir Walter Hillier, the British Consul General for Korea, who has long known the country, vouches for the accuracy of Mrs. Bishop's observations and inferences. The book abounds in fine photo-engravings, and the text weil matches the engravings in beauty and in minuteness of detail. We note some of Mrs. Bishop's references to missionary work in Korea, which she highly commends. She reports that there are about seventy-five Protestant and thirty-four Roman missionaries in Korea, mostly in Seoul, and that after twelve years of work the native Protestant Christians in 1897 numbered 777. In Moukden, which stands between China and Korea, Mrs. Bishop noticed the remarkable work of the United Scotch Presbyterian Church, concerning which it is reported that there were already 4,000 baptized persons, and nearly as many more seemed ready for the rite. Mrs. Bishop bears testimony that her more intimate acquaintance only confirmed the high opinion early formed of the large body of missionaries in Seoul, of their earnestness and devotion to their work, of the harmony prevailing among the different denominations and the cordial and sympathetic feeling toward the Koreans. In Seoul there are nearly 900 students, chiefly in mission schools, who are being trained in Christian morality and in other ways. Africa Waiting, or The Problem of Africa's Evangelization. By Douglas M. Thornton, Educational Secretary of the Student Volunteers' Missionary Union. London, 93 Aldersgate St. E. C. This text-book upon Africa as it now is views the continent solely from a missionary standpoint. It includes all Protestant missionary effort and is therefore necessarily brief in its statements as to each mission. A picture of Africa as a whole is first given and the details are afterwards filled in. Though primarily intended for the use of missionary bands and Christian Endeavorers, it will prove of value to the general Christian public. The cheering fact that there are forty missionary societies at work in Africa is balanced by the statements that North Africa has but one Protestant missionary to 125,000 Mohammedans; the Sahara, one Protestant missionary to 2,500,000 Mohammedans; the Soudan States have one Protestant missionary to 45,000,000 Mohammedans and pagans; West Africa has about one Protestant missionary to 30,000 pagans; Central Africa has one Protestant missionary to 80,000 pagans; Southern Africa has one Protestant missionary to 14,000 pagans. The statistical tables summarizing the SPECIAL TOPIC FOR PRAYER. work of the British and Foreign Bible Society and of European missionary societies in Africa are of such interest and value as to increase the regret that those of American societies are lacking. Notes for the Month. For the Student Volunteer Movement. With thanksgivings to God for the marvelous awakening among students in reference to foreign missionary service, let there be earnest prayer that the movement may be wisely guided; that the young men and women who have given themselves to this service may be filled with the Spirit of God; that they may be made efficient toward the awakening of new missionary zeal in the churches; and that the means may be speedily forthcoming for the sending forth of these laborers into the harvest field. (See pages 125 and 138.) ARRIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES. At New York, March 2, Rev. James L. Fowle, of Cesarea, Western Turkey. ARRIVALS AT STATIONS. December 24. At Foochow, China, Miss Hannah C. Woodhull and Miss Kate C. Woodhull, M.D. January 28. At Yokohama, Japan, Miss Cornelia Judson. DEATHS. January 19. At Tirumangalam, Madura District, India, Mrs. Charlotte J. Perkins. (See February 19. At Beirut, Syria, Mrs. Emily R. Montgomery, of Adana, Central Turkey. (See page 132.) February 26. At Asheville, North Carolina, Rev. George B. Nutting, missionary of the American Board in Central Turkey from 1853 to 1868. Mr. Nutting was born at Randolph, Vt., March 11, 1826. After graduating at Dartmouth College in 1847, he studied theology at Western Reserve Seminary. On reaching Turkey he labored at Aintab and at Oorfa, and on his return to the United States in 1868 he was released from his connection with the Board. Ashby, Cong. ch. 15 29 20 00 56 25 17 00 76 00 3 51 Auburndale, Cong. ch., Friend, Beverly, Dane-st. Cong. ch., to const. Boston, Park-st. ch., 1,165.11; Old South ch., 764.84; Immanuel ch. (Roxbury), 508.97; Union Cong. ch., 352.71; Y. P. S. C. E. of do., for native helpers, 87.50; do., JOHN PORTEOUS, with other dona., to const. HIMSELF, H. M.,75; Shawmut ch., 178.79; 2d ch. (Dorchester), 25; Y. P.'S. C. E. of do., toward support Dr. F. C. Wellman, 100; Pilgrim Cong. ch., 122.50; Winthrop ch. (Charlestown), 81.16; Highland ch. (Roxbury), 6.51; Maverick ch. (East Boston), 2.89; Mt. Vernon ch., 1; Friend, 200; "T. G.," 30; E. C. C. (Dorchester), 10; Mrs. A. D. Tucker (Dorchester), 5, Braintree, Storrs Ladies' For. Mis. Soc. Brockton, Porter ch. Cambridgeport, R. L. S." Easton, Cong. ch. 3,716 98 40 00 8 55 200 00 20 00 76 77 Everett, 1st Cong. ch., 73.77; Cortland st. Cong. ch., 3, Florence, Cong. ch. Framingham, Mrs. Augusta Ellery, for missions in India, Granby, Church of Christ, Hamilton, Enoch F. Knowlton, 49 24 200 00 13.00 2 00 Shirley, Cong. ch. Shrewsbury, Cong. ch. Shutesbury, Cong. ch. Somerville, Highland Cong. ch. South Framingham, Grace Cong. ch. Westboro, Mary L. Brown, West Groton, Chr. Union Cong. ch. West Hawley, Cong, ch. Winchester, 1st Cong. ch., Int. on Friend, Legacies. Easthampton, Lucas W. Hannum, by Hattie W. Gordon, Ex'x, 3 50 95 27 26 86 108 31 99 30 20 00 5 00 45 00 532 12 50 4 50 11 00 4.79 40 90 88 98 I 20 269 62 20 00 5 00 4 00 763 3 25 200 00 4 00 10 00--6,742 80 500 00 Southfield, Edward S. Canfield, by 4,138 58--4,938 58 Cobalt, Cong. ch. 50 00 4 00 Harwich, Cong. ch., add'l, 1 25 East Canaan, Cong. ch. 13 04 Haverhill, Centre Cong. ch., 20; Gilead, Cong. ch., 15.10; do., Twocents-a-week member, 2.04, Hartford, 2d Cong.ch., 400; Windsorave. Cong. ch., 118.89; Park Cong. ch., 37.58; Asylum Hill, Cong. ch., Friend, 30; do., Friend, 5; Wethersfield-ave. Cong. ch., 27.43: Fourth Cong. ch., 26.59; Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Taintor, 100: "S. M. D.," 30; Friend, 15, Middletown, 1st Cong. ch., 32.50; South Cong. ch., 15, 2 50 20 00 New Britain, South Cong. Sab. sch., for preacher Chieng Musug chapel, 50 00 New Haven, Mrs. A. A. Leonard, for work at Marsovan, New London, Friend, to const. P. HALL SHURTS and Mrs. P. HALL SHURTS, H. M., 200; Daughter of the Covenant, I, 201 00 17 14 790 49 47 50 3 00 |