126

THE QUARTERLY PAPER.

[NOV. not surprise us should he by and bye resolve to devote himself, by God's grace, to the blessed work of a Missionary: and I am sure he owes this love, by God's blessing, to his childhood's treasure, the book of Quarterly Papers. In the sixth form of a large school, he has his Church Missionary Box, and collects among his companions with great diligence and interest. Our second boy, at a younger boys'-school, is following in his steps. Can you, then, wonder that I mourn over the giving up of the "Quarterly Paper," and feel as if a long-tried friend was snatched away from me? And I am not alone in this. Our most diligent collector-one who for many years has gathered some 11l. or 121. per annum, in small sums-is almost as sorry as I. She, too, remembers and has loved them from her infancy, and thinks much loss will follow their discontinuance. We have not found the "Token"

popular among our Sunday scholars. It has no pretty cover to attract like the "green book," nor has it the large-sized picture on the first page, like the "Quarterly Paper." The children can buy the "greenbook" for a halfpenny per month, and its matter is more interesting to them than that of the "Token." It is difficult, perhaps, to judge impartially, but I cannot think the "Token" will ever be so attractive to children, or to the subscribers of a penny a week among the adult poor, as the discarded "Quarterly Paper." The "Token" looks like a small, poor magazine: the "Quarterly Paper" was a distinct thing of itself; at first, peculiar to our Society, though since, I believe, imitated by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and others; and its large picture-covered page gave it a dignity and impressiveness, which the little pictures of the "Token cannot have. It was, in fact, a picture record of the Society's work: its letter-press was merely an addition. In our country towns and villages a vast number of the adult poor cannot read, or, if at all, very imperfectly, especially where the print is small. Thus the picture was all to them. It conveyed its striking lesson direct to the eye and heart. Look at the gradual change and advance in the pictures, from the ugly idols of the early Papers, to the schools, churches, &c. &c., of the later ones. There is a history within the comprehension of the dullest and most unlearned, and not easily forgotten.

Forgive me for all this long letter. Only let me plead for the restoration of the Papers. The notice says "for a time." Oh do not let it be a long time: do give us back what we so love-what the Society has given us so long!

For obvious reasons I do not wish to give my name or abode. I am but an obscure, insignificant individual, and with no claim on your attention but that of a deep and long-cherished love to our blessed Society; but I am writing facts, not imaginary scenes. May our God long prosper its work, and vouchsafe to you, and all who are engaged in it, His abundant presence and favour!

I remain, with great respect, yours faithfully, "THE OLD IS BETTER." This appeal has been effectual. The old will be resumed.

THE HISTORY OF THE CONVERSION OF A BURMESE GENTLEMAN, HIS WIFE, AND THREE OTHER BURMESE, AT RANGOON. MISSIONARY Work of a deeply-interesting character is being carried on by American Missionaries among the mingled people who inhabit Pegu. Some of the Missionaries direct their attention to the Karen nation, amongst whom results of great importance have been attained; others of them affect the Burmans. The late Mr. Ingolls was much blessed in his efforts for the conversion of the Burmans, and his widow perseveres in carrying on the work. When Mr. Ingolls died he had just promised to take a long journey among the Karens, as he had often done before. After his death, Mrs. Ingolls found they were all bitterly disappointed, and such numbers of them came and implored her to go round the villages, where the people were so looking for them to come, that, as there was no one else to take her husband's place, she resolved she would take his little girl, and go, and two native teachers accompanied her.

The people in the first village in the route sent guides and a bullock-cart to fetch her, but the cart shook her so that she was obliged to walk. By ten or eleven at night she reached the village. Her feet were so blistered, that they seemed on fire. The poor villagers gave her the most joyful welcome, and had prepared every thing, in their simple way, for her comfort. As a bath is the great refreshment of the East, every young girl snatched up a jar of water to carry to her in order that she might have a bath.

All that night the natives kept her answering their questions about the Christian religion; and thus she went on from village to village making this extraordinary tour. She did not attempt to preach to them, but merely reminded them of what her husband had formerly taught them. She said she often found she could bring it back to their minds again, even if they had partially forgotten it.

After a long while, she returned to Calcutta, on her way to America, and there she found the captain, a pious man, who had taken her husband a voyage some years before, just on the point of sailing. She embarked with him, taking along with her a very promising Burmese boy, to be educated as a medical Missionary.

