None apostatized, though their persecutors did their worst. This trial has now in a great measure subsided, and, as in apostolic days, has "fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel."

The account from the colony of Sierra Leone was also very encou raging. A new Church in Free Town, capable of holding 1,000 persons, and built almost entirely by the subscriptions of the liberated Africans, had recently been opened. The negroes pay from ten to fifteen shillings a-year for a sitting in this their new Church, and not content with the pulpit ministrations of the Gospel, have subscribed for the support of a Scripture Reader, who shall visit from house to house, that none might remain ignorant of the Gospel. It was very pleasing to hear of the spirit of prayer, and faith, and humility, which abounded among the converts. The female communicants in one of the Congregations had commenced a meeting of their own accord once a week, the chief object of which was to offer up prayers for the sick. The replies made by some five poor dying Africans, when questioned as to their hopes of happiness in eternity, and their state of mind, were very instructive and touching. When the Missionary asked one whether Christ was precious to his soul? he replied, "Sir, He cannot be otherwise; He made friendship with me first, and then when He shewed me his love, I made Him my friend." Another sick man on being asked what He thought of his illness, said, "I do not think I shall get better, only God knows ;" and then he exclaimed so heartily, as if intending to bring out his very wish with his words, "O that I might be permitted to remain at the gate of that happy place; that is quite sufficient for methe happiness of the gate is enough, and more than we can think of."

Now, let us pass to North India, and notice the progress of the Gospel. We

will select the Krishnaghur Mission, with whose name most have been made

familiar. Seventeen years ago, the name of Krishnaghur first appeared in the record of the Society, as an outstation to Burdwan, where a school for heathen boys and girls had been commenced. This was the first attempt of the Missionary to disturb the unbroken heathenism of the district. Now Missions are established in Krishnaghur, and settled in the land as firmly, and more so, than the English people are in India. There are seven stations in the Mission; Churches are built in each, substantial and durable. At Kapasdanga, the Church has been enlarged to hold 500, and there will be 500 Christian worshippers and more, to fill it. Eight Missionary dwelling-houses, buildings, stable and permanent as your Churches, hold possession of the land for the Church Missionary Society; rather for Christians, whose envoy the Society is, "till He come." School-houses complete each Missionary establishment; Christian villages are another evidence of Missionary establishments in the district; villages in which none but Christians are permitted to locate themselves! These are to be found at every station. They contain from ten to fifty houses, of many sizes and style of building, down to the simple but neat, one-roomed hut of the agriculturist, whose wages are about threefarthings a day! nevertheless, his wife and children have generally a cleanly and cheerful look. They are Christians, and poor indeed is the hut, which has not hanging to its mud wall, a rude shelf, containing a Bengali Testament, the Psalms, or a Common Prayer-Book, a Hymn Book, and two or three Tracts, or school books, marking, and as it were, consecrating the abode as a Christian dwelling.

But perhaps, from no part of the world were the accounts more pleasing, than from New Zealand. The following interesting letter from a New Zealand

convert, in reply to the Jubilee letter of the Society, was heard with much interest :

"Friends and Elders of the Church of England, Fathers in Christ, how do you do? We have heard of your thoughts and your considerations, written in your affectionate letter which has reached us. You love us and the whole world, and together with all parts of the Church, in Christ Jesus our Lord, our Saviour from sin. It is right for us all to praise Him and to rejoice at the present time, for He has saved us from the death of sin and hell. It was through the mercy of God you sent us the Missionaries, through whom we heard of the promises of God, and of the gift of his only Son, who died for our sins. It was in his heart to send us the Missionaries through you. I live in this land, with Sarah my wife : we are alone; our children are gone to God. Jemima died happy in this school, she was the last. Three of our children are with Christ; it is our desire they should go to God, lest they should, in remaining in the world after we are gone, be led astray by the wickedness of man. It is just that we should love you, because it was through your Missionaries we and our children heard of the salvation of God, given to the world in Jesus Christ. I pray to God for all parts of the world, that they should become Christians; and for you also who loved us, the smallest people in Christ Jesus our Lord. I rejoice on account of your thoughts of love which you are now bearing towards us, in Christ our God and Saviour. This is all from your loving friend,

CHARLES TAURUA."

At the evening meeting, Lieutenant Colonel Jacob, who had visited New Zealand, mentioned many particulars, to shew the state of the native converts, and the progress of the Gospel. He landed late on a Saturday evening at Paihia, in the Bar of Islands. An aged chief, surrounded by his tribe, were seated on the shore, having rowed there from along the coast, a distance of some forty miles, on purpose to be present at the Mission services on the Sunday. Next morning, instead of being awakened by the cry of human slaughter, he was awoke by the early Church-bell, to one of the most interesting and solemn services that can be conceived. At eight o'clock, the Church was filled to overflowing; the males on one side and the females on the other,

the males carrying their children on their backs in New Zealand style, and numbers besides, unable to find admission, crowded the windows and the doors. Yet all was quietude and order, you might have heard a pin drop while the preacher was addressing them. The service was commenced by that beautiful hymn of Kelly's, translated into New Zealand, but with Kelly's tune, and the organ was almost drowned by the harmonious voices of the congregation, as with one voice they sung :

From Egypt lately come,

Where death and darkness reign;
We seek our new, our better home,
Where we our rest shall gain;
Hallelujah, we are on our way to God.

On seeing Colonel Jacob, they enquired concerning him, (the first question they generally ask respecting a stranger) "Does he know the good news?" they meant the glad tidings of the Gospel. Their zeal for its diffusion is very remarkable. Beyond Waimate, Colonel Jacob found a chief named Ripi, engaged with his tribe in cutting a road through a dense and lofty forest; they had already advanced nearly two miles, and he found them with their hatchets in their hands intent upon their labour, and wherefore, why were they thus engaged? That the same good news which had reached the chief's own heart and the heart of many of his tribe, might the more readily be conveyed to the tribe beyond, that they, together with themselves might join in daily worship in the Church that they had built; and all this they did, though the tribe they sought to benefit was at enmity with Ripi and his people. The other tribe accused Ripi of exercising enchantment among his people, and they desired him to meet them to explain. He did go, his only weapon was the Word of God. He had no other portion of it then printed, but a part of the Gospels and the Liturgy of our Church. He began his defence:-"When the wicked man

turneth away from his wickedness, &c." Is there any enchanting in that? he asked. "To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness, &c." Is there any enchantment in that? "If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth, &c." Is there any enchantment here? he again enquired. And so in vindication of himself and of his faith, he proceeded through a great portion of the service. The result was a declaration on the part of his enemies, that the only enchantment he had exercised, was one they wished to hear more about, nor would they let him go till he had told them more of this great and good news.

Wonderful indeed, have been the effects of the preached Gospel in New Zealand. We will close with the following testimony, extracted from a letter by Mr. Clark, the government Protector of the natives, after an official tour last year through the

middle district :

"Nine years ago, the whole of this population, consisting of not less than 6 or 7000 natives, were wholly heathen, and I doubt whether at that period, including native teachers, twenty could read or write; now the district may be said to be wholly Christian, as much so as our own country, and at least one-third of the whole can read and write. There are more than twenty Churches built by natives, with an average attendance of 4,000, 1,900 of whom have been admitted into the Church by baptism, and 800 are partakers of the Lord's Supper. I proceed to notice the temporal blessings that have grown out of the labours of your Missionaries. Nine years ago, there was not, that I am aware of, a grain of wheat in the district: Now, upon a moderate calculation, there cannot be less than 3,000 acres grown by the natives. *** Nine years ago there was not a steel mill in the whole range of my journey; now, the natives have more than 200 mills among them. *** Nine years ago, there was not a ship belonging to the natives; but now they have more than thirty vessels of from ten to thirty tons, which they purchased at a cost of little less than £8,000.

Nine years ago, they had neither a horse nor a cow; but now they have a number of both, purchased by their own industry. If nothing more than what I have named, had

been accomplished through the instrumentality of the Society, it is evident, that its labours have been greatly blessed: But I have only named what has passed under my own eye, in but a portion of the middle and eastern districts. The amount of good in the four districts is incalculable. You are aware that nearly one-half of New Zealand was reduced to slavery, by the conquest of the northern chiefs, especially by Hongi. Where now are the slaves, that by hundreds and thousands were toiling, labouring for their conquerors? Why! through the powerful influence of Christianity, they have either been all sent back to their country, many to preach the Gospel, or are hired now as free-men by their There is now no slavery in New

chiefs! Zealand."

While God is thus blessing the labours of our Missionaries, is this the time to grow luke-warm in affection, cold in prayer, and indifferent in effort, in support of this blessed work? It is sad indeed, to be told this year, that in the remittances from Associations, which comprize more than four-fifths of our usual home income, there has been the serious deficiency of £1,642 18s. 8d. And again, to be reminded in the words of the Report:-"Had not the expenditure of the past year, owing to temporary fluctuations been unusually low, the finances of the Society would have been seriously deranged." Truly were we told, that the preaching of the Gospel to the heathen, is mainly depen dent upon “individual exertion, spring. ing from a sense of personal responsibility." Let this be our motto for the present year. Reader! thou art personally responsible for the spread of the Gospel Thou, whether teacher or scholar, can'st help in this great work: And it is thy duty so to do! Art thou a member of the Society? Surely thou can'st afford one penny a week, which would confer that honour upon thee! Surely thou can'st pray, and in our daily prayer the Saviour Himself hath found thee words, "Thy kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven!"

