total more than covered the amount of the debt. Subsequent subscriptions increased the surplus to such respectable proportions that it will be applied to the purchase of a Christian cemetery, the lack of which has been felt for a long time as a great obstacle to aggressive work. Regular subscriptions too, while by no means yet what they should be, are sufficient to fulfil the pledges made to the Japanese Missionary Society, and to do away with the fear of incurring another shameful and clogging debt. Miss Gardner's work among the women is very promising."

Mexican Mission.

MR. BISSELL writes a cheering letter from Fuerte, in the province of Sinaloa. He has arranged his field into four distinct districts, purposing to visit these towns in succession as often as possible. One of these routes requires two weeks, and the others nearly one week each. He finds the people ready to welcome him, and attentive to the gospel as it is preached. A large number of books and tracts have been sold.

Mr. Olds, of Ciudad Juarez, reports a visit at “Cusi,” accompanied by one of the students in the training school. Good services were held on a Sunday, with meetings following on Monday and Tuesday. Mr. Olds writes:

"While there I learned of a strange piece of fanaticism which had taken place sixty miles away on the road to Jesus Maria. A man and an old woman had presented themselves before the people of a small town, claiming to be Jesus Christ and the Virgin. The people began to believe in them and soon the whole town was running over with excitement. Men who were so inclined took occasion to steal and kill, until soldiers had to be sent in from Chihuahua. The false Christ gave the people an image, which he said would make of none effect the bullets of the soldiers. He was believed, and holding the image aloft, they persisted in defying the troops, until they were fired upon; when, seeing some of his comrades fall,

the image-bearer threw the image from him and took to flight. This belief had gained such a hold upon the people that it was not until several men had been killed, and some time had elapsed, that the excitement subsided.

"At the ranch and sawmill of El Refugio, a day and a half further from Cusi, the meetings, especially that of Sunday night, were well attended. We have no church organization there yet, although as a result of our meetings last summer eleven were propounded for membership, when a church shall be organized. Nearly all of these had remained faithful, and three or four new ones were ready to hand in their names. The two owners and their wives, while on a visit to El Paso in November, were received as members of the Juarez church. This mill is an important point, for a great many from neighboring ranches are continually visiting it to buy lumber.

"Our whole journey of 800 miles, 350 of which were by horse and buggy, was made in a little over two weeks, so that we were on hand again when the school began the new term."

There are at present fourteen students in the Rio Grande Training School, at Ciudad Juarez, who are spoken of as young men of intelligence and good spirit.

West Central African Mission.

PROGRESS AT BAILUNDU.

THE December mail from this mission reached the Rooms February 23. Mr. and Mrs. Cotton, as heretofore reported, have been obliged to return to this country, under physician's orders. The rest of the mission are in fair health. Mr. Stover writes from Bailundu:

"You will be pleased to hear that six persons have been examined, approved, and recommended for baptism at the coming January communion, two lads and four young women. Among the latter are the widow of Samba, who died last August, and the wife of Kapila. The deacons hesitated a little as to Samba's widow, not because of her present Christian character,

but because, as they put it, she is without a man, and it seems to them doubtful whether she will be able to live a Christian life in the circumstances that naturally surround a woman who is in her situation. They have not yet realized by actual experience that His grace is sufficient in any circumstances for those who really trust him. We hope that Lusinga, that is the young woman's name, will furnish them with a shining example of what is possible to one that believeth.

"Another fact that you will be delighted to hear is that Guma, who was baptized several years ago, and who was excommunicated for misconduct, has given satisfactory evidence of sincere repentance, and has, of his own accord, asked to be restored to fellowship, freely acknowledging his fault. With the new additions to be made and his restoration the number of members will have reached thirty ere this letter reaches you.

"We celebrated Christmas day by dedicating the little church. It was a most interesting occasion, both to us and to the little band who made the offering. We had held Sabbath services in the new Schoolhouse for three weeks, and the church was plastered and whitewashed with white clay and ceiled with mats, and benches, made of native boards hewn for the purpose from trees in the bush, were put in. Mrs. Stover furnished lambrequins and Mrs. Webster and Mrs. WoodSide picture-rolls to be cut up and put upon the walls. On one side is the picture of the Morning Star in a neat frame, and on another is the certificate of ownership in the Robert W. Logan, which was taken Hast January. Altogether the little room presented a very neat appearance on Christmas morning. About 120 were present. The muenekalia (prime minister) had promEsed to be present, but did not appear. He came down in the afternoon, however, to say that he was detained by business at Court and could not come. He is a very Interested listener at the services held by Mr. Woodside at the King's village, and we wish all our friends to pray that he may be converted. It would be better than to

have the king himself converted, so far as our work in the country is concerned. We are talking of building a house up there, and Mrs. Webster thinks she would be able to undertake a school at the ombala were there some to take the girls off her hands. Oh! the very thought of the possibility of a school for those longneglected children of the ombala fairly makes my heart quiver."

VILLAGE WORK.