No sooner did they reach the land-heads at the mouth of the Hooghly, than the ship struck on the sands, and split nearly in two parts. The captain put her and the little girl into an open boat, and sent them to an English ship that was just in sight. The English vessel sent out one of her own boats to meet them, and thus she was saved, and brought back to Calcutta. While here, she communicated to a friend many interesting particulars, of which the following is a fragment—

"I wish I could remember every word, to tell you of all the beautiful things Mrs. Ingolls told me, but there was one circumstance which seems to me most affecting. I ought first to explain that a native Burman told Mr. Wylie that Mrs. Ingolls spoke Burmese like a native,

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[NOV.

and Mr. Ingolls also, on account of his skill in that language, de voted himself to that people, though loving the Karens exceedingly. The Burmans are so cultivated and intellectual, that they take books and tracts with great eagerness. The Christian Burmans persuade every stranger to come to the Missionary's house to be talked to, and receive books.

"One day they brought a Burmese gentleman of such striking and noble appearance, that Mrs. Ingolls felt most anxious that he should meet with her husband, who unfortunately was not at home. She therefore offered to lend him a book instead of giving him one, as she was afraid that if she asked him to come again his suspicions would be awakened that they wanted to make him a convert, but she thought when he came to return the book Mr. Ingolls might be at home. But on his second visit, Mr. Ingolls was out again; so she offered the loan of a second book, and when he returned that, her husband was at home. He was delighted with the book, and expressed a great wish to bring his wife to hear all they told him. He went away, carrying a store of books with him, and telling them that he should come again in a month, and bring his wife with him.

"Mrs. Ingolls was much disappointed that he did not come at the end of the month. At last he appeared, and three of his fellow-townsmen with him. After welcoming him, she remarked that he had not brought his wife. She saw he seemed as if he I could not answer. At last, in great distress, he said, "She is dead." "Alas!" Mrs. Ingolls exclaimed, "then she has died without being able to hear the truth." "Oh, no," he said, very earnestly; "she is in heaven." He then told Mr. and Mrs. Ingolls, that, on his return to his home, he said to her, "I am not going to worship our false gods any more:" and then he began to explain to her all that the Missionary told him; but his poor wife was alarmed, and said, "Oh, you are going to be a heretic, and I will not sit with you." She then fled away into her own apartment. He tried in vain to persuade her to come back, till at last, to comfort himself, he sat down and began reading his books. He read aloud by himself, and very soon he found his wife was listening behind the curtain--for the women's apartments are separated only by curtains. She listened some time, and then she came out, and sat down by her husband, and said, "That seems a good religion: I should like to hear some more about it." He told her all he could, and the next day she was taken ill, and, at the end of a month, she died; but all that time she was hearing the Missionaries' books read to her the whole day long. She had heard them over and over, and over again, and she begged all her friends who came to see her to read to her, and the three who now accompanied him had become Christians through reading to this dying woman: Her husband is now a shining light.

"The poor Karens and Burmese come hungering and thirsting, and they crowd the Missionaries' houses all day long. Sometimes Mr. Ingolls and his wife could get no breakfast till three o'clock in the afternoon, in consequence of people flocking in all the morning. She found that one of her native servants frequently sat up with a party of hea then, reading till three in the morning. There are now a hundred thousand baptized Christians among the Karens alone, and they support all their own native preachers."

HELSINGFORS, FINLAND.

CONTRAST BETWEEN GREEK AND PROTESTANT WORSHIP.

THERE are two Protestant churches here (Helsingfors), in one of which there is divine service in the Finnish language every Sabbath, attended by many people. The other, a beautiful and large new church, is for the use of those who speak the Swedish tongue. It being too early for the latter service, we went to the only Russian, or Greco-Russian church in this place, which is not large, but is very gorgeously fitted up, in true Muscovite style; the skreen, which separates the main body of the church from the most holy place or vestry, being covered over with great pictures of the Saviour, the "Virgin Mother," and some of the apostles, most lavishly ornamented with silver and gold. The floor of the church is of boards, and destitute of either carpet or seats of any kind.