DEAR SIR,

I was much pleased a few days ago, while reading your Magazine for last September, to see that a Conversational Meeting was to take place on December 5th, the object of which was, "The most efficient method of interesting our Sunday school children in the Missionary work, at home and abroad.

Last January a thought came across my mind, whether I could not do something for the Church Missionary Society, amongst the children in our Day and Sunday schools. I named it to my respected Incumbent, who warmly approved of it, and I immediately gave notice in both schools, that a Church Missionary Meeting would be held in the girls' school room, on Friday evening, January 25th, at half-past six o'clock.

The result was, long before that hour, the school-room was crowded; 120 children were present.

At seven o'clock I commenced the meeting, the children all rising up and singing the Missionary Hymn :

"From all that dwell below the skies,
Let the Creator's praise arise," &c.

Afterwards I engaged in prayer, the children all kneeling, and when prayers were finished, I drew their attention in the first place, to the Word of God, by reading a portion of Scripture taken from Mark xvi. 15. After making a few remarks on this passage of Scripture, I endeavoured to amuse them by relating different anecdotes respecting Missionaries and their la

bours amongst the heathen abroad. I shewed them an African idol, which amused them very much. In conclusion, I urged upon them to do all that they could for the Church Missionary Society; and for their encouragement, and to shew what children can do when they like, I related the following anecdote :

THE LITTLE BAKER.

"A little boy, about four years old, whose father is a baker, heard a missionary sermon sometime ago, and, being a thoughtful little fellow, began to consider what he had heard, and then to ask himself whether he could not do something to help forward the cause of missions to the heathen. At last he hit upon a plan. He asked his father to let him have the small bits of dough which were cut off in shaping the loaves, that he might make them into little loaves, which he said he would sell, and give the money to the missionary gentleman, in order that Bibles and teachers might be sent to the poor black children. His father told him that his little loaves would not be worth anything, and that no one would buy them. But the child pressed his suit, telling his father he would sell his little loaves for anything he could get for them, even at four for a farthing, if he could get no more. His father assented. The little fellow set to work, made a batch of his Lilliputian bread, which the man baked for him, and, in a short time, he had got four shillings and sixpence by the sale of these little loaves, which he is saving, in order that he may, when he has an opportunity, give it, with any more that may be added meanwhile, to send the living bread to the poor perishing heathen."

At the close of the meeting, a large collection was made amongst the children.

They afterwards all joined in singing the Doxology, and left the school full

of Missionary love, and much delighted with the meeting.

Since this meeting, I have held two more, one on February 25th, and the other March 28th, both of them were well attended, and good collections made.

Six children, after the first meeting, came to me, and offered themselves as collectors for the Church Missionary Society. They are now hard at work,

and seem to have great pleasure in labouring for the Society. I have written this to you, thinking that you might mention it to others, who take an active part in the Church of England Sunday School Institute.

May the Lord prosper that Institution, is the earnest prayer of Yours faithfully,

Cardiff.

R. N. T.

SIR,

It is pleasing to observe that we have a periodical eminently calculated to do much good, and it is also gratifying to know that there are Christian ministers ever ready and willing to give their time and talents to the cause, in writing and preparing suitable matter for its pages. I refer to the "Church of England Sunday School Quarterly Magazine," a publication, having for its object the dissemination of sound religious matter, of elevating the mind of the reader, and teaching him those truths which are essential to his soul's salvation. The increasing circulation of the Magazine must be truly gratifying; but I regret to think it is not supported as it deserves by teachers and schools generally; and I believe the reason is, that it is not sufficiently known; were it otherwise, every school, if not every teacher, would be a subscriber to it; and I further think, that many are deprived of this, the best literary production of its kind, through a want of publicity being given to it. I would, therefore, respectfully suggest what I have practically and successfully

carried out in the school with which I am connected; namely, that one teacher take upon himself the office of agent, and that he solicit each teacher in his school (male and female), to subscribe one penny per week no one will refuse a penny for such a purpose--which would realise one shilling and a penny per quarter; the work being supplied to schools in connexion with the Institute for ninepence, there would be a profit of fourpence per quarter from each subscriber. A fund would thus accumulate, which, at the end of the year, might be considerable, and be made available in relieving a sick child of the class, whom we might be called upon to visit, and which, alone, might be instrumental in bringing the teacher and parent into a system of co-operation; and perhaps be the means, under God's blessing, of bringing a whole family, for the first time, into the Church of Christ. The Magazine was not known in my school twelve months since. I have adopted the plan referred to, and I have now twenty subscribers,

Your obedient servant,
TU. H. Lavers.