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concentrated, and for facility in the distribution which was to follow, and partly to prevent other children, of whom there were many present unconnected with the schools, from sharing what was not procured for them, and— which in the previous one it was found difficult to do-to discriminate among so numerous a number. Grace having been sung, they were then supplied with plum-cake, and wine and water, which they seemed much to enjoy. Having returned thanks, they were addressed by the Rev. C. C. Gillman, M.A., their Vicar, who had been present all the time, and to whom they listened with much attention. It concluded with the Evening Hymn, after which a short interval more being spent in play, and the signal given for leaving the ground, they formed into ranks, and returned into the town in nearly the same order as they left, well pleased and delighted with their entertainment. A great number of visitors were present, and

the scene altogether was most enliven ing and animating. The expense of this treat, which is annually borne by subscription, was £12, everything included.

It has occurred to me that since in such festivals it is the desire of those managing them, to allow the children the utmost diversion consistent with the Christian character of the assembly, and to enable them to enjoy themselves with the refreshment supplied, it would be a point of mutual interest, how this may be best effected, the games and amusements which may be safely indulged in, and with what economy, in regard to the provision given, the treat may be conducted, at the same time supplying amply, and with what, generally, is most acceptable to them. I have thought that this is a question which the experience of many of your readers will enable them to answer readily, if it is deemed worthy of sufficient notice. A Teacher.

Camden District, Camberwell.

If you can spare a corner for a short account of our school treat, last week, I think it may interest some of your readers, and induce some of our wealthy brethren who take an interest in the innocent enjoyment of children, to go and do likewise.

By the very kind and generous invitation of W. Earl Esq., our Treasurer, the schools, both girls and boys, in number about three hundred, marched in procession to his house and grounds, accompanied by ministers, teachers, and friends. We were received by the above gentleman and a large party of friends; appropriate mottoes gave a welcome to the already delighted visitors, and an excellent band of music aided to the joyousness of the occasion. Gymnastic exercises, cricket, and games of almost every description were provided both for teachers and children. And in a large tent, tea on a most

liberal scale, for all who chose to partake of it, crowned the festivities of the day. The various groups of visitors, teachers, and children, some looking on with evident satisfaction, others making most of the occasion, and enjoying themselves to their heart's content, and all under a beautiful, bright blue sky in the pure open air, produced an impression on each not easily to be forgotten.

Before returning, the whole party assembled on the lawn, and sang several appropriate hymns, and then marching homewards in a most credita. ble and orderly manner, and without any offence, or accident, dispersed, full of grateful thoughts towards the kind friend who had so generously and successfully afforded such a day's happiness. I cannot help expressing my wish, that many of those to whom their Lord has entrusted the ten talents, would

go and do likewise." There was enjoy ment purchased for nearly five hundred persons, at a comparatively small cost, and great indeed must have been the satisfaction afforded the giver.

I have read somewhere, that they confer the greatest good on mankind, who offer the best means for some subject, which in after years will produce a pleasing recollection in the mind-that such a person contributed by his interest, or his means, to such a particular enjoyment; and the recollection of the person and the pleasure

often supplied an antidote to the cares and trials of after life. Such a person's feelings have indeed their reward, even in this life; but what is of greater moment, in such cases as that of school children, the hands of the teachers are strengthened, and their self-devotion is encouraged, and a stimulus is given to the children, and a connection and life to the whole school system, which does much, with God's help, to assist in the inculcation of early and sacred impressions. J. C.

Church of England Missions.

EAST AFRICAN MISSION. DR. KRAPF, AND MR. REBMANN.

FEW modern Missions, if any, have been undertaken, in which the experience of the great apostle to the Gentiles has been more exactly verified, (as described by his own pen) " in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in cold and nakedness," than in that of which we now proceed to furnish a few particulars.

The commencement of the Mission in 1843, was marked by a remarkable escape from peril, which might seem a portentous prelude to subsequent events of a similar character. It was on the 11th of November in that year, that Dr. and Mrs. Krapf left Aden for East Africa. The vessel in which they embarked was an Arab boat of the larger size, called a Bagalo. The wind was contrary, and on the morning of the 14th blew with such fury, that they were apprehensive the vessel would be dashed to pieces by the mighty waves. At length, beneath the stroke of one tremendous wave, the frail