When we entered we found a priest, with his long beard, and flowing hair that descended to his shoulders-a man of some thirty years of age, and possessing a pleasant Slavonic face-just commencing the Baptismal Service. Three soldiers and their wives stood before him, but a little way from the door of the church, each woman holding in her arms a very young infant. A bronze vessel, in the shape of a kettle, holding twenty gallons, stood near a little table, and was about two-thirds full of water. The priest went on with the service, assisted by a large good-looking man, of some fifty years of age, in citizen's clothes, who acted a variety of parts, responding from time to time by uttering the words, "Gospodee pome lui!" (Lord have mercy upon us!) and the next moment directing certain men, who seemed to be servants of all work, to get ready the articles needed; anon, he was lighting the waxen tapers, and placing one in the right hand of each parent. I shall never forget the noble tones of his melodious voice, for it was one of the finest I have ever heard.

After having gone through the first part of the service, the priest proceeded to consecrate the water in the baptismal font, by first making the sign of the cross over it, then in it, by drawing his finger through it. This was done three times. This was done three times. He then proceeded to dip his fingers in the sacred water, and make the sign of the cross on the forehead, the nose, the eyes, the ears, the breast, and the feet of each child. After a little, he repeated this operation, dipping. his finger often in a small glass of oil. Next he proceeded to take each child, in a perfectly naked condition, from the hands of its mother, and dip it three times in the font, not immersing it exactly either time, but so performing the operation, that, from first to last, the entire body of the little creature was at least under the water, the face coming slightly and very quickly under the water in the third dipping. Each child was quickly received by its mother, and wrapt up in dry clothing, the little chemise of each being first adroitly put over its head.

Towards the close of the service, the priest took a small sponge, and, dipping it in the water, he applied it to the forehead, nose, eyes, ears, breast, and feet of each child, to wipe away whatever of the oil might remain on these members of the body. After this he took a pair of scissors and cut a lock of hair from the head of each child,

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[NOV.

which the father received on a bit of paper, which he rolled up, and then carefully threw it into the baptismal font. When the service was over the sacred vessel was removed, and the mothers retired to a corner of the church, and at their leisure, dressed their infants. And thus ended this service, which was one of no little interest to me and to those who were with me.

By this time the congregation began to assemble, and the celebration of high mass took place. Before it was over the church was crowded, all the people standing up, for there was not a pew nor bench in it. More than half of the congregation consisted of officers and soldiers, all, or nearly all, of Slavonie origin, as was manifest from their counte nances. There was a considerable number of well-dressed ladies, probably the wives of the Russian officers of the army and functionaries of the Civil Government. Many persons, as they entered the church, immediately turned to the corner at the right hand, and there deposited each a small sum of money, chiefly in copper coin, receiving back the change from the proper person stationed there, in case the coin laid on the table was greater than what they purposed to give; and the chinking of money went on until the service was nearly over. Towards the close, collectors went through the congregation, with bag and plate, to receive the gifts of the faithful. As to the service of the mass, it was fully an hour in length, and abounded in ceremonies intended to strike the imagination of the common people. The two priests who officiated were at times splendidly dressed. At times, too, the folding doors of the skreen were opened, revealing the great altar within. A splendidly-bound book was brought forth twice, and passages read from it. Prayers were intoned by the priests, and the responses chanted finely by the choir, but without an organ, for all instrumental music is forbidden in the Greek church.

Towards the close, the Lord's Supper was administered to the children that had been baptized, and to some others, but to no grown person, so far as I could see. The bread and the wine were mingled together, and the mixture, in form like gruel, was given to the children in a spoon, by the priest, the only way in which it could be administered to creatures so young.

Coming out of the Russian church, we entered, at the distance of a few rods, a splendid Protestant church. It is really one of the handsomest churches I have ever seen. It is built of brick, with a foundation of hewn granite, and is stuccoed both outside and in, and has almost the colour of white marble when seen from afar. In the form of a Greek cross, each end has a portico and six fine Corinthian columns. The roof contains a large central dome, and four smaller ones that serve to admit light. All five are of a sky-blue colour, with large gilded spangles here and there over them. The interior walls, columns, and pilasters of the church are perfectly plain. The only ornament is a very large new painting, representing the descent from the cross, that hangs over the altar at the upper end of one of the four ends. A handsome pulpit stands at one of the angles beneath the great dome. The entire floor, excepting the necessary aisles, is occupied by plain but very convenient pews, of a yellow colour.

When we arrived, the introductory services were nearly over: congregation was large, completely filling the house. They

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