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tion, we are irresistibly reminded of the past, when the cruel policy of Rome tried in vain to exterminate that Divine religion which the inhabitants of the Alpine valleys of Piedmont had held throughout the darkest ages. And all the fire and blood, torture and exile, which his forefathers suffered, seemed to us more than avenged in the orator's passionate denunciation of that antiChristian Church, whose approaching doom he foretells in the earnest language of one who sees the handwriting on the wall, and whose mission is to proclaim the coming fall of the Antichrist.

The service of the Waldenses' Church is very simple. 1st. A prayer of judicious brevity. 2d. A psalm. Every seat is furnished with a copy of the collection used, set to music. The singing is remarkably effective, inflaming not only (as it seemed to us) the pious ardour of the congregation, but inciting them, by its spirited fervour, with religious and patriotic courage for that holy work of Missionary enterprise throughout the Italian kingdom which at present promises so well to reward them,-and, O how gloriously!--for all the persecutions they have suffered in ages past. 3d. The sermon. 4th. Another psalm. 5th. Again a prayer, and, like the first, judicious in its brevity. Lastly, the blessing, when the congregation disperses. No allusion is made to money matters throughout the service, and there is no collection either on entering or leaving the chapel; contrasting very favourably in this respect with the English church, where, as at a theatre, or concert, or public exhibition, a fixed price for admission is extorted from every visiter,-one franc and and a half,-a custom which degrades our worship among Christians of every sect. I am therefore especially glad to inform you I have just received the assurance that this practice is, after a duration of many years, to be discontinued for the future; and I need, consequently, not further animadvert on its degrading nature. M. and Mme. Geymonat receive their friends every alternate Friday evening; and those who have the privilege of attending their re-unions will ever cherish their remembrance of them as among the most delightful reminiscences of their sojourn in Florence.

I should be most ungratefully remiss, were I to omit saying a word or two about the Scottish Kirk here. Mr. M'Dougall, who has for several years been the pastor, is very popular amongst

his flock, whose number is sadly limited, through the insufficiency of the accommodation provided for them. Learned, as an accomplished preacher should be, in human learning, profoundly read in sacred literature, impressive in language, and solemn in tone, Mr. M'Dougall is able to impart to his sermons most of those charms of which pulpit oratory is so susceptible; whilst his kind nature and affectionate manners in private life still further add to the efficiency of his ministry. In addition to his regular duties, embracing a Sunday class, two full services, a weekly prayer-meeting, visiting, &c., Mr. M'Dougall devotes much of his time to the superintendence of a printing-press (Salvietti Palace), from which a goodly collection of wellselected religious publications issued, at a very moderate price, among the Italians. There are, besides, two evangelical book-depôts in the city, where the Bible (Diodati's), printed by Clowes of London, and well bound, is sold for one shilling, or 1f. 25c. colporteurs, in spite of the religious liberty accorded by the present Government, have met with so many practical difficulties, on the part of the priests, as to necessitate the discontinuance for the present of their work in Florence.

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The

Correspondent of "The Witness,”

December 2.

EDUCATION IN SICILY.-The education of the people is still vigorously going forward, to the great credit of the Government and townships of Italy, as may be seen from the following statisschools for boys increased from one tics-In Sicily, last year, the public

hundred and nine to one hundred and

sixty-one in number; those for girls, from nine to seventy-one; evening schools, from twenty-four to seventy-six; while seven Sabbath-schools had been established. All the seventy-five communes in the province of Palermo have now a boys' school, although only twenty have as yet a girls' school.-Correspondent of "Evangelical Christendom."

A MUSSULMAN EXPOUNDING THE BIBLE.-Syud Ahmud, a Mussulman of high character and standing at Ghazeepore, has written and published the first or preliminary volume of a remarkable work, "The Mohammedan Commentary on the Holy Bible." This Mussulman expresses his belief, (and thus agrees with orthodox Christians, in opposition to Bishop Colenso,) that the Pentateuch was written by Moses, and Divinely inspired. He admits the miraculous

element in the life of our Lord, and thus differs from M. Renan. The books to which the most frequent reference is made are by English authors, such as Bishop Patrick, D'Oyly and Mant, Thomas Scott, Horne (Introduction), &c. Syud Ahraud, it is said, is preparing a full answer to Bishop Colenso

in his next volume. Having thus seen the strange spectacle of a Christian Bishop impugning the inspiration and authenticity of the writings of Moses, we are next to witness the evidence on behalf of these important points urged against the Bishop by a Mohammedan. -Ibid.

