346

very encouraging at present. We have a good ladies' aid society, which is working to assist us in building a new brick church. Although the Methodist Episcopal South and Protestant Episcopal churches have recently "set up" for themselves, still our congregation has not suffered at all, but is, if anything, larger than before. Our prayer-meetings are well attended, although the summer is very hot and our people are mostly on small farms and work hard through the day. The health of myself and family is entirely restored, and I feel strong for this work. The field is very large here, and the work is great, but still in this splendid climate I feel as if I should never tire. We have secured lots in one of the most desirable locations in the place, and expect to begin to build a good substantial brick church by fall, and will then be better equipped for work than ever. This is a wonderful valley, and the possibilities before us are grand. The trees are loaded with fruit, and all who pass through are tempted to remain. In a short time the rush will come and we must be ready for it. We have such natural advantages that the tide of immigration cannot be kept long from us.

From Tacoma, Wash. Ter., Rev. M. G. Mann writes:

I wrote you nearly a year ago that the state of religion among the Chehalis Indians was very gratifying, and that all the adults were members of our church. On a former visit to Chehalis the superintendent and myself noticed but three Indians who were absent from church. After the morning services we held a prayer and praise meeting, at which nearly all remained and took part who had been present in the morning. There has been very efficient and faithful work done in the day and Sabbath-school by the teachers in charge. The Sabbath-school is the best I have ever seen anywhere. The adult Indians are always present, and Mr. Chalcraft, the superintendent, forms them into a Bible-class and instructs them. Although himself a Campbellite, he is using the literature of our Church in the Sabbath-school. One very excellent feature in the Sabbath-school is the learning by heart large portions of Scripture, and recitation in concert. The last time I visited Chehalis one adult woman and thirteen of the older scholars united with the church on profession of faith. Among the converts was a young man who had served a short term of imprisonment at hard

[October.

labor, imposed by the tribe. Being so much in contact with the Christian Indians, and being allowed to attend church and Sabbath-school, he was converted, and though at least twenty-five years of age, desired to be taken into the school in order that he might learn to read God's word. At Nesqually there are no white teachers and no school, and all the religious help which they receive is from me once a month and from our elder, James Shipman, who can, however, neither read nor write. He is a fine speaker and a great worker, has good common sense and an excellent Christian spirit. Every Sabbath he takes his Bible with him to church, and if any one happens to be at church who can read, he entreats him to read a portion of Scripture for him. Shipman understands and speaks English quite well. At Puyallup I found a good deal of pastoral work indispensable, so I have instituted a system of visitation by which I can reach every family and every individual at least once every three months, and as a consequence our Sabbath services are much better attended. We have also a regular prayer-meeting after the morning service, which is well attended. The people are not backward in taking part in speak ing, singing and prayer, and I enjoy these meetings exceedingly. Last Sabbath five young people united with the church. I feel quite assured that this is only the beginning of a great religious interest among the young.

From Redlands, Cal., Rev. Eugene R. Mills writes:

At the last communion we received twelve men. bers, seven of them on examination. I have received sixteen members since I began work here. There are now twenty-nine members in this church. The work of building a house of worship has been begun, and the building will soon be finished. It is very neat and pretty, and quite reasonable in its cost, which will be about $2500. The main room will seat about two hundred. There is a lecture-room for prayer-meetings which opens directly into the main room. The Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian pastors and their people united in a series of special daily services, with very happy results. The fraternal Christian spirit exhibited between the members of the different congregations was most delightful. A good number gave evidence of conversion, and Christians were much strengthened.

BRAZIL.

Miss Ella Kuhl writes from Sao Paulo, Brazil, on May 27, of the ravages of yellow fever, as follows:

Brazil has suffered fearfully this year. In the north there has been famine caused by the drought, in the south pestilence. Our own province has suffered. Sixteen cities and towns in southern Brazil have been devastated by yellow fever. The history of the plague would be a chapter of horrors. Generous-hearted Brazilians gave money and food, physicians were sent from Rio, but there was a lack of organization and a panic among the people, and little was done comparatively to alleviate their sufferings. The southern Presbyterians lost a valuable young worker, Rev. G. Thompson. The Rodrigus family lost a child. Miss Bias nursed five of the family. I think they would all have died if Dr. Lane had not come to the rescue. The school is closed for an indefinite period. The Methodists in Rio also suffered. Two of the ministers and three of the lady missionaries were ill. They have opened their school, but have very few pupils. Our mountain city has escaped, but our boarding department has suffered, for many of our girls from the interior were afraid to travel through the pestilential districts and did not return.