Mr. Woodside writes:

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Of late I have been off among the villages. My main object at present has been to go over the country, to get more knowledge of the country and to make the acquaintance of the people. I have been going about from district to district, usually stopping but one night at a place. We get the people together and read and sing and talk to them. Of course we cannot hope to give them very much instruction in this way, but they get some new thoughts. I try and give them something of the reason why we are here. At many places they have some notion of a difference between us and the Portuguese. The difference, as they put it, is that we do not buy slaves and don't drink whiskey or beer; that we only buy sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, and such things; that we build good houses and pay good cloth. I have been generally well received. When I go to a village thus, and say that I think to remain over night, I am given a house, and the boys that I have with me receive their food, and I am usually given either a small pig or goat or sheep or a chicken, to 'chew,' as they put it."

From Chisamba Mr. Lee reports many friendly visits paid them by the neighboring chiefs, and he adds: I am much delighted at the progress being made in our day-school and in the Sunday-school. Miss Clarke is a grand success in that line of work and is much liked by the boys. There is evidently an earnest desire on the part of each attendant to do his utmost to acquire an education and many of them are making really wonderful advances."

MANLY NATIVE CHRISTIANS.

A letter from Mr. Lee, dated November 19, but delayed in transit, gives a most cheering account of the character of the native young men at Chisamba. Mr. Lee says:

These people will develop into fine, manly, faithful servants of our Lord, I am sure, and my heart rejoices over and over again as I witness manifestations of the Holy Spirit's working in the minds of our boys and others. A healthy and steady work is undoubtedly going on here. There is no excitement, but an intelligent anxiety to learn what is the real meaning of our preaching and teaching is evident in numbers of our attendants.

"And as for the boys who have been converted. How I do wish our people at home could see them and hear them pray and speak! If those who give of their substance to help in the carrying on of this work could only witness the consistent lives of these dear fellows, they would feel amply repaid for all they have ever given to this work. I am not very soft-hearted, but many a time lately I have had to go away alone behind a fence or tree, and shed tears for very joy at witnessing some act of marked piety on the part of some of our fellows. Those tears are each time accompanied by a prayer of thanksgiving.

"A little circumstance occurred last week that touched me very much. One day Mr. Currie's cows strayed into my onaka (brook garden) and eat up nearly all my sweet corn. It was through an accident and not from want of vigilance on the part of the little lad who was herding them, so though I felt sorry I did not scold the little boy. Well, the next day the sheep wandered into the onaka and tried to finish up what the cows had left. The little fellow who herded the sheep had been careless with them, and his conscience smote him sufficiently to cause him to keep out of my way, though he need not have feared. I was more grieved than angry. But just as we had finished tea our two oldest boys came in and sat down. I saw by their faces that they

The

“Nana, yesterday the cows eat your corn, and to-day the sheep have eaten your other food. Our boys are all sorry. They say you and the ladies will now have hardship because your food is destroyed. They say too perhaps you will say, boys don't care about my onaka and my food, and so I will go back to my own country to live." And if you go we shall have no teacher till Nana Coolie (Mr. Currie) comes back. Now, Nana, the boys who drive the cattle are little boys and they have no cloth of their own and cannot pay you. It is the custom of our country for the olosekulu (old men) to be responsible for the boys. Nana Coolie made me the sekulu (old man) of his boys while he is away, and I have brought you cloth to pay for your onaka. The little boys have no cloth, and if you fine them they will have hardship, but I have cloth, and I wish you to accept it and not be angry with the little ones."

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Long before he was through I knew what was coming, for I saw the cloth in his hands; but it was some time after he had finished before I could control my feelings and voice sufficiently to answer him; and then I told him that I could not possibly take his cloth, but that his kindly action had done me more good than all the food in the onaka could have done me, and I would forgive the boys."

Mr. Lee speaks of this incident, though small in itself, as revealing qualities which those who knew Ngulu would expect to find in him. Though he is the most remarkable among the young men, there are several others, whom Mr. Lee mentions by name, who are much like him, and who give promise of making faithful servants of Christ and evangelists of no mean power. Of Ngulu, Mr. Lee writes:

sistent Christian life, his intelligent grasp of gospel truth, his patience and good example toward even the youngest and meanest lad on the place, his glowing talks and earnest prayers, all go to make up a character such as one but too seldom meets even in our home lands. He is respected by all the chiefs and people who know him. He is loved by all the boys. He is most devoted in his attachment to Mr. Currie, and watches over the station more faithfully than even when Mr. Currie was here."

European Turkey Mission.

VIOLENCE TO A MISSIONARY.

MR. CLARKE, of Samokov, reports a missionary tour among several towns, at one of which, Stope, he was assaulted with much violence. We give his report of the incident: :

"On reaching the khan at Stope, just at dusk, the keeper asked, 'Have you a companion?' 'Yes,' I replied; 'I never travel alone.' But,' said he, 'I did not see any one come with you.' 'Neither did I was my answer. I am sure One was with me, according to his promise. I thought I had time only for a gathering with the friends and planned to start an hour before dawn so as to accomplish some work in Dubnitza before the Sabbath, but it was otherwise ordered, and for good. The priest who caused my former expulsion from the place was in the khan and spoke angrily to me because of my coming, but I made him no reply.