BIOGRAPHICAL

THE late REV. JOHN SHAW, who died at Nevis, in the island of Antigua, November 15th, 1861, in the fifth year of his ministry, was born at Glossop, Derbyshire, in 1828. He came of pious parentage; and godly example and counsel were blessed to the sowing of good seed in his heart. He feared the Lord, in some measure, from his youth. The "Pilgrim's Progress" was the chosen commentary of his childhood on the Bible that was always open in his father's house. A remarkable revival in the Sunday-school which he attended became a crisis in the history of his soul. At the Christmas meeting, A.D. 1839, several friends having addressed the assembled teachers and scholars, a Local preacher, since departed, said, "We have been talking long enough; now let us pray." The prayer-meeting thus commenced did not cease until a very late hour, and was the beginning of a work of conversion among the scholars, which continued several months. Many then gathered into the church stand among its pillars at this day; and " some have fallen asleep." John Shaw yielded to the strivings of the Spirit, and received his first ticket of membership in 1840. His conversion did not present, apparently, those strong features of contrast with the former state which mark the change in many instances. Subsequent reflection upon the quietness of his entrance into the "kingdom," which often "suffereth violence," led him sometimes to suspect its reality. sceptical temper of mind, which was the real source of this difficulty, also endangered his peace on other grounds; and he had often to mourn over faults into which levity betrayed him. But he was a member of a church which cures many a spiritual disorder, and enhances the health of all its members, by activity. Employed in the Sunday-school, and afterwards in the duty of a Local preacher, his mind rose superior to its doubts; while he was constrained, by

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SKETCHES.

the demand of the important offices he undertook, to cultivate sobriety and dignity of character. Having laboured eight years as a Local preacher with great acceptance, when it was proposed that he should be entirely devoted to the ministry, the voice of the church was clear in confirmation of his call. His sermons, superior both in matter and illustration, were delivered with a distinct utterance; and a faithful memory enabled him to use his reading in expounding the truth of Scripture. When leaving for the foreign work, he lamented to a friend that he had followed too much the thinkings of others, and had not sufficiently developed his own resources. That this defect (if it ever existed, save in his own scrupulous conscientiousness) was remedied by future labour, appears from the Conference obituary:-"He possessed a spirit calm, genial, and loving; and a mind endowed with many excellent qualities. His careful studies tended to make him accurate and orderly in his preaching; which, though argumentative, and acceptable to the intelligent, was not the less earnest and profitable to hearers of another class."

Mr. Shaw was appointed in 1857 to St. Christopher's, in the West Indies; whither he proceeded, with his wife and child, in the autumn of that year. Having laboured one year at his first station, he removed to Antigua, where he spent the last three years of his short life. With a high estimate of the importance of his work, he was earnestly anxious to be useful, and often mourned over inefficiency. At one time, being much tried by the apparent unfruitfulness of his labour, he thought of offering himself for the Mission-work in Africa, under an impression that he might be more useful there. Yet he did not always labour in vain. "His emotions in the pulpit," says the above-cited authority, "were at certain times so strong as to prevent for some seconds his proceeding with the subject. There

are many in the two islands on which he laboured, who will be his crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus."" He was not satisfied with the production of a temporary religious excitement, but watched the effect of professed repentance, and only rejoiced when the ripened fruits appeared. Constitutional peculiarities rendered him liable to gloomy and depressing views of circumstances in which others would find no cause for distrust. His last letter to the Mission-House suggests the existence of these elements in his character.* His colleague, the Rev. T. M. Chambers, M.A., thus speaks of him :-" No young man carried into the pulpit a stronger sense of responsibility, or a more profound solicitude that he should do his duty with acceptance to God, and usefulness to His church."

Mr. Shaw's health suffered under the climate peculiar to the scene of his labour; although his naturally strong constitution speedily recovered from attacks of the prevalent fevers. When his last illness came on, he expected soon to rally again. But another fate was appointed him. On Friday, November 8th, one of his children died of fever, after a short illness. On the following Sunday morning Mr. Shaw himself was unable to preach, but met three classes. In the evening he preached his last sermon. Some circumstances of that day's history have been recalled, which seem like foreshadowings of the coming event. In the morning he read at family-prayer, instead of the usual psalm, the first chapter of Job, where the successive and overwhelming calamities of the patient man are recorded. His text in the evening was, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." He gave out as the closing hymn the 52d, (Wesley,) in which occurs the verse,

"Thou, in thy youthful prime,
Hast leap'd the bounds of time :
Suddenly from earth released,

Lo! we now rejoice for thee;
Taken to an early rest,

Caught into eternity."

The recent departure of a beloved child suggested the use of this hymn; but it was prophetic of his own premature summons from the field of earthly toil. On the following morning both he and Mrs. Shaw were suffering from

*

symptoms of incipient fever. As there was no medical aid in the town where they resided, they sent a message to their friend Mr. Chambers, at Parham, several miles away, informing him of their need of help. To this appeal Mr. Chambers immediately responded by hastening to the house of sickness; and he proposed to remove them at once to his own residence. In hope of improvement, this was deferred until the next day. When it arrived, the desired recovery was not manifest; and, as it was now seen that both lives would be sacrificed unless immediate aid were rendered, they were taken to Parham, where the best medical efforts were at

once employed. Mr. Shaw was copsidered better on the following day; but within twenty-four hours more an unfavourable change had taken place. He was suddenly seized with a mortal feebleness, from which no appliances could avail to save him. Such was the severity of this short struggle, that he had not the ability to say much more than, "Brother Chambers, I am going to heaven;" and, "I want to go and see my people." This was his last utterance: thoughts of the church beneath were mingled with visions of the church above. His sympathy with his earthly charge did not expire, when "angels beckoned him away," and "Jesus bade him come."

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He drew his last breath early in the morning of Friday, November 15th; and was buried the same evening in the chapelyard at Parham, where his infant son had found an "early rest seven days before. The Friday following his death added another sad event to this chapter of sorrows, in the death of another child, who sank under a similar malady, and was buried in her father's grave; over which were read once more the words of the Sunday-morning lesson before referred to:-"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." His widow and eldest child have "escaped to tell this story of desolation; to cherish the memory of a faithful servant of Christ; and to wait the day when Job's "Redeemer" "shall stand upon the earth," and bless their "latter end" more than their "beginning."

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None can say that this short career was useless. The Missionary martyrs do not lay down their lives in vain. Their sacrifice, though costly, is needful, and brings the church great blessings,

"Missionary Notices," Nov. 1861.

which preclude the question, "Why this waste?" And for themselves they win imperishable good: for the Master has said, "Whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the Gospel's, the same shall save it." It is ours to pray the Lord of life to "give His angels charge over" these valiant messengers of salvation, and over their families, who with them give up all for Christ and the church, not counting their lives dear unto them. W. F. S.

MR. JOHN SLATER was born at RobinHood's Bay, August 8th, 1788. When about twenty-two years of age, he was brought to the enjoyment of converting grace, during a revival of religion at Ebberston, in the Pickering Circuit. He obtained peace and joy through believing, at a lovefeast which was held at a neighbouring village; and he retained the consciousness of his acceptance with God during all his subsequent hfe.

His house was at all times the home of Christ's messengers. When one of the leaders was removed from the militant to the triumphant church, our late friend was at once chosen to fill his place; which he did, with fidelity and affection, thirty-five years. The offices

of chapel and Society steward he also filled, with credit to himself, and usefulness to the church, for about seventeen years. He was one of the first supporters of the Sabbath-school at Ebberston, of which he was superintendent for thirty years.

Mr. Slater was constant and punctual in the means of grace; and his private exercises of devotion were no less regular. He was, eminently, a man of prayer. In conducting prayer-meetings it was evident that his whole soul was engaged with God. On many of those occasions his bright and happy countenance indicated to all the joy and serenity of soul he experienced. His exhortations, which were frequent, showed how anxious he was that all should be imbued with fervour in their addresses to the throne of grace. catholicity is worthy of notice. He could indeed say, "Grace be with all

His

them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." But it was among the Wesleyan Methodists that he found his spiritual home.

In 1856 he left Ebberston, to reside at Pickering. The Society at the former place evinced their esteem for his character, and their appreciation of his many excellencies, by presenting him with a handsome Bible and hymn-book;

a most affectionate address being delivered at the same time. It may be that the influence and example of Mr. Slater are still to be seen in the excellent men who are at the head of that Society.

The same exemplary conduct was maintained in his new place of abode; and he was soon found in the Pickering Society as the leader of a large class. At seven on the Sabbath morning he might be seen wending his way, summer and winter, toward the chapel, to attend the early prayer-meeting. During the space of six years he was not absent from that meeting more than five times, except when away from home.

As he approached the end of his pilgrimage, bis increasing meetness for the heavenly inheritance was apparent. In the last week of June, 1860, he made the following entry on a fly-leaf of the Bible which his friends at Ebberston had given him :-"Since I and my wife were joined in wedlock, fifty years have passed away. It is now fifty years since I was converted to God, and my dear wife also; and we are still giving diligence to make our calling and election sure. And it is all by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. To His name be all the glory!" Again, on February 11th, 1861- "We are still spared, by the mercy of God, to record His goodness toward us; and striving, praying, and believing in Jesus, that we may be found in Him without spot. Amen,

and amen."

The last Sabbath of his life he spent according to his usual custom in the active service of God. He was at the early prayer-meeting; after distributing tracts, he attended the forenoon service in the chapel; after dinner he visited several sick persons; at two he attended the afternoon prayer-meeting in the vestry; at three met his class; after tea read a memoir from one of the Magazines; and at the evening service he was found again in the house of God. The text that evening was with him a favourite one: "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation." When he returned home, he referred to the subject of discourse; and again, especially, the following morning. During the early forenoon, he spoke kindly to some young men, alluding yet again to a certain portion of the evening's sermon, and remarking, that Christ could not be found in places of dissipation and sin, but in the temple of God. About ten he was

seized with violent pain. To his wife he said, "If the Lord is about to take me, I am quite ready to go." Thus, like Simeon, he expressed his willingness to leave the world below, where he had to live by faith, and to enter the regions above, where he would behold his Maker and his God without a dimming vail between. On the abatement of pain, he said he felt "the precious promises come into his mind." Even at seven o'clock p.m., there were favourable symptoms. A short time after, however, he became unconscious, and continued so till he died. Thus, on Monday, September 29th, 1862, Mr. John Slater, aged seventy-four years, ceased to work and live.

JOHN MANN.

THOMAS JACKSON, second son of the Rev. James WALLIS, was born at the Wesleyan Mission-Station, Waingaroa, New-Zealand, September 6th, 1840. At his baptism he received the above name, in honour of one who for many years has been well known as one of the champions of evangelical truth, and whose remarkably instructive ministry was made a great blessing to the writer of this memorial, in the London East Circuit.

In very early life the subject of this sketch manifested a kind and amiable disposition, with such submission to the authority of religion, and such consciousness of individual responsibility to God, as induced his friends to entertain the hope that in due time he would rank among the ornaments, and the most useful members, of the church of Christ. At the age of ten years he was sent to the Wesleyan College, Auckland; where, under the careful tuition of the Rev. Joseph H. Fletcher, his religious impressions were fostered and deepened; and where he became more fully acquainted with those great and blessed truths which subsequently made him wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. After finishing his education, he was placed in a situation where he had the advantage of leisure for reading, meditation, and prayer: duties in which he took great delight, and which, in the absence of most of the public and social means of grace, were more than ordinarily blessed to his soul. In this situation the natural amiability of his disposition was SO constantly displayed as to become proverbial; it being commonly remarked that he had a smile and a kind word for

every one. This secured him many

friends in all directions, not only among religious people, but also in other circles of society. Toward his parents he always manifested a degree of filial affection which left them nothing to desire on this point. It was this, as the sequel will show, that led to the sacrifice of his valuable life.

But, though he possessed qualities which secured him the esteem of all who knew him, he himself attached no vital importance to these, irrespective of a regenerated heart. He therefore earnestly sought the blessing of Divine forgiveness, through the infinite merits of the crucified Redeemer. In this

important duty he was greatly encouraged and stimulated by the deep and cheerful piety of his two elder sisters, who had become the wives of Missionaries in the Fiji and Navigators' Islands. The thought that, in all probability, he should never again see their faces in the flesh, strengthened his determination to become a member of that spiritual family into which they were adopted, and whose home is the heavenly world. After prayerfully and diligently seeking the Divine favour, during a period of many months, it pleased the Lord to reveal Himself very graciously to his heart, enabling him to testify, without doubt, that the Spirit bore witness with his spirit, that he was a child of God. The graces of the Holy Spirit now rendered him-as was remarked by a friend in Auckland, who had had many opportunities of observing his walk and conversation—

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a good young man, in every sense of the word." It was his study to adorn the doctrine of God his Saviour in all things, and, to the uttermost of his ability, to induce others to "walk by the same rule," and to "mind the same thing." He took a deep interest in the welfare of Sabbath-school children, and was never more delighted than when he found himself surrounded by such objects of the Saviour's love. Two or three months before his decease, the rapid growth of his piety, and the fuller development of genuine talent, indicated to the minds of some of his friends that the Lord was preparing him for a more important office in the church than he had hitherto occupied. But it now appears, that this remarkable improvement was preparatory to an early removal from earth to heaven.

In the course of the winter of 1862 the Mission-family at Waingaroa was visited by typhus fever, prostrating the three children who were then at home.

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