DROUGHT AND CATERPILLARS.

Rev. J. B. Kolb, writing from Larangeiras, June 3, of an itinerating tour, says:

The next day (Sabbath) we had services in the morning at Carabibas, and celebrated the Lord's Supper toward evening, at which time we baptized the infant of the young man who is directing the school. We found the brethren all well, but suffering on account of the drought and the caterpillars, which had destroyed their crops. They were waiting for the rains to come again, so as to make new plantings. There is a great deal of poverty. Since our visit copious rains have fallen. From this point we went to the house of a friend, some seven leagues distant, where we have a few believ

I have mentioned this point before; we call it the "Mattas de Sao Paulo." While there, our friend sent for a neighbor who has been reading the Scriptures and has fallen in love with the Lord Jesus. It was something to see, when he would speak of the love of the Lord Jesus. So great love, but so long in reaching him. He is trying to lead his family in the way of righteousness.

THE SAINTS AND RAIN.

We made during the journey upwards of twentynine leagues in the round trip. The next Sabbath we spent at Larangeiras. On this holy day we witnessed a sad sight, a procession in which certain saints were taken from one church to another, as though they were forcibly removed from their dwellings, so that it might rain. We needed rain, but it had been showering all the week previous, and being the time of rain was it any wonder that it began to rain (in earnest) the next day, and has been raining more or less for now nearly two weeks? Yet the people say it was the forcible removal of the saints which caused it to rain. When will the people cease to be deluded by the vain things which their priests impose upon them? The next Sabbath, being the last of the month, we spent at Lavandeiras, with our brethren who live there. It was a rainy day, yet all the believers and some others came out. We held a service in the morning and another in the afternoon, at which service we celebrated the Lord's Supper, when we had the joy of receiving five persons, a mother and two sons and a man and his wife. They all gave good testimony. We now have twelve believers at this point. They keep up regular services every Sabbath. There are three other persons who will be ready to unite in the near future. We have heard since that two of those who assisted here expressed a resolution to unite with Christ's flock; both of these are heads of families and men of influence, both being wealthy. We pray that the will of the Lord may be that these may take upon themselves the name of the Lord Jesus.

"COME OVER AND HELP US." During this month we received a letter from Estancia, signed by six men, declaring themselves

348

Protestants, and earnestly beseeching us to come to them. I hope to go to see them during this month. I also wish to go to Siriry, where we were so kindly received and unkindly treated. We have learned since that the man who led the persecution was roundly lectured by his friends and relatives. Our colporteur has been there since. He reports all quiet and a stronger desire still on the part of many to hear the preaching of the word. The time of the year in which we now are will not permit much travel on account of the bad roads; it is now our winter or rainy season.

REFRESHING RAINS.

LARANGEIRAS, SERGIPE, BRAZIL, July 3. REV. J. B. KOLB:-The last month has been one of material blessings; we have had fine rains, which will now secure some abundance. But until the harvest time there will be more or less of suffering. The past month was one of regular work in church and school, excepting the Sabbath before St. John's Day (June 24). The people make a great account of St. John's. It is a day of festivities, fireworks being in special demand. The nigh: before vespers is made hideous with bonfires and explosives. We are reminded of 4th of July with its accompaniment of explosive patriotism. The priests encourage the observance of these festas, as they serve to quicken their people and keep them interested. Human nature likes to be pleased and enjoys that religion best which is made the easiest.

GROWING BLIND AND DEAF.

During this month we made a trip of some nine leagues to Nossa Senhora das Dores, where we have an interesting family. The father of the family is growing blind and deaf on account of having taken large quantities of quinine. He feels the loss very much, as he was wont to read a great deal. For a year or more past he has been deeply interested in the gospel and seems to be a changed man. He now remembers many passages of the Scriptures, and it is surprising with what exactness and aptness he quotes them. It seems to comfort him much to think on what he has read. He and his family have had to suffer many things on account of their love for the truth, but they seem firm and sincere. On our way home we availed ourselves of the interest which a farmer has in the gospel, to stay in his house over night. We proposed to

[October,

hold a service, to which he readily acceded and besides invited his workmen to assist. Just before the service a brother of our host came along, who by the way is much interested, and remained all night. We kept up the service and conversation until near midnight. The next day we reached home in safety, although a report had reached Larangeiras ahead of us that two Protestants had been stoned in Dores.