"After a profitable meeting with the friends, in their living-room, which was largely filled with cabbages piled upon the earthen floor, I was returning about 8.30 o'clock P.M., to my khan, accompanied by one of the friends when, at a corner of the street, five or six men, whom we could barely distinguish in the darkness, fell upon us with clubs. One of them was a son of the priest who had incited the attack, who is now teacher of the village school. We both called for help. My companion escaped, but I was

beaten, choked so as not to call for help, thrown to the ground and stamped upon once or more times. Just then a neighbor came out with a light, which seemed to be the only cause for the flight of all the assailants. I was not seriously injured, but had been wholly in their power. I lit a candle from my pocket with matches which I always carry, and, with my revolver in the right hand, went back to the place of the meeting and found that my companion was unharmed. I was glad that I had not shed blood. The attack was so unexpected and the darkness was so great that I did not realize that the men were armed with clubs with evil intent, and had no thought of selfdefence until I was wholly in their power.

"The next day I remained to make complaint to the headman of the village, and in Dubnitza was examined by the government physician, whose certificate of five bruises I have, and I gave a written statement of the case to the local governor. As the officials were inclined to take no notice of the matter, I appealed to Mr. O'Conor, England's Consul-General at Sophia, who has made such representations to the Bulgarian government that three times officials have been sent to the village to search out the matter; twice the priest and others have been brought to Dubnitza for examination, and the prefect of Kustendil, under whom these places are, came to Dubnitza to meet me, turned out the two village officials, and took other action which I hope will assure freedom and safety to the friends in Stope. I am now summoned to Sophia for January 29, to bear witness as to the matter. I am confident that good will result in the end, both to the friends in Stope and to the cause of Christ there and elsewhere."

OPEN DOORS.

Mr. Bond, of Monastir, has recently visited the Seres district, which has within a short time been added to the Monastir station. After a month's absence he writes, deeply impressed with the need of immediately pressing the work in the

cities and villages of the district: “Although nearly every village boasts a church and one or more priests, the ignorance and superstition of the people in general is something appalling. Often when we had opened up to them the simple way of life, they would exclaim, Beautiful, very beautiful! Our priest

never tells us a word of this kind.' Several times the priests were described as men who could drink the most and talk the vilest. We were assured that one priest carried his flask of brandy to church for private consultation behind the altar."

At one large Bulgarian village an audience of 200 assembled to hear Mr. Kyrias preach, and about twenty-five persons came to the khan for conversation. Mr. Bond says:

"One of our most interesting guests at the khan was a bright old woman who had visited Jerusalem for the benefit of her soul and that of her deceased daughter's. She stayed for hours and seemed fascinated by what she heard. She insisted on sitting close up to Mrs. Bond, saying, 'I can't read myself, but I like to watch as the beautiful words come from your lips, and then I can understand them better.' I opened our little organ and we sang of the silent night' at Bethlehem. At the end of the first verse the old woman sprang up, embraced my astonished wife and impressed a kiss upon her forehead. In the evening she brought us each a souvenir of her visit to the Holy Land, and declared that she would go on with us to Seres if it were not winter."

Of Seres itself Mr. Bond says: "We had several delightful meetings for prayer and praise with the preacher and his halfdozen followers. One evening a young man declared that he would smash the windows if we held a meeting in his neighborhood. After we had fairly begun, this same young Saul knocked at the gate and asked if he might come in. He had started out to execute his threat, but he was disarmed by the sweetness of the singing. And he was with us the next evening, apparently the most interested listener."

We

"We continued the Week of Prayer until New Year's eve (O. S.). We commenced with a full audience which soon became overcrowded, and we closed with a perfect jam. The average attendance was about 450. The meetings lasted from one hour and one-half to two hours and one-half. On more than one evening we closed the meeting two or three times. but the people would not go away. adopted no unusual methods and there was no excitement whatever. From the first a deep earnestness had possession of many hearts. There is a great deal of drinking in this village and large numbers of half-drunk young men found their way to the chapel. Some who came to scoff remained to pray, and we have learned of several cases of decision to reform.

"On the part of educated Gregorian young men there seemed to be a great hunger to hear the Word. I was astonished to see large numbers of persons totally unaccustomed to our Protestant form of service listening eagerly for two hours to our hymns, prayers, and exhortations. Many of our Protestant houses have received a blessing. One pleasing result of the meetings is the application of sixteen persons (eight of them are High School boys) to be received into the church. The deep emotion of some of the applicants greatly stirred and impressed the examining committee of the church. There is a wide field for work here and a wonderful readiness on the part of the people. During the thirtyseven days since I reached Constantinople I have addressed twenty-seven gatherings and attended several more."

A week later Mr. Chambers wrote as follows:

"Our school commences to-morrow. On Sunday ten women and eight young men are to be received into church mem