vessel sprang a leak, and as the only hope of preserving life, the helm was put about, and the vessel's head turned towards Aden ; all hands were set to work in baling out the water, but the leak could not be discovered. The water rushed in violently, the mountains of Aden were still far distant and almost all hope that the ship could be saved was taken away. The Missionary and his wife committed themselves, their dear friends at home, the whole Mission cause, and especially their East African Mission, to the gracious protection of the Lord. They made up their Bible and a few other things which they prized most, in a little packet, in case it should be necessary to have recourse to the ship's boat, which, filled with twenty-five human beings, and in a heavy sea, could scarcely be expected to reach the shore. At four p. m. a barque appeared at no great distance, and a signal of distress was hoisted, but without effect. The harbour of Aden at length was near, and the sailors, sanguine of approaching it, and considering the danger past, re

laxed their efforts. The vessel waterlogged would scarcely move. The wind which had abated in the afternoon, died entirely away and was soon succeeded by the land breeze, which began to drive them back into the open sea; when, at this crisis, a boat from the harbour came close up. The captain was induced to take the Missionary and his wife on board. Soon after, the leaky vessel which they had left, overturned, the mast in the water and the whole boat floating on the sea like a piece of wood.

Enquiries were again made at Aden, for a boat bound for Africa, and in less than a fortnight the Missionary and his wife were again upon their voyage. The former vessel had been designed for Zanzibar, but this second boat was bound for Mombas; the captain himself being a native of that place, and speaking almost exclusively Sudheli, the language of the people on the coast. After a prosperous voyage of three or four weeks, Dr. and Mrs. Krapf reached Mombas in safety. But here, though the people evinced a most friendly disposition towards him, troubles still awaited him! Among the severest was the loss of his devoted wife; fever also and sickness reduced him very low. But these trials, so far from discouraging our excellent Missionary, appear rather to have invigorated him to fresh acts of devotedness. Instead of sinking into despondency, he summoned his European friends to press onward in the work. "Tell the Committee," he writes, after the demise of his attached and devoted wife, "that there is on the East African coast, a lonely grave of a Member of the Mission cause connected with your Society. This is a sign that you have commenced the struggle with this part of the world; and, as the victories of the Church are stepping over the graves and death of many of her Members, you may be the more convinced that the hour is at hand, when you are sum

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moned to work for the conversion of Africa, from the East."

In June, 1846, Dr. Krapf was greatly encouraged, and the Mission greatly strengthened by the arrival of the Rev. J. Rebmann, whom the Committee of the Church Missionary Society had appointed to join Dr. Krapf in his arduous and solitary labours. But fever soon attacked them both, so that a change of residence from the island of Mombas to the main land, which was higher ground and more salubrious, was deemed expedient. In the middle of August their sickness took a turn, so that they thought they might venture to commence the removal. The place they had chosen was Rabbai Empier, situated among lofty mountains, commanding extensive views of the Wakamba land, the Wonica country, and eastward, of,the sea. They started for their new abode on the 22d of August, sailing along the Bay of Rabbay; which extends about eighteen miles inland. "The next day (writes Dr. Krapf) I was severely attacked by fever, which rendered it doubtful whether I could go up to New Rabbai, situate four miles distant from the bay. After resting a day, when I arose on the morning of the 25th I felt the fever rapidly coming on, but I would not give way to apprehensions nor delay my departure. The cold stage of the fever had already commenced when we started, and I was shivering in a high degree, but I said in my heart-'the Mission must be commenced; and should death or life result to me, I can now have no regard to sickness whatsoever.' With these feelings and inward groanings to the Lord we proceeded. Mr. Rebmann, also, was so weak that he thought he could not walk all the way to New Rabbai. We therefore agreed to relieve one another by riding an ass which we had with us; but, after trying to walk, I was obliged to give it up, and to ride the remainder of the journey; and it was with great difficulty and suffering

violent pain, I ascended the steep mount on which New Rabbai is situated. I think scarcely any other Mission can have been commenced in greater weakness; the Lord was pleased to try us whether we would love our own comforts and lives more than his cause and glory."

Their new abode was situate about 1,000 or 1,200 feet above the level of the sea, and the air was so much supe. rior to that of Mombas, that their health began decidedly to improve, even a few days after their arrival. One of the first objects of importance to which they had to turn their attention was the erection of a dwellinghouse. Dr. Krapf writes “We had to quarry large stones, and cut our timber; in fact, we had to be everywhere and do the work ourselves, as the Wonicas, according to their low scale of civilization, would have made everything crooked and most miserable. I am certain, if you had been able to see our dirty and ragged trousers, the wounds on our hands, caused by thorns and the stone, in short, if you had seen our outward appearance, you would scarcely have looked upon us as Reverend Missionaries. But we must stoop to every privation, if we wish to do the Lord's work. Notwithstanding, our hearts were joyful in Him, and his

Word was to us more precious than at more quiet seasons. We have no doubt that the selfish and worldly mind of the Wonicas will cause great obstacles; but we know that the Gospel can conquer all obstacles whatever."

Thus was the East African Mission commenced. From New Rabbai our Missionaries have made long and peril ous journeys into the interior of the country; snow-clad mountains, mighty rivers, vast forests, numerous nations, and facts of the highest interest in a geographical point of view, have been discovered and recorded, but nowhere, and on no occasion, have these messengers of Christ forgotten the errand of peace on which they were sent to the heathen. Jesus Christ, and him crucified, has been everywhere faithfully preached; and reserving further account of these journeys to another occasion, it must now suffice to add, that three new Missions are now about to be undertaken in this part of Eastern Africa, and that three additional Missionaries, with as many Christian mechanics, are about to leave Europe with Dr. Krapf to further this most interesting enterprise. Let us pray that God, in mercy, will safely guide them to their destination, and protect, sustain, comfort, and bless them!

Correspondence.

The Editors do not hold themselves responsible for all the opinions expressed in this portion of their Magazine.

SCRIPTURE QUESTIONS.

"CAN any of your readers supply answers to the following enquiries ?"

In John xvi. 23, the word "ask" occurs twice, and seemingly renders the two parts of the verse contrary to each other. But in the Greck the word is first ερωταω and then αίτεω. Will the

respective force of these words allow the verse to be paraphrased thus? "Ye shall not enquire of me :—Ye shall ask (gifts, or blessings) of Father." The first sentence would then agree with verses 12, and 13; the latter with verse 24.

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Again, in 1 John i. 7, "we have fellowship one with another," says our version. But does “net'àλλnλwv" necessarily imply more than two persons as having communion? If it does not, then the reading suggests itself that

the fellowship there spoken of is the same as in verse 3, namely, with God Himself; not with one another, an idea which is nowhere else introduced in this portion of the Apostle's argument. 6.

SUPPLYING BIBLES.

In looking over the last Quarterly Magazine, I noticed a letter from a correspondent, on the subject of supplying Bibles and Prayers to the youths in our Sunday schools. I adopted a plan, last year, of taking a penny, or in some cases, one half-penny per week, from some of the scholars in my class, for the purpose of purchasing a Bible, Prayer, or Hymn Book. And the result has been very good; I supplied nine of my class with Bibles in that way, in less than three months, besides three or four Prayer Books, and a half dozen Hymn Books; first, I ought to have added that I sent a paper to each child's parents, requesting them to allow their child to subscribe a penny, or half-penny per week, for the purpose of procuring them a "Bible." I have sold, within the last nine months, one dozen Bibles, seven Prayer and eight

Hymn Books; and the parents of the children, now and then come to me and ask me to procure a Bible for them; I should add, that most of the teachers supply their classes with Bibles and Prayers.

Allow me to ask, might not a similar plan be adopted in all our schools? It is a little more trouble to the teacher, but at the same time, he is doing his work more efficiently; his outlay of capital is but small, he need not keep more than half a dozen of each on hand at a time; I am of opinion, that this would in a measure, carry out your correspondent's plan, and also supply more of the families of our land with the Word of God.

I will write to you again shortly, and
again wishing your Society success.
I remain, Yours truly,
James King.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS FOR THE MIDDLE RANKS.
GENTLEMEN,

I see, from the Quarterly Magazine, that at your Superintendents' Meeting, next week, you are to take up the subject of "Sunday classes for the middle ranks." Intrinsically it is a most important subject; for the individuals, who, I take it, are referred to under the designation, are generally speaking much in need of such efforts, and I believe it is in consequence of their social and spiritual condition, that Sunday schools throughout our land suffer, creep along, and in many cases languish, for want of a healthy and continuous flow of youths of both

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sexes, ofthe better-educated classes, from the pew at church, to the class at the Sunday school connected with that church.

No doubt it is a delightful reflection, in one sense, to behold a room contain ing 600 young women and girls, and to be told, as I have been, by the superintendent that every teacher then present had passed through the School as a scholar. But, Sir, even this (good as it is) ought not so to be, and if we could bring the youth of middle rank together in a school, an easy transition we may suppose it, for many so associated

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