CHINA.

Rev. A. A. Fulton, who with his sister, Dr. Mary Fulton, recently made another visit to Kwong Si province, writes as follows under date of June 21:

Lung Chau is a city of about 6000 people, situated at the confluence of two rivers which unite at the southern end of the city, then flow northward, emptying into the large West river. From the mouth of the river up to Lung Chau is a journey of twelve days. From Canton to Lung Chau is a journey of about forty days or nearly 1000 miles. By treaty at the close of the Franco-Chinese war Lung Chau was to be opened in the interest of French trade and foreign residence as soon as the boundary between Tong King and China could be definitely determined. The boundary question was satisfactorily disposed of and the city declared to be a treaty port. A French consul was sent to reside there, also a commissioner of customs and foreign assistants. I met these officials, the chief of customs an American, and found them very friendly, and they expressed strong wishes that we might come there. There is no missionary within a hundred and more miles, the nearest being a Church Missionary Society agent at Pak Hoi, on the coast, in Kwong Tung province. I know of no other missionary within hundreds of miles. Writing briefly, I would urge the occupation of this point for three strong reasons:

1. Full protection guaranteed. Both the French consul and commissioners are residing there, and they informed me I could not have better protection in any part of China. Proclamations were posted about the city declaring the rights of foreigners and threatening punishment to those who violated any treaty obligation.

2. Destitution. There are tens of thousands of people, mostly poor, and no workers there. I found the people friendly, much more so than the

1889.]

people of this province. I believe this class of people would be easily influenced.

3. Accessibility. We shall not need again to ascend the river, as was necessary this time, to fully determine the nature of the language and character of people and places. We can go from Hong Kong to Hanoi by steamer in two days; Hanoi by good new road to Langson, three days; Langson to Lung Chau, one day. Langson is the seat of a French resident in Tong King and is just on the boundary line. The French consul told me men had arrived from France to begin the construction of a railroad from Hanoi to Langson, to be completed within one year. This will make the time from Hong Kong to Lung Chau about four days. Here is a wide-open door, with almost none of the difficulty, obstruction and disappointment that so often accompany efforts to reside beyond Canton.

Rev. C. W. Mateer, D.D., in referring to the work in the famine district in which he and Mrs. Mateer took part, says:

I feel that not only did we save many lives, but we made a profound impression on the people where we worked. We enrolled the starving in 155 villages, besides those enrolled by Mr. Leyenberger. The prejudice against us as foreigners has been effectually dissipated in all these villages. In passing around, both Mrs. Mateer and I were everywhere received with demonstrations of the highest respect. A wide door is opened for evangelistic work in all that region, which I trust the brethren at Wei Hien will be able to enter and improve. The hand of God is no doubt in this famine; it is his lever to open the door of Chinese exclusiveness, his hammer to break the strength of Chinese prejudice. I look confidently for a great ingathering as the final result.

A LABORER AT REST.

SOOCHOW, June 18, 1889. REV. D. N. LYON:-Since last writing you, the venerable elder of our Soochow church has gone to rest, aged seventy-two. Mr. Losih-peng was baptized thirty-four years ago (by Rev. H. V. Rankin, I believe), and during all these years has lived a life of more than ordinary faithfulness. For some twenty years he has been employed as a colporteur and evangelist, and has always shown himself trustworthy and diligent. Though not an

349

eloquent man, he was ready to give a reason for his faith to those who were ready to inquire. He had a specially happy way of answering idle questions so as not to give offence. As an elder of the church he was unceasing in efforts to help the church members on in the grace and knowledge of Christ, and the low state of religion in the church was the one thing over which he sorrowed and prayed most earnestly. About a month before his death he went to the country and opened a new station, and gathered a number of inquirers, hoping to have strength to carry on the work there, but the Lord's will was to call him home. He was suffering from catarrh of the stomach, and being unable to retain food gradually wasted away. His last moments were full of hope and joy. The mos. fitting text I could find for his funeral was "faithful unto death."

NOTES FROM CENTRAL CHINA.

NINGPO, July 4, 1889. REV. W. J. MCKEE :-Seven pupils of the boys' academy have within the year applied to be received into the church. Four of the number were received. One of these is the son of heathen parents, who on being consulted concerning their son's joining the church, offered no objections and promised to allow him to lead a Christian life.

This is unusual and rather encouraging, as showing that some who are not of us are yet not opposed to us.

Five of our boarding-school girls are also appli cants, and will perhaps be received in the autumn.

Two brothers, wood-carvers, recently received into our city church, are sturdy, substantial men of influence, and have made no small sacrifice in becoming Christians. They are neighbors of pastor Zi, and have been brought to Christ through his influence.

A good work is going on in the bounds of our little Fu-saen church in the Saen-poh district. At last communion six persons were added, making eighteen received since last October. There are also other hopeful inquirers.

PERSECUTION DISARMED.

From our farthest out-stations in the Tong Yiang district, two hundred miles away, comes the good news that a kind of persecution which threatened to be very severe and widespread had been stopped by means of private conferences held by one or two of our native preachers and a few of the Christians

with the ringleaders of the persecutors. Much prayer was previously offered, and special wisdom seems to have been given the native preachers and Christians, so that a mutual understanding and an amicable settlement were reached. It is gratifying to learn that our native Christians in their persecutions and other difficulties are coming to put their confidence less in princes, foreign consuls and native officials, and more in God.

It is also with thanks to God that I report something of an awakening at the Ta-bing station in that district, at which station stagnation has reigned for some years. Three persons were recently added

to the church, and there is unusual interest.

THE SIPI MELA, OR FAIR.

REV. B. D. WYCKOFF:-This is a mela held about six miles from Simla, once a year, in a beautiful grove of pines. Many of these trees are one hundred and fifty feet high, two feet in diameter, and straight as an arrow. The mela was honored by the presence of the vice-regal party. Three or four of the Baptist missionaries were present. We had a good time preaching to a large and for the most part very attentive audience, so I trust much good was done.

The most striking feature of the mela were the bright-colored dresses of the women. They comprised all the colors of the rainbow. Many of them had beautiful and expensive ornaments, evidence of the peace and prosperity they are enjoying under British rule. It is said that formerly women were sold for wives at this mela; but I was told by the deputy commissioner it is not done now, except perhaps in very rare cases.

The " merry-go-rounds" were another striking feature of the mela. They were thoroughly enjoyed by the simple hill people, and even by some Englishmen bent upon having a good time. I did not count them, but I am sure there were more than a hundred. Of course there were a great variety of games, and a good deal of gambling, for which vice they have the example of the English sporting fraternity.

There were some very fine acrobats at this mela. They revolved like wheels, singly and double. One stood first upon the shoulders, then upon the head, of another. One climbed a pole about fifteen feet high, then revolved horizontally with great velocity on a spike fixed in the top of it. He had

[October.

a socket for the spike in his belt. Another walked with great apparent ease on stilts five or six feet high.

I think no people in the world are so fond of tamashas, or shows, as are the Hindus, and none behave better when sight-seeing. I saw but one drunken man-the first native I have seen drunk in six years.

Once while we were preaching the aryahs tried to interrupt us, but finding they could not succeed, they withdrew. Our preaching is beginning to tell upon the people. Some of the audience seemed much moved by the earnest preaching of Rev. Mr. Smith, a veteran in the good cause.

One of our native ministers writing from Panhala in our Kolhapur mission, India, to a friend, relates in fairly good English the following incident connected with his work :

A short time ago I had been to a village where I got an audience of about twenty-five. I talked to them about Iotteeba, a famous god whose temple is on a hill about a mile from here, and where people come for pilgrimage with long bamboo sticks wrapped with mixed colored cloth and tied with ropes, carrying them on their shoulders and coming from a distance of several hundreds of miles. The fair is held annually and a crowd of nearly fifty or sixty thousand people come there. I had in my mind to point the people their mistake of attending such places and spending their time, money and strength for nothing. I used to tell them while they were at home and preparing to go. On the great day of the procession, when many men were going to the hill, I saw a man busy with his daily work as usual. I asked him how was it that he did not go to the hill as others. He replied, "Master saheb, how shall I go when you had come the other day to our village and pointed us our mistake? I have thought over it and determined not to go, and have told this man (pointing to his helper) not to go, and so we both are at work. What will Iotteeba give us? Why should we lose our money for nothing?" I thanked the Lord for the good effect of my going to that village, and I am much encouraged to sow the seed more. I cannot tell how much the people are in need of men who will teach them the right path. We are in great want of missionaries.