MISSIONARY ECHO
United Methodist Free Churches.
Epitor: JOS. KIRSOP.
VOLUME V.
1898.
“The Field zs the World.â€
Lowdor ;
CONTENTS.
; PAGE
Breaking the Fetters. By W. A. Todd.
Chapter 1. Setting out = - - - 12
5 2. A mother’s love - 3-27.
eS 8. The Arrival of the “ Wajoli†48
5 4, Thebeginningofthestruggle 60
a 5. Take her, then - = -
5 6. Sarah’s little ruse - = 91
Â¥ 7. With what measure ye mete 107
i 8. From Bondage to Freedom - 123
z 9.
» 10. Signs of the end - - 157
» 11. Is it all to be a failure - 167
» 12, The mingling of Jey and
sorrow - - - 186
By Mountain, Road and River. By Lucy
Soothill - - - - 38, 65, 89, 118
Children’s Page, The. By the Editor
16, 82, 48, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 144, 160,176, 192
Chinese Character. By Edith A. Heywood 25
Christian Endeavour Page. By Edward Abbott.
15, 31, 57, 68, 79, 95, 111, 127, 148, 159, 175, 191
- 152
General Outlook, The- es = a - 89
General Missionary Secretary’s Notes
5, 21, 87, 54, 70, 84, 101, 134, 173, 182
Give ’em the Nigger. By G. A. Kennedy - 74
Golbanti Palaver, A. By R. M. Ormerod - 136
By the Editor - 110
How we increased our Missionary Subscrip-
tions - - - - - a eee esl:
Knights of the Holy Ghost. By John Cuttell.
Farewell to Miss Abercrombie - =
Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Chapter 1. John Hunt, the Apostle of
Fiji 2 = - - 10
» ‘2, Alfred Saker, Missionary to
the Cameroons - - 66
" 8. Bishop Hannington, the
: Martyr of Uganda - - 104
- 4. Egerton R. Young, the Red
Indian’s Evangelist - - 154
Letters from China, No. 1. By W.E.Soothill 7
5 i No, 2. By Lucy Soothill 189
Literary Sketches. By the Editor 26, 59, 164, 190
PAGE
Memorable Meeting. By the Hditor - - 129
Miscellaneous = = 22, 86, 108, 185, 154
Missionaries, Arrival of
6, 37, 101, 115, 152, 168, 182
Missionaries, Departure of 56, 115, 152, 162, 181,182
Missionary Expansion of the Reformed
Churches. By the Editor - - - 120
Mr. Yoa; or, Garnered Grain. By Lucy
Soothill ~- » = = E - 170
Mutterings of the Storm. By James Proud-
foot - s = - - - - 108
My Voyage to Jamaica. By Francis Bavin - 177
Our Foreign Field: Editorial Notes
Bocas del Toro - es = = AEs)
China 2, 18, 36, 52, 68, 82, 99, 114, 132,148,180
Hastern Africa - 87, 51, 68, 138, 150, 180
Jamaica - = = - 20, 58, 68, 179
Western Africa - 4, 20, 37, 58, 101, 116
Our Missions in Ningpo. By Frederick Galpin
23, 49, 81, 118, 165, 188
Our West African Missions, By William
Codling - = B = s = 87
Pentecost in China. By Lucy Soothill - 8
Plantation Scene. By C. Consterdine - - 40
Reminiscence, A. By Emma Hornby - 43
Reminiscences of Rotofunk. By W. Vivian,
FR.GS. -- - - = - - 97
R. H. McLaughlin. By John Chinn - - 17
Rice Culture in China. By Lucy Soothill - 185
By W. Vivian, F.R.G.S. 145
Sierra Leone Past and Present. By the late
T. H. Carthew - = = 41, 72, 119
By R. M. Ormerod 161
Saved as by Fire.
Slavery in Galla-land.
Sunday Schools and Missions = a = 78
The growth of Sis ingdon: By the
Editor 2 = See
The Year that has gone. By the Editor - 1
Travelling in Hast Africa. By Mrs. W. G.
Howe < = - - - 116, 188
Varieties - - - - 80, 46, 94, 126, 191
Words of the Wise. By the Editor 74, 90, 121
THE YEAR THAT HAS GONE,
BY THE EDITOR.
=-yHE year 1897 was an eventful one
| in the history of our Missions. It
commenced in the deepest shadow.
We were lamenting the death of
the frank, impulsive, open-handed,
open-hearted, Thomas H. Carthew.
A man of herculean strength, his constitution
had been undermined by the enervating climate
and, by a meagre dietary which he had adopted
that he might be able to give to him that had
need, so what seemed a trifling injury, soon
proved itself fatal. We all could have prophesied
long life for him, but “ his sun went down while it
was yet day.â€
As the year rolled round the shadow lifted for a
while, but “the clouds returned after the rain.â€
On August 30th, a brief telegram startled our
Missionary Secretary, “ Abercrombie dead.†An
earthquake shock could not have startled him more.
He could scarcely believe it. Early the following
morning he read it once more to see if he had not
made a mistake, but no, the words stoud out dis-
tinctly—* Abercrombie dead.†He was obliged to
believe it, and he wrote “ What now is too painful
and deep for us to understand, let us trustfully
leave in the hands of our Heavenly Father.†Less
than two years before, Mr. Abercrombie had parted
with his friends at Chorley and had soon been
wafted to the western world. His earnest purpose
was to toil for the Connexion’s good and the
Master’s glory. He had no thought of an early
return, and the climate did not seem unsuitable to
him, He had suffered more from the heat of
JANUARY.
New life is pushing through the wakened earth,
Under the seeming death the sap’s aflow.
Emity Howson Tayror.
Cornwall than from the heat of Jamaica. So he
wrote to a friend. But malignant fever got him in
its grasp, and the grasp was deadly. An honest,
straightforward, loyal Free Methodist and asincere
Christian was Richard Elijah Abercrombie. If we
sorrow for him, it is not as others which have no
hope. bee
The measure of our grief was not yet filled up.
Eleven days after the superintendent of our
Jamaica Mission entered into rest, our minister in
Bocas del Toro, Rev. Thos. Halliwell, fell asleep
in Jesus. Mr. Halliwell was little known in most
of our English Circuits. He had not itinerated
here. He was received into the ministry when
appointed to Bocas. But in Wigan where he was
best known he was highly respected, and had he
been spared to labour in the foreign field his name
would soon have been better known in the Con-
nexion, for “he was every inch a Missionary of
the noblest type.†Mentally and spiritually, he
was far above the average Christian man, and he
had a grand ambition to spread the gospel in the
regions beyond. But “the Lord had need of
him,†and said “Come up higher.†We can only
say “Thy will be done.â€
Painful to us, and doubly painful to him, was
the enforced return through illness of our dear
young friend, Richards Woulfenden. Had his own
ardent wishes been realised, he would now have
been getting ready for his return voyage to China.
But medical knowledge says, not yet! God's provi-
dence says, not yet! and he must patiently
wait to see what God’s will and purpose concern-
ing him may he. Enforced inactivity and absence
froma chosen sphere of consecrated service is hard
to bear, but we must
>
2 OUR FOREIGN FIELD.
«“Teave to His sovereign sway
To choose and to command.â€
All the Missionary events of the year were not
sad and sombre. At the February Session of the
Committee, a letter was read from Rev. W. EH.
Soothill, which quickened the pulsation of all who
heard it, and which really initiated the forward
movement in Missionary Finance which is now in
progress. It told of grand results of effort in “the
Jand of Sinim,†and echoed the Macedonian cry,
“¢Gome over and help us.†“ Brethren,†said the
earnest Missionary, “the fields are ripe with as
thickly-set and rich a harvest as the world can
shew you anywhere. The population teems with
intelligent, hardworking, devoted folks who will
praise God through eternal ages if you will but
give them the opportunity.†The Committee had
every desire to afford them the opportunity. But
could they? Forward movements had been
attempted by other societies and had failed for
want of funds. A special fund amongst ourselves
- for aiding aggressive work had been diminished
and brought low. It would soon be exhausted,
Hence the necessity for urging to greater liber-
ality and better organization for raising the
Missionary income.
Medical Missions have been much blessed during
the past year. Their continued and increased
efficiency demands effort on their behalf. During
the year Rev. James Proudfoot has gone out to
Sierra Leone as superintendent of our Missions
there, and Rev. C. H. Goodman, after a needed
furlough, has gone back to Tikonkoh. Rev. W.
S. Micklethwaite has come home for the same
reason, his homeward steps being quickened by
sharp attacks of fever. The East African Mission
has Leen strengthened by the sending out of Rev.
(. Consterdine and Rev. W. R Stobie has gone to
help the prosperous Mission at Wenchow.
Rev. Dr. Swallow is still with us, and has
received the highest possible proof of confidence
and esteem. Never before has a Missionary, home
on furlough, been raised to the Presidential chair.
Altheugh the veteran Thomas Wakefield enjoyed
the deserved honour, that was after an African sun
had burned on him so many years that he had to stay
in his native land. Our President, in his election,
discovers not only his brethren’s appreciation of
himself, but their love for the Missionary cause,
and, no doubt, as his deputational work is exerting
so great an influence for good, so his election
jtself will be felt an encouragement by all our
prethren engaged in foreign work.
Now we have crossed the threshold of another
year. We have mourned during the closing weeks
of 1897 the death of ano‘ her
« Q]d companion in distressâ€
Rev. George Turner, retired but recently from the
Secretarysbip of our Missions. None thought. he
had so soon to hasten his escape from the windy
storm and tempest. What may be the divine
purpose as to us who are alive and remain at the
present, we cannot say.
day. We can all do something to promote the
Mission Cause and extend the Kingdom of God.
Let us live soas to deserve the epitaph or eulogium
« He hath done what he could.â€
Toil on, and in thy toil rejoice,
For work comes rest, for exile home;
Soon shalt thou hear the Bridegroom’s voice,
The midnight peal, “ Behold I come.â€
EDITORIAL NOTES.
CHINA,
a communication from Mrs. Soothill to
the Editor, an interesting account is
given of an old convert, whom she de-
scribes as the patriarch of our Wenchow
society. She writes :—
* * *
“When Mr. Soothill came in from the
Saturday evening prayer meeting a little time ago
he remarked, ‘ Old Sing Fuh prayed very nicely
to-night.’ Some may remember Mr. Soothill
speaking about Sing Fuh when he was in England
—if so, I think you will be glad to hear addi-
tional good news of our patriarch. He is our
oldest living member, has been with us since the
commencement of the work, and at the time of the
riot endured much persecution, even consenting
Let us work while it is |
to cheerfully lay down his life if his enemies 60 ©
desired, saying it would but the sooner send him
to glory. And to his credit be it said that never
once, so far as we know, has he brovght discredit
upon his Christianity. Grumbling has never been
one of Sing Fuh’s “privileges,†his cheerful
optimism attimes creating great amusement. Among
his friends, ever since he became a Christian, the
words most continually upon his lips have been,
‘Her-she, her-she,’ literally, ‘ Very good, very
good,’ but which, in our everyday parlance, might
be translated, ‘ All’s well. all’s well.’ I have seen a
grave look steal over his face on hearing his
deeply respected pastor express no small dissatis-
faction with the elements, after a couple of months
steady downpour, for there was no such thing as
bad weather, in the providence of Sing Fuh’s God
* # *
«Bur there was one thing which contented old.
Sing Fuh was anxious to admit was not as it
OUR FOREIGN FIELD, 3
should be. The grief of his life had been that, of
all his family, he wag the only one who trusted
Christ. His sons were confirmed idolaters,
and turned a deaf ear to all their father’s en-
treaties and prayers. This was the only fault
he had to find with them. During my first
years in China he would frequently come
along to Mr, Soothill in search of a sympa-
thetic ear, into which he could pour his distresses
and self-accusings, for he always took the blame
on to his own shoulders. ‘ Pray tell me what my
sins are,’ he would cry; ‘they must be heavy
mises have been Sing Fuh’s refuge, and ‘the
place whereunto he did continually resort.’ No
small amount of grace is required from the mis-
sionary’s wife when she finds she cannot even
call her kitchen her own, because of its being in-
variably occupied by half-a-dozen Chinese, each
one of them anxious to search as diligently as pos-
sible into the mysteries of our foreign food, and
with no qualms of conscience about either ¢ tasting,
touching, or handling it.’ But she could always
find a smile, and a nod of sympathetic recognition
for Sing Fuh, and never begrudged him the ‘ cosy
i es
= 7
Mr. Woolfenden’s House, Wingpo,
indeed, or God would would long ago have an-
swered my supplications on their behalf’ Thus
he would torture himself. As long as his poor
old limbs would carry him it was his custom to
rise lone before it was day, and, while the city
slept, climb to our highest hill, and, there in
the pure light of morning, with the still quiet
city below him, he would pour out his soul in
prayer that his stalwart sons might be led to
cast away their idols of wood and of stone, and
learn to know ‘God and Jesus Christ, whom He
hath sent.’ * * =
“Stncz retiring from business, the Mission pre-
corner’ up by the stove, in which he loved to
doze away the cold days of winter.
# # ®
“Bur though the sons, and through them their
wives, persistently held aloof, yet they made no
objxction to the son of one of them, a nice lad
called Ding Shue, attending our day school, and
later were delighted to fallin with Dr. Hoge’s
offer that he should be apprenticed to learn the
profession of a doctor. Last year this boy’s
mother became seriously ill, and in their extrem-
ity the family turned—not only to Dr. Hogg
for help, but also to the God whom their
father had served so long. The Christians were
invited to have prayer in the house, which they
were only too happy to do. The woman re-
covered, and I have seen her several times at ser-
vice since.
* * *
“Soon after my husband’s remark about the
beauty of Sing Fuh’s prayer on the Saturday
evening, I learnt the secret of it all. Said my
smiling informant, ‘Sing Fuh says this is the
most joyful day of his life ; he is happy to death.’
For the very first time, though they had had the
usual feast on the fifth day of the fifth month, in
connection with it there had been no act of idolatry
performed by any one of his family, as had been
their unfailing custom in years past. So the old
man’s rejoicing had found expression at the prayer
meeting, when he had poured out his soul in
praise and thanksgiving to God. On _ that
auspicious day, for the first time, he had not
needed to seek his usual refuge at the Mission
House from this idolatrous feast.
* * *
“Tris possible that in a stubborn family like
this the work of regeneration will be a slow
and gradual process. For long years the old
man’s prayers and devotion have been at work,
undermining the strong citadel of their pride and
unbelief, but now we trust one of the outposts has
fallen. Oh! that soon this venerable father may
see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied—in
the full surrender of his whole family to Christ,
when we shall hear him joyfully say, ‘ Lord, now
lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, for
mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,’ â€
WESTERN AFRICA.
From a long and interesting report of a journey
to the Mendi country by Rev. James Proudfoot, in
company with Rev. W. 8. Micklethwaite, I am
able to give some extracts of a pleasing and in-
structive kind. The journey was taken at an in-
convenient time of the year, but it having been
necessary for Mr. Proudfoot to go to Paitafoo, he
thought it best to proceed to Tikonkoh.,
* x *
Mr. Prouproot was delighted to see the cor-
diality with which the mission children at
Paitafoo welcomed back Mr. Micklethwaite. He
proceeds :—
* %
“Tae Mission eileen are fed and clothed,
the former mainly at the expense of Messrs. Good-
man and Micklethwaite, the latter through the
kindly labours of Samaria Dorcas Society. But the
mothers and fathers consider that they should
make a little profit out of the residence on the
Mission of their children, and frequently visit the
Mission House for begging purposes. A refusal
now and again leads to the loss of a child.
4 OUR FOREIGN FIELD.
“Mr. Mickuetawaire had acquainted me
with the losses the Mission had sustained, and
we endeavoured all the way from Waterloo to
Tikonkoh to get children. By getting them from
a distance they are less likely to be enticed away.
I was much pleased with the manner in which
Mr. Micklethwaite tried to persuade the scantily
clothed mammas to give him her children., All
his eloquence was wasted. Not that he ever got
a refusal. Mendi people are too polite to refuse
anything or any person, but obstacles always ap-
peared. We reached Tikonkoh without having
obtained any children.
% * *
“ AnrHouaH it was Sunday evening when we
arrived, I yielded to the temptation put in my
way by a long ladder leaning against the house,
and mounted it. All the roof over the front
verandah is torn, and large holes are in nearly
every sheet of felt covering over. Evidently
such roofing is not suited to a climate which
bakes and cracks it from December to May, and
thereafter soaks it until it yields in the middle
of each sheet, because of the water it holds,â€
* * *
Mr. Provproor afterwards made a careful
survey of the premises, and found that the white
ants as well as the rain had injured the Mission
House. He considered what must be done to
put it in‘thorough order, and gave an estimate of
the probable outlay. He then proceeds :—
* * *
“Tun Day School had eighteen children present
during the first few days of my visit. I found
them accurate in their notation, and their addition
of fairly difficult sums was also very good. Their
reading, too, was very surprising to me, and in
talking to them I was very much pleased with
their intelligence. They all know the Lord’s
Prayer, the ten Commandments, and the beati-
tudes. Beyond this (in school) their scripture in-
struction does not extend, although at prayers
every morning, the three services every Sunday,
and at that on Wednesday afternoon, they have
simple lessons given them. At all their services
the best known hymns are sung in English by
the children.
* * *
“JT sucexsrEep to the teacher (Timothy Camp-
bell), the need of giving them the story of the
Creation, the Fall, and the more interesting parts
of Genesis, also the story of Christ and of his
miracles. When Mr. Goodman arrives we can
prepare a syllabus for his guidance. Such ad-
ditional instruction, both morning and evening,
seems very necessary in a Missionary Day
School, so I added one or two hours a day to the
school hours.
* * *
‘‘Recuiar services are held in Tikonkoh every
GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY’S NOTES. 5
Sunday, and a good deal of informal visiting is
done. The people have not that hunger and
thirst for the word of God which is often so
powerfully depicted at missionary gatherings.
There is, of course, little to be expected from the
older people, but, as time goes on, the children
will be helpful to us in the work. There seems
to be full confidence reposed in the Mission, and
all connected with it were always received with
evident pleasure.
* †*
“ Turorompus Ruperts, the steward, is a faith-
ful, good man, and has been so long connected
with the Mission House as to be thoroughly known
and trusted. He could easily overtake more work,
and, indeed, gives promise of becoming a very
useful agent soon.
* * *
“ Avrur being a week at Tikonkoh, Mr. Mickle-
thwaite and Mr. Johnson accompanied ineto Gpan-
gumah. This town, in addition to 100 frontier
policemen, and many Freetown people, has a
population of about 38,000. I should ad-
vise the Committee to empower us to put
down an agent there at once. One of the largest
towns between Tikonkoh and Gpangumah is Boho,
or Bo. From the chief of that town I got his
favourite grandson, and have him with me now
in Freetown. He isa bright, intelligent boy of
eight or nine years of age, and I hope he will be
of service to the Mission in Mendi Country one
day.
* * *
“On our return to Tikonkoh I had a slight
attack of fever. When I got better Mr. Mickle-
thwaite was taken ill. Happily he recovered, and
we at once left for Freetown. I did not think it
was safe to leave him alone any longer, and the
fact that we both had a sharp attack of fever
within a week of leaving Tikonkoh confirmed me
in this belief. Consequently he left for England.â€
EAST AFRICA.
Ruy. J. B. Grirvirus, in a letter to the Mis-
sionary Secretary, informs him that small-pox
had broken out in Ganjoni and the places around.
It was brought by a woman who had gone to
nurse her daughter and her child, who, were suf-
fering from the complaint. He, with his wife
and all the Mission residents, had been re-vac-
cinated by Dr. Edwards, of the O.M.S.. Mr.
Griffiths continues :—
* & *
“T wave been to Jomvu and Tzunza again. I
preached at Jomvu on the Sunday and went to
Tzunza; on the Monday morning at 7 p.m. we
held a service for the purpose of baptising twelve
persons, There was a good congregation, and we
had a very impressive service. To hold a bap-
lismal service at night, with only a hurricane
lamp to light the chapel, is a strange experience,
but not unpleasant sensation.
GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY’S
NOTES.
G\ERMIT me, dear readers, to wish you
a very “ Happy New Year.†The
new year will not be one “of all
sunshine, but let us be careful
not to bring into it one dark ray by
any disloyalty on our part to the
known will of God. Let us walk in the light as
he is in the light, if we do, though we may not be
always mirthful, we shall always have the loving
favour of God, which is better than life. The
keeping of the Divine Statutes ever gives song in
the “house of our pilgrimage.â€
* * *
Tur bed-rock of happiness has ever been good-
ness. To do good we must be good. Do not let
us make the mistake many do, of confounding
beneficent activity with goodness. Goodness is the
fruit of daily prayerful communion with God.
We must live in God to be like God. While this
is so we must never forget that we cannot be good
without we do good. Love and action are essential
to the maintenance and development of goodness.
“He prayeth best who loveth best,†and he grows
most like Christ, who like Him spends life in
going about doing good.
* * *
Gop has not organised this earthly life of ours
for sorrow, but for joy. Let us see to it that we
fulfil the conditions of the same. In looking out
on the new ycar and laying our plans let us not
forget to lay plans of service for others, not
fitful service, but service which shall spread itselt
over the whole year. Let our plans not be purely
local, but like the love of God spread over the
whole expanse of human life. “To those who
are ready to perish, and who have none to help
them,†may our love ever flow, and our effort most
earnestly and constantly tend. The deepest sati-fac-
tion will ever come from helping those who are
most helpless. Let the heathen world, and those
who have gone at the bidding of Christ’s love in
their own heart, to minister to that dark sad world
have aplace in the daily prayer, and noblest efforts
of every reader of the Misstonary Eouo.
REV. JOSEPH KIRSOP.
We are quite sure it will be a welcome New
Year’s gift to the readers of the Musstonary
Ecuo to be presented with an excellent likeness of
the Editor, Rev. Joseph Kirsop. Many friends
have wished to have a pho'o of our Missionary
Editor, and we have pleasure in responding to the
very natural request. Few things would more
contribute to make the New Year a happy one to
our dear friend Mr. Kirsop, than for one and all
to unite in an earnest effort to double the circu-
lation of our Missionary Magazine. Very sincerely
do we wish our Editor a year of robust health,
and increasing joy in his work.
6 GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY’S NOTES,
CHINA,
Just as we were preparing these notes for the
Editor we received several interesting letters from
China. Mrs. Soothill says:—“I am much con-
cerned for our woman’s work here (Wenchow).
Witt our Churches at home take these things
to heart.
WEST AFRICA.
Our honoured Missionary, Rev. J. Proudfoot,
reports himself well in health. I trust our friends
At present there is only Mrs. Hogg and myself. do not forget to pray for our friends in Sierra
. . If you get your ladies’ Missionary Leone.
Auxiliary Society, they should see to it that we get * * *
some lady workers sent out.â€
Ir will be welcome news to all to know that
Mr. Goodman arrived safely at Sierra Leone on
Saturday, October 9th, he was in good health and
received a very hearty welcome.
* * *
Dr. Alf. Hogg says :—“ Iam very full of work,
having from seventy to ninety in attendance on
Jomeru.
Mission Chapel,
our dispensary day. Being now in our new dis-
pensary, I find working there a great comfort. It
is cool yet cosy, and walls, floors, etc., are clean
and bright. . . . IfIhad anassistant I should
be able to form a small medical class of some of
| our members’ boys, and train them in medicine as
MISSIONARY LEAFLETS,
Acain and again we have been applied to for
leaflets, giving information about our foreign
stations. This work has been taken in hand, and
we hope to have our first one ready for January.
well as in Bible knowledge, and so have a band of
native Medical Missionaries who would be a
great help to the Church, as well as a benefit to
It will give a map and facts about Wenchow.
This will be followed by one giving a brief sketch
of our Mendi Mission. It is being written by Mr.
the suffering people. With the limited time I
have I can only reach a fraction of the sick in our
couztry Churches, as I am tied down to the
City.â€
Vivian. When ready these leaflets can be had
from our Book Room in London. Will our friends
use them wisely, to waste them will be to squander
Missionary funds.
9. aN GEST
LETTERS FROM CHINA. T
MISCELLANEOUS.
1. Rev. T. H. Carrazw. Will our friends
bear in mind that a very interesting life of our
heroic Missionary, late Rev. T. H. Carthew, has
been written by Rev. J. Kirsop, and issued at the
low prices of 1s. and 1s. 6d. Have our schools
remembered this fact and scattered it broadcast
among the scholars? Let me ask that many will
make it a gift book this New Year’s tide.
*
* *
2. Missionary Prizes. Our attention has been
called to the fact that many of the prizes given to
juvenile collectors are not of a Missionary charac-
ter. It might not be wise to carry the idea to an
extreme, but it would be well, and do good to the
young people themselves, to give as prizes books
dealing with Missionary subjects. There are
plenty of such books published ; books full of the
incident and adventure which young people love
to read. In selecting prizes will our local Mis-
sionary Secretaries keep this point well in mind.
# 8 &
3. St rpzs ror Missronary Lectures. Do our
Sunday Schools and Young Peoples’ Endeavour
Societies know that our Book Room, London, has
four sets of slides, sixty in a set, illustrating, (1)
Our East African Mission, (2) West African
Mission, (3) China Mission, and (4) Missions in
Mendiland, with a prepared lecture on each
Mission. The charge made for the use of these
slides is very moderate. Rev. A. Crombie, 119,
Salisbury Square, will be pleased to furnish all
information respecting them. Every one knows
how pictures not only give pleasure, but aid the
memory in remembering a subject.
a * #
4. Hymns ror Missionary Servioxs. The
Book Room has also prepared a sheet of fourteen
hymns, all of a distinctive Missionary character.
The type is good, and the sheets form a most
excellent little hymnal for Missionary Anniver-
saries. The price is Is. per 100. A good Mis-
sionary hymn gives tone and spirit to an Anni-
versary. Let this sheet-hymnal be borne in mind
especially on the occasion of United Missionary
Demonstrations.
REV. GEORGE TURNER.
Tr was a great shuck when a fortnight ago we
had a telegram placed in our hands, with this sad
message :—“Rev George Turner died yesterday.â€
We had seen him a few days before, and he
appeared in the best of health. We could only
say, “Lord, have mercy upon us.â€
* * *
Mr. Turner was a good man, his geniality,
dilligence, earnestness, and zeal commended him
to all who were brought into contact with him.
He could put his foot down when need arose. He
will be lovingly remembered by the Missionaries
on our foreign stations, as well as by the members
of our home Churches. “ He rests from his labours
and his works do follow him.â€
* * e
During the year just passed the Lerd’s hand has
been heavy upon us, at home and abroad good
men and mighty have fallen. While it is day let
those of us who remain increase our watchfulness,
prayerfulness, diligence, and service.
JAMAICA.
News reached me on December 7th that Rev.
William and Mrs. Griffith, of Kingston, were ill
of yeilow fever. At the time of writing they were
considered out of danger.
LETTERS FROM CHINA.
No. 1.—sy w. 5. sooTuiLu.
AST week was a very sad one here. Our
friends of the China Inland Mission
again suffered a severe loss in the death
of Mrs. Coulthard, wife of Mr. Coulthard
who was in charge here, and daughter
of the Rev. J. Hudson Taylor. Their
little daughter died a month or so ago
of cholera. The mother was seized three weeks
later with dysentery of the acutest type, compli-
cated with another circumstance which made her
recovery hopeless almost from the first. Dr. Hogg
was untiring in his endeavours, but as is the ex-
perience in India and Africa in these complicated
cases, so here, medical aid is seldom successful.
This is the sixth funeral it has been my sad office to
conduct for our C.I.M friends here during the
last two years. As a Mission we have need to be
very grateful to Almighty God who has so far
kept us in safety. How long this will remain our
happy lot He alone knows. May He help us to
make full use of our strength while it is left to
us.
I trust you have obtained the three men J have
asked for so persistently, and that they will be
sailing this autumn? We are greatly in need of
them. The work is continuing to grow, but we can-
not keep pace with it. Place after place is asking
forus. Last Sunday, Mr. Stobie and I were at ’Ong-
djiae in the Yotsing Magistracy. There we found
200 devout Christians to join with us in Divine
service, where two years ago, we had but a score
or so. They have wives and families, most of
whom could not come owing to distance. A depu-
tation of eight or ten waited upon us asking that
a church be established in their town, Bah-ch’i,
12 miles off. A large town 15 miles further away
was visited by the Roman Catholic priest a month
ago; he was heartily received and partial arrange-
ments were made to start a church there, but the
people [ am told had mistaken him for myself and
now hold aloof to see if we are willing to start.
}
"Ea GP ile
A number of people from the large island Yowan
are begging fur a church to be begun there ; and
people who travel 12 miles Sunday by Sunday
from Lin-z, an important township, are asking us to
go there. This morning an old man of 79 with
his grandson came to my house to see me—he
wants somebody sending to his large village (also
in the Yotsing Magistracy) to preach and start a
church. His is a peculiarly interesting case to me.
His son, a man J was much attracted to, was at-
tending our services here in the city for several
months last year ; they are people of some property.
He went home, started Christian services in his
house. Our native pastor in Yotsing went to see him
and pleaded with him to cut off hisopium. He de-
cided to do so, set off for Wenchow, but on the way
was induced to go to the house of a friend, who is
a Christian protationer and a doctor—this man
induced him to remain and try his cure. He did
so, and sad to say died on the third or fourth day.
This under ordinary circumstances would have put
the entire family iv bitter opposition to Christian-
ity, indeed the whole clan arose to tramp the 40 miles
to the Christian ‘“ doctor’sâ€â€™ house to destroy it, and
were only prevented by the old father refusing
permission on the ground that the doctor was his
son’s friend. I feared the place was lost to us, but
such had been the devotion of the deceased man to
the Truth he was only just learning, and such the
influence he had brought into his family that now
the old father of 79 has come all this toilsome
journey to Wenchow, 50 or 60 miles, chiefly to
ask us to help them to commence Christian wor-
ship in their home, around which is an immense
and untouched heathen population, and the nearest
place of worship |2 miles off.
All that I have writt-n above refers to the one
district of Yotsing. I am off to Sichi district next
week, two places a day for a fortnight, some I have
never been to yet; village after village I shall be
compelled to pass unvisited without a Christian
in them. Nor have I time or strength to go to
them.—
We are earnestly looking for the three men.
For Christ and his work’s sake don’t disappoint us.
Wenchow, Oct. 8th, 1897.
PENTECOST IN CHINA.
BY LUCY SOOTHILL.
E have seen the Chinese weep on
account of their sorrow; we have
even known them moved to tears
at the recital of the sorrows of
others, but to see them weep on
account of their sins—that, we felt,
could only be the hope of some distant future.
Before we could reasonably expect them either
“to weep for themselves or their children,†suffi-
cient time must be allowed for the lessons of Chris-
goat
8 PENTECOST IN CHINA.
tianity to rouse their stolid natures, and quicken
their lethargic spirits.
Such were our thoughts. Like the fulfilment of
some wondrous dream, then, has come to us the
record of meetings recently held in the neigh-
bouring province of Fuh-Kien among the Chinese,
and in connection with the A.K.M. Mission of |
Foochow. The temptation to send an account of ~
these meetings for the Ecuo is too great to be re-
sisted. May the day soon come when we shall
have to rejoice over a similar rich outpouring of
the Spirit upon our Wenchow Church. Mean-
while, it does us good to hear of it ‘‘ by the hear-
ing of the ear,†and our faith is at least great
enough to believe that what has taken place once
among our Chinese friends can take place again.
The meetings were for the deepening of spiritual
life among Christian workers. Says the Re-
corder :—
“The conferences lasted from three to five days.
There were three public meetings daily, and
during the intervals little groups met for prayers,
testimony, and Bible study. I never saw people
so utterly abandon themselves to heart examina-
tion, and seeking the in-filling of the Holy Spirit.
Some meetings would last four hours, notwith-
standing the leader tried several times to close.
At such times a half dozen would rise at once,
and desire to speak, or request prayer for some
friend. After a season of prayer the speaking
would be resumed with increased animation. The
testimonies were always to the point, telling of
urgent need or deep joy.
For a long time we have felt that conviction of
sin was not deep among the Chinese, and that
many who had given up their idols have not a
real experience of salvation; and that many of
the workers have not received the anointing from
above. But, at all these conferences, deep sorrow
for sin, joy in the experience of forgiveness, and
anointing fur service were marked characteristics.
Some testified that for many yearsthey hadbeen cold
and indifferent, but now they had been reclaimed,
and would henceforth live aud work for Jesus.
A local preacher, San Ding-gi, who had been ap-
pointed last conference, was so discouraged be-
cause the Roman Catholics had led away nearly
all the members, wanted to give up his appoint-
ment, and secure a place as teacher of Chinese in
the theological school. But the Lord led him
into such a rich experience, he gladly went back
to his work, and with triumphant faith for a
glorious year. And he was only one among many
discouraged workers who had a divine expecta-
tion of victory begotten within their souls during
these meetings.
The Holy Ghost was present in power at every
service, but two or three times the effect was
extraordinary, the whole assembly being moved
to tears of penitence or sorrow for the lost, or to
THE GROWTH OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 9
‘shout for joy over sins forgiven. To see a con-
gregation of nearly 200 shouting, shaking hands,
-clasping each other in arms, clapping hands, and
again for more than an hour at a time on their
knees, weeping and praying most earnestly for
unsaved friends, is enough to satisfy the most
sceptical as to the effects of the Gospel on the
‘Chinese, and ought to be sufficient to make op-
timists and enthusiastic missionary workers out
of many who care little for the ascending Lord’s
-command to disciple all nations.
One night, between the verses of the closing
hymn, after a meeting of great rejoicing, someone
shouted, “ Let us make three Tabernacles; one
for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.â€
At the end of the next verse the leader said,
“No, we are not permitted to remain on the
mountain, but must go down and help the
struggling millions below.†This indicated the
-subject for the next morning’s service, which was
based on the incident of the child possessed with
the deaf and dumb spirit, and the feeding the
multitude with a few loaves and fishes. The sad
:and hopeless condition of men without Christ was
portrayed, the Christian’s duty toward them, and
the need of full consecration, and fasting, and
‘prayer enforced.
At the close, a student in the Theological
‘Seminary, weeping, so it was difficult to understand
him, arose and said the Lord had laid a great
burden on his soul for the perishing thousands
-of his native country. With piteous cries he and
others prayed earnestly for the outpouring of the
Holy Ghost upon the workers in that country.
Without rising, one after another requested prayer
for parents, wife, brothers and sisters who were
unsaved. A missionary (foreign!) who has several
relatives unconverted, requested prayer for them.
The whole congregation remained on their knees,
weeping and praying, for more than an hour, and,
most of the time, many were praying audibly at
once. Such a burden of prayer as was laid upon
that company I never witnessed.
The result of these meetings encourages us more
than everything else. For, in proportion as
people are concerned for the salvation of others,
they are in a condition to be used for that very
work. For two or three years we have observed
with joy the growth of this spirit, but never before
has it been manifested on such ascale. And, now
that the meetings have been closed several weeks,
we are glad to note that it has assumed a prac-
tical form in regular missionary work by many
who were formerly indifferent.â€
Thus are the fountains of China’s “ greatjdeep â€
being broken up.
Wenchow, October 2lst, 1897.
THE GROWTH OF THE KINGDOM
OF GOD.
BY THE EDITOR,
HAVE just read with great delight
and edification a work with the
above title, recently published by
the Religious Tract Society. Its
author is Sidney L. Gulick, M.A.
an American Missionary who
labours in Japan. Its aim is not obscurely des-
cribed by its title; though for greater clearness
the author explains what he means by the growth
of the Kingdom, viz., the growing number of those
who claim to believe our Lord’s teachings ; the
increasing understanding of the contents of those
teachings by those who claim to believe them ; the
increasing obedience to the spirit taught by
Christ, and the increasing influenee of those teach-
ings and that spirit even on those who make no
claim to believe or follow them. It is satisfactory and
assuring to know that after far-reaching inquiry
Mr. Gulick is confidently persuaded that Christ’s
Kingdom is growing Faber tells us that “it is
hard to work for God and not sometimes lose
heart,†and every Christian worker will ac-
knowledge that he has occasionally felt it true
that
Doubts will come if God hath kept
His promises to men.
A study of this book would be an admirable
cure for despondency or doubt. Mr. Spurgeon
kept a collection of the lampoons that had been
published against him, and when he was a little
depressed he took down this collection and was
always cheered by reading it. This recipe would
not answer in every case I fear, but let the dis-
couraged Christian worker read a few pages of
this book, or consult the tables of statistics Mr.
Gulick has prepared, and he would take heart
again, Perhaps be might not think that all the
figures directly proved, or tended to prove, Mr.
Gulick’s position. One table shows, in a way that
is perfectly conclusive, how the population of the
world is coming by leaps and bounds into the
hands of Governments which are, at least, nomin-
ally Christian. Indeed if we add the inhabitants
of European Protectorates in Africa to the estimate
given of the world in 1890, it will appear that
only a small fraction of the world’s population are
under the rule of governments Mohammedan or
heathen. This to some might only prove the
rapacity and aggressiveness of Huropean nations.
To deduce from such political extensions the
growth of the Kingdom of God might seem to
savour of Napoleon’s dictum that God, is always
with the strong battalions. There are other tables
which show that Christianity progresses as no
other religion does, that Protestantism increases in
a higher ratio than Roman Catholicism, and that
the Hnglish language gains upon all other lan-
guages. That nominal Christianity is growing,
and at a remarkable rate, is proved beyond all
doubt by comparative statistics supplied in the
work. ‘This is so far satisfactory, but a more im-
portant question is, have we reason to believe that
the teachings of Christ are becoming more influen-
tial, and the number of those who worship God in
spirit and in truth multiplying? Mr. Gulick
discerns the superior importance of these inquiries
and returns answers that are satisfactory. | Who-
ever reads this book must acquiesce in a remark
which its author quotes from Dorchester’s Problem
of Religious progress—which I think must be an
American publication. “At the present time no
intelligent person, standing in the light of the last
four centuries, and beholding the great religious
movements of this age, can doubt that Christianity
is advancing. Every year it is robing itself with
new effulgence and pouring its blessed iilumination
upon new millions of earth’s populations.â€
“KNIGHTS OF THE HOLY GHOST.â€
BY JOHN CUTTELL,
I.—Joun Hunt: Tar Apvosrnr or Fist.
4 HEN, in the ancient days of chivalry,
| the attendant squire was to be
made into a kniyht, he had to pass
through a very striking and
suggestive ceremony. UHntering a
temple dedicated to the Most High,
and approaching the altar, he placed thereon his
sword and shield’ A white-robed priest came,
and holding his hands over the weapons of war-
fare, prayed that the blessing of God might rest
upon them. From that moment they were con-
secrated to the service of humanity; and that
man was deemed recreant to his knightly vows,
who thenceforward failed to listen to the cry of
oppression from whatever quarter it came. From
the altar of God he went forth to do the work of a
true knight in the world.
In this interesting ceremony, it seems to me, we
have a by no means inapt illustration of that
higher chivalry—that still nobler knighthood, in
which so many of the followers of Christ have
been engaged, who have dedicated their redeemed
and purified energies to a more glorious crusade
than that to which the weapons of these ancient
knights were consecrated. Particularly is this the
case with regard to that devoted class of
Christian workers, who, as missionaries of the
Cross, have gone forth into the high places of the
field, and won such memorable triumphs for the
truth they proclaimed, and the Master they served.
It is not without a considerable degree of fitness
that such as these have been designated “ Knights
10 KNIGHTS OF THE HOLY GHOST.
of the Holy Ghost.†And as there are no means:
better adapted for the arousing and sustentation o
missionary enthusiasm than contact with such
choice spirits through the medium of biographical
literature, it is the object of this and three follow-
ing papers, to take brief glances at several con-
spicuous examples of such “ Knights of the Holy
Ghost,†as typical of a numerous remainder.
And I would select, as the first of these, John
Hunt, the Apostle of Fiji; of whose devoted and
highly-successful labours we have a very fresh
and stimulating record in “The Life of John
Hunt, Missionary to the Cannibals,’ by the Rev.
George Stringer Rowe.
No one can read this interesting and inspiring
biography without seeing at once that John Hunt
had in him the stuff of which herves are made ; the
“ promise and potency †of which ‘appeared when,.
while yet a farm-servant, he was following the
plough and herding sheep on a farm in Lincoln-
shire. Converted to God when about sixteen
years of age—brought about chiefly by means of
the solemn thoughts superinduced by an attack of
fever that threatened to prove fatal—this young
“Knight of the Holy Ghost,†laid his sword, as
it were, upon the altar of spiritual service, and
vowed to be anything, and to go anywhere, at the
behest of Him whom he professed to serve, and
fain would glorify.
The call to what was distinctively to be his life-
work, came to him when he was a student in the
Hoxton Theological College, to which he had been
sent for three years to be prepared for his future
ministry, after a period of very acceptable service:
as local preacher, during which—notwithstanding
his awkward manner and broad dialect—he
astonished even the more intellectual minds of his
congregations by the power and perspicacity of his-
pulpit prelections. The humility which, shortly.
after his conversion, had led him to avow his
willingness to be anything and go anywhere in
the service of his Master, was not in the slightest
degree lessened by his collegiate training. He
still avouched his readiness for the service, what-
ever form it might assume, and in whatever place
it might have to be exercised.
As to the form it assumed, it was quite in
accordance with what he had secretly desired
might he the case, viz.: Missionary work in
some foreign field, where, as a “Knight of the
Holy Ghost,†he might do doughty and successful
battle against the various forms of sin and super-
stition by which he knew the unevangelised
heathen abroad were held in such degrading and:
tenacious thrall. But as to the place where this
ministry was to be exercised, the result proved the-
truth of the old adage—* Man proposes, but God
disposes.â€
“In all his laborious preparations,†says Mr.
Rowe, “ Africa was uppermost in his thoughts, and:
KNIGHTS OF
he worked on to get his mind more fully furnished
and equipped, while he liked to think that his agri-
cultural knowledge would help him to raise the
condition of the Kaffirs;†a statement quite in
accordance with Hunt’s own modest confession,
when, while yet a local preacher, he was asked
whether he had thought upon the subject of
giving himself entirely to the work of the minis-
try. He confessed, at length, that he had “an
ambition to go to the Cape as a servant to Laidlaw
Thompson ’—a missionary whom he had heard
occasionally preach in Lincolnshire—“ where he
thought he might do gardening and farm-work,
and perhaps a little in teaching children in the
Sunday school, and in preaching to the English
settlers.â€
But, to his great surprise, his marching orders
were to a very different destination from Africa.
The call was to Fiji; a call which, at that particu-
lar time, might well make even the bravest pause
and consider.
As is well known, Fiji is now one of the
brightest gems in the crown of the modern mis-
sionary movement. So much, indeed, is this the
case, that when missionary advocates are chal-
lenged to shew proof of the success of Christian
missions, they point with triumph to the tens of
thousands of church members, and the upwards of
a hundred thousand of hearers there waiting upon
the word of life, as supplying the desiderated
proof.
But upwards of sixty years ago, the islands of
Fiji were in a totally different condition. In point
of moral vileness and brutal ferocity, in fact, they
presented a perfect contrast. When the two heroic
missionaries, Cross and Cargill, of the Friendly
Islands, left the native congregations and success-
ful stations they had established there, to preach
the Gospel of the Kingdom in the Fijian group
they had to face the possibility of death in the
form most revolting to the imagination of civilised,
Christian men; viz.: Cannibalism. They faced
the hideous possibility, nevertheless, and cast their
lot in Fiji. They, evidently, had in them the
faith that breeds heroes; that “laughs at impos-
sibilities, and cries ‘it shall be done!’â€â€™
Now, it was in the steps of these heroic men,
that, three years after the first establishment of
the mission, John Hunt was called to tread. As
previously intimated, the call came to him whilst
yet a student in the Hoxton Training College, and
just at a time when the hearts of the students
were melted and moved by a gracious visitation of
the Spirit, touching them to a tenderness, and toa
fellow-feeling with Christ in His great redemp-
tive work that made them ready to accept as their
own the famous motto on the seal, “ For service, or
for sacrifice !â€â€™
“In the beginning of February, 1838,†says
Hunt’s biographer,-in a passage descriptive of this
_ vulsed by some intense feeling.
THE HOLY GHOST. 11
momentous crisis of his religious history, “he
received a summons to the mission-house, where
he was asked if he would go to Fiji. Startled at
such an unexpected request, he returned to Hoxton
much troubled, and making his way to the room
of a fellow-student, said, with quick, excited tones,
‘They have proposed that I go to Fiji. His
friend felt almost shocked at this sudden announce-
ment, and deeply sympathised with Hunt, whose
whole frame seemed writhing with an emotion he
had never shewn before. He expressed this sym-
pathy, and spoke of the perils and hardships of a
mission to those cannibals. ‘Oh, that’s not it!’ -
exclaimed the other, almost passionately. ‘ What.
is it, then ?? Hunt’s strong form was almost con-
At last he said,
‘Tl tell you what it is. That poor girl in
Lincolnshire will never go with me to Fiji; her
mother will never consent!’ It was with no
craven fear that the young man trembled, but with
the yearning of his great heart towards her he had
faithfully loved for the last six years, and who had
nobly consented to share the missionary’s life an)«
where. But the dreadful things just heard about
Fiji made him fear on account of that gentler one
who had so long leaned on his strong love.â€
However it turned out that his fears were not ~
well grounded, for, in answer to a plain, unvar-
nished letter he wrote to her, stating simply the
decision of those whom, he said, he felt bound to
obey. Miss Summers wrote back, with a holy
heroism equal to his own, that she was ready to go
with him anywhere. The cross, she felt, was for
her, as well as for him, and she was willing to take
it up.
The die was now cast. The course being made
clear by the full consent of his brave-hearted
fiancée, Hunt conferred no longer with flesh and
blood, but in the spirit of a true “ Knight of the
Holy Ghost,†accepted the commission, and at
once commenced preparations for entrance upon
that mission-field from which all but the boldest
spirits must have shrunk and retired.
For the full and detailed particulars of Hunt's
life and labours among the cannibals of Fiji—
among whom he and his heroic young wife arrived
on Saturday, the 22nd of December, 1838—the:
reader must be referred to Mr. Rowe’s interesting
and stimulating biography. I may, however,
assure him that he will find it full of tne elements.
of what has been termed the ‘Romance of
Christian Missions ;†as the author goes on des-
cribing, with a facile and graphic pen, the diffi-
culties with which the zealous missionary had to
grapple ; the trials and persecutions he had to
endure ; and the personal risks he occasionally ran
of being clubbed to death to make a Fijian festival
by being first cooked in some exasperated chief's
“oven,†and then distributed in portions for the
delectation of those whom he had gone out to seek
and save. But, here and there, he will also come
upon bright bits of blue in the lowering and
murky sky, as when, for instance, he refers to
such conversions as those of Elijah Verani—
formerly a renowned warrior and man-eater ; and
of the Qneen of Fiji, who gave clear and indubit-
able evidence of a real and wonderful work of
grace going on in her heart, through belief of the
truth spoken to her with prophetic plainness by
John Hunt.
But particularly interesting and pathetic will he
find the description of the last scene of all that
ended the strange, eventful history of this devoted
apostle to the cannibals of Fiji, when he was
suddenly cut down, in the very midst of a pro-
mising spiritual harvest, by an attack of acute
inflammation. What, for instance, could be more
touching in its pleading pathos, and what, at the
same time, could be more strongly evidential of
the reality and permanence of the Christianising
work that had been going on in Fiji, than the
prayer offered up by Elijah Verani by the bedside
of the dying teacher—“ Lord, we know how sin-
ful we are ; but spare Thy servant. If one must
die, take me! Take ten of us! But spare Thy
servant to preach Christ to the people !â€
The last prayer which John Hunt himself put
up was a characteristic one, and shewed the ruling
passion strong in death. ‘Lord, bless Fiji! Save
Fiji! Thou knowest my soul has loved Fiji! My
heart has travailed in pain for Fiji!†And has not
that prayer been answered? Has not. the sub-
sequent history of Fiji—with its thousands of
Churck members and upwards of a hundred
thousand of interested and constant hearers of the
preached word, demonstrated to a certainty, that
the mission, from its commencement until now,
has had upon it the broad seal of the divine bless-
ing and approval? If so, then it is no mere figure
of speech—no mere flash of fine rhetoric—but the
statement of a sober truth, when we give to John
Hunt, and the bright brotherhood of his co-
labourers—Cargill, Cross, Lyth, Malvern, Williams,
Lawry, and last, but not least, the venerable
James Calvert—the designation of “Knights of
the Holy Ghost,†for such in deed and in truth
they undoubtedly were.
In the old time Moses went up into the mountain-
top, and it was covered with thick clouds, and
quaked, and the lightnings played upou itssummit,
and men dared not go up; _ but when Christ came
He went up a mountain that was verdure-clad to
its summit, and all the people fvllowed Him thither,
and had the revelation of God made to themselves
directly. The mount of God is not Mount Sinai,
it is the Mount of Beatitudes. It is grass-clad to
the top, and the flowers bloom upon it, and the
birds sing about it, and the sunshine irradiates it,
and the multitude may climbit. Dr, Lyman Abbott.
12 BREAKING THE FETTERS.
BREAKING THE FETTERS.
BY W. A. TODD.
CHAPTER I.
SETTING OUT.
HE night was dark; it was a night
when the darkness was a thing to
be felt, hiding from sight the stars
overhead ; when the gleams of the
small oil lamps in the native huts
were like so many glow-worms of
feeble strength. Insect life, which during the
day had slept in the shelter of leaves and roofs of
houses had now awakened to festivity. The
multitudinous noises of these tiny creatures ; the
notes of the bell-bird, which remind one of the
tolling of a bell coming from a neighbouring
plantation; the frogs, croaking on floating
pieces of wood in the ponds and tanks; the
laughs of the hyena sounding hoarsely at the
foot of the swamps; the cough-like sounds of the
leopard as he wandered near to the haunts of men,
frightening the little children and the dogs of the
village and making the donkeys, tethered in the
open, tremble with apprehension ; the melancholy
hooting of a large night bird as it ominously
flapped its wings in a slow, heavy, circling flight
—all these made the night season a perfect Babel.
In the midst of the darkness a blaze of light
poured out through the dimly outlined doors and
iron barred windows of a house. Moving to and
fro in the interior of the large room were boys and
girls with black faces and curly hair. The sounds
of laughter and merry chatter were evidences of
their joy. Now and again they became silent as
they turned and listened to a manlier voice than
theirs, in whose tones were mingled patience and
suffering, which suggested that the speaker was
trying to hide his physical weakness.
Presently, gliding out of the night, a tall man’s
form passed into the room amid the murmurs of
“Bwana Mkubwa†Before long the sound of
music made itself heard and hushed the chatter of
the children, who, with one consent gathered
around the musician and began to sing.
This was the mission house of Msomwe—and
this was the Children’s Hour.
This night was destined to be an eventful night,
one to be remembered by the children for many
days to come. After several hymns had been
BREAKING THE FETTERS.
sung it was noticed that a swarthy maiden, of
small stature and with a very dark brown com-
plexion went up to the elder white man—the one
who had accompanied the children on the har-
monium—and, bending over his shoulder, whis-
pered a few words in his ear. He swung himself
round in_ his seat, and, as he took hold of the girl
by the shoulders, a smile played on his face like
the smilie of a father about to grant the prayer of
a favourite child,
“What is
that, Sada?
Cannot you be
content with
rice without
wishing to rob
Bwana Mdogo
yonder ?â€
She re-
treated one
step as though
abashed at her
former bold-
ness, but look-
ing her ques-
tioner in the
face she re-
peated her
request. Then
she went to
the other
white man,
who all this
time had been
seated at the
table busily
writing his
letters for the
outgoing mail.
Sada Mgeni —
for that was
the giri’s name
—touched the
writer’s arm
and once more
made known
The other children, finding how matters stood,
began dancing for joy around the room, uttering
piercin s shrieks,—those peculiar cries of happiness
which seem to be indigenous in the Kast.
Presently, the two girls returned from their raid,
laden with booty in the shape of several small
white loaves and as many pots of English jam.
Then above the din the voice of the elder
missionary bade them all be seated on the floor
and to make less noise than the mouse makes—
the offender
to forfeit his
or her share
of the bread
and jam.
This had,
for a time, a
partial effect,
for, with one
movement,
he children
squatted on
he oak mat-
ing and very
impatiently
watched the
division of the
oaves and the
spreading of
the fruit upon
he pieces of
bread, At
ast these
tempting mor-
sels were
handed round
to the eagerly
expectant
children,
Man yof them
had taken
large bites
beture Bwana
Mkubwacould
remind them
of their grace-
, SANT ‘
AL AN
/}
\ f
AY
her desire, : less habits.
adden von é1 cory of a Weelamation, “QO, you
won’t mind, little heath-
will you, Bwana Mdogo.â€
and sealed it before he answered, “ Alvight! eat
and be merry!†Then, turning to his comrade
he said, ‘‘ Let them have a treat for once. It will
do us good to see them happy. I need something
to make me forget I am not at home with the dear
folks. Commend me to letter writing for making
& raw missionary homesick.†And two of the
girls were told off to make a raid upon the
Missionaries’ provision safe.
(Little master). r
He folded his letter, placed it in an envelope |
ens! You will never learn to behave like
children of the Book. Not another bite—do you
hear, Mosi—before you have thanked the great
God.â€
And, while their eyes watched their piece of
bread and jam, fearful lest it should vanish, the
grace was sung. Once more they fell to and this
time without further hindrance; some making
their pertion disappear with great rapidity, others
prolonging their sensuous bliss by lingering over
each bite. Of course the meal was not eaten in
perfect silence; jokes were passed from one to
another, the younger missionary giving and taking
as well as the rest, while his friend silently
enjoyed the sight of the children’s happiness.
Before the meal was ended a slight noise, like
that of a naked foot upon cemented pavement,
attracted the attention of the lads nearest to the
door which Jed into the large mission yard. The
next instant a part of the darkness (as it were)
stepped out of the night and waited hesitatingly
upon the threshold. It was an asikari—a native
who had been trained by the Hast African trading
company at Mombasa to perform the various duties
of soldier, policeman and messenger. He was
dressed in the uniform provided for him by his
English employers—a sandy coloured pair of
breeches and a tunic of the same material; a
leathern belt with a pouch fastened round his
waist and a short unsheathed sword hanging from
the belt. He held his polo cap in his hand as he
deferentially waited to be accosted by the white
men.
The hush, which followed this unexpected
appearance, caused Bwana Mkubwa (the big
master) to look up, and, seeing the stranger at the
door he asked the reason of his visit at this time
of night. The asikari in reply gave a scldier’s
salute, and then, unfastening his pouch he drew
out a paper which he handed over, without a word,
to the missionary. It proved to be a copy of a
proclamation which had been read in the streets of
Mombasa a few days previously. When he had
ascertained this much he passed it to his friend,
saying, “We will have to talk about that to-
morrow. It is another move of an imbecile com-
pany to curry favour with the rascally Swahili and
Arab slave owners, and at the same time a pretence
for the special benefit of the gullible public at
home, to be the friend of the slave. I have no
patience to talk about them—at least, not to-night.
Perhaps I may be in a better frame of mind to-
morrow.â€
Then, addressing a black lad, he said, “‘ James,
count out a robo and give it to the asikari.â€
But when the servant of the Company received
the pice (money) he still remained standing at the
doorway.
“Well, and what more do you want†asked
Bwana Mkubwa somewhat roughly—his soul was
stirred by the knowledge of the wrongs of the
slaves and the pretences at liberation. The
asikari broke out into a voluble account of how he
had been delayed, and how he was afraid to return
to Mombasa in the darkness of the night, and
ended up by begging to be allowed to remain at
the mission station until the break of day.
Bwana Mkubwa hesitated a moment. “Take
the asikari to the lad’s sleeping compartment and
report to me when he is ready to leave in the
morning, Kopala.â€
BREAKING THE FETTERS
The torrent of thanks, which the asikari began
to pour out, was stopped by the missionary
exclaiming, “Bassi. Nenda zako.†(That's
enough. Go your way).
Meanwhile the younger man had spread the
proclamation upon the table before him, and read
the following :—
Noricr.
It has been reported to me that Wanika and
Wagiriama tribes are now making war upon
each other, and selling their captives into
slavery. These tribes are free people who have
made treaties with, and placed themselves under
the protection of the Company.
Notice is therefore hereby given that the
following tribes (the names of fifteen tribes were
inserted here) are all under the protection of the
Company. No man, woman or child belonging
to any of these tribes can be held as a slave, and
any so held, will on appealing to the Company,
be at once hberated, and no compensation what-
ever can be claimed or will be paid to the holder
of such a person.
In making this proclamation, it must be
understood that it applies only to the members
of the free tribes above mentioned who are
under the jurisdiction of the Company. It is
not intended to apply to or affect the ordinary
domestic slaves who are as heretofore recognized
to be the property of their masters, according to
the old custom and the law of the Sultan of
Zanzibar. With such slaves the Company has
no intention to interfere ; they will be dealt with
according to the sheria.
Mombasa, May Ist, 1890.
A day or two before this copy of the proclama-
tion had been sent to the Mission House, the
British public had found among the items of
news in the morning papers, a short paragraph of
less than adozen lines. It wasa Reuter’s telegram
and was headed “Abolition of Slavery in Hest
Africa.†It avoided, bowever, all mention of that
portion of the proclamation which referred to the
maintenance of domestic slavery. It was a
specimen of that species of truth which is used
in diplomatic and political circles.
Bwana Mkubwa, after dismissing the asikari
translated the proclamation into colloquial Swa-
hili, making the children understand its meaning.
The news threw a gloom upon the faces of the
elder children, who knew scmething of the horrors
of slavery. Then the Missionary hurried out
into the night and along the verandah to his own
room, without a word to his colleague or to the
children. The young missionary understood ; he
knew that his friend’s noble sou] was torn with an-
guish because of the inhuman traffic in slaves which
went on daily within the territory.
But God was about to use these two men to
work a work of redemption.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR PAGE. 15
THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR PAGE,
BY EDWARD ABBOTT,
|
LTHOUGH only on the threshold of the
year, the coming event of the National
Christian Endeavour Convention
already casts its shadow before.
Glasgow will be the Convention city,
and its programme is practically com-
~ plete. Amongst the topics are the
following :—‘‘ Christian Endeavour and Personal
Influence,’ “Christian Endeavour and Bible
Study,†‘Christian Endeavour and Ohurch
Obligation,’ ‘Christian Endeavour and the
Foreign Mission Problem,†“ Christian Endeavour
and the Home Mission Problem,†“Christian
Citizenship,†“Systematic Giving,†“The Quiet
Hour,†“Family Endeavour,†“The Holy Spirit
and Christian Service.†A new feature in the
programme will be the “Pastor’s Hour.†Our
own denomination will be worthily represented by
Mrs. Wakefield (wife of Rev. T. Wakefield), and
Rev. J. W. Mawer.
Onty those who have anything to do with the
actual preparation of gatherings of this sort have
any idea either of the trouble or expense
involved. Our Annual Assembly expenses
generally run to £300, and the treasurer of the
Glasgow Convention estimates the aggregate
expenditure of this coming Christian festival at
the modest figure of £900.
Tae close relation of the Young Peoples’
Society of Christian Endeavour with Foreign
Missions is one of the most satisfactory features
of the movement. Whilst it is always
desirable that the funds raised by the local
society should pass through the hands of the
General Missionary Treasurer, such funds may be
raised for definite missionary purposes. An
increasing number of societies are now directing
their zeal and liberality towards the support of
Bible Women and native agents in some part of
the foreign field.
Iv may be information to some, and perhaps
encouragement to know that a Bible Woman in
China can be supported for £8 to £10 per year,
native preachers in several countries for £6 per
year. A certain Christian Endeavour Society in
London with 45 subscribers and seven collecting
boxes, raises about £25 per year towards the sup-
port of a Medical Missionary. These are instances
of what can be done by our societies for Foreign
Missions. What can be done for our own mission
should be done, and done at once for the glory
of God, and tho increased prosperity of our
Missions.
Tue highest level of duty is to do what we can
and if that appears small it may be serviceable,
and if serviceable, eligible for the Master’s
approval, I read a single but beautiful story of a
poor woman in Glasgow. She was walking one
day in a street in which some barefooted and poor
children were at play. _ A policeman saw her
stoop down again and again as she went along and
pick up something and put-it in her apron. The
officer of the law was suspicious of her move-
ments, and demanded to know what she was appro-
priating. Ske opened her apron and showed him
a number of broken pieces of glass, saying, “I
thought I would take them out of the way of the
bairns’ feet.†Teachers of the young, and leaders
of the Junior Endeavour Society may find the
moral of this pretty story.
Tur Congresbury (Worle) Society has celebrated
its fourth anniversary. Rev. W. Dawson presided
at the public meeting, and Rev. J. Foulger, of
Weston-Super-Mare, gave an address.
Tue quarterly meeting of the Hast London
Union has been held at Bow. A conference was
held in the afternoon, and at the evening meeting
Rev. W. Knight-Chaplin took the chair, and our
minister, Rev. W. Conrad Balmer, delivered an
address.
Rev. Joseph Ball gave an address at the anni-
versary meeting of the Shildon District, on the
words, “ Be good,†and Rev. H. Codling spoke at
the first anniversary of the Mitcham Society.
Tue second anniversary of the Matlock Bridge
Society was held on Sunday and Thursday, Rev.
EH. Orme preached on Sunday, and he and Mr. J.
Slater addressed the meeting on Thursday. Rev.
J. G. Hartley, minister of the Circuit, presided,
Tue Junior Society of Leeds, Lady Lane
Central Mission, held its fourth annual bazaar on
Saturday, which was opened by Mrs. Royce, of
Headingley. By this effort the Janiors handed
over £15 15s. to the Mission Anniversary Fund.
This makes over £35 which they have raised for
the Church during the last three years.
Tue words of Paul will fit us all for a New
Year’s motto, “ He thanked God and took courage.â€
Gratitude is becoming and beneficent, it gives
height and breadth and beauty to character, and we
all have abundant reason to thank God for the
past. Our hearts and lives bear testimony to
temporal and spiritual mercies. In grateful
thankfulness Christian Hndeavourers of all ages
and places join with me in a New Year’s conse-
cration of ourselves to God, which is our reason-
able and righteous service, always remembering
that the true thanksgiving is thanksliving.
BY THE EDITOR.
JOHN WESLEY'S FATHER.
INTEND to relate this month some
anecdotes of this good man. He
was a clergyman as was his father,
and grandfather, and great-grand-
father. Five generations of minis-
ters in a direct line is very uncom-
mon. All were good, but John Wesley was the
greatest, and I think, the best. This was a case
where the last was the first.
HIS PARISH.
He held the vicarage of Epworth, in Lincoln-
shire, and of a village in the same county, Wroote.
Thus he might be called a pluralist, but he was
not arich one. With two parishes he was always
poor. He had many misfortunes and many
children. Once he was put in prison for debt,
where he nobly tried to benefit his fellow
prisoners. It was sad that he should sink into
such distress, but we know he was not the only
good man who died in debt. In Elisha’s day one
of the sons of the prophets died, and the creditors
came to take his sons for the father’s debt and
make them their bondmen. In our happy land
that could not be done.
HIS CHILDREN.
Tumse were 19 in number, but nine of them
died in infancy. They were a remarkable family.
Samuel, the eldest, was distinguished for his
scholarship and genius. Two beautiful hymns
from his pen are found in our Hymn Book,
The Lord of Sabbath let us praise,â€
and
«‘ The morning flowers display their sweets.â€
Charles became the greatest hymnist in the world.
Mehetabel could read the Greek New Testament
when she was eight years old. The name of John
is known all over the earth.
HIS WIFE.
Hx married Susanna Annesley, daughter of a
famous Nonconformist divine. She was so wise
and good that Dr. Southey calls her the mother of
Methodism. I shall give you anecdotes of her
next month. Dr. Adam Clarke said of her,
“Many daughters have done virtuously, but
Susanna Wesley has excelled them all.â€
HIS EARLY LIFE.
I xyow a clergyman of the Church of England,
who was brought up a Presbyterian. In a
debating club he had to defend Episcopacy, and if’
he did not convince others he convinced himself,
Samuel Wesley was designed for the Norcon-
formists, and his ancestors suffered much for the
cause. Nevertheless, when set to prepare a reply
to severe censures on dissent, he altered his mind
and joined the Church of England. I cannot
account for this.
HIS DILIGENCE.
Wuen he thus changed his mind, he walked on
foot to Oxford and entered himself as “a poor
scholar†in the University. | He supported him-
self by teaching others and by using his pen.
During his University course he only received’
five shillings from his friends. If Ido not admire
his change of view, I admire his independence.
THE PARISH CLERK.
Dr. Crarx says that the Epworth parish clerk was
so conceited and vain that his master resolved to-
put him to shame. He had given him an old wig
—much too large for him—and one Sunday chose-
a psalm to sing, which commenced,
“ Like to an owl] in ivy bush.â€
This Mr. Wesley gave out, and the clerk went on
with the next line,
Bese. «That rueful thing am I.â€
His head half-buried in the wig made the likeness.
so ludicrous that the people burst out laughing,
and the poor clerk was mortified and ashamed.
Had I been there I would have laughed too,.
but I could not defend the practical joke.
BEATING RHYME.
Tux Rector of Epworth was fond of making
verses, or, as he himself called it, ‘beating
rhyme.†I possess a handsome copy of a poetical
Life of Christ which he wrote. It is beautifully
illustrated, and with notes extends to three hun-
drcd and forty seven pages. It is called an heroic
poem, and was dedicated to Queen Mary, wife of
William III. . It bears date 1694. It commences.
thus :—
«JT sing the Man who reigns enthroned on high
I sing the God who not disdained to die,
Him whom each modest seraph trembling sings,
The most afilicted yet the best of Kings.
If this loig poem never became popular, that:
cannot be said of the one hymn of John Wesley’s.
father, which is found in our Hymn Book :—
« Behold the Saviour of mankind,
Nailed to the shameful tree.â€
This is a gem of poesy.
FEBRUARY.
« Already now the snowdrop does appear,
The first pale blossom of the unripened year.â€
BarBAvLp.
REV. R. #1. McLAUGHLIN.
BY JOHN CHINN.
=yi/I' is a great pleasure to me to have
4, the opportunity of supplying this
month a photo and character sketch
of Rev. R. H. McLaughlin,
for two reasons, first, Mr.
Laughlin is a person whom I
greatly esteem; and secondly, I know the: readers
of the Misstonary Eouo will joy in learning more
of a faithful minister who has hitherto not been
much known to them.
Although for many years a resident in Jamaica,
he is not a Jamaican born. Forty years ago he
was born in Grand Cayman, the largest of the
three small islands which lie one hundred and
fifty miles W.N.W. of Jamaica. This island is
only seventeen miles long, and the population of
the three combined is only 2,400.
But the greatness of a character need not be
measured by the place that gave him birth; so I
hope none of my readers will hastily conclude
that Mr. McLaughlin is necessarily a small man
because he was born in a small place; he is not
—either physically, mentally or spiritually.
He is a man of colour, his father, an Irishman,
having married a West Indian lady of colour. Mr.
McLaughlin has relatives in Youghal, Ireland.
He entered the ministry of the U.M.F.C.
in 1882, and for fifteen years has worked nobly
and well in the Master’s vineyard. These fifteen
years have been spent in the Mount Regale Cir-
cuit. The advisability of a minister staying so
long in one circuit must depend largely upon the
man himself; but fifteen years in the country
circuits of Jamaica are not equal to fifteen years
Mc >
in England so far as the durability of the minis-
ter is concerned, for ths circuit embraces such a
large area that it is often difficult to know the
people. Then, again, he only preaches to each
church once a month, so that it takes a long time
to lay the foundation of acquaintance with the
people. In Mr. McLaughlin’s case the work has
been well sustained; he knows his people well
individually, and this is an immense advantage in
his church administration.
In these fifteen years Mr. McLaughlin has
erected thtee chapels, two schoolrooms, and a Mis-
sion house. When it is understood thatthe build-
ings proceed only as the money comes in, and
that there is now little or no debt upon these
buildings, it will be seen that he has not been
swinging comfortably in his hammock beneath
the shady tree singing of the sweet bye-and
bye.
Then, not only has he been active in building
operations, but also in the education ofthe people.
He has recently made a splendid move in the
right direction by dividing his Mount Regale
day school into boys’ and girls’ school, a move:
which I should like to see extended throughout
the island.
Mr. McLaughlin is about five feet ten inches.
in height, and is of commanding appearance. He
can be formidably stern when occasion requires,.
and show that he is not to be trifled with, but
in general his disposition is genial, and I never
tire of being in his company. There is a great
amount of humour in his nature ; add to this splendid
mimicry powers, and a good memory, and you will
understand how his company is congenial.
Many hours have I spent listening to his rehearsal
of incidents in his daily life. Once he came to
1}
ik
assist me with my Missionary services; I
had a new servant, a quaint old soul—Mr. Mc
Laughlin exhorted her to care for me well, and
not allow me to die, to which she replied—
“Hi! why, to be sure I must care for me min-
ister. I don’t want him to dead yet ’cause
don’t it him dat pay me me wages? Hi!â€
The loftiness of the motive in caring for me,
viz, that I paid her wages, so stuck to Mr.
McLaughlin that even now, when he writes, he
says he knows my servant will care for me be-
cause I pay her her wages.
But this sketch would be incomplete were I
not to mention that his is a good Christian
character. Qne cannot come into contact with
him without perceiving that he is “fervent in
spirit, serving the Lord ;†that not being content
to skim the surface of Christianity, he has pene-
trated its depths.
Two years ago the Americans were constructing
a railway which passed through his neighbour-
hood. Many of his church members worked on
the line, and the influence brought to bear upon
them was not gvod; it gave Mr. McLaughlin con-
tinual heart pangs to see his people losing their
hold of Christianity, and it was a great relief to
him when the work was declared finished.
This may give the friends in England a slight
idea of my friend, but I should like them to
know him personally. Could he spend a vaca-
tion in England, it would give him and his de-"
voted wife a well-earned rest, and would impart
a stimulus to the Missionary fervour of our
churches that would be of lasting benefit.
EDITORIAL NOTES.
CHINA.
z==ioyy N a letter to the Hditor, dated Wen-
chow, China, November 21st, 1897,
Mrs. Soothill writes :—
* . * *
“The work progresses. Like
Galileo we are compelled to say,
‘Tt moves still.’
“The walls of our Nyoh-ts’ing Chapel arerapidly
rising from the ground, aud it will, we hope, soon
be ready for opening. The building will be as
large as our present Wenchow Church, but unfor-
tunately the state of the funds necessitates some
portion of it being partitioned off to provide rooms
for preacher, chapel-keeper, etc.
18 OUR FOREIGN FIELD.
“ We had hoped to avoid this by building out-
houses for them, but the funds will not admit of
it at present Indeed our faith has been large to
venture so far.
* * *
“We have just returned from ten days itinerating,
and the ‘toils of the way’ have completely
knocked me up for the time being. We were
practically ‘mountaineering’ for four days, and
can offer any amount of stiff climbing to those who
enjoy it. We must have ascended and descended
many thousands of feet—more than I like to
say.
“ We visited two new places in the very heart of
the hills, Yie-k’ae.and For-sa. At the former
place we did not hold regular services, but found
there a little company of believers who carry on
services by themselves, one being a blind old lady
who tottered in to see us, led by the hand of her
grand-daughter, and who boldly proclaimed her
faith in Christianity to the crowd which gathered.
* * *
“ At For-sa we had a right ‘ royal’ reception, if
by that is meant most determined efforts on the
part of the populace to see us. We were literally
besieged, and the house of the man where services
are held suffered violence. _ We did not expect to
be able to get anything to eat that night, and in-
deed had but small appetite, with such a tumult.
But when the room got stiflingly packed, and the
perspiration began to roll down I thought ‘ dis-
cretion was the better part of valour,’ and made
my escape into a back room, not knowing how all
this would end, though good temper then pre-
vailed. But there was noescape. They followed,
some climbed up the front of the house, and tore
away the bamboo lattice work from the top;
others removed part of the side partition, and
laughingly peered at me through the apertures.
The place where preaching was going on was too
hot for me to go back, moreover my presence there
might have distracted attention, so I took refuge
in darkness, by putting out the tiny smoky lamp.
Even this was no use, for they actually thrust
lighted bamboo sticks through the lattice window,
to the great danger of the house. Finally, I lay
down on the bed (which, for certain reasons was
almost as trying as facing the crowd) and, tired
out, fell asleep.
® # #
“While I ‘slumbered and slept’ my husband
and preacher addressed the crowd in turn, in the
adjoining room for two solid hours. About ten
o’clock when the more rowdy were gone, and order
prevailed a quiet service was held with the Chris-
tians. Half-an-hour later I was roused to wake-
fulness by the unwonted silence accompanying the
questioning of candidates for baptism. The silence
OUR FOREIGN FIELD,
did not last long, however, and even I could not
resist joining in the burst of laughter which
greeted the replies of one good brother.
““When asked if he would still believe in the
Truth of Christianity whatever happened him, in
dead earnest he cried out at tke top of his voice,
‘ Yes, even if my head were cut off ; yes, even
if my head were split in two I should still
believe.’
* * *
“The journey from For-sa to the boat at Ts’ing-
die was as grand as many a Swiss mountain pass.
Here I walked on ahead for some distance (Mr.
Soothill having been stopped on the road for medi-
cine) and was quite amused at the terribly scared
look on one or two of the faces I met. One young
man walked stolidly
fortunately, and as big as a horse comb) and with
the back of this she began to scrape my forehead,
to and fro, I endured until I began to feel as if
she had scraped all the skin off, then suddenly
‘felt better,’ —partly the result of fear as to what
my husband would say as to my stupidity if I
appeared with my brow all disfigured. The
Chinese do not mind what ‘objects’ they make
of themselves by their so-called remedies.
* *
“Tn all, we visited thirteen stations at which
seventeen services and five communions were
held ; in addition, fifteen persons were baptised,
and nineteen put off, failing opportunity to examine
them. At each of these places the Attendance
Register was carefully examined, in order that any
who had been ir-
past (there being no
way of escape) but no
sooner was he past,
than presto ! he took to
his heels and was gone
like the wind. He
verily thought he had
met a ‘foreign devil.’
Two firewood lads,
carrying home their
burdens, waited for the
comfort of each other’s
presence, and on my
glancing back, lo!
they, too, had fled
before the strange
apparition.
* * *
“T came back home
feeling much impressed
with the spirit of self-
sacrifice displayed by
many of the country
Christlans. In all
these country stations it
is ‘the Church which is
regular might be ad-
monished. Only at
one station were we
saddened, This was
at Paih-yue, where
three had again lapsed
| to their odium. May
the solemn words of
warning addressed to
these have their
designed effect, and
indeed I am told that
one has arrived in the
city to-day, to make a
fresh start.
“As we turned our
steps homeward we
agreed that this time
visiting the Christians
had in onesense indeed,
been like ‘ seeking for
| hid treasure,’ we had
had to dig into the
in Thy house,’ which
means, that at regular and stated intervals they
permit their dwellings to be turned upside down,
and to be roamed over from top to bottom,—all
by a noisy irresponsible crowd, caring little what
damage it does, but fully bent on seeing all there
1s to see, and a good deal more, This, of course,
is intensified when the foreigners are there, we
being the legitimate objects of their curiosity, even
to cur ‘lyings down, and risings up.’ But the
men who cheerfully submit to all this are true
‘elders’ of the Church.
“ At Chi-oa I had a headache, and partly out of
curiosity ventured to try the remedy suggested by
the good wife there. First, she brought a little
vegetable oil, with which she smeared or anointed
my forehead; next she took a comb (a new one,
Rev. R. H. McLaughlin. See Page 17.
x hills for them! But,
i. iat thank God it had not
, been ‘love’s labour
lost,’ for our eyes had
been gladdened, and our faith strengthened, by
much ‘fine gold’ found in these mountain fast-
nesses.â€
* * *
In a letter of an earlier date Rev. Ww. H.
Soothill writes to the Editor as follows :—
“My wife has spent some weeks at ‘The
Cottage,’ a charming retreat, built by Mrs. Stott,
of the China Inland Mission, and Mrs. Hogg,
while still Miss Bardsley. It is on a hill at the
mouth of the river, overlooking the Wenchow
Bay. And what a difference between there and
here. Though only twenty miles off, the ther-
mometer is from six to ten degrees lower, the air
fresh and ozoney, and the difference from this
steamy swamp almost incredible. I, too, have
i
i
20 OUR FOREIGN FIELD.
been down there several times, taking my pen-
work with me, and feel stronger and better for it.
We were all back two days ago to find the
thermometer at 90 and the air stuffy to the
stifling point, but last night a heavy thunderstorm
brought down the thermometer. To-day was 90
degrees again, but as I write the lightning is play-
ing fearsomely around us, calling a faint ‘Oh!’
from my wife now and again, and the thermometer
has dropped to 76, which is a remarkable fall, and
makes us hope for not more than 86 or 88
degrees to-morrow, our monthly communion,
when the chapel will be crowded. Two months
ago I had to knock down half the side wall of the
chapel and put up a temporary shed alongside to
hold the congregation. Unless somebody comes to
our aid I shall have to build it up again next
November for the winter is bitter as the summer
is exhausting.â€
JAMAICA.
This month I have pleasure in inserting a sketch
of our esteemed Missionary, Rev. R. H.
McLaughlin, obligingly furnished by Rev. John
Chinn, with a portrait of Mr. McLaughlin, which
I understand is an excellent likeness. This also
was forwarded by Mr. Chinn. Iam sure it will
interest my readers to peruse this account of a
worthy man, of whom, hitherto, they have known
little but the name.
SIERRA LEONE.
The following communication from Rev. James
Proudfoot appeared in a recent issue of the Free
Methodist. I think it ot sufficient importance to
reproduce it here.
& * =
“Tx West Africa, as well as in England,
measures are being taken to increase both the
local circuit income and that raised for foreign
mission work. ‘The year closes in this district with
the end of September instead of the end of April,
as in England, so the result of recent efforts will
not be known for nearly twelve months yet.
Still, it may not be out of place if I put a few
facts and figures before the readers of the ree
Methodist.
* * *
“Tux local circuit income under the head of
class, ticket, and light collections (exclusive of
the Mendi Mission) amounts to £658 12s. 8d.,
an average of 4s. 9id. per member. Trust
revenue, poor fund, and special efforts amount to
nearly £260, and the missionary income is £409,
The Mendi returns will probably bring it up to
£440, which was the amount raised in 1896, an
average of 2s. 1lid. per member. The sums con-
tributed varied from the humble farthing to the
more resplendent five guineas, although the bulk
of the contributions lie midway between. The
following figures w ll convey a fair idea of the
proportion of members and others who contribute
from half-a-crown upwards :—
2s. 6d. and under 5s. ... ... ... 93898
5s. s jyaalOStes oat he eee 0)
LOSS aes; yy cal eae ee one ails
£1 5 SE eae cr recess OIL
£5 and upwards aoc reeene eae 2
* * *
“Wira churches organised as onrs are, more
effective work can be done than is possible in
English circuits. Here every leader is a
missionary collector, his constituency being his
class. Promises are entered in a collecting-book
in January, and every time the class meets this
book appears side by side with the class-book, and
for the next nine months the promises are paid off
in small sums. In one church the minister met
the members regularly every Sunday at 6 a.m.,
with the result that the income was doubled, and
the circuit income rose from £30 to £57. In _ his
report he says: ‘The interest shewn in mission
work this year is phenomenal. We made a point
of urging the people to let their souls be full of
the missionary spirit, and to regard the work as not
merely a duty which they owe to the perishing
heathen, but as a duty they owe to their Lord,
which they cannot disregard without certainly
falling short of the standard of true Christian
life. The hearty and liberal response with which
our feeble but earnest appeal was greeted—and
that, too, in the face of hard times, speaks well for
the vitality of the Church. The result is cheering
and we are grateful to the God of missions for
enabling people to offer so willingly.’
* * *
“THmreE is good reason to believe that what Mr.
Nichols has been able to do in Murray Town
circuit will, in some proportion, be done in other
circuits during the current year. Here our
ordinary everyday life is one continuous
missionary meeting. The heathen people from
the Hinterland are always with us, and the very
annoyances they subject us to, teach us in a forcible
manner the great and pressing need of doing what
we can to elevate them and their brethren in the
country from whence they come. Yet it must not
be supposed that such is invariably the result of
contact with heathenism. We are forced to deal
with these people in many ways, and at times it is
anger and not sympathy that is aroused. No doubt
their continual presence keeps one alive to the evils
of heathenism, but it does not always stir up mis-
sionary zeal. In England the prevailing ideas of
heathenism are vague, and one is not altogether
surprised at fits of coldness. Were heathenism at
the door, as it is here, many would be stirred up
to great efforts, but only in proportion to the
Christian spirit. With others, if the appeals and
GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY’S NOTES. 21
commands of Christ do not now stir them, neither
would contact with heathenism incline their
hearts. ‘“ If they hear not Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded, though one rose
from the dead.â€
GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY’S
NOTES.
TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS.
—SHOSE friends who contributed 10s.
43, and upwards last Connexional year
should with the beginning of this
New year receive by post a free
copy of the Missionary Econo. We
have done our best to. secure the
correct addresses of these friends (and we beg to
thank our Ministers for their kind help in this
matter) but we may have failed here and there,
or there may have been a miscarriage in post. If
any such cases arise I shall be obliged if
the friends will write me, and send their correct
postal address.
* * *
Turs arrangement does not apply to those col-
lectors who receive prizes through the Sunday
Schools for collecting.
EXETER HALL MISSIONARY MEETING.
We are pleased to be in a position to announce
that Mr. Councillor Chippendale, Mayor of
Harrogate, has generously consented to take
the chair at our Exeter Hall Missionary Meeting,
the latter end of April. The Rev. W. J. Dawson
has consented to speak at the afternoon meeting.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
Some kind friend has forwarded us 10s.
towards the £15,000, with the brief sentence,
“ More to follow.†We heartily thank our unknown
friend.
WEST AFRICA,
Rev. J. Proudfoot writes in a most cheerful
strain in reference to our West African
Mission generally. In one of his last letters
he says, “On Friday, December 38rd, I am to
preach in connection with a new venture in a
rapidly increasing quarter of Freetown, called
Kissy Road. We have been losing members
through the trend of the population in that
direction, and during April, May, and June, in
company with Mr. Nichols, of Murray Town, and
afew Leaders in the Tabernacle Society, I was
looking out for a suitable opening. As it was
only a venture I decided to “say nothing until I
could say something.†Now, having succeeded
beyond our expectations, the Truscott Memorial
Mission is to be inaugurated on the date named
above. On Sunday, the 5th of December, the
Wesleyan General Superintendent has promised
to conduct one of the services. Land is dear, and
is rapidly increasing in price, but we have
secured a very fine and large site (150 feet
frontage, 100 feet deep) for £90. In order to keep
us out, an Archdeacon fought sorely for the land,
and offers of £60 more were made. But we have
it. As Ido not wish any of the purchase money
to come from you, and as Thomas Truscott is a
name to conjure with here, I hope to raise the
amount locally, and partly through a voyage to
Lagos, where many U. M. F.C. supporters are,
who will respond willingly to such an appeal.
CHINA,
Rey. J. W. Hzywoop in his last letter says :—
“7 have arranged for a United Service to be held
in the City Church, once in every three months.
The first was held in the eighth moon, when
almost 200 Christians belonging to the ‘ Settle-
ment’ (this is where the new chapel is to be
built) and City Churches met together. It was
an inspiring service. Sixteen candidates for Bap-
tism, who had the day before been carefully ex-
amined, were baptised. The work both on our
Ningpo and Wenchow Stations is growing with an
embarrassing rapidity. Every mail brings an
accentuated appeal for more help! Are we to say
nay ?
EAST AFRICA.
Tsx last mail from Hast Africa, on Christmas-
day brought cheering news from Rev. W. G.
Howe, Rey. J. B. Griffiths, and Rev. R. M.
Ormerod. ach of these noble Missionaries had
encouraging reports to give of growth on their
respective stations. I doubt whether ever our
work in East Africa was more cheering than at the
present juncture. ast Africa urgently needs
more Missionaries. Who of our gifted young
Ministers will offer for this glorious field ?
MISSIONARY LEAFLETS.
Our first Missionary Leaflet is published. It
contains a map of the Wenchow district, and an
appeal from Rev. W. E. Soothill. It can be
had from Rev. A. Crombie, at the Book Room.
We hope to have ready for February a four page
Tract, by Rev. W. Vivian, giving a brief sketch of
the Mendi Mission. Others will follow in due
course.
JAMAICA.
Aut our friends will be pleased to hear that
our honoured friend, Rev. W. Griffith, is repor-
ted to be so far recovered as to be able to resume
work. Mrs. Griffith is also convalescent.
* * *
Our good friend, Mrs. Abercrombie, is, I am
pleased to report, much better than she has been
since the death of her dear husband. We hope
soon to hear she is quite well again.
22 MISCELLANEOUS.
BOCAS-DEL-TORO.
Rey. J. Caryn has consented, in harmony with
the request of the Missionary Committee, to go to
Bocas, and take up the good work on that station.
It is a fine field.
SUPERINTENDENT OF JAMAICA,
Tur sub-committee empowered to select and
appoint a successor to late Rev. R. EH. Aber-
crombie has met, and appointed Rev. Francis
Bavin, Leeds, subject to the confirmation of the
Annual Assembly. Weare pleased to report that
Mr. Bavin has very cordially accepted the appoint-
ment. Itis an arduous as well as honourable posi-
tion, and it is felt the appointment is an admirable
one. May God bless the Superintendent elect.
of the sons of our ministers and laymen. Mr,
Moore would be glad to give all needful informa-
tion to any who desire it. His residence is Rich-
mond Village, Harrogate. The College is recognised
by the West Riding County Council and the grant
earned this year is the highest possible.
GIFTS TO CHINA.
Rev. W. Kaye Dunn writes :—“I read a letter
from Miss Hornby to my congregation, and in res-
ponse to her suggestions we dispatched a large
box containing 5,000 Christmas cards, rolls of linen
for bandages, pieces of warm woollen stuffs for
“ crazies,’ and two very large and warm quilts,
These latter were made by some of the young
women here, in time squeezed out of their tea half-
MISCELLANEOUS.
ASHVILLE COLLEGE, HARROGATE.
HHROUGH the kindness of the ener-
getic Secretary, Rev. John Moore, I
am able to give my readers this
month portraits of Ashville College
masters, and a view of one of its
entrances. The College is beauti-
fully situated, in a healthy locality with a bracing
atmosphere, and under its able Head Master, Dr.
Bowick, is proving most efficient in the education
Ashville College, Staff of Masters.
hour allowed at their city workshop. Our interest
in Missions has been stimulated. Many gifts were
real sacrifices.†Mr. Dunn is Minister of Manor
Chapel, Galleywall Road, Bermondsey.
CIRCULATION OF THE “ECHO.â€
I am often cheered by kindly words that are
spoken of the Missionary Eouo. For example,
Rev. J. F. Hughes, of Elland, writes: “I hear
many expressions of approval of this bright and
instructive little paper, and I am confident it is
doing a large amount of useful work.†Still more
encouraging are the words of Rev. W. Kaye Dunn:
“We are pushing the Hoho—many new subscribers.â€
OUR
OUR MISSION IN NINGPO
BY FREDERICK GALPIN.
No. I.
CHINA A HOTBED OF SCANDALOUS RUMOURS.
SSGHE year 1870 opened out in its first
74 months with several signs of peace
4] and progress. On the first Sunday
of the new year I baptized seven
new Chinese members at our preach-
ing room in the city, and met with
many indications of encouragement as I travelled
MISSION IN NINGPO. 23:
Buteven amongst such good tempered audiences,
there were always a few who gave clear signs of
their sullen and hostile attitude towards foreign-
ers! And if we had paused to enquire into the
meaning of such marks of hatred and ill-will, we
should have discovered that they represented most
‘truly, the feelings of the ruling classes in China ;
and that their strong prejudice against us, made it
impossible for them to believe that any good men
came from the West. This anti-foreign feeling
usually gave expression to its thoughts in words
not addressed to us, but to the people who seemed
disposed to regard us as sincere and good and de-
sirous of doing good.
Ashville College.
with native evangelists, who were helping me to
take the Gospel into districts that had not been
visited previously by any Missionary.
Sometimes we were received with great enthus-
iasm and kindness. Once when surrounded by a
crowd in the spring of this year in one of the
villages not twenty miles distant from Ningpo, a
company of Buddhist priests who had been en-
gaged delivering souls from the pains of purga-
tory passed by, this was made the occasion of some
fun at the expense of the priests, for a wag in the
crowd shouted :
“There is no more employment for priests, we
are all joining the religion of Jesus.â€
Entrance to Grounds.
(See Page 22.
«Why do you simple people allow these foreign-
ers to injure you by their corrupt doctrines ? If you
continue to listen these men will use their de-
praved arts to cast a spell over you, then you will
be compelled to obey them, and at your death they
will scoop out your eyes, and remove your heart,
and lungs, and liver, to make devil’s drugs ; with
which they will beable to mislead and ruin other
simple people.â€
At that time most Missionaries were too busy
with their Mission rooms and day schools, to read
the signs of the coming storm. We paid but little
attention to the lying slanders that circulated
wherever we attempted our work. We knew that
24 OUR MISSION
we were charged with practices too revolting and
too offensive to mention in these pages. We also
saw statements that had been copied out of a vile
book and posted in market places, which ran
thus : “ Beware of the men from the West ! they are
provided with charms to mislead men and women,
the charm is either a white powder or a white
pill. It isa common custom for the barbarians to
hire native scoundrels who have lost all sense of
right, and have sold themselves for a few dollars.
They now act as tools and agents for the bar-
barians, who send them to put their diabolical
drugs into the wells, and other water supplies.
‘“‘ These unprincipled natives are also engaged to
kidnap boys and girls, and even men and women.
We shrink, and shudder, and tremble, as we con-
template the fate awaiting all who are victims to
the corrupt vices of these devils from the West.â€
It was usual for Missionaries and others to pay
too little heed to such signs, strong in the convic-
tion of their own integrity, it had not then oc-
curred to them to enquire what might be the out-
come of such a movement. Neither did the
Missionaries well consider that for every one China-
man who believed in the goodness of a Christian,
there were thousands who strongly believed the
lie. The summer came, a time when in China the
ignorant people can as easily be excited to deeds
of mad brutality, as dogs in this land by the ex-
cessive summer heat are quickly affected by mad-
ness.
The plot to murder all foreigners had been well
organised by the secret societies which exist be-
neath the surface of the social and political life in
China. The men of the north being most daring,
-struck the first blow at Tientsin; a band of wild
conspirators declared that they had discovered a
large quantity of infant bones just outside the
Catholic school, and that a native kidnapper who
was caught child stealing, confessed under torture
that the priests and nuns had hired him. This was
a sufficient excitement to a city full of angry
people, and the end soon came to all Mission work
in the district.
All the priests and nuns were tortured, out-
raged and killed. The French consul and a French
lady and gentleman who went to the chief gover-
nor to obtain a rescue party, were all killed by
Chinese soldiers !
The news of this dreadful outrage perpetrated
upon a band of good men and women who had
devoted their lives to save the needy in China was
received as good tidings by the majority of the
Chinese people, and eagerly discussed and circu-
lated all along the coast line wherever Missionaries
or merchants lived. The only Chinese who were
moved to genuine sorrow were the native Chris-
tians, and they had ample reason for their feelings
of sorrow and regret. All the Chinese found on
the premises who had not been fortunate enough
IN NINGPO.
to escape, shared the same cruel fate as their
teachers ; and now all native Christians at each
port were threatened that a similar or worse end
was quickly approaching them. A remarkable
change came over the surface of our Mission work
in Ningpo.
Nearly every morning a new placard was brought
me, telling of some fresh act of wickedness on
the part of the Christians. Some placards warned
the people not to walk out at night, and if com-
pelled to go, certainly not to venture out alone, as
the kidnappers were busy, and several people had
disappeared. This method of issuing anonymous
placards is called ‘ fanning the fire’ by the
Chinese, it is a native method of generating cour-
age; butits chief result is wide-spread excitement
and fear. Time after time the friendly natives
brought me word that the day for our massacre
and extermination had been fixed. My slowness
to believe their tales, and my disregard of their
advice, led them to regard meas a foolish and
misguided man.
The friendly Chinese had offered me a home
several times, but I thankfully declined to run
away fromthe house. Finally the panic became
so general that only a few ventured to attend our
services, and everywhere the congregations fell
off,
People in China more readily believe a lie than
trust in the truth, and we were again and again
reminded of this. The strong antipathy was evi-
dent most painfully when I went into the
country to preach ; several inquirers fell away and
never returned to us. The crisis came just in the
middle of July, when the inmates of my house,
consisting of a preacher and his wife, and a ser—
vant, approached me one evening and made one
more appeal to me to save myself by flight, as if
I did not leave that very night, they should go
and look after their own safety. I let them go,
and they all left in the company of the Chinese
milkman who had invited me to his house, and I
was alone that night.
I made the best preparations I could, I kept
watch till daylight, and kept my revolver loaded,
but I was not troubled by any visitors, and the
next morning when my servant returned, he
seemed somewhat ashamed at his want of cour-
age; he remained with me the next night, and
as the Chinese were too cowardly weak to pro-
dtce a leader, we were not attacked at all, but
not because the people did not want to kill us,
We escaped simply because they lacked sufficient
courage to enable them to make the attack. We
were ready to resist them if they had made such
an attempt. I have no respect for any English-
man, be he merchant or Missionary, who would
allow women and children to be cruelly killed
without striking a strong blow in their defence.
CHINESE CHARACTER. 25
CHINESE CHARACTER.
BY EDITH A. HEYWOOD.
MISSIONARY in China never needs to
complain that his life is monotonous ;
at least such is, and has been our
experience.
There is plenty of variety, and there
are many opportunities of studying
human nature which are both in-
teresting and helpful.
To many people at home the Chinaman is a
sleek, stolid individual wearing a pigtail, and this
is about as much as they know of him, and many
people also think the Chinese are all alike.
We who live amongst them do not think so, for
we find as much variety of character amongst them
as amongst the people at home.
The following incident brings before us at least
three distinct types of Chinese character.
The other evening a boy came rushing to our
house with the news that a man had thrown him-
self into the river. This boy had been washing
his clothes somewhere near, when he heard a
peculiar sound, and on turning to look, he saw a
man in the water. The boy got near enough to
pull him out, but no sooner was this done than the
would-be suicide again threw himself in.
At this, the boy rushed off here, and was
telling our cook, when Mr. Heywood, who was
sitting in his study, heard the commotion and on
hearing the cause, he and the servant at once ran
off to the place from which the man had thrown
himself into the river. On arriving at the river-
side, they saw what seemed like a bundle of
clothes floating away on the water; so without
any more ado, my husband rushed in, grasped the
clothes with one hand, whilst the servent held the
other to steady him, and dragged the man out.
He was a pitiable object, almost black in the
face, but after about five minutes hard work at
artificial respiration he came round, and was able
to walk, with a little assistance, to our house.
Now I want to draw your attention to two
characteristics manifested during the time of the
rescue.
First, several Chinese coolies were on the river
bank and saw the danger the man was in, but
they simply put down their burdens and stared at
the drowning man. There was not the slightest
evidence that the terrible danger of the man had
aroused in them a desire to save him.
This indifference to help when danger threatens
another—especially physical danger—is a marked
characteristic of the Chinese. Buddhism, Taoism,
and Confucianism seem to have signally failed in
arousing that quick and active sympathy which is
such a marked characteristic of the inhabitants
of Christian countries. Does Christianity effect
a change in the conduct of the Chinese in this
respect? Undoubtedly yes! Let me tell you of
the conduct of those who profess to be Christians.
The boy who was so anxious to save the man had
been a scholar in one of our Mission schools.
Further, before we could suggest a change of
clothing, our servant brought out some of his own
clothes, and was not happy until he saw the poor
man eating some hot rice.
Another Chinese characteristic, viz., the taking
to heart of very small affairs, especially money
affairs, comes out in the story the rescued man
told. He was over sixty years of age, and had
come from his own village, a few miles from
Ningpo, to collect three dollars — about six
shillings—which a man in the city owed him.
Not being able to get this money, which would
probably keep him in rice for three months in the
country ; there had evidently been a row, and the
old man in his trouble and despair had resolved to
put an end to his life. This may seem a strange
determination to dwellers in England ; but there
have been cases of Chinese who, because the small
sum of seapence was involved, have committed
suicide by taking opium.
The poor old man gave his debtor’s name and
address, and to ascertain if his story was correct, Mr.
Heywood sent for the man to come to the Mission
House. He came at once in a state of great
agitation; the news of what the old man had
attempted, and the fact of being summoned to the
“‘foreigner’s†house evidently upsetting his
nerves. He stated that he was also a poor man,
his work being that of a coolie, and in his eager-
ness to make us believe him, he bared his shoulder
to show the mark of the carrying-pole.
Mr. Heywood spoke kindly to him, and told
him his only desire was to help the old man out of
his trouble, and not to get his debtor into trouble.
The man acknowledged the debt and said he had
two dollars at home which he would bring at once
if we wished, but my husband told him next day
would do. The man kept his word and brought
two dollars the day after, promising to pay the
other one in the latter part of the year.
To make the old man easy in his mind after his
terrible experience, Mr. Heywood, on behalf of
his debtor, put three dollars in his hand. He
seemed dazed at the turn of events, and looking at
the money, he asked for some paper to wrap it in,
then with a look of great trust, handed it back,
asking us to keep it for him till the following
morning.
He slept in the Mission compound all night,
and in the morning came in to family prayers,
and knelt before God with the rest. After
prayers he told a pitiful story and yet it made
us smile.
He bezan by asking Mr. Heywood if he had
any medicine to cure an illness which he had,
26 LITERARY SKETCHES.
following up his request by a description of the
symptoms! He said that every night for almos
a fortnight a figure had appeared before him tha
at first assumed the form of a fly, very large and
bright in appearance. This figure gradually
changed into that of a headless man dressed in
garments of a flowered material which came and
danced before him! On being asked if the figure
had appeared to him on the previous night, when
he slept in the Mission compound, he said it had
not paid him a visit that night, a reply which was
quickly followed by one of the native Christians
saying this was because all in the compound
believed in Jesus and were not troubled by evi
spirits—for the cld man firmly believed he had
been visited by a devil. A likely solution of the
cause of the mysterious apparition, presented its-
self to our minds in the half-starved condition of
the poor man.
On being asked what his occupation was, he said
he was a maker of tinselled paper—which is used
in offerings to the idols—when another Christian
at once exclaimed, “Ah! that is the devil’s
business!†But he has no other means of subsis-
tence. If he became a Christian, what could he
do? I am sure God would open up the way for
him after all.
In the afternoon of this day the old man
returned to his native village, let us hope with
some glimmering of the Truth in his mind, and
we can only pray for further opportunities of
instructing the life that was indeed given back
from the dead.
Ningpo, September 1st, 1897.
AST month we had something to say on
an important Missionary publication of
the Religious Tract Society, viz., “The
growth of the Kingdom of God.†We
have been favoured with several other
Fy9 works recently issued by that great
mn publishing house. One of these is en-
titled The Cross in the land of the Trident, or India
from a Missionary point of view. This is an
English edition of an American work and is full
of interesting information. The author, Mr. Har-
lan P. Beach has been a Missionary in China and
is now connected with the Student Volunteer
Movement. Mr. Beach takes by no means a
pessimistic view of the progress of the Gospel in
India and we are glad that he is able to write as
follows of English rule: “Notwithstanding the
weaknesses and sins of British supremacy, India
owes to Great Britain its present growth and pros-
perity. She has become unified as never before ;
invasions and internal strife have given place to
peace ; crime has been greatly diminished; some
evil and cruel customs have been done away with ;
intercommunication has been made easy, sanitary
measures have been adopted, agriculture, mining
and the industries of civilised lands have been
developed ; commerce is contributing her millions
to the nation ; education and the growth of public
opinion are advancing with rapid strides ; freedom
of religious belief is pledged to all, in short, Hng-
land has been Hindustan’s material Saviour.â€â€™
The book concludes with an appeal to British
students by Rev. J. W. Conklin, A.M., which is
a very vigorous piece of writing.
Among the dark-haired race in the Flowery
Land is the rather poetical title of a book on
Missions in China, by Rev. Samuel Drake, of the
Baptist Missionary Society. This is a personal
narrative of work in China. The author arrived
in Ping Yang during the great famine of 1879.
He took part in the work of relief and was after-
wards employed in similar work elsewhere. Hvi-
dently he was a skilful administrator and or-
ganizer. The work deals largely with what may
be called stock topics on work in China, such as
the opium habit, the degradation of women, the
tyranny of mothers-in-law, Chinese inaptitude for
music, the ignorance of native doctors, the pre-
valence of suicide and the beneficial influence of
medical Missions. He gives also a cheering account
of the results of his own Missionary work, and
altogether the book is most readable and in-
teresting.
The Society has also brought out a work giving
a sketch of British progress under Queen Victoria.
It is entitled These Sixty Years—1837 to 1897.
The subject is a very wide one and the Society
adopted a wise course in entrusting the prepara-
tion to three writers, each of them having special
knowledge in the subjects assigned him. ‘Their
names are HE. M. Holmes, W. J. Gordon and D.
J. Legg. So much has been written on the
Queen’s reign that we are more or less familiar
with most of the facts contained in the work.
We think however, it is the fullest and most
satisfactory account that has appeared. We have
read the book with much interest and pleasure.
A Primer of Modern Missions is the title of a
shilling volume edited by Rev. Richard Lovett,
M.A., and published by the Religious Tract Society.
We have here in brief compass a mass of
authentic information in relation to the history of
Missions in the most important centres, India,
Polynesia, Africa,- China, the West Indies,
Madagascar, &c. By strict compression Mr. Lovett
BREAKING THE FETTERS. 27
and his helpers bave been able to bring into a
volume of 160 pages the contents of many
Missionary Biographies and Histories. The work
is very well done. Of course it is not exhausting.
We find for example no reference to the work of
our Missionaries in Hast Africa or China. We
think that Thomas Wakefield’s name, at all events,
ought to have appeared.
The New Orthodoxy is the title of anew monthly
periodical of which the first number has been sent
us for review. It is edited by the Rev. Robert
Tuck, B.A., favourably known by his writings for
Sunday School Teachers. We do not admire the
Title, and we do not know exactly what the New
Orthodoxy is. Mr. Tuck’saim is to aid in forming
the theology of the new age, which he thus sets
forth: “The redemption of moral and spiritual
beings from moral and spiritual evils, must be a
moral and spiritual enterprise accomplished by
moral and spiritual forces, however these
spiritual things may gain pictorial illustra-
tion in historic incidents and transactional scenes.â€
Now we suppose the death of Christ was “a his-
torical ineident.†But was it a mere “ trans-
actional scene� which may serve as a “ pictorial
illustration’ of a redemption otherwise effected ?
If that is what Mr. Tuck means, his “ doxyâ€â€™ is
certainly not our “doxy ;†and we regret to notice
in the prospectus no reference to our Lord’s aton-
ing sacrifice in the reference made to the “ foun-
dation truths†to be taught in the new serial.
However, Mr. Tuck promises “ absolute and un-
swerving loyalty to the word of God†and to this
we heartily give our Amen.
Sharpened Tools for Busy Workers. Mr. John
8. Doidge, of Penzance, has furnished all classes
of Christian toilers with a treasure-store of anec-
dote and illustration. The work which is pub-
lished by Nisbet & Co., of London, is the fruit
of long continued labour and of earnest prayer.
The different sections are intended to supply
mental pabulum to Evangelists, Sunday School
Teachers, Temperance and Band of Hope workers,
Class Leaders and Platform speakers. The coun-
sel given is most excellent, and the quotations
from Spurgeon, Farrar, W. Hay Aitken, Archi-
bald Brown, Paxton Hood, Dr. Bonarand many other
worthies, are valuable in the highest degree. The
book shews extensive reading, sound judgment and
a knack of selection. It may be a further recom-
mendation of the book to say that it is the work
of a loyal Free Methodist. Mr. Doidge, though
not a Cornishman, spent many years in Redruth,
and now lives in Penzance. He is a man of eru-
dition, and his friendships with skilled Hebraists
are known to a few: he is a man of deep piety ;
this is known to many; and this book now makes
known to all who will purchase and read it, that
he is, if not a voluminous author, yet what Car-
lyle would call an “able editor.â€
BREAKING THE FETTERS.
BY W. A TODD.
CHAPTER Il:
A MOTHER’S LOVE,
9/ HE arm of the sea known as the Barretta
River runs from the town of Mombasa
on the island of the same name a dis-
tance of some four miles in a north-
westerly direction, when it takes a sud-
den turn to the west, and after two and
a half miles it makes a second turn, this
time to the north.
It was at this second bend of the river, and on
the left of the west bank that the Mission station
of Msomwe was situate. The houses had been so
arranged that the village formed a large horseshoe,.
the white stone Mission house occupying a central
position. Running into the horseshoe and filling
a third or more of the space was a mangrove
swamp—in fact the village of Msomwe was sur-
rounded on three sides by swamps. These swamps
had played an important part in the history of
this Mission village, being cesspools of death to
many a white man, and for once in a while they
had served as excellent hiding places for slaves.
who crouched among the mikoko trees from their
cruel masters.
It was one hour past sunrise and the sky was
already assuming that indefinable hue which pro-
claims an intolerably scorching day. The morning
service for prayer was just over and the people
were wending their way from the little mud chapel
to their huts to gather together their rude imple-
ments of agriculture. It was a busy time on the
farms, or mashamba, as they were called, the har-
vest was at hand, and the mischievous monkeys
and the wild pigs of the wood occasioned men,
-women and children to watch almost day and night
to prevent these animals doing much damage to the:
young, sweet Indian corn.
So, when a few minutes later Fred Andrews.
made his daily inspection of the cleanliness of the
village street he found that a general exodus to
the farms had taken place. This made it impossible
for the young Missionary to reprove those natives
who had allowed the grass to grow in front of
their dwellings, cr who had thrown rubbish into
the village street contrary to the commands of
Bwana Mkubwa.
28 BREAKING THE FETTERS
On his way back to the Mission house he felt a
cold shiver creep over him as he passed a small
piece of ground which was portioned off by means
of stakes. This was a former burial ground, but
it had been closed for many a year in consequence
of the village extending in that direction. Andrews
had only just recovered from a severe dose of
malarial fever, and this shiver was an involuntary
response of his weakened physical frame to his
knowledge of the presence of the dead. He was,
however, no
“This is a woman from the plantations of
Changamwe,†said Trevelyan for his friend’s
information. ‘“ She has asked for an interview with
the Bwana Mkubwa, and just as you entered the
yard she was beginning a tale about her daughter.
Now let us hear what she has to say.†Then
turning to the weman who was crouching against
a square stone pillar which supported the
verandah, he added in those tones which always
marked his voice whenever he was addressing
those in pain
coward. He |
shook himself |
+ or trouble,
“ Now, mama,
as he said, |
what is it we
“Now map,
can do for you.
this will never ——
Begin at the
do. You’ve
beginning
scarcely begun |
your work.†A
few minutes
afterwards he |
Was crossing
the Mission
yard. |
He found
his comrade,
Thomas Tre-
velyan, sitting
under the
verandah lis-
tening to the
petition of a
native woman,
who, by her
gestures and
attitude
seemed to be
either in sor-
row or full of
perplexity.
“You’ve
just come in
time, An-
drews,†said
Trevelyan, in-
terrupting the
woman in her
story. “ Here
Is something
that will inter-
est you, Ifancy. Bring Bwana Mdogo’s chair, and
place it here under the shadow of the roof.†This was
a command to one of the lads whose special work
it was to attend to the wants of the missionaries.
The chair was brought, and Andrews sat down,
wondering what it was he was about to hear, little
guessing this was the beginning of an episode
which he would remember with the greatest
interest in the days to come when back again in
England.
OY 7 with your
f Yue story.â€
4 The woman
began in that
roundabout
style so char-
acteristic of
the Orientals ;
she was not
interrupted,
for they both
knew she
would tell her
story much
more quickly
if allowed to
do so in her
own way.
‘« Everybody
knows your
kindness _ of
heart to the
poor slave, and
they know
how like a lion
you are when
you defend
your whelps.â€
She referred
to Trevelyan’s
well-known
attitude to-
wards the mas-
ters whenever they came to him for their slaves.
“‘T have come to ask for a certain thing. But
not for myself, for myself I ask nothing. Iam
too old and too ugly to fear anything my master
can do to me, and I can die when the time
comes. I do not ask for myself, but I have a
daughter—a little daughter—the child of my old
age. Ifearfor her. All-day I tremble for her
safety, and all night I dream that the leopard is
devouring her. I’try to scream, and the face of
ae Save hev
Prom her mastey .â€
BREAKING THE FETTERS. 29
the leopard changes into the face of my
master and he gloats over my anguish. I
wake with a start, trembling in every limb, with
the sweat rolling down my face in large drops.
Bwana have pity upon my daughter.â€
“Ts your daughter with you on the farm at
Changamwe ? †asked Trevelyan.
“No, she is at Mombasa in the
Bishoga, the wife of Hamid Bin Azed.â€
“ Does her mistress illtreat her?â€
“Tt is not her mistress so much as her master
that I fear. She is put into the stocks, sometimes
for a whole day, I know—but it is her master,
Save her from her master, Bwana; you can if you
will,†entreated the poor woman in whose eyes
the tears stood for a while, and then raced down
her cheeks.
“ How old is your daughter, mama?â€
“‘ Nay, Bwana, I cannot tell,†she replied. But
a flash of intelligence came into her eyes as she
added, ‘‘I do not know how many years she has
lived. She was a little baby when you first came
to this land, Bwana, and now her breasts are as
big as these.†The woman doubled her fists and
held them up for the white men to see.
Then it was they understood the cause of the
poor mother’s anxiety. Her child was budding
into womanhood, and was at the age when she
might become the victim of the licentious
Mohammedan, Hamid Bin Azed, if by any unlucky
chance she attracted his attention.
The hard lines came around Trevelyan’s mouth
as he remembered that the debauchery of her
master was a byeword in the vicinity.
“ But what canI do for your child? How can
I save her ; I am here and she is at Mombasa.â€
“T want you, Bwana, to permit her to come to
Msomwe and sit down (reside) on the Mission
station. She can grind corn and cut sticks like
the other children you have. Give her leave to
come, Bwana â€â€™
“How can I do this? The big men at Mombasa
say we—Bwana Andrews and I—must not allow
slaves to stay in our village ; they tell us to drive
them away and send them back to their masters,
and, moreover, they declare that if we will not do
this they will send an asikari with their masters
to fetch them away. And I think you know what
flogeings are given to runaway slaves if they are
caught ?â€
“ But, Bwana, she will be safer here with you
than she can be at Mombasa. Let her come and
she shall be your child, and I will never claim her.
If you will let her sit down here in the village her
master and mistress will not dare to come and fetch
her. They are frightened of you—they fear the
simba (lion).
With these and many other words she met every
one of the Missionary’s objections.
“Well, mama,†he said at last, “‘ you are a good
house of
mother. If your daughter comes I will not drive
her away.â€
The woman was scarcely satisfied.
“Do you understand my words, mama? Listen
while 1 say them again. If your daughter comes
to this village to sit down I will not drive her
away, neither will I help anyone to capture her.
Do you understand now?â€
He had uttered the words slowly and emphati-
cally. As he spake the mother’s face lost its look
of sadness and eager anxiety, and in its place
came a look of hope and of cunning. She clapped
her hands together twice as she replied, “ Ngema
(good) I can find a way—I will find a way.â€
Rising from the crouching position of a sup-
plicant she came two pages nearer to the white
men with stretched out hands as though to touch
them. But suddenly she darted away and ran
across the Mission yard and soon was out of sight.
She was flying to the rescue of her daughter, and
love, which choked all formal utterance of thanks,
gave wings to her feet.
For a few minutes after the woman’s disappear-
ance no word was spoken by the two men.
At last Trevelyan broke the silence with a sigh ;
then his tongue was loosened and he poured out
his invectives against the slavers of the land.
«‘ What God-cursed monsters these Arabs must
be, Andrews, to cause Swahili mothers (who, as
you know, are not as a rule noted for much
maternal feeling) to grow anxious concerning the
moral welfare of their children. | What monsters
men can become, when by their inhumanity they
arouse the slight moral susceptibility of a heathen
woman. And to think of our feebleness. | What
can we do to lessen it ? We are paralyzed and shorn
of strength. Aye, lad, paralyzed and shorn of
strength by the Philistines in the shape of vile
European traders and time-serving officials at
Mombasa.â€
“But Samson did his greatest deed of strength
after his hair had grown again,†suggestively
remarked the young man.
“ Well done, Andrews. Yes, and we’llshow the
folks yonder,†pointing in the direction of
Mombasa, “that we are not entirely powerless. In
spite of their restrictions they shall realize that
Trevelyan is a lion, and is not dead yet.â€
Trevelyan had his fits of despondency concern-
ing his work, they were the rebounds of a great
and an enthusiastic nature. During the last few
days, ever since he had received the copy of the
proclamation, he had been almost in despair about
the fate of the many slaves who formed the
majority of the inhabitants of the mission station
of Msomwe. He would not have been surprised
to awake some morning to find a letter from the
officials of the trading company commanding the
immediate return of all slaves to their masters.
But the affection of this heathen woman for her
30 > VARIETIES.
little daughter and the quiet suggestion of his
colleague aroused him from the depths of his
despondency, and spurred him to further resist-
ance and effort on behalf of the people under his
care.
“So you will do your best for the girl
when she comes?†Andrews half asked and half
asserted.
“God, helping us, we'll save her from her
master. But come, Fred, it’s about
time mpishi (cook) came for orders for our break-
fast. We shall have to keep our strength up if
we mean to win in our struggle against the slave
owner—ergo, we must eat. By the way, I have
noticed how little you have eaten the last day or
two. How are you feeling? I hope you are not
going to have another dose of malarial fever; it
dealt too hardly with you last time.â€
This was how it ever was with Thomas
Trevelyan. He had room in his big heart for
the sorrow of the slaves, and for the welfare of
his friend whom he loved better than a brother,
but he had little or no room for his own troubles.
Andrews thought of that shiver which passed
over him an hour or two previously, but said
nothing as he followed Trevelyan into the large
hall of the Mission house.
A BRAVE EXAMPLE.
=F
NA}
ORE than forty years ago, at a great
school, no boy in the large dormi-
tories ever dared to say his prayers.
A young new boy—neither strong,
nor distinguished, nor brilliant, nor
influential, nor of high rank—came
to the school. The first night that he slept in his
dormitory not one boy knelt to say his prayers ;
but the new boy knelt down, as he had always
done. He was jeered at, insulted, pelted, kicked
for ig ; andso he was the next night, and the next.
But after a night or two, not only did the persecu-
tion cease, but another boy knelt down as well as
himself, and then another, until it became the cus-
tom of every boy to kneel nightly at the altar of
his own bedside. From that dormitory the custom
spread to other dormitories one by one. When
that young new boy came to the school no boy said
his prayers ; when he left, without one act or word
on his part beyond the silent influence of a quiet
and brave example, all the boys said their prayers.
That boy still lives; and if he had never done one
good deed besides that deed, be sure it stands
written for him in golden letters on the Recording
Angel’s book.
|
4
WHAT A BREWER SAYS!
“Tr would not be too much to say that thereare
at this moment half-a-million homes in the United
Kingdom where happiness is never felt owing to
this cause alone—where the wives are broken-
hearted, and the children are brought up in
misery.’—Cuaries Buxton.
TO-DAY.
Lorp, for to-morrow and its needs
I do not pray ;
Keep me from stain and sin
Just for to-day.
Let me both diligently work
And duly pray ;
Let me be kind in word and deed *
Just for to-day.
Let me be slow to do my will,
Prompt to obey ;
Help me to sacrifice myself
Just for to-day.
Let me no wrong or idle word
Unthinking say ;
Set Thou a seal upon my lips
Just for to-day.
So, for to-morrow and its needs
Ido not pray ;
But keep me, guide me, hold me, Lord,
Just for to-day.
WAITING.
I wair for Thee at earth’s gates of gold,
Where the river of life runs full and free,
Where the heart is young and the tale untold,
And the storm not heard on the sea ;
But I cannot catch the sound of Thy feet
For the rush of that river so deep and strong,
And Thy still small voice so low and sweet,
Is drowned in the siren’s song.
I wait for Thee at earth’s gates of care,
Where the toilers work and the burdened bend,
Where the timid sink in a great despair,
And the bravest hope for the end.
And lo! as I join that fainting band,
To lend in my strength one arm the more,
There breaks a light on the shadowy land,
And I see Thee on before.
We shall meet in Galilee’s vale of tears,
Where the heart is touched with acommon woe,
And Thy form transfigured by golden years,
In the breaking of bread I shall know.
In the breaking of bread I shall know Thy face,
Spite of all its change in the light above ;
And beneath its smile I shall trembling trace
The print of the wounds of love.
Brirish WEEKLY.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR PAGH. 31
THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR PAGE.
BY EDWARD ABBOTT,
Mrs. Wakefield and Rev. J. W.
Mawer would represent our C. E.
Societies on the programme of the
Glasgow Convention. I am glad
to add that we shall have further
representation in the person of Mrs. Clements—
wife of Rev. F. Clements of Louth—an earnest
and thorough-going endeavourer, who will speak
on “ Family Endeavour.â€
Ir appears from the C. E. Year Book that
nearly 1,000 new societies have been formed in
the. British Section during the last year—that is
formed and registered at headquarters. Of this
increase the Baptists are credited with 231, Con-
gregationalists 230, Presbyterian 108, Primitive
Methodist 110, U.M.F.C. 78. A very encouraging
increase so far as we are concerned.
Tux Missionary Secretary in his strenuous efforts
to bring the Missionary income up to £15,000
appeals to Sunday Schools and Christian En-
deavour Societies for systematic and sustained help
in this matter. The Y.P.S.0.H. at West Cowes
has set an example that might be very generally
followed, viz., the holding of a quarterly Mission-
ary Meeting with a collection for the Mission fund.
This, or something like this, adopted in our
numerous Societies would be of immense service
in advancing this Missionary Forward Movement.
Our Great Jackson Street Christian Endeavour
has been making a most Christian endeavour on
behalf of the Master’s little ones. Through the
kindness of friends 400 of them were invited to a
breakfast on Christmas mowning. Hach child
received a meat pie, a mince pie, and two other
cakes, with tea in addition.
sweets (given by the Lord Mayor of Manchester),
and an orange were given to each child, the frag-
ments of the feast being distributed amongst the
lodging houses of the district.
Wore Socrmty has celebrated its anniversary
by sermons on Sunday and meeting on Monday.
Rev. H. Miller-Draycott preached morning and
evening, and conducted the afternoon meeting
when addresses were given by the Christian En-
deavour members on “ The Pledge and its help-
fulness,†“The aims of the Endeavour,†etc., etc.
Monday’s meeting was under the presidency of Mr.
Collins, and interesting addresses on Endeavour
On leaving, a bag of
work were given by Rev. W. Dawson of Foulger.
Five of the Christian Endeavour members have
joined the Church during the year.
Hinpiey Common Church reports an increase of
fourteen members during the year, half of that
number having come from the Christian Endeavour
Society.
Tas Quarterly Meeting of the Castleford and
Pontefract Union has been held in our Whitwood
Mere Church, Rev. C. T. Wakefield presiding.
Mrs. Solomon read a paper on “‘ What Endeavour
can do for Jesus.†The reports from the various
societies indicate that the movement is in a flourish-
ing condition in the district.
Buackgurn Regent Street Society held its Anni-
versary on Sunday, sermons being preached by
Rev. W. ©. Rank. Kingswood Christian En-
deavour is in a flourishing condition. On Sunday
sermons were preached by Rev. W. Trevail and
C. Pye. A meeting of neighbouring societies
being held in the chapel on the following day.
Tue Hditor of the British Weekly seems bent on
putting Christian Endeavourers to the test. Some
time ago he handed over to their cnarge the empty
pews of our Churches, with the injunction to fill
them. Now, he offers a prize to the best answer
to the following question—‘ Have the Christian
Endeavour Societies within your knowledge im-
proved the attendance at Church services and
prayer meetings?†The question suggests what
we are expected to do in the fulfilment of our
pledges of service to Christ and the Church. Let
us take note of this expectation, and give a good
account of yourselves in relation to the Church
services and prayer meetings.
Pernars it is not too late to mark and learn
the following resolution for the New Year—found
in achapel pew.
“J will do all the good I can:
In all the ways I can;
At all the times I can;
To all the people I can.â€
Ons of the correspondents of the British Weekly
says the Christian Hndeavour Society with which
he is familiar has increased the attendance at
public worship, encouraged the pastor and stim-
ulated the whole Church life. All Endeavourers
should aim at doing this.
BY THE EDITOR.
JOHN WESLEY’S MOTHER.
VERYBODY thinks this “elect ladyâ€
to have been one of the wisest and
best of women. , She was sorely tried.
The mother of a large family, she lost
many of them by death. Her husband,
pious, but eccentric, was constantly in
debt, and while he was busy writing
very poor poetry, she was burdened with the cares
of a large household, and the education of her
children. She had to leave the vicarage when her
husband died, and was dependent on her sons. I
am glad that she lived to see the great usefulness
of her sons John and Charles, and to enjoy the
fruits of their gratitude for her motherly care.
HOW SHE TAUGHT HER CHILDREN.
TuErr education began with their infancy, and
she taught them manners and morals, as well as
letters. Her babies might cry as they liked for
a little while, but the clever woman taught them
to “cry softly†so soon as they were twelve
months old. There were no bawling babies in
Epworth parsonage. A house with many chil-
dren, was as quiet as if there had been none.
When they spoke to each other they had to say
brother or sister before the name, such as “ Sister
Anne, Sister Anne, do you see anybody coming.â€
“Sister Polly, put the kettle on,’ etc. This
would have a good effect in preventing rude
speeches to each other. The children—unless in
sickness—were not allowed to eat or drink be-
tween meals. They had to endure hardness as
good soldiers.
LEARNING TO READ.
Mrs. Wesiny had an uncommon way of teach-
ing her children to read. She did not begin till
they were five years old, and they had to learn
their letters in one day. All but two did so; they
took a day and a half, and their mother thought
them dull. Samuel learned the alphabet in a few
hours, and the next day he began to spell out the first
chapter of Genesis. Whether reading or spelling,
the little pupils had not to leave their lesson till
they were perfect in it. The girls were taught
to read ere they were allowed to sew. “ 'Teach-
ing girls to sew ere they can read is the very
CHILDREN’S PAGE,
reason why so few women can read in a manner
fit to be heard.†So said Mrs. Wesley. Matters
are a little altered since then.
A WISE RULE,
Mrs. Wustey thought that children often tell
lies through fear of punishment, and thus form
a very bad habit. She wanted all her children to
tell the truth, so she made it a rule not to punish
a child who had committed a fault, if when they
were taxed with it they would candidly confess it
and promise to amend, This rule is in harmony
with God’s own principle. ‘He that covereth
his sins shall not prosper, but he that confesseth
and forsaketh shall obtain mercy.â€
A SAGE ADVISER.
Wuen John Wesley was at the University of
Oxford he used to write to his mother on mat-
ters that troubled him. She was well able to
counsel him. Some of her letters deal with
questions of scripture doctrine, and her opinions
were always sound and sensible. John Wesley’s
heart seemed naturally to turn to his mother for
counsel rather than to his father, and I think
wisely so. Both were clever and good, but she
was the wiser and better. Happy son to have
such a mother. Happy mother to have such a
son.
IN THE PULPIT.
Oncr when her husband was from home Mrs.
Wesley admitted to the rectory a number of the
parishioners to whom she read awakening ser-
mons, and with whom she prayed and conversed.
Above 200 came, and the curate complained to
he rector. He wrote to his wife expressing his
disapprobation. Mrs. Wesley defended herself,
but said if he commanded her to desist she would
do so. She was allowed to go on. Her husband
was willing to advise, but he did not feel war-
ranted in putting the meetings down. Perhaps
he thought this might be fighting against God.
» DEATH.
Mrs. Westry lived till she was in her seventy-
hird year. She died at her son’s house at the
Foundry Chapel, Moorfields, London. John and
five of his sisters stood round their mother’s
deathbed. She had no doubt or fear, and lay
ooking upward as they commended her to God.
Dr. Stevens, the historian of Methodism, says,
‘She died without pain, and at the moment of
her departure, her children, gathering close around
her, sung, as she had requested with her last words,.
a psalm of praise to God. Followed by an in-
numerable concourse of people, Wesley committed
her remains to the grave. She rests, till the:
resurrection, in Bunhill Fields, where reposes the
dust of Bunyan, John Owen, Isaac Watts, and.
many others of the mighty dead.
n
MARCH.
Chaste primroses have dared to face the cold,
Heavy with rain the tender buds unfold.
Emity Howson Taytor.
BY MOUNTAIN, ROAD AND RIVER.
BY LUCY SOOTHILL,
Noy aI.
ERE we are, twenty miles up the river !
We started at ten this morning,
and all concerned breathed a sigh
of relief when the hurry and
skurry inseparably connected with
was over. At such times there seems
to be no end to our “ necessities,†and we are in-
clined to envy the Chinaman whose “abundance â€
on such occasions truly consists in the fewness of
his wants. He sets out with his small bundle of
bedding, a bag of rice, and a few odds and ends of
“‘p’ai†or rice accompaniments, such as salted fish
and salted vegetables. We want our tea and
coffee, bread and butter, sugar and milk, tinned
meat, live chickens, books, bedding, towels, soap ;
this host of luxuries which have, with long use,
become necessities.
As it has rained for six months more or less,
more rather than less, we must also provide our-
selves with changes of raiment in case of a drench-
ing. The heat of summer, too, is certain to be
upon us before our eleven days’ journey is over,
(to the extent of 90 or 100 degrees of heat in the
boat), we must therefore likewise see to it that
some of cur clothing is of the thinnest, if life is
not to become a burden,
We can buy little or no food on the way, sO our
domestic has a busy day previously, baking bread,
making butter (from buffalo cream) and the oat-
meal biscuits for his master, “which his soul
setting out on an. up country journey.
loveth.†While he was thus engaged we were
breaking “the Bread of Life†at the opening of
a new preaching room outside the Westgate, more
than a mile away.
Last, but not least, boatmen must be got who
are not opium smokers, if we wish to reach our
destination. For this journey Christians usually
come down from Greenfields to row, and tow and
sail us up there, so we put off engaging others till.
the last minute in the constant expectation of these
suddenly appearing round the corner. But for
once we were doomed to disappointment, with the
result that on the very morning of departure, a
coolie had to rush out all the way to the Westgate to
try and hire other Greenfield men, these being the
only ones really capable of navigating a large boat
as far up the river as we wished to go.
He returned with “ victory at the prow†but
with displeasure on the brow. We have our
Marthas among the Chinese, and I notice they are
usually of the masculine gender, but most things
are reversed here! He had got the boatmen, but
complained that the boy of fifteen who was to
accompany us had been guilty of the enormity of
going off to the boat empty handed, leaving him
to convey all the chattels. ;
‘* See,†he said, with long and solemn visage,
holding up a salt cellar no bigger than a thimble,
“he hasn’t even taken this—or this,†producing a
tiny milk jug.
“Never mind,†said I, hardly able to rise to the
gravity of the situation, “leave it to him.â€
“That would never do,†he replied, “ what sort -
of a going into the country would it be for you,
without a salt cellar,†and he forthwith proceeded
to tuck them away, about his person, I believe.
Eventually, we left the house behind, but not
34 BY MOUNTAIN, RUAD AND RIVER.
before Mr. Soothill had greeted some inquirers
whom the colporteur had brought in from an
island out at sea where an interesting work is
springing up. Fatigued by my labours, I went
out to the boat in a chair, carrying on my lap a
huge Chinese dictionary which we sometimes call
our pocket edition, seeing it is almost as big as a
pagoda. This burden the coolie eyed with dis-
favour, and suggested he should carry it,
but when I replied, “It is po heavier than a child â€
he grinned, and quickly acquiesced, evidently
deeming such burdens wholly feminine.
At length we are really under weigh. Not that
we are by any means sure of reaching our des-
tination in proper time, for there is a tremendous
freshet in the river, and the water is tearing
down. However, from 10 am. to 8 p.m. we
have made twenty miles, helped by a favourable
wind.
The wide river has overflowed its banks, and
part of the time we have free passage over sub-
merged rice fields. The day is grey, and the
clouds rest low on the hills which journey with
us all the way on both banks. We are thank-
ful there is not a glaring sun. The rains have
given a beautiful soft appearance to the hills,
whose blended reds and greens vividly recall a
rich shot velvet I saw in Shanghai, a year ago.
Men are busy working in the fields as we toil
slowly onward, some up to the knees in mud
and water, planting out the young rice in mathe-
matically straight lines. Others again are plough-
ing with an antediluvian plough, and a small
bullock. One ploughman has an interesting aide-
de-camp in the person of a heron, perfectly
white except for a yellow head, and yellow mark
down the centre of the back, which struts gravely
on in front.
At one part a long sandy reach tempts us to
get out and stretch ourselves, but after walking
quite a distance we find it was easier to get out
of the boat than to getin again. We have both
to be carried through mud and water on the
shoulders of a boatman. This seems to excite
no one’s risible faculties but my own,—they had
all seen it too often !
At dusk our boatman gave the signal for lower-
ing the anchor. “ All right,†said Mr. Soothill,
“‘but you know we have to get to Greenfields by
noon to-morrow, I don’t mind you stopping now,
of course, to-morrow noon we get there.†As
this was impossible if they finished work for the
day at this stage, they took the hint, cooked some
rice to cheer their drooping spirits after a hard
day’s toil, and then went on till 8 p.m., to where
we rested for the night.
On Saturday, our men were noisily cooking
their rice at day-break, which, said Mr. Soothill
grumpily in answer to my inquiries is “ about 2
a.m.†They rowed on till 8 o’clock, when we
stopped for breakfast.. This we took on the bank
out of consideration for my feelings. But it could
scarcely be called a comfortable meal; our table
was at an acute angle, and the bank wet and
slippery to a degree,—yet what a relief to be once
more on terra firma, or an approach toit! OF ©
course a group of women soon gathered, and a red-
letter day it was to them, seeing our very simple table
spread. One little girl who stood close by was
just healing up after small-pox. We had to has-
ten away, but not before inviting them all to go
to So-bu on the morrow (Sunday) to “ worship
God.â€
At one place the men got out to tow, four of
them, including “ Pearly-Glory,†the boy who
objected to carry the salt-cellar. Great fun it was
to see them slip along the sandy slopes, but Pearly-
Glory had to be warned that he must reserve a
little of his strength for the fourteen hard miles’
walk he had still in store that day.
We got up to the city, Greenfields, by 1.30,
after a terrible amount of labour, towing, pushing,
poling against that fierce current, and those
rapids. We saw two men pulling at the tow line
of another boat, and though they were straining
every muscle, and had their heads bent almost to
the ground they could scarcely move the boat a
foot. We had a better breeze than yesterday, or
our journey so far would not have been com-
pleted in time to set out as we did for Da-ling-ao
at 2.30 p.m. Half an hour previous was spent in
talking to the Greenfields’ Christians, about the
recent case of persecution there, wherein a Chris-
tian was beaten almost to death in an Ancestral
Temple.
We set out to Da-ling-ao fearing rain, and
knowing it would take us till long after dark to
reach there. As a matter of fact, the rain started
about the same time as ourselves, and literally
poured out the best half of the way, so that we
arrived thoroughly wet through, but extremely
thankful for ‘journeying mercies.â€
This journey to Da-ling-ao is one of the most
impressive in this neighbourhood, and I never
weary talking of it. After leaving the boat we
at once began to ascend the first “ ling,’â€â€”mostly
steps,—and when we consulted our aneroid at the
top we found we had left the river, and the city
on its further bank 600 feet below. At the head
of this ling stands a heavy stone gateway,
built for defence during the rebellion of
forty years ago, when the Taipings swarmed over
this part of the country, but were ultimately sub-
dued by General Gordon. On we went over five
great lings until we had reached a height of 2,359
feet above the river. Such a region of towering
hills, and deep, precipitous valleys, they were like
the waves of the sea, and almost as countless, and
to me far more beautiful, because of the infinitely
greater variety, both in form and colour.
BY MOUNTAIN, ROAD AND RIVER. 35
Then began the descent, mostly by paths little
better than ledges cut' round the hills, and'in some
places quite dangerous. The breaking of a chair-
pole, or of a cord, the slip of a foot, must have
precipitated us hundreds of feet, and dashed us
to pieces. At one spot the path was so narrow
and broken-down I begged my bearers to put me
down, so that I might walk over. They insisted,
however, on carrying me, but I called to my. hus-
band to “get down,†which of course he dis-
regarded. Looking back, apprehensively, I saw
one of his bearers slip just at the crucial part,
and instinctively emitted a terrified shriek !
It was a relief to reach our stopping place,
which was, as usual, the last house in the village.
We received a hearty welcome to the farmer’s dim
interior. Mud floors, so saturated with wet as to
be positively slippery, were our portion, but it
was their best, and soon we had changed our
sopping garments, and were seated at supper,
remarkably cheerful, considering. This over,
came the little simple service, then bed,—for me,
—but conversation till a late hour for Mr. Soot-
hill. Seeing he can only visit this out of the way
station twice a year, no wonder there are long
arrears of talk anent the progress of the work.
The Christians, too, were anxious as to their
future position, and were glad of the opportunity
to pour forth their forebodings. Their enemies
were “breathing out threatenings,†and were
apparently forging their thunderbolts in the hope
of scattering the little flock, and reducing them
to the condition of social outcasts,
On Sunday we were wakened at the (for country
people) luxuriously late hour of 6 a.m. by the
sounds of busy life all around. In the adjoining
room a young boy had evidently been told off to
amuse the baby, and most effectively he performed
the time-honoured office, but with considerably
more expenditure of lung power than seemed to us
compatible with a thin wooden partition, which
was all the protection that stood between us.
Christians were singing hymns in detachments,
and in different gamuts too, though not one of
the tunes could we “placeâ€; the key was always
distinctly minor, and more in the style of a dirge
than of “ joyful lays.â€
We dressed under difficulties, for no sooner did
Wwe open the window (a wooden shutter) to permit
of our finding our garments, than the aperture
was immediately filled with a dozen pairs of
eyes, Men, women and children’s, The only way
was to collect our clothes, shut the shutter, then
scramble into them under the protection of dark-
ness; Opening again at the face washing, and
hair combing, so as to gratify this ultra-feminine
curiosity within reasonable limits,
Immediately after breakfast we went out into
the large house -place, where services are held, and
which was already filled with sound as well as
people, each one bawling his loudest, according to
“the custom of the Chinese.†_ I wish I could
accurately present the appearance of that Chinese
farmstead before your mind’s eye. The house-
place is the principal room, and in this case is long
and low. The various sleeping rooms are ranged
around the whole length of one side, being par-
titioned off by rough, unpainted wood-work.
With the exception of a corner at one end, which
was partly boarded off as a kitchen, the whole of
the opposite side was open to the dripping hills
against which it was built, this arrangement giv-
ing the inmates all the advantages to be derived
from free admission of “ wind and weather.â€
Do not imagine there is anything in common
between an English and Chinese oh-tser-ka, or
kitchen. Here there is no chimney, so during
cooking, all the smoke from the dried grass and
wood, used as fuel escapes into the house, and
accounts ‘for many of the sore eyes, and much of
the grime and cobweb, both of which have become
second nature. The cooking stove is a structure
of brick, with a big, shallow pan fixed in the top
for the boiling of rice, underneath is an aperture
for the fire, which is made of dried grass and
brushwood cut from the hillsides. The good
wife’s “kitchen bellows†delighted me hugely.
When she wished to fan the embers to a flame,
she took a hollow bamboo stick, inserted one end
in the stove and the other in her mouth, then
blew.
There is any amount of sickness among this
poor people, which the missionary finds out when
he dispenses medicine after the service, at the
modest charge of ten cash, or a halfpenny a
patient.
There was a fine congregation, in spite of con-
tinued wet. Mr. Soothill preached on « My peace
I leave with you,†and what kind of peace it was
which could be given by a man on the eve of His
crucifixion. They were very attentive, a large
number standing all through the service, at which
sixty were present, of whom seventeen partook of
the Bread and Wine at theclose. But here, in China,
as children too often rule the roost, no attempt
was made to keep them in order, and half my
time was spent in endeavouring to subdue a lively
youth of four, who answers to the call of “Chao-
sing,†or, saving star.
There was such a crowd my husband had to
come into our bedroom, and have in the patients
one by one. Our faithful chair-coolie (named the
buffalo by facetious ones) stands guard at the door,
and now calls, “ Let the eighteenth present him-
self,â€
UNtEss you want to be poor,
don’t try to keep
all you get.
SK
pats) fi’ BEL
— Ys 21 Fe
EDITORIAL NOTES.
RS. Heywood, of Ningpo, knowing
that all signs of progress on the part
of eastern women are greatly wel-
comed by their sisters of the west,
has sent me an account of an inter-
esting movement amongst some ladies
of Shanghai. She writes as follows:
OUR FOREIGN FIELD.
but when the Chinese ladies themselves are in-
terested in the education of their daughters.
Formerly, and, in many cases, still at the present
time, the Chinaman was very anxious to give his
sons the best possible education, but if his daugh-
ers sat in the house doing beautiful embroidery,
only going out on rare occasions, he was quite
satisfied even if they had only a slight idea of
ook knowledge.
* * *
Turre are exceptions to this rule, of course.
I knew the daughter of a mandarin in Wenchow
who was able to read with ease “The Pilgrim’s
Progress,†and the Gospels in Chinese character,
ut, on the other hand, I know the two grown-
up daughters of a Chinese doctor who, when I
asked them if they could “doh-shu,†or read
books, looked at each other in great dismay,
whilst the
« Tv appears
that several
Chinese ladies,
wives of the
native gentry
of Shanghai,
have decided
on starting a
girls’ school in
that place, and
in connection
therewith the
foreign ladies
who form the
committee of
the Anti-
Foot binding
Society,†have
received an
invitation
couched in the
FEONCE RG ja] Biblewoman
x oa | who was with
me told me
they could
read very
little, if any,
and that their
chief work
was embroid-
ery.
I am glad
to say their
father is grow-
ing wiser as
he grows
older, for he
is allowing his
younger
daughters to
be educated.
Therefore, side
following
terms :—
“« The Ladies’
Committee of the
request the pleasure
foreign dinner at Chang Su-Ho’s Garden,
Bubbling Well Road at three o’clock Monday
afternoon, December 6th, 1897.â€
This invitation gives the names of ten Chinese
ladies, who come from several of the coast pro-
vinces of China, and they. have taken this plea-
sant method of interesting foreign Jadies in their
scheme, and securing their advice.
* * *
One interesting and progressive feature about
this new school is, that no girl will be allowed to
remain there with bound feet. .____
* * *
Cuina is indeed making advance when not
only is the education of girls being considered,
Chinese Girls’ School
company to a
by side with
A Fanily Group of Gallas. See Page 3. the higher
education of
women in England, is growing in China the desire
for thorough education of the women here, and
with the desire they are finding out the means
of accomplishment.â€
* * ¥*
Ty a letter to the Editor, Miss Emma Hornby
says : “1 am quite at home with my dear Chinese
brothers and sisters. Although they are a peculiar
people, there is much in them to love and admire.
The study of their language is most interesting.
The more you know of it, the deeper you want to
dig. Ihave made rapid progress these last few
months. ‘To our Heavenly Father be all the
praise.
* * *
Many opportunities for speaking the ‘ wonder-
ful words of life’ are given by being able to min-
‘GENERAL
ister to their bodies. To-day I was called to visit
’ Buddhist nunnery by request of one of the nuns
who was ill. This visitation has so opened the
door that two of them have promised to attend
our church. Near our chapel at Hae-ming-Saen
the Chinese officials have turned one of their tem-
ples into a school where Hnglish has to be taught.
The idols have been pounded into dust to make
‘mortar for the setting up of a cooking range, to
cook the student’s rice. Surely this is a sign that
the Lord is going to have the heathen for his in-
heritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for
his possession.
% * *
We are kept hard at work. I have nine
churches under my care, also dispensary days for
women, children and men. I hope shortly to
work at our other churches, which Mr. Heywood
is visiting. I have on Monday afternoons a very
earnest class of Christian women at our Kong-
Long church, sewing for the poor. They are
very few, but very true.â€
2 * * *
Miss Hornsy further says “I should be very
pleased if there are any members of Christian
Endeavours who would like to make woollen caps
for Chinese babies. If so I will be pleased to
send them a pattern. Woollen scarfs or mittens
would be much appreciated, also print of any hue
to make bed quilts, materials to make clothing, or
old linen for hospital use.â€
% * *
My readers may like to know what is done in
China with the Christmas and picture cards
which -our missionaries solicit. In a letter to
Rev. W. Kaye Dunn, Miss Hornby -answers this
question. She says: “ Upon each of the Christmas
ecards is written in Chinese the following texts,
‘God is love,’ ‘ Lord, help me,’ ‘ Suffer little chil-
dren,’ and other suitable words. They then are
scattered broadcast. In this way they serve as
tracts.â€
* * *
SIERRA LEONE.
In this month’s columns will be found Part I,
of a Lecture on Sierra Leone by the late Rev.
T. H. Carthew. He presented the manuscript to
Mr. George Ibberson, of Sheffield, and I have
transcribed it for publication. In doing this I
altered nothing, though I made several omissions,
especially where statements made by Mr. Carthew
were through lapse of time and recent changes no
longer accurate.
GOLBANTI.
The picture with the legend “ A Family Group
of Gallas†is taken froma photograph supplied by
Rev. R. M. Ormerod. He describes it thus. ‘‘ This
gives a glimpse of the native home-life. Beneath
the palm are a family of five eating their midday
MISSIONARY SECRETARY’S NOTES. 37
meal—maize-porridge and gravy, of some kind.
Notice that the old man has his hand in the
‘porridge-pan, evidently scraping out the last
handful, whilst the youngest boy is drinking
gravy from the smaller pan. The Gallas eat and
drink usually straight from the cooking-pan.
There are five people sitting alongside the hut
bahind, all Gallas.â€
GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY'S
NOTES. -
PLEASING INCIDENTS.
FRIEND writes: —“In keeping with
the Missionary spirit in ‘ Self-denial
week’ my father, who is an invalid,
with a little assistance, collected
lds. 2d. for our Missions, and is
* thankful to God for the increased
Missionary spirit which appears to be
possessing cur Connexion.â€
# * %
Anorner sends 5s., signing herself “ Reader of
Free Methodist.†To both these good friends we
tender our best thanks.
WEST AFRICA.
In a letter recently to hand, Rev. J.
Proudfoot reports steady progress; in one or two
directions the work of the Mission is growing
in a very marked degree. He was, when
writing, on the eve of another journey to the
Mendi Mission. In relation to that Mission
Mr. Proudfoot says: — “Mr. Goodman insists
that another European Missionary must be
appointed to the Mendi Mission, it is not safe
for one man to be alone. I feel that Mr.
Goodman is right. Who will say, ‘Here am I,
send me?’â€
EAST AFRICA,
Our friend, Rev. C. Consterdine, has safely
arrived at our Tana Station. He has paid
several visits in company with Rev. R. M.
Ormerod to the Pokomos in the neighbourhood
of our Golbanti Station. He speaks enthusiasti-
cally of the earnestness of the young men of this
tribe, for the Book religion. The work on our
Tana Station was never so prosperous as now.
The work in the past has been slow, but we
believe well done, and now the harvest is
ripening. In Rev. R. M. Ormerod we have a
splendid Missionary, God is greatly blessing
his work, Golbanti was never so radiant with
hope as now. Mr. and Mrs. Ormerod, and Mr.
Consterdine report themselves to be in good
health. : 3
* 8 e
Ray. W. G. Hows writes in an equally hope-
ful strain about the progress of the work on
38 GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY’S NOTES.
our Ribe Station. He is addressing himself
with vigour and enthusiasm to the carrying
forward of the work on this, our oldest station.
He finishes one of his most recent letters with
these memorable words —“ The Lord is continu-
ally adding to the Church such as are being
saved.†Thank God, the Gospel in East Africa is
power unto sal-
vation.â€
= *
Our friend,
Reve. -Je-B
Griffiths,
Ganjoni, sends
glowing tid-
ings of the
steady growth
of God’s work
on his station.
In a review of
the year’s work
Mr. Griffiths
says:—“On
December19th,
8:90... the
ordinance of
the Lord’s
Supper was
ad min istered
for the first
time in our
Ganjoni
Church. There
were forty-six
comm wu nicants
present.â€
What a glori-
ous and inspir-
ing sight it
must have
been = Forty-
six of Africa's
offspring sitt-
ing down to-
gether to re-
member the
Lord Christ,
for the first
time. No, we
tenderest in our Holy Religion,—a suitable ser-
vice with which to recall the passion of the Lord
Jesus, that I feel sure some one will hail the
privilege of sending our friend the “Service†he
asks for.
CHINA.
Dr. Hoge reports the Dingley Memorial Hos-
pital at Wen-
chow to be
nearly finish-
Orde. Wie
hope,†he says,
‘¢in another
month to
OP ON -athteas
What a great
day that will
be! Mrs.
Hogg is bear-
ing the cost
of a women’s
ward to: this
hospital. What
a fragrant me-
morial this
will be through
all the long
years to come!
= * *
Rev. W. E.
Soov nin.
reports: —
“The beginn-
ing, as he
believes, of
a-n@0-t:h er
triumph.
Fourteen years
ago he visited
the city of Jui-
au,.and from
then till the
present this
city has been
on both his
mind and heart.
Once and again
he has tried
to establish a
must not
doubt, the
kingdoms of
this world shall become the kingdom of our God
and of His Christ.
A UNIQUE APPEAL.
In the last letter to hand Mr, Griffiths in his
first paragraph says :—“ We should feel so grate-
ful it some kind friend.would present us with a
Communion Service for our Ganjcni Church!†This
is an appeal so pathetic, so full of all that is
Street Preaching in Ningpo on a cold winter's day.
Mission there,
and failed,
because no
one would rent them a place for meeting. Now,
it would take too long to tell how, our friend has
acquired a house, and will commence a, Mission at
once. We have already a few, willing to throw in
their lot with us. The die is cast, it is for us to
go forward. Mr. Socthill says:—‘“Jui-au is the
great literary centre of this country; one of Li
Hung Chang’s most honoured teackers came from
THE GENERAL OUTLOOK. 39
there, and several high officials. It is the
key to a district containing an enormous popula-
tion ; only 25 miles from Wen-chow, and the main
part of Wen-chow’s population lies in the plain
between here andthere!†Surely the hand of God
is in this opening.
YET ANOTHER OPENING.
Our esteemed friend, Rev. J. W. Heywood, Ning-
po, writes the President, Rev. Dr. Swallow, that
he believes one of the most suitable pieces of land
in Ningpo can be purchased for some £200 for
Mission premises and a Hospital. This is an open
door we must enter. We have long waited for it,
and now it invites usforward. Land and Mission
House, and Hospital, will cost us £500. We can-
not draw on our ordinary income for this money.
Some one will surely come forward, and say,
‘Please let me build this Hospital and Mission
House.†I believe some friends have promised the
President help towards the Hospital. What a splen-
did, and at the same time, graceful act it would be to
have the wholesum promised during Dr. Swallow’s
year of Presidency. He has given more than
twenty of the best years of his life to our Ningpo
Mission, and will, D.V., return there in September.
Let it be with the full knowledge that he is going
to superintend the building of new premises, and
thus to crown his work with what will remain a
blessing to many generations; to crown the work,
the life work, of all the great and devoted men
who have laboured on the Ningpo station.
* * *
a
I sHatn anxiously wait for the promise to
enable us to give effect to this new enterprise, and
respond to this new call.
a fae Church Missionary Society has to
! reckon another of its Missionaries
among the martyred host; Mr. G. L.
Pilkington—whose portrait is given—
has been killed in Uganda by Soudan
mutineers. The Gleaner says the loss
of Mr, Pilkington is one of the heaviest
which the Uganda Mission could have sustained.
Within the short space of his life how great a
work he had accomplished! Captain OC. H.
Villiers writes: “In Mr. Pilkington’s death the
cause of civilization in Africa has received a severe
blow.â€
* * *
Mr. Prixrineron had translated Bunyan’s “ Pil-
grim’s Progress†into the language of Uganda,
for which he received a grant from the Religious
Tract Society. Although that great publishing
house seldom issues controversial works, yet it
brought out also a little work by Mr. Pilkington
which shews the points of difference between
Romanism and the Protestant Faith. It is entitled,
“ He that seeketh findeth.â€â€™
* * *
Tux sudden and unexpected death of Dr. W. F.
Moulton is a severe blow to the Wesleyan body.
Only a few days before his death he was present
at an influential gathering in the Hotel Metropole,
London, held in connection with an effort to raise
£30,000 for the endowment of Ley’s School, Cam-
bridge ; and appeared to be in good health and
spirits. “In the midst of life we are in death.â€
* * *
Tae Chronicle of the L.M.S. for February, says
The Late G. L, Pilkington.
that the latest news from Madagascar is reassur-
ing. “The courage and hopefulness of both
missionaries and native Christians have been re-
vived, and there is good ground for believing that,
for some years to come at any rate, the Society
will be able to carry on useful work in the island.â€
I rejoice at this, and yet remembering French
doings in the South Seas, I rejoice with trem-
bling.
* * *
Dr. AtexanprR Mactaren in a_ recent
speech, declared that he must be blind to the
signs of the day who did not see that. there was
lying before the members of the Free Churches,
a fight to the death with encroaching and
arrogant sacerdotalism. I have no doubt that
he is right. Even now the conflict is in
progress.
40 A PLANTATION SCENE,
Rey. W. G. Nexepuam, of Brooklyn has had
an easel placed in the back of his pulpit, and
with chalk of different colours he makes a
telling sketch during the delivery of his dis-
course. He thinks we want illustrated sermons,
and that where the minister has not the
requisite powers the Church might engage an
artist as it engages an organist. What next?
A PLANTATION SCENE.
BY C. CONSTERDINE OF RIBE,
————— Owe five o’clock in the evening. of
a warm day early in October, I
strayed down to a spot indicated by
the sound of a ponderous drum.
In a small clearing in an Indian
corn plantation stood a characteristic
mud hut with the usual thatched roof of grass
and an exceedingly low verandah, in front of
which was gathered a group of people, who had
evidently sorted themselves without the superin-
tendence of any official committee of manage-
ment, and to the satisfaction of all concerned.
A few motherly women were seated in the back-
ground paying the best of attentions to the cook-
ing of the rice, of which there seemed to be
abundance; little children were squatted beneath
the eaves of the verandah, with their cocoa-nut
shells in their hands, from which they scraped
their dole of rice, whilst in the space between
were gathered from forty to fifty people of nearly
all the intervening ages.
They were evidently prepared for the occasion,
for the boys appeared in their coats and long
loose gowns cleanly washed, the girls were cer-
tainly a little less scantily clothed than is usual,
their made skirts and print bodices suited their
dark and comely figures admirably, while here
and there the contrast -in colour was pleasingly
relieved by a band of Turkey-red; it may be as a
waistband or a kerchief around the temples.
The musical accompaniment does not lend itself
to criticism. Suffice it to say a native drum sus-
pended from a mango-tree, is vigorously beaten
by an energetic youth, a younger boy is diligently
beating a kettledrum, which he has hung at his
waist, and yet a third youth exercises an equal
amount of energy upon an empty oil tin placed
upon the ground, and all are incessantly beaten to
the rapid metre of two whistles, while the chorus
of voices is joined in by all, the youths marking
time with their feet.
It is the wedding-day of Gilbert Mwandaza and
Amy Mwaka and everyone is in good humour.
It is an interesting scene, their pleasantries are
born of the freedom of the woods; their voices ring
out with a note which accords well with the wild
and rugged surroundings,
b}|
Two pairs of partners are engaged in something
which carried me back to the December evenings
and the gaslights when “Sir Roger de Coverley â€
yan riot among the juveniles. Now the youths
advance to the confronting party, and proudly
return with (if practicable) their blushing prize.
The repetition of the figures, and the pace of the
movements all seem to imply that there is no
anxiety to reach the finale, nor yet any uneasiness
on account of the approaching twilight, for what
is not done by the sunlight may be done by that
of a beautiful clear full moon. By way of aslight
diversion, however, a youth who has hitherto been
taking a prominent part in the proceedings, seizes
the flag attached to a long wand, and heads a pro-
cession of double file, and marches off for a dis-
tance of some twenty or thirty yards, but soon to
return as before.
In the lull of the proceedings I step across to
see what is being provided for this gay throng.
A large circular grass mat upon the floor is the
receptacle of the cooked rice from three or four
earthen cooking pots under which small wood
fires are burning. Over another fire was boiling
the broth of three or four fowls, with which the
rice is to be served. Scarcely have I satisfied my
curiosity when an important looking individual bids
mea hearty welcome, and invites me to be seated
upon a seat from which I have no fear of falling far.
Having agreed to the first request, I can hardly
refuse to comply with the second, when a wooden
bowl is placed upon the ground before me, heaped
up with the freshly cooked rice. The colour of the
rice I conclude is accounted for by the broth, but
I ask no question respecting the water, for
conscience sake; there are no spoons, none are
needed, “fingers were made before spoons,†so
with as little concern as the novel circumstances
will allow I commence my frugal meal. I enquire
of the good woman acting as my hostess as to
where the *tembo is, she acknowledges they have
a little, and calls a young man privately, and is
about to despatch him for it, but, however, a
denial of the desire from myself immediately
terminates these negotiations.
Having satisfied myself early with my meal a
little water is brought in a cocoanut shell.
The light is now beginning rapidly to fade with
the early twilight of the tropics, I know it is
time my own evening meal was being prepared, yet
am loth to call away my house-boys. Turning to
thank my hostess, assuring her my repast was very
good, I bid her a hearty good-night, and slowly
wend my way back to the mission house, and have
not a word of reproof, when I find my meal is
quite one hour late, but while the curtain is being
drawn on this and other scenes I am reflecting upon
the signs of the times.
I cannot but think of the fathers of these children
#Tembo.—Native drink from cocoanut palm, Highly intoxicating,
SIERRA LEONE. 41
with ‘their strange, weird-looking, half-supersti-
tious performances, in which the tembo is so indis-
pensable an element.
I cannot but contrast them with their half-naked
neighbours and kinsfolk only twenty minutes’ walk
away, and I cannot but think of a neighbouring
town only one hour’s journey distant, which I
visited a few months ago upon a day which hap-
pened to be one of their holidays, and came sud-
denly upon sixty or eighty men congregated in the
centre of the town and every one of them more or
less drunk.
As I sit and think upon this scene there rises
before my eyes what I take to be the shadows of
coming events. Is there no significance in the fact
that these children should organise a day of
joviality and merriment. according to their own
conception which should be so much superior to
that of their fathers ?
Is it indicative of nothing that these young
men and maidens, who in England would be
considered just at the critical period of life,
should plan for themselves, without the counsel
of the missionary, or the restrictions of the hand
of authority, a festival into which to throw their
whole heart and energy, so harmless as to admit of
so few exceptions being taken !
True there may be characteristic traits which
still savour of the old, but they are but evidences
which substantiate our claims for progress. I
thought of Eccles xi. 9. and how happy must he
be, whose pleasure does not bring him into con-
demnation at the judgment.
God has already sent forth His word saying,
“Tet there be light,†but what if this approach-
ing dawn be unnecessarily delayed because of the
lack of light-bearers! Sad indeed will be the case
if Methodism allows these mists to hover over
until the noon, and the day be spent as a dark
November month, through the fogs of which the
sun is unable to strike his most brilliant rays. Sad
indeed will be the case if these people of our Hast
African Mission are allowed to grope throughout
the day by the dim candle light of our native
ministry alone, and the day should close without
their having been able to “comprehend with all
saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth,
and height ; and to know the love of Christ which
passeth knowledge, that they might be filled with
all the fulness of God.â€
A WEIGHTY OPINION.
Tux Prstinence. —No pestilence has ever
destroyed so many millions of men, women, and
children, as intemperance ; for a pestilence comes
and goes, and often at long intervals, but intem-
perance is a fixed and permanent plague, always
spreading, and always destroying our people, body
and soul.—Carpinan Mannina.
SIERRA LEONE, PAST AND PRESENT.
BY THE LATE REY.
No. I.
T. HB. CARTUEW.
sula now called Sierra Leone, is
supposed to be contained in the ac-
count given of the voyage of Hanno,
the Carthaginian traveller in the
sixth century before Christ. The
general character, however, of this record of
travels shows that the Carthaginians were very
imperfectly avquainted with the African physi-
ology, for in one place it speaks of the captivity
of the women covered with hair, whose skins
were carried to Carthage. This certainly must
either have been false, or thera must have been,
going on since that time a wonderful evolutionary
process which has resulted in the survival of the
fittest among the fair ones of Africa. The two
women were, in all probability, two chimpanzees,
or orang-outangs, which abound in various parts
of the coast, and which resemble the human
species to a remarkable degree.
This first contact of the country with civilisa-
tion was resultless, and this part of Africa re-
mained quite unknown to medieval Europe until
the fourteenth century after Christ. The Portu-
gese, a nation of comparatively small resources,
but of remarkable energy, are generally credited
with being the first Huropeans who visited the
place. They did so for the first time under Cap-
tain Pedro de Cintra, in the year 1462. During
the reigns of King John and King Emmanuel,
Portugal stood pre-eminent in maritime adven-
ture and discovery. Prince Henry, third son of
John I., was supposed to be the first Huropean to
apply the mariners’ compass to navigation. In
1607 William Finch, a merchant, visited Sierra
Leone, and found the names of several Englishmen
inscribed on the rock there. Amongst others,
those of Sir Francis Drake, who had been there
20 years before, Thomas Candish and Captain
Lister. The English had a small fort on the
Sierra Leone river in 1695, whence they traded
to the Hast as far as the Foulah country, for
slaves, ivory and gold. The next account of the
country is given by Mr. Smith, surveyor to the
Royal African Company in 1726. He says, “It
is not certain when the English became masters of
Sierra Leone, which they possessed unmolested
till the pirate Roberts took it in 1720.†Down
to the year 1787 almost the only business of the
English on the spot was to carry on the slave
trade. This brings me down to the idea of the
present settlement, which was a direct conse-
quence of the memorable decision of Lord Chief
Justice Mansfield, delivered on the 21st of June,
1772, “that no person could lawfully be detained
42 SIERRA
>
in England as a slave.†In virtue of this de-
cision many negroes were deserted by their former
owners, and left in London unprovided for. Their
wretched condition elicited the sympathy of afew
high-spirited philanthropists, who consulted to-
gether upon the best possible relief they might
bestow. The most feasible plan suggested was the
formation of a settlement in Sierra Leone to which
they might be sent, and there make for them-
selves a home. Accordingly a number of gentle-
meén subscribed some thousands of pounds as a
fund for assisting these destitute negroes by send-
ing them to West Africa. The British govern-
ment very liberally seconded these views and took
the responsibility of transporting the people
thither, and of supplying them with all neces-
saries during their first six or eight months’
residence in Africa. In the year 1787 the pro-
moters of this enterprise entered into negotiations
with King Tom, a chief of the Timanee tribe, with
a view of purchasing a suitable site for the pur-
pose of the new colony. Considerable difficulties
had to be encountered, and grave apprehensions
were entertained before these negotiations were
completed. Perseverance, however, was eventu-
ally successful, and a title to the Peninsula was
acquired for the sum of £30, which was duly at-
tested by a deed signed with the mark of King
Tom, and confirmed at a grand palaver of the
tribes held two or three months afterwards. This
transaction created a little merriment in the
House of Commons among the opponents of the
scheme, but Mr. Buxton declared that the mark
of a King Tom or a King Jemmy was to him in-
finitely more satisfactory than the abominable
practice of seizing upon territory, and driving the
inhabitants from the country. In the same year,
1787, the first batch of immigrants, 460 freed
negroes, sailed in the ship “ Nautilus,†from
London, for their future home. During the pas-
sage there was much sickness on board, and 84
died before reaching their destination ; a hundred
more passed away before the close of the first
rainy season. Three years after, in 1790, the
new colonists were attacked by a body of natives,
in revenge for the burning of a town belonging
to King Jemmy, a native chief, by the crew of a
British vessel. They were scattered about the
neighbourhood, and were collected from their
hiding places, not without great difficulty, by Mr,
Falconbridge, who was sent out from England
early in 1791, and whose wife wrote an account
of the new settlement, which is most interesting,
being written from an English lady’s standpoint.
In the same year the promoters, who. had joined
themselves into a company, hitherto called the
St. George’s Bay Company, succeeded in passing
through Parliament an act incorporating them
under the title of the Sierra Leone Company.
Among the ninety-nine names mentioned in this
LEONE,
Act as constituting the first body of proprietors,
the foremost are Granville Sharp, William Wil-
berforce, William Ludlam, and Sir Richard Carr
Glynn, and these deserve to be remembered as
the actual founders of the settlement. In the
first two and a half years of its existence they
spent on its establishment and development
£111,500. The directors of the company or-
ganised a system of government under an English
officer, Lieutenant Clarkson, R.N., as nearly as
possible resembling the British constitution.
In 1792 a considerable addition was made to
the colonists by the arrival in sixteen ships of
1,131 negroes from Nova Scotia. These men had
served under the English flag during the American
war, at the close of which they had been placed
in Nova Scotia by the government, but finding
the climate unsuitable for them, arrangements
were made by the Sierra Leone Company, as-
sisted by the government, to locate them per-
manently at Sierra Leone. The importation of
so large a body of people could not fail to produce
many important consequences, and to give a new
character to the whole undertaking. The com-
pany’s capital was the first consideration demand-
ing the attention of the directors. They brought
forward a scheme for its enlargement, which re-
sulted in raising the same to £235,280,
In 1794 the Sierra Leone Company made their
first effort to open up trade in the interior by
the despatch of a mission consisting of two of the
company’s servants, who penetrated 300 miles in-
land as far as Timbo, the capital of the Foulah
country. In consequence of this mission a depu-
tation of chiefs from Timbo visited the settlement,
to propose terms of trade, and a small beginning
was made of an internal commerce which, had it
been properly developed, would have proved the
best means of carrying out the objects with which
the settlement was formed. The primary object
of the founders of the colony was not merely the
establishment of a home for destitute negroes, but
to make it a centre for the diffusion of religion
and civilisation through Africa.
The next memorable event in the history of
the colony was the arrival of the Maroon settlers
in October, 1800. They were in number about
550, natives of Jamaica, who claimed their free-
dom when the English took that island from the
Spaniards. As they had long lived somewhat
roughly. in the mountainous districts there, and
did not bear the reputation of a very peaceable
people, it was thought best by the British govern-
ment to locate them in Sierra Leone. Notwith-
standing their reputation they became an indus-
trious people, and very useful members of society.
These, with the thousands of slaves captured by
British cruisers along the coast, and the many
who have escaped from bondage in other ways
constitute the inhabitants of the settlement.
A REMINISCENCE. 48
A REMINISCENCE.
BY EMMA HORNBY.
NE Sunday afternoon shortly after my
arrival in China, I had the pleasure of
visiting one of our small mission sta-
tions. I had not long been seated be-
fore a little Chinese boy and girl came
in and took a seat, one on each side of
me. I took no notice of them fora
time, having been warned that the Chinese were
afraid of approaching foreigners. This was speci-
ally true of children whose parents tell them
that we steal them, and make “yiah†(medicine)
of their bodies.
Forsome time I continued sitting almost motion-
less, during which time I had been pretty well
scrutinised from head to foot. The stage of exam-
ination having been completed, they began to get
on more friendly terms, by turning up the sleeve
of my dress, and contrasting the colour of their
skin with mine.
They then took off my gloves, a smile accom-
panying the act, as they gazed up into my face to
see whether I appreciated this liberty. I re-
turned the compliment with a smile, to show that
I had not come to steal their bodies, but to be
their friend. After the service was concluded
many were the questions they asked. Having
been but a short time in China, and not knowing
much of their language, I could only reply, “ If
you still come to Li-pa (worship) I will bring
you a pretty picture card, and teach you a nice
hymn about the only true God.â€
On my reaching the simple little sanctuary the
next Sabbath, who should put in an appearance
but this little boy and girl. At the close of the
service the hymn was taught, and the card pre-
sented, which brought forth quite a shriek of
gladness and delight. The bright hues of the
flowers which were painted upon them appeared
quite to suit their tastes. Now, instead of haying
one little Chinese boy and girl, the chapel is al-
most filled with poor, ragged heathen girls and
boys. This has led to the opening of a Sunday
school, which is attended most regularly; hail,
frost, snow or rain does not keep the scholars at
home. Some mothers come also, bringing their
babies with them.
He who sees the sparrows falling
Clothes the lily with its grace,
Hears His weak ones softly calling
From their lowly dwelling-place.
Not a soul that trusts Him fully
Seeks His blessing day by day—
Not a heart that loves Him truly
Did He ever turn away.
BREAKING THE FETTERS.
BY W. A. TODD.
CHAPTER III.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE “ WAJOLI.â€
<\)HE next morning before sunrise a
woman stood on the mainland
nearest to the island of Mombasa,
and called aloud for the ferryman -
to bring his dhow (boat) and take
her across the water.
It was the woman who the day before had
pleaded with the white man to save her child, and
had listened to words which pleased her. Now,
the question was, how could she let her little
daughter know the words of Bwana Mkubwa.
The difficulty which stood in the way, was how
to leave the plantation and her work there for the
length of time it needed to go to Mombasa and
back. She knew she would run the risk of a
severe beating if she ventured so far and her
absence was noticed. But she must run that risk
and make her back strong for the blows, if needs
be. “I must tell his words to Adijuai, my little
woman,†she repeated to herself as she bent at
her work and made no shadow in the noonday
sun.
When the sun was haifway down towards the
setting a thought flashed through her dull mind
which sent a light into her face, a light which
remained there for days in spite of hunger,
heat, and weariness. Hvery morning someone on
the plantation must carry a load of fruit to the
master’s house at Mombasa. The woman whose
lot it had been to perform this unenviable work
was suffering from a terrible sore, and of late had
been growing lamer every day, so that it was with
extreme difficulty she could stand or walk. Only
yesterday, after her return, she had lain in the
darkest corner of her hut, panting and groaning
with an agony of pain. Why should she not
volunteer to carry the fruit to Mombasa herself,
for that would bring her nearer to her child.
And when in the house of their master, Hamad
Bin Azed, surely the Muungu (God) of Bwana
Mkubwa would bring her face to face with little
Adijuai, and then a few words would suffice. She
knew her chief danger was, lest in volunteering,
she should arouse the suspicions of the Swahili
pverseer, who might then out of sheer devilry
send someone else. It was a trying moment when
-ferryman.
44 BREAKING
she approached him on the subject, but her
method of approach was a very indirect one, she
elected to act the part of a slave trying to curry
favour by carrying tales about her wajoli (fellow-
slaves). So well did she act her part that he
never suspected anything, but replied, “ Bismillah,
you shall carry the load yourself, mother of the
ugly face,†and drove her from him with a vicious
kick.
That was the reason why the ripples of the
water touched her unsandalled feet the next
morning before daybreak; that was why she was
laden with a heavy load of pineapples, bananas,
viazi (sweet
THE FKETTERS.
How long she must have waited can only be
conjectured, had not a party of white men made
their appearance at this moment on the other side
of the water. The ferryman’s eyes caught sight
of them while he was speaking, and scarcely were
the last words out of his mouth before he shoved
off and commenced paddling, But the woman’s
eyes and actions were as quick as his so she
managed to regain her seat and preserve her
balance in the dhow.
On the way over to the island the boatman
enquired of his passenger, “ What root have you
been chewing to make your eyes ag bright as the
early sun?â€
potatoes), and
other native
fruits ; and
that was why
she called
ACTOSS the
‘water for the
But he was
in no hurry;
she must wait,
he had his
prayers to say ;
beside, it was
surely the will
of Allah she
should remain
there, for he
must wait until
his dhow was
full before he
could coms
over. Poor
mother ! In
her eagerness
she had started
from Chan-
gamwe a full
hour sooner
than was
necessary.
There was “Bismillah! you shall
penne ie ae cory tRe load yourSelf."
ut be patient.
She ceasedher ~ iS
He had
noticed the
light in her
face—a light
seldom seen on
a domestic
slave’s face—
the light of
love. She
answered him
not, and for
that reason he
hurled at her
all the epi-
thets he
could use, and
this he con-
tinued to do
until he was
out of breath,
which was not
until she was
out of hear-
ing on _ the
road to Mom-
basa.
Later in the
day a woman
anda girl were
grinding corn
in the square
Of 28 hie
Arab’s house.
Low, almost
cries, and seating herself on the ground beside
her burden of fruit she awaited the pleasure
of the ferryman. ‘The sun had made its
appearance and was shooting rapidly up in
the heavens before the swish of the water
aroused her out of her reverie. The dhow, full
of caravan porters soon ran aground. She lifted
her load and placed it in the boat and was about
to take her seat when the ferryman interrupted her
with, “ Nay, mpumbafn (fool). Is the dhow full
for the return journey?â€
g
under her
breath, so softly that none but the girl could
hear her, the mother chanted, as it is the
native’s custom, to the sound of the grind-
ing stones. ‘The words of the Bwana are these,
and good strong words are they; these are the
words he said to me, ‘If she comes to the station
I will not drive her away.’ Why not grind the
corn for the white man ? He will not beat you, he
will give you plenty of food. He will not hurt
you, he will save you. Strong is he, Bwana the
Lion. What were his words? Do you take hold
BREAKING
of them, my daughter? ‘If she comes to the
station will not drive her away.Չۉ۪
The flour was ready, the stones ceased their
grinding and the woman her chant.
Before the day was spent Trevelyan’s fear was
realized, and Fred Andrews lay in his room
writhing in the clutches of fever. Fora fortnight
the nursing of the sick man formed the constant
care of the more seasoned Missionary. During
that time his hands were as gentle as a woman’s,
soothing the patient in his delirum and arranging
the pillows for the throbbing head. Gradually
the fever was overcome, and degree by degree the
temperature of the body was lessened, until one
day, nearly three weeks after the successful
pleading of the woman on behalf of her daughter,
Fred Andrews was able to leave his sick room, a
shadow of his former self.
After seeing his friend comfortably settled on
the couch. Trevelyan looked at the thin wan face
with a look of anxiety.
“Took here, old man,â€â€™ he said, ‘‘ this won’t do,
you know. At this rate we shall soon be packing
you off home.â€
“Nay, not yet, Trevelyan. It is only seven
months since I landed, and I’m not going to even
think about returning, I can assure you. These
attacks of fever are only the seasoning process, I
suppose. By and bye I shall be allright and fit for
any length of time in Africa. Don’t talk again
about going home, please.â€
“ Allright. If that is your wish, so be it. But
Pll just tell you this. As soon as you are able you
must go away from Msomwe—this swamp-cursed
station—to Lamu by boat, or else to the hills for
a change.â€
The answer Andrews was making to this asser-
tion was never finished. Just at that moment
Kapala, announced the arrival of three slave girls
in the village.
“ Bring them here, Kapala, at once.’ As the
black youth disappeared to do this errand,
Trevelyan turned to Andrews and said, “ Never
mind answering me just now. Weare to havea
little healthy excitement, I fancy, and we need
something to lift us out of ourselves.â€
“ Hodi, Bwana?â€
This was the usual native cry before entering a
house, and signified ‘‘ May I come in?â€
“ Hodi,†(come in) replied Trevelyan.
At this command three girls followed each other
into the house. They were all young, the eldest
not more than sixteen, and the youngest could
scarcely be eight years old. The second girl was
spokeswoman for the others. The sum of her
story was this,—“ We are wajoli at the house of
Bishoga. My name is Adijuai. My mother came
from the plantations at Changamwe nearly a moon
ago and told me to run away from Bishcga, She
THE
FETTERS. 45
said if I came to you, Bwana, you would shield me
from the blows of my master. So we have
come.â€
Cross-examination brought out information con-
cerning the nature of their life at Mombasa. The
work of these wajoli had been to keep their mis-
tress’ rooms clean, to go to the distant well for
water, to grind the corn, &e. For any slight
neglect of duty they were pinched, beaten, and
partially starved. Every evening their master
would order his young female slaves to appear
before him and his friends, and while some
played rude instruments of music the others
danced one or more of the unseemly dances of the
Hast. If any of the dancers pleased him her fate
was sealed; she was compelled to take her place
among the Arab concubines in the harem.
Adijuai, the day after her mother’s visit, had
attempted to escape, but she was betrayed by a
fellow slave and beaten with a leathern thong
until the blood came. Her feet were then
fastened with iron fetters in the same fashion as
a horse is tethered to prevent it wandering away.
For ten or twelve days she could only painfully
walk a few steps at a time, and all the food she
had were such scraps as her companions could
bring her. Then, when weak with hunger and the
beating, her fetters were taken off, and she was
bidden go to her usual task.
But, taking into her confidence the two wajoli
who had befriended her in her punishment, she
determined by their help to make a_ second
attempt to escape. They decided they would have
more chance of success if the three ran away
together. So they had waited until they were
told off for water, when, breaking their water
pots, they turned their faces toward Msomwe.
After running great risks at the ferry, and after
spending a night in a plantation they had suc-
ceeded in reaching the mission station a few
minutes ago.
“ What are the names of your companions ?â€
“This is Maiki,†pointing to the elder gir],
‘and this one is called Mtuwaombi.â€
“ Now, listen to my words, Adijuai, Maiki, and
Mtuwaombi. You may stay here among the girls
of the station, and, as long as you behave your-
selves and do your share of the work, I will never
send you back to Bishoga. Now, Kapala, take
them to the kitchen and let food be given them.â€
“This is a specimen of the domestic slavery,â€
Trevelyan continued, “ which the British officials
at Mombasa. see fit to encourage. Mark you,
Fred, the worst features of domestic slavery have
only been hinted at in the story to which you have
listened. Starvation, cruelty,. physical and moral
degradation, and even murder—domestic slavery
means all that. ‘ With such slaves the Company
has no intention to interfere,’ that is what the
proclamation said, Andrews. They are ‘as here-
46 VARIETIES,
tofore recognized to be the property of their
masters,’ that is what the proclamation further
said, Andrews. I suppose that means they are
willing to see the wretches driven to desperation,
madness and death by their owners. The
servants of a trading Company may be willing,
but as a servant of the Cross I intend to interfere
whenever I can. Hamad Bin Azed has lost three
of his domestic slaves and he will never get them
back, God helping us.â€
“But Hamad is sure to find out where they are,â€
said Andrews, ‘ What if he comes.â€
“Let him come; we'll be prepared for him.â€
Trevelyan started to his feet and shook himself
as if ready for the contest. <“ Yes, he is sure, as
you say, to find out where his slaves have taken
refuge, so I’ll forestall him and send word of their
arrival to Myatt, the Deputy Governor of the
Oompany. Don’t be alarmed, my friend. It is
one thing to acknowledge the whereabouts of. the
wajoli, and quite another thing the master regain-
ing possession of them. The Company says I
must drive away or send slaves back to Mombasa
when they come pleading for protection. That I
will not do. Then the Company says that lists
of names and particulars of slaves who may be
allowed to dwell on our mission stations are to be
sent to their offices for investigation, with a view
of a return to their masters. Well, we can lose
nothing by sending names and particulars, as for
what happens afterwards, it is their concern. Let
them see to it.â€
An hour later, Kapala, the trusty head servant
of the mission, was on his way overland to Mom-
basa, bea'ing particulars concerning the arrivals
of the wajoli that morning. Thus was the gauntlet
thrown down.
spe term Mant: =
exze AY
ONE WOE IS PAST.
‘‘QnE woe is past. . Come what, come will,
Thus much is ended and made fast ;
Two woes may overbang us still ;
One woe is past.
Ag flowers when winter puffs its last
Wake in the vale, trail up the hill,
Nor wait for skies to overcast :
So meek souls rally from the chill
Of pain and fear and poisonous blast
To lift their heads: Come good, come ill,
One woe is passed.â€
Christina Rossetti,
A WORD TO THE WISE.
“ Never cross a bridge till you come to it,â€
My grandmother used to say,
Which means, little folks, that we mustn’t fret
Over troubles. that may the future beset,
If we’ve done what we can to-day.
You remember the time-worn fable
Of the farmer’s eight-day clock—
How the pendulum counted, with trembling and
fear
The number of times it must tick in a year,
And then stood as still as a stock,
Till, aided by friendly counsel,
It decided it would not shirk
The duty that plainly before it lay,
Because at some very distant day
It might be too tired to work.
So, little folks, live in the present ;
Daily strive to be useful and glad,
For when you are old you will find this out,
That many a trouble you’ve worried about
Is one you have never had.
MY NEW BIBLE.
An aged convert from heathenism, a native of
one of the Hervey Islands, some years ago received
as a present a copy of the Bible. A few pages or
chapters only had been given him before this, and
he was greatly pleased in becoming the owner of
the volume. After receiving it, he said, “My
brethren and sisters, this is my resolve: The dust
shall never cover my new Bible; the moth shall
never eat it; the mildew shall not rot it—My
light! My joy!â€
CHRIST IN US.
If Christ is in us His personal presence will be
manifest to all with whom we come in contact.
Our dispositions will be sweeter, our faith
stronger, our hope brighter, our love purer and
holier, and we will obey our Father's voico without
murmuring or complaining. Do you know that
Christ isin you, the hope of glory? Upon that
question hangs your eternal destiny.
A TRUE THOUGHT.
Life is short, and we have never too much time
for gladdening the hearts of those who are
travelling the same dark journey with us. Oh, be
swift to love! Make haste to be kind.
RECIPROCITY.
The man who for reasons, however valid, abstains
from according to his friends something of that
reciprocity on which all social intercourse rests,
must necessarily be liable in return, and is justly
liable, if not to marked neglect, at least to that
reverse which self-respect naturally engenders,
and even commands, and does so the more surely
and fitly in the case of comparatively inferior
intellectual and social pretensions.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR PAGE. 47
THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR PAGE.
BY EDWARD ABBOTT,
pleased to know that the winner of
the first prize in the senior division
of the Young People’s examination
is an active member of the C. E.
Society at Salisbury, and that the
winner of the first prize in the Junior Division is
a member of the Junior C. H. at New Basford.
Miss B. M. Naish and Master W. Clews will receive
the congratulations of their comrades in Christian
Endeavour on their deserved success.
Tux Todmorden Christian Endeavour gave evi-
dence of its sympathy for poor children by pro-
viding a free breakfast for 250 of them on Christ-
mas morning. After the repast they gathered in
the chapel to hear an address from Rev. J. Long-
den. After a bright and helpful service they were
sent home with an orange each, a packet of sweets,
a Christmas card and an illustrated paper. This
generous and Christian effort would surely carry
the double blessing ascribed to mercy, — “’Tis
twice blessed, it blesseth him that gives and him
that takes.†The fragments of this feast were
taken to the workhouse.
Ossett Society held a Consecration Meeting on
Christmas morning, conducted by the President
and addressed by Rev. H. Crisp. The meeting
was followed by a breakfast, and the proceeds
were devoted to the missionary fund.
THz balance sheet of the Liverpool’ Conven-
tion reveals the magnitude of this movement. The
income amounted to the large sum of £1,590 3s.,
and the expenditure £1,473 12s. 9d., leaving
£116 10s. 3d. to be devoted to the extension of
Christian Endeavour work through the country.
During the convention 50,000 communications
relative to Christian Endeavour passed through
the Liverpool Post Office.
Rocupatz was the centre of a unique gathering
of young people quite recently. The Mayor held
a reception at the Town Hall of about a thousand
guests, who were members of the Rochdale En-
deavour Union and the Wesleyan Guilds. The
meeting was enthusiastic and in every way suc-
cessful. Reports of the guilds and Endeavour
Societies were presented, and addresses given by
ministers and others. Free Methodism was
admirably represented by Alderman Duckworth,
M.P., who gave a sympathetic and stirring address
on the need of self-help and the timely assistance
of such societies as were represented in the gather-
ing, in enabling the young to fight nobly and
christianly the battle of life.
Tur Hanover Y.P.S.C.H. (Sheffield) has celebra-
ted its fourth anniversary. Sermons were preached
by Rev. W. L. Hambley and Rev. J. C. Brewitt.
Monday’s meeting was addressed by Rev. W. L.
Smith aud Rev. J. Ninnis. The society has taken
an admirable lead in the matter of missions and
subscribes annually £4 10s. for the education of a
Chinese boy at one of our mission stations. Whilst
looking abroad, it does not overlook the claims at
home, for the poor in the neighbourhood, old and
young, have been benefited by the liberality and
Christian sympathy of the Hanover Society.
Lapy Lane Mission, in its many forms of
Christ-like service, does not forget the claims of
the young. It has two societies ina vigorous and
healthy condition, under the supervision of earnest
and devoted workers, The junior society has re-
cognised the loving labours of the superintendent
Miss Clara Howeroft, by presenting her with a
gold badge.
Heene Hix Y.P.S.C.E. has done splendid ser-
vice for missions during the past year. It has
obtained in various ways £30 11s. 5d. for foreign
work. ‘Ten pounds of this amount goes to the
support of a Bible-woman in Ningpo, the remain-
der is for a women’s hospital in China, towards
the cost of which the society has undertaken to
raise £100.
Roruzruam Society, under the President Miss
Hetty Green, is making splendid progress. Al-
though only eighteen months old, the record is
most encouraging. The average attendance is
about 36, and earnest efforts are being made to
help the mission cause. Last year a grant of
five shillings was sent from the Society, but this
year by a silver self-denying offering and other
means, it is extremely probable that fifty shillings
will be sent instead of five. The meetings are
well sustained, and the young people give will-
ingly to the work of the Lord.
Expravour Day. On February 2nd, Christian
Endeavour was seventeen years old. In the first
year of its existence seven societies only were
formed, but now the number is 52,022. What
hath God wrought? The topic for the time
appropriately marks our proper attitude to this
work, “ For Christ and the Church what shall we
do?†That is the question for us all. What
shall we do?
The Cowes Y.P.S.C.E. has held its first
Missionary meeting. Messrs. G. Sharpe, P.
Corney, and W. Powell were the speakers. Mr.
KE. Morris occupied the chair.
BY THE EDITOR.
ANECDOTES or JouN WESLEY.
No. I.
|ANY interesting things can be related
‘| of John Wesley, who was the
greatest Home Missionary and Evan-
gelist that has arisen in England.
He was born at Epworth, in Lin-
colnshire, on June 17th, 1708, and
died in City Road, London, on March 2nd, 1791.
The house still stands, and my young readers when
they visit the metropolis may see the chamber
where this “ good man breathed his last.â€
EARLY HARDSHIPS.
John Wesley was what they call in Scotland
«a son of the Manse â€â€™ that is, he was a minister’s
son. His parents were anything but rich, but I
have no doubt that when at home John had always
plenty to eat. But when a boy of thirteen, he
became a pupil in Charterhouse School, London.
In nearly all our public schools the elder boys
tyrannize over the younger ones. The little boys
are “fags†to the big ones, and they are often
treated cruelly and contemptuously. William
Cowper, the poet, suffered dreadfully in this way,
and if matters are improved in our day they might
be made better still. Nearly all the time John
Wesley was at school, the big boys always took
the meat he had to his dinner; so he had to con-
tent himself with the bread. He had to endure
hardness in after life. This was a providential
preparation for it. But that does not justify the
wicked boys who half starved him, nor the care-
less masters who allowed it to be poss-ble.
HIS CONVERSION.
John Wesley went to Oxford University. It
was there the name ‘ Methodist’’ was first ap-
plied to him. He then went to Georgia to con-
vert the Indians, but asked afterwards ‘ who will
convert me?†Do not suppose he had been a
hypocrite before. Far otherwise, but he did not
attain “ the peace that passeth all understanding â€
till after he had come back to England. It was
only when he was blest with the knowledge of
salvation that he commenced that long, faithful
course of labours that God so remarkably owned.
THE CHILDREN’S PAGE,
John and Charles, with George Whitfield origin- —
ated a movement unparalleled for spiritual results .
since the days of the Apostles.
A SENSIBLE MAGISTRATE.
John Wesley once went to see a Justice of the
Peace before whom a number of Methodists were
brought. When asked what evil they had done,
somebody said they pretended to be better than
other people and prayed from morning till night.
“ Have they done nothing else?†asked the Jus-
tice. ‘‘ Yes,†said an old man, “they have con-
verted my wife. Till she went among them she
had such a tongue, and now she is as quiet as a
lamb.†‘Carry them back, carry them back,â€
said the magistrate, “and let them convert all the
scolds in the town.â€
IN| CORNWALL.
Methodists in this county are said to be very
hospitable, and it is true, though there are excep-
tions. When Wesley first visited it, he found it
anything but hospitable. One day he preached
on the vision of dry bones, but the people offered
him neither dry bones nor bones covered with flesh,
After the service, Mr. Wesley stopped his horse
to pick the blackberries, saying to his companion,
“we ought to be thankful that there are plenty
of blackberries, for this is the best country I ever
saw for getting a stomach, but the worst I ever
saw for getting food.†He was as badly off by
night as by day. When he and John Nelson had
been there nearly three weeks, Mr. Wesiey, at
three o’clock one morning, clapped his companion
on the side and said, ‘‘ Brother Nelson, let us be
of good cheer; I have one whole side yet, for the
skin is off but oneside.†Yet none ofthese things
moved him.
HIS GENEROSITY.
John Wesley was one of the most generous men
that ever lived. When his income was £30 he
spent £28 on himself and gave away £2, when it
was £60 he gave away £32, and when he had
£120 per year he gave away £92. When in old
age he was unable to keep his accounts he wrote
that he satisfied himself with knowing that he
gave away all he could, “that is,†he added, “ all
I have.â€
HIS SILVER PLATE.
When John Wesley was asked to make a
proper return of the silver plate he possessed he
replied to the Excise Commissioners, “I have two
silver teaspoons at London and two at Bristol ;
this is all the plate which I have at present, and
I shall not buy any more while so many around me
want bread.†John Wesley cared little for the
pride of life.â€
APRIL.
‘All looks gay and full of cheer
To welcome the new-liveried year.â€
Siz H. Worron.
OUR MISSIONS IN NINGPO.
BY FREDERICK GALPIN.
CHAPTER II.
MY FIRST INTRODUCTION TO A MEDICAL MISSION.
T the very time when missionaries were
suspected of child stealing, and many
other inhuman and shameful crimes,
and when in consequence of such wide-
spread suspicions, evangelistic work in
new places met with little if any res-
ponse from the Chinese people, a medi-
cal mission recently commenced in Ningpo by Dr.
John Parker became very active and very success-
ful. The dispensary was crowded with patients
and the hospital was nearly filled with inmates.
Much good to body and soul was quietly accom-
plished amongst the indoor patients, and some
were converted from their evil ways and desired
to become members of the Christian Church.
Dr. Parker had been sent. out as a medical
missionary by the United Presbyterian Church of
Scotland, and he was informed that a minister
would be appointed as a colleague to work with
him, and to take charge of the evangelistic and
pastoral duties of the mission. But the minister
had not been sent, and the medical missionary had,
chiefly by means of a Bible Class conducted in
the evenings, secured a few converts from his
patients.
One day the doctor asked me if I would baptize
his converts, and if I should wish to regard the
people I baptized as members of my own mission.
I consented to his request, and replied that I had
no desire to reckon amongst my members, people
that I had not fairly won in my evangelistic work.
But I also told the doctor that according to our
church polity, he had as much right to the pastoral
oversight of the converts as any ordained minis-
ter, and ought himself to baptize the people he had
brought to a knowledge of the truth.
The doctor then told me that he had applied to:
the other missionaries in Ningpo because they
were men of more experience, but that they would
only baptize the people on the condition that the
members were to be reckoned as belonging to their
Own missions.
I think the pride I then experienced because a.
Free Methodist Mission had really more Christian
charity and catholicity than the older missions
was justified, and the results of my action in the
end, brought considerable gain to our mission.
Four years after the United Presbyterian
Mission withdrew from Ningpo and their two:
flourishing stations were transferred tous. If I
had treated the doctor’s proposal on narrow Sec-
tarian lines, I am sure that we should not have
received the generous transfer I have referred to:
above.
But my visit to the hospital brought some ad-
vantage to the Chinese then under my care, I
often obtaining for them valuable medical aid.
In recent years we have come to regard medical
work as a most vital and important department of
missions; perhaps a few facts in our own ex-
perience which have led to our present position
may induce some of my readers to show more
practical interest in medical’ missions.
Personally, I shall never be satisfied with our
50 OUR MISSIONS IN NINGPO.
missions, till a medical infirmary is appointed to
every principal station in Africa’ and China.
I wish that all my readers would understand
the immense difficulties that block the way of the
evangelist in China.
To overcome and master the language, to suffer
fever, headache, and many other ills in one’s
struggle with the climate, are easy when com-
pared with the difficulty the evangelist has in his
attempts to get hold of the people. He wanders
from village to village, he preaches with all the
earnestness and ability at his command; he may
walk himself weary by travel, and in the end he
is regarded. as a foreigner, and is kept at a dis-
tance. Nearly everyone who reads the papers
must have discovered that the Chinese are the most
unresponsive race on the globe; the appeals made
fail to touch the Chinaman’s heart, they do not
grip, and this is not for lack of earnest desire on
the part of Christian evangelists.
I will attempt to show a picture of an evan-
gelist, who is not a medical missionary at work,
and then I will describe the medical missionary at
“work,
The missionary has reached a village and he is
looking about for a suitable place to stand and
preach. Novelty attracts a few children and
curiosity brings a few adults to look at the new-
comers.
At first there is a crowd, but each one reveals
in their expression the combined feelings of
curiosity and suspicion, after a little the numbers
begin to thin, and perhaps one or two may remain
till the end; and then the missionary overbur-
dened with convictions of the hardness of heart of
the heathen, and the difficulty of the work, leaves
the place, to hope for a better reception else-
where.
But the same experience follows him from plaee
to place, and he still feels that he has not reached
the people.
Perhaps he wants to stay for the night, but he
can only find a lodging at the public place open
to travellers, tramps, and hawkers of all sorts.
The missionary does not mind this, personally
he is happy enough because he possesses the
peave given by his Master to all who obey the
call to service, but he has not reached the people,
they do not open their hearts to him. They are
not conscious of any need that the evangelist can
supply
They think that perhaps he may be a good man,
that he desires to exhort them to live good lives
and to forsake evil of all kinds, but they will
think, and most likely say, “ Our own books are
as good, if not better, than these foreign publica-
tions.â€
The above experience was my own for several
years, and it has been the same in most cases of
evargelistic efforts amongst the heathen in China.
I will now give another account taken from my
own experience in later years.
One afternoon a missionary and a colporteur
reached a Chinese village after a walk of six
miles. They were strangers to the people ; they
had not visited the place before, but they had a
well-stocked medicine chest, and the Chinese
evangelist announces that the missionary is pre-
pared to supply medicine to the sick people.
The effect of this announcement is marvellous,
the missionary does not need to engage a town
cryer, for the people quickly convey the news
throughout the place, and a great many people
assemble to ask for medicine.
Not less than fifty persons were hurriedly attended
to before the people were satisfied, and each one of
these had come into contact with the missionary
and there was much more hope of impressing
Gospel truth upon the listeners under these cir-
cumstances. In fact medical work creates a diff-
erent atmosphere, it produces a feeling of near-
ness and sympathy that may open the hearts of
the people to receive the message of Jesus. Such
work if carried out in a spirit of Christly sym-
pathy, gives full and unmistakeable meaning to
the work of a missionary. The missionary may
not always be able to heal the sickness, but he
has the opportunity of speaking a few words of
brotherly sympathy that may sound strange at
first to a heathen, but in the end such messages
may do more good than long and elaborate addresses
which only afew can understand. Just now, I re-
member a case that was too serious for an unpro-
fessional medical missionary to treat.
The man belonged to a village that it seemed
almost impossible to impress, but I took him to
Ningpo and ultimately he was sent back healed,
and his return in good health created a feeling
of wonder and admiration, which, in the end,
opened the way to a spirit of interest in religion.
I should like to know what proportion of our
members in China trace their first acquaintance
with missionaries, and knowledge of Christian
truth to medical work; I am sure that a large
number of Christians would declare that because
of medical aid rendered to them, or to some mem-
ber of their family, they were first impressed to
study the Gospel message.
I trust my young readers will resolve to aid our
Committee with generous donations, so that every
mission station may have a medical missionary.
Tur Station in East Africa hitherto known a8
Ganjoni, has henceforth to be called Mazera’s,
from the native teacher who has for many years
laboured for his Master there. ‘lhe railway
station at the village is called Mazera’s. S22"
FRR Sei. +
ac! Sata ae ae
OUR FOREIGN
EDITORIAL NOTES.
EAST AFRICA
aa HAVE received a very encouraging letter
i from the Rev. R. M. Ormerod, dated
Golbanti, January 18th, 1898. I am
sure it will be read with interest. After
some prefatory sentences, Mr. Ormerod
ds :—
% procee 5 : 3
«“ Taxine 1897 as a whole, the Galla work here
has made real progress, as is evident from the in-
creased attendances at Church. The paramount
chief, who a year ago avowed he would never
deign to enter Church, is now a Sunday attender ;
his younger brother is a promising scholar. Mrs.
Ormerod is making her influence felt. The school
girls look with glee to her sewing-classes once a
week. They would like to have them daily to the
neglect of all other study. The instruction Mrs.
Ormerod received at the Zenana College in Lon-
don gives her another means of influencing the
women of the town—humanizing them, if not
Christianizing them,
* * *
“A fortnight ago we had a glaring instance of
the indifference of the heathen towards the pre-
servation of child-life. Until recently, I may
explain, infanticide was a strictly-kept Galla cus-
tom. The first-born child, especially if it
happened to be a female, was thrown into the
woods—whether as a first-fruit offering, or as an
“‘unclean thing� I cannot find out. Of course,
it was generally devoured by beasts of prey ; but
occasionally it was secretly picked up and nour-
ished by some friend of the family. This awful
system of child-murder was denounced about two
years ago by the chiefs at Golbanti, owing to
Gospel influence. They made a feast and pub-
licly proclaimed that the custom must be aban-
doned, as being offensive to both God and man.
This proclamation, I believe, has generally been
obeyed. But in case of twins or abnormality of
any kind, the midwives still seem to do what
they can in the way of harking back to the old
custom. Well, a fortnight ago the chief reported
that a young woman had borne twins. “One,â€
they said, “is dead, and the other has not yet
‘spoken, and no doubt will die. They are females.
We want permission to bury them.†They spoke
with hesitation, and their answers to my ques-
FIELD. 51
tions seemed inconsistent. So I suggested that
Mrs. Ormerod should examine the children before
burial. To this they at first demurred, but after-
wards consented. She went. Both children, she
found, were quite alive. But the midwives had
entirely neglected them since their birth—about
six hours,—and Mrs. Ormerod had to start at the
beginning and do everything for the little inno-
cents that the midwives ought to have done six
hours before. The old women sat looking on
sullenly ; they seemed to regard Mrs, Ormerod,
not as a saviour of life, but as an intruder, a
spoiler of their scheme for throwing the infants
into the woods. A day or two later one of the
children died; but the survivor is thriving, and
we hope will grow up to be a monument of that
love for child life which is so conspicuous in Eng-
lish women and which, no doubt, is . present,
though often dormant, in the hearts of Galla
women also.
# * *
The past year has seen an important develop-
ment in our Tana work. namely the extension of
our evangelistic efforts to the Pokomos, the most
numerous tribe on the Tana. Until the advent of
the white man, these 14,000 new people, Pokomos,
were serfs of the Gallas, but they speak a language
of their own and have very distinct characteris-
tics. So long ago as 1878, the Rev. Robert Bushell
speaking at the General Missionary Conference in
London, announced that it was the intention of
our Society to extend amongst these Pokomos, and
now twenty years after that announcement we
have begun to fulfil it. About a thousand Poko-
mos, scattered along the river banks for a stretch
of thirteen miles, consider that they have claims
upon Golbanti Mission for protection and instruc-
tion. So, during the past year, I have established
schools at these points on the river near Golbanti,
(Malome, Galido’s and Bura), where sixty scholars
are receiving daily instruction in reading, and
writing, and hymn singing. On Sundays there is
an afternoon service at Bura, with an attendance
of about fifty, and another at Golbanti (for Malome
and Galido’s people) with a similar congregation.
One cannot doubt that this work will form a
valuable adjunct to the older Galla work. Mr.
Consterdine and I find it difficult to supervise it
efficiently without neglecting the Galla work—
which has a prior claim to our attention.
Â¥ * *
The coming of Mr. Consterdine, after a year's
uncertainty, during which he was assisting in
Mombasa district, has been very encouraging. He
is entering upon the work heartily, especially the
Pokomo branch of it, for which his Swahili befits
him. Some time must elapse before he will have
gained sufficient knowledge of the Galla language
to enable him to conduct Galla services. He likes
the Tana as a mission sphere, and is enjoying
52 OUR FOREIGN
fairly good health. So he looks forward hope-
fully to a long period of usefulness.
Mrs. Ormerod finds Golbanti much further from
civilization than she expected. She is the only
Englishwoman in the province of Tanaland, Ex-
cepting Mrs. Howe (who paid us a welcome visit
in September, accompanied by Mr. Howe), she has
not seen,an Englishwoman since we left Mom-
basa, nearly a year ago. There are two German
ladies at Ngao, a Swedish lady at Kulesa and a
German lady in Lamu. ‘These are the only lady
friends Mrs. Ormerod can findin Tanaland! Her
health keeps fairly good. She has only had one
visit to the seaside since we came here last March.
The heat has been affecting her lately, but from
malarial troubles she has suffered very little.â€
CHINA.
Rev. J. W. Heywoop, in a communication to the
editor, has some interesting reminiscences of the
Wenchow Mission with which he was identified
until his removal to Ningpo. ‘They have reference
to the sympathy and help received from agents of
the Ohina Inland Mission, Mr. Heywood says :—
EIELD,
“Our Wenchow Mission owes much to Mr, and
Mrs. Stott, first, as being the pioneers of the Cross
in an anti-foreign city where we now have one of
our most successful missions, and secondly to the:
hearty friendship they extended to the Young
Free Methodist agents.
Mr. Exley ever found a ready welcome and a
cheery word of advice at their home, during the
few lonely months he was spared to labour in
Wenchow. Mr. Soothill, likewise, in the early
days of his work in Wenchow, often found his
loneliness banished by the homely intercourse he
Boys’ School, Mount Regale, Jamaica.
had with Mr. and Mrs. Stott. The writer, whilst
never having the privilege of knowing Mr. Stott,
remembers with much gratitude how a lonely year
in Wenchow was often made bright and glad:
some, through the saintly influence and friendship
of Mrs. Stott.
That the first missionary in Wenchow had only
one leg will come as a surprise to many readers.
The Missionary Committee of the United Metho-
dist Free Churches would hesitate before eer
ing such a candidate. The Rey..J. Hudson Taylor
~â„¢!F
OUR FOREIGN
did not; or at least if he did, he soon realised the
sterling qualities of the young man and made him
glad by accepting him for work in China.
The reply made by Mr. Stott when he was asked
why he should think of going to China, was very
characteristic. ‘I do not see those with two legs
going, so I must.†He arrived in Wenchow,
November, 1867.
Mrs. Stott,—then Miss Ciggie,—had three and
a half years of home mission work amongst the
lowest class of women in Glasyow, before she joined
Mr. Stott in hisnoble work. ‘They were married in
Ningpo on the 26th of April, 1870, and for nine-
teen years amidst all the trials and joys, dis-
appointments and hopes realised, they laboured
together in oneness of spirit and aim.
The difficulties which beset the path of the
first foreign lady who entered the city of Wen-
chow were very great. The early days of fierce
opposition, when their servants dare no longer
stay with them for fear of the fury of the people,
and the strong faith and noble courage of a one-
legged man and a little woman, are as related by
her heart-stirring even to the missionary in active
work,
The story of the riot in 1884, when all the
foreign houses and chapels were destroyed, includ-
ing the property belonging to our Mission, is still
well remembered. It has often been the boast of
the native preachers of Wenchow, when speaking
to unbelievers, that the riot in 1584 wasa blessing,
“a baptism of fire†in a different sense than the
heathen who raged regarded it. For from that
time the Gospel verily ran and was glorified.
JAMAICA.
In February number of the Misstounary EcHo
we gave a sketch of Rev. R. H. McLaughlin of
Mount Regale Circuit. This month we give a
photo of the Boys’ School at Mount Regale. It
has been forwarded by Rev. John Chinn.
* * *
The Jamaica Annual Synod was held on Tues-
day, January 2\st, and by quick dispatch of busi-
ness and the holding of an evening session, the
Synod occupied one day. Rev. R. H. McLaughlin
was re-elected Chairman, and Rev. James Roberts
Secretary. A time of great commercial depression
had acted injuriously on the congregations and in
most cases a decrease of members was reported.
No change was made in the appointments of the
Ministers, save what was necessitated by the
coming removal of the Rev. John Chinn, who has
been appointed by the home authorities to Bocas
del Toro.. Mr. Chinn had to sail for Bocas on
February 12th.
: WESTERN AFRICA.
‘Tux Missionary report of the Sierra Leone dis-
trict for the year ending September 3Uth, 1897
has been published in this country. It is prefaced
by a sermon preached in Samaria Church by Rev.
‘RET AP WI
EIELD. 53
HK. D. L. Thompson. I hope to give some extracts
from it in an early number of the Missionary
Kono. Hach Circuit in Sierra Leone and each
station in the Mendi country sends its separate
report. Freetown, North, reports a steady growth
in membership and great spiritual improvement.
Freetown South, reports more numbers than in
any previous year. Murray Town and Wilber-
force Circuit reports a slight decrease, but Murray
town is spoken of as in many respects a model
church. A healthy spiritual life prevails in York
Circuit. Waterloo has passed through painful
circumstances during the year, but the member-
ship has been tolerably well sustained. Bananas
reports a slight decrease but there has been much
activity during the year both for the spiritual
and temporal prosperity of the churches. The
reports from the Mendi Mission on the whole are
favourable, although the absence of Mr. Goodman
had left the workers short handed, I give some
extracts from the Mendiland reports.
TIKONKOH.
Cuinr Macavoreh had been ill for several months
and as his end drew near, his Mohammedan priest
received in all £27, in return for which he under-
took to cure him. His methods were peculiar.
He caused sacrifices of cows, sheep, goats, ducks,
and clothing to be offered, and finally, got the
people to build a house in a day, put the chief in
it, and after removing him next day had the house
pulled down. All this did not help the chief to
recover, but probably hastened his end, and just
before he died he rated the priest in a most scath-
ing manner for having deceived him. At the time
of his death he had 188 wives.
In his grave were placed eight valuable country
cloths, valued at £3 each; six gowns, four hand-
kerchiefs, one brass kettle, one pair of boots, one
hat, a fathom length of silver chain, four silver
rings, one half-sovereign, and ten shillings in
money.
PAITAFOO.
Tux work has been interfered with by a change
of Agent, but is making steady and encouraging
progress. During the year a chief who had em-
braced Christianity passed away, and the loss of
his influence may possibly affect our work ad-
versely in the locality where he formerly ruled,
but it is equally probable that the friendship and
aid will be continued by his successor. The new
Agent has been very favourably received in the
various towns and villages visited by him, and
has before him a career of usefulness. The Pai-
tafoo, school children and a few of the members
accompany him occasionally in his visits to the
neighbouring villages, and the impression thus
created has proved favourable. Hitherto he has
met with, no opposition. He reports that gamb-
ling is prevalent among the native people. This
is the case all over Mendiland, and is only one of.
54
innumerable evils and difficulties in the way of
Christianity.
MAPOPHI.
: Durine the past year, owing to the long-con-
tinued illness of “ Ironsidesâ€â€ Pratt, and the in-
terregnum caused by his death, in June, this
Station has suffered from want of regular atten-
tion. Brother Pratt had laboured long and faith-
fully in our Mission here, and had done good work
and suffered in health in consequence of the
trying character of the climate. His successor
has entered upon the work in a hopeful spirit, and
there is reason to hope that much good will be
accomplished by him. Both the Mission House
and the Chapel are in a ruinous condition, and
the children belonging to Bro. Pratt’s Day School
have scattered. Thus the aspect of the place is
not very encouraging, but already wrongs are
being righted, and we hope to be able to write
favourably of the work in our next Report.
= * ®
The amount raised by Missions in the District
was £428 17s. 11d., of this the Mendi Mission con-
tributed £18 12s. 11d.
SHOULD BE IMITATED.
* On Shrove Tuesday, Mrs. Copley a second time
invited her friends to a Sale of Work in Surrey
Street, Sheffield, for the General Mission
Fund. She had been assisted by Miss Mansfield,
Mr. Bernard Proctor, Mr. EH. Hattersley, Junr.,
Mr. Sidney Best. All the young people in her
three classes of girls, had been supplied with a
“rolling penny,†with which they had traded
so successfully that they had been converted into
shillings or more.
There was a good attendance at the opening
ceremony, which was conducted by the Rev. T.
Bailey. The Sale was declared open by Mrs.
Wilson, late of Ningpo, but now of Southport,
who, in an interesting address, gave some valuable
information as to work on the Ningpo and other
stations. She was followed by Mrs. Swallow and
Rev. R. Woolfenden, buth of Uhina, who also gave
descriptions of Chinese Mission work. They
had all worked cogether in China, and it
was somewhat singular that they should meet
on the same plattorm at a Missionary Sale of
Work in Sheffield. During the evening, business
was suspended for a time and a meeting was held
presided over by Mr. Charles Wardlow. Mrs.
Swallow again gave an address on Mission work.
The Kevs. J. Thornley and H. M. Booth, with Mr.
Wm. England also took part in the day’s pro-
ceedings.
The Sale was open on the following day, and at
the close Mrs. Copiey found that she was able to
hand over to the Mission Fund more than £20.
‘This is more than double that of last year.
GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY’S NOTES.
GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY’S
NOTES.
MISSIONARY COMMITTEE.
=“}HE Missionary Committee met for its
Spring Session in the town of
Barnsley. The friends at Barnsley
are full of Missionary enthusiasm
and zeal. The General Missionary
Secretary preached at Blucher
Street on the Sunday, and Missionary meetings
were held at Mapple-well on Monday, Barnsley
Tuesday, and Monk Bretton on Wednesday. At
each place the attendance was good, and_ the
enthusiasm inspiring. Various members of the Com-
mittee took part in these meetings, including the
President Connexional Secretary, Messrs. Mordey,
Vivian, Wakefield, General Missionary Secretary
and others. The General Missionary Secretary
reported that the President, Rev. Robert
Swallow, M.D., would be ready to return to his
station in Ningpo the second week in September.
Mrs. Swallow is remaining in Hngland to take
charge of the children while they are being fitted
for the after service of life. Dr. Swallow will
return, D.V., to England in five years for a fur-
lough. We cannot but admire the heroic self-
denial of Dr. and Mrs. Swallow, in cheerfully
accepting this arrangement of separation to serve
our Missions, maintain the prestige of our denomina-
tion, and help forward the great work of the
world’s salvation. Let us have them and their
children constantly in our prayers.
= * *
Two offers of service were accepted for China,
and one for Jamaica, subject in each case to paxs-
ing the needful examinations. Rev. G. W.
Sheppard, London, and Mr Harold H. Wilson,
Cambridge, are the two whose offer for China was
accepted. Mr. Harold H. Wilson is the son of
Rev. J. Wilson, Downham. He is a student at
Cambridge, and preparing to graduate in June.
Rev. A. J. Ellis is the accepted one for Jamaica.
The offer of these gentlemen was a source of
great satisfaction both to the officers and the Com-
mittee. Things had begun to look very grave,
the lack of offers for foreign service was pro-
ducing a depressing feeling in the minds of our
heroic missionaries for the field, as well as embar-
rassing to the Committee itself.
TIMELY GIFTS AND GENEROUS.
The General Missionary Secretary reported
that the President, Dr. Swallow, had received
promises amounting to some £450 towards
the building of hospitals in Ningpo, and several
sums for furnishing them with beds. Also that
since the commencement of the Session of the
Comuittee, as a result of previous correspondence,
he had received from Mr. Alderman shadford, |
GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY’S NOTES. 55
Spalding, the promise of £210, the price of the
site for the new premises at Ningpo. This isa
most generous gift from our aged friend, and a
noble example to others.
* * *
Tm whole scheme includes four Missionary
Houses, Dispensary, and Ubapel. ‘To complete it
some £700 or £75) more are still needed. We
must send our President back to his station with
the knowledge that not one penny of the cost of
this scheme will come out of the ordinary fund.
We have plenty of friends who can build
the Houses and Chapel. Who will promise to
do it?
* * *
Mr. Gxorce Ipserson, Sheffield, reported that
he and a few friends in the Hanover Circuit had
forwarded an electro communion service to Rev.
W. G. Howe, for use on our Kibe station. Most
sincerely do we tender our heartiest thanks to these
friends for this timely gift.
* *
Rev. James Kine, Norwich, reported that in
response to the appeal of the General Missionary
Secretary in the February number of the Hcuo,
Mr. C. W. and Mrs. Daws would give a com-
munion service for use on our Ganjoni station.
This will greatly gladden the hearts of our friends
Rev. J. B. and Mrs. Griffiths. Will our good
friends, Mr. and Mrs. Daws, please accept our
sincere thanks. We much appreciate Mr. King’s
kindness in this case.
* * *
Mr. Atprerman Marx Morpry, J.P., Newport,
has generously supplied an album in which to
keep the photos of all our missionaries as far as
they can be obtained. ‘his is a very kindly act
on the part of our friend, and one which will help
to keep fresh and fragrant the sentiment of
brotherhood between the Missionary Committee,
and those labouring on our foreign stations.
EAST AFRICA.
The Secretary was instructed to seek offers of
service for East Africa. We want a good lay
agent, one who has a knowledge of carpentering
and building. A young man in whose heart the
Missionary spirit is intensety burning, who may
have no call nor gift for the regular ministry, but
who would like to place his skill in the art of
building and joinery at the command of the
Master in some foreign land is the kind needed.
We must in future give far move attention than in
the past, to the arts of life. Health, skill, and
enthusiasm, and the love of God in the heart, are
the four main qualifications needed, What young
man will offer ?
* * *
Tuxnz is also an urgent need for an offer of
service on the part of a young minister. Our
friend Mr. Howe pleads nearly every mail for an
addition to our ministerial staff. ‘ But,†says Mr.
Howe, “we had better wait a bit longer in order
to have a first rate man sent. “ Yes,’ we want a
first rate man, and thank God, we have many
such! Who will say, “Here am I, send me?â€
East Africa must not be abandoned.
WEST AFRICA.
In consequence of the unfavourable report of
the doctor, the Missionary Committee was obliged
very reluctantly to decide that they would not, for
the present at least, send our young friend, Rev.
W. 8. Micklethwaite back to Sierra Leone. This
is a sad disappointment to the Committee, and not
less so to Mr. Micklethwaite himself. What
vigorous young man will step forward and offer to
take Mr. Micklethwaite’s place? West Africa
deserves one of our best young men; it has had
of our best, and the succession must not fail at this
point. The work is growing, and the needs are
great and urgent.
JAMAICA.
The Rev. Francis Bavin had an interview with
the Committee and gave proot of making careful
preparation for the work for which he has been
accepted, and to which he has been appointed.
His genial spirit, his business ability, his manly
bearing, and conspicuous gifts as a speaker augur
well for noble service, given health and God’s
benediction.
* * *
Ir is hoped Mr. Ellis will go out with Mr. Bavin
in September.
* * *
Tur General Missionary Secretary reported
that Rev. J. Chinn had left Jamaica for Bocas.
* * *
Rev. W. Grirriza and J. Roberts each report
in their letters that there is much distress in the
. island, but that the yellow fever had nearly if not
quite disappeared.
LADIES’ MISSIONARY AUXILIARIES.
We have received a number of pleasing reports
from various parts of the Connexion, that Ladies’
Auxiliaries have been, or are in process of being
formed, This is a step in the right direction. It
may take time both for their formation, and to
get them into working order, but we must perse-
vere. The prayer meeting in these new societies
must not be lost sight of on any account.
* * *
A guipe to their formation and work is
now ready, a copy of which will be forwarded
to each Superintendent Minister, and one enclosed
for Cireuit Missionary Secretary.
MISSIONARY LEAFLETS.
These can be had free on application to Rev.
A. Crombie, London. The Circuit Ministers will
be pleased to get them in their monthly, parcel
Use them, friends, but do not abuse them.
56 : KNIGHTS OF THE HOLY GHOST.
EXETER HALL ANNIVERSARY
fz The London friends have this year as in past,
made strenuous efforts to secure large and enthusi-
astic meetings. Will our friends all over the
Connexion do all they can to help the Chairman’s
list, and attend the services ?
“ KNIGHTS OF THE HOLY GHOST.â€
BY JOHN CUTIELL.
No. II.
Aurrep Saker, Missronary 10 THE
Camzroons.
HE cause of Christian missions in
Africa has, during the last quarter
of a century, experienced a remark-
able revival in point both of interest
and importance, Formerly, the
Dark Continent was looked upon
ated, the “@host-chamber of the
and design
world,†a land of moral murk and mystery, un-
penetrated and unknown. But it has been lately
invaded on both sides, Hast and West, by the
emissaries of Gospel light and truth, before whose
advances the owls and bats of error and supersti-
tion in their hideously grotesque and diversified
shapes are fleeing away, to vive place, we trust, to
a state of things more in accordance with that for
which Livingstone so pathetically prayed, ere
he was found dead upon his knees in the lonely
hut at Hala; his great heart still, his long and
laborious work finished. And when that is the
case, as if most assuredly will be, among the names
found emblazoned on the bead-roll of those
who have contributed to the Christian uplift-
ing and civilization of Africa, not the least
luminous will be that of Alfred Saker, the
Evangelist of the Cameroons, whose “ Life†has
been written by Dr. Underhill, and published by
the Baptist Missionary Society, The careful
perusal of this spirit-stirring piece of biographical
literature will smite down as with a battle-axe,
the ignorant delusion of which some people still
seem to be the victims, that missionary chronicles
are dull reading, and that the only form of heroism
worth getting enthusiastic about, and clapping
hands over, is that exhibited in the storming of
some deadly breach, or plucking glory from the
cannon’s mouth to the sound of military drum and
trumpet.
It appears evident from the opening chapters
of this stimulating little biography, that Alfred
Saker was born to be a missionary. This it
would have been a somewhat risky prophecy to
have made concerning him during the earlier years
of his life, for he had literally to fight his way to
the field of sacrifice through a series of circum-
stances quite adverse enough to discount any such
prediction, The principal of these was the
inheritance of a weak constitution that caused him
to be regarded by the quidnuncs of his Kentish
village home—Borough Green, near Wrotham—as
“not worth rearing,†this being the reason why
he received only such education as a national
school could give. By his intellectual alertness,
however, he soon outstripped his teachers, and had
to leave school for the workshop. His studious
habits still made him a somewhat lonely lad, but
they were the best preparation he could possibly
have had for the severe work of his after-life ;
especially when coupled with the mechanical
ingenuity and skill he acquired when, after his
father’s death in 1838, he obtained government
employment in the dockyards, and went to Devon-
port with his young wife.
It was whilst he was here that the missionary
afflatus came upon him with almost overpowering
force, produced chiefly through what he heard
from the lips of the Rev. John Clarke, who had
been at Devonport. And whenever his thoughts
played about the subject of missions they turned
directly and invariably to Africa as a scene of
labour for Christ. In a letter to Dr. Underhill at
Alfred Saker.
the time of Saker’s death, Mr. Bayne, the present
able and energetic secretary of the Baptist Mis-
sionary Society, says, “ He (Saker) told me more
than once of how thoroughly Africa possessed
his thoughts when he was quite a young man, and
when he was at work in the dockyard, with
almost every stroke of the hammer on the rivet,
he fancied he heard the word Africa ring forth.
At last he would be wrought up to such a pitch
that he could scarcely remain at his work in his
passionate longing to be off. His one master-
passion all through his life was to live and labour
for the Dark Continent.â€
Is it therefore to be wondered at that, under the
impulsion of this master-passion, continually fed
by the sacred ever-burning fire of his intensely
strong attachment to Christ as a person, he went
forth to the Cameroons, and did a work on the
West coast of Africa, so great, so humanising, and
so durable in its effects, that even such a man as
57
KNIGHTS OF THE HOLY GHOST.
d and overcame
¢ him when he
set foot on the African coast, and entered upon the
was seen in the way he encountere
, in my duties of his arduous mission.
the hardships and trials confrontin
the work of Alfred
“Take it allin all, specially having regard to
David Livingstone could thus testify concerning
Saker at Cameroons and Victoria is
its many-sided character,
it:—
“His first dwelling,†says Dr. Underhill, “ was
a native hut, withont windows or outlet, except
Fr
a
ey
.
judgment, the most remarkable on the African
coast.â€
Rev. John Wesley. (See Page 64.)
*
23e8265
ae 5 tx
Beeass
oe Ses gi
Sane ‘
wr)
and plaited pal -
The people were utterly ba
raised on a mound of earth
without knowledge or written language,
unacquainted with the arts of social
clothing except of the rudest and most
S
3}
2
g
3
2
a
B=
ou
Day
“5
wor
Sao
og od >
o # a
ide ses te
Pw 4 |
gh to break the
This
picuous features of Alfred
8 character, both as man and missionary,
'y endurance, and cause a less
er and retire before them.
quiet, persistent perseverance in the face
?
Opposition and difficulties enou
One of the most cons
Saker
ek of an ordinar
resolute man to falt
was his
of
ba
58 KNIGHTS OF THE HOLY . GHOST.
with the customs of civilized society, except such
as ministered rather to their degradation, and the
indulgence of vicious inclinations. Food fit for
Europeans was nearly unattainable, and the culti-
vation practised by the people was so scanty and
wretched as to leave them for a large part of the
year dependent on the spontaneous fruits of the
ground. Communication with England was un-
frequent, and Mr. Saker and his family were more
than once on the verge of starvation.â€
It needed no mean measure of moral bravery
and staying power to meet and master such trials
and difficulties as these. And yet Saker did it.
Architect, brickmaker, builder, cabinet-maker and
upholsterer—he was all these by turns, at the
same time teaching the native converts and others
by degrees, the use of the hammer, the chisel, and
the plane; also, how to mould and burn bricks,
and build more comfortable houses for themselves,
and so settling practically the moot question as to
whether Christianity or commerce is the best
civilizer ; which he did on behalf of the former
with an emphatic affirmative, shewn by deeds
rather than by words, by palpable facts rather than
by logical deductions.
But perhaps the most striking instance and
illustration ot Altred Saker’s patient perseverance
and heroic endurance in the performance of his
arduous mission on the West coast of Africa, is
seen in the statesmanlike way in which he met and
overcame a crisis of peculiar hardship and diffi-
culty that overtook the Baptist Mission Church at
Clarence on the island of Fernando Po, and the
detailed description of which constitutes one of
the most interesting and fascinating portions
of Dr. Underwood’s biography of him. It
appears, from a_ series of circumstances too
long for particularisation here, the Island
of Fernando Po had come under the domina-
tion of the Spanish Crown, which means,
of course, that it had come under the despotic
domination of the Romish Papacy, with a special
decree, however, on the part of Her then Catholic
Majesty’s government, that “personal liberty,
property, and religion should be secure to every
inhabitant.â€
Under this liberal law the Baptist Mission was
founded. :
Several attempts were made to do away with
this decree by the Spanish Consul-General, who
was instructed to send the missionaries away, un-
less they would consent to reside “in a private
capacity only,†a condition with which they
resolutely refused to comply. But in 1858 the
order was made imperative; chiefly, it was
believed, through the intrigues and restless activity
of that peculiar production of the fanatically-
crazed brain of Ignatius Loyola, the spanish
inquisitor, the Society of Jesus. (Save the mark !
What a misnomer!) All attempts at conciliation
proved unavailing, the governor saying 1m
plain English to Mr. Saker, in auswer to
his request for permission to remain, “I
cannot; I will not grant it! Do uot ask
me again.†Nothing remained for the Baptist
Church but to leave the Island as svon as pro-
vision could be made for a new settlement, where
freedom of conscience and civil liberty could be
enjoyed ; a privilege, I will make bold to affirm,
never to be possessed, or hoped for, where Popery
is paramount, notwithstanding the fine sentiments
and honied speeches about liberty of conscience
and worship indulged in by Papists in countries
where they are in a minority, as per Cardinal
Vaughan and other “ proud prelates †of that ilk.
“No better pioneer in tbe search,†says Dr.
Underhill, “could have been found than Alfred
Saker, and he was not slow to comprehend and to
meet the necessities of the case.†And all: who
read the doctor’s detailed and graphic account of
how Saker organised and carried out the new
Exodus, until the expelled Church was finally
settled at a spot on the shores of Awbroises Bay,
which he called Victoriu, will readily concur mm
that opinion. It was, in its way and to its extent,
as statesmanlike a piece of pioneering and after-
legislation as that displayed by Moses when he led
forth the Children of Israel through the wilder-
ness to the land of Canaan ; or that of the leaders
of the Pilgrim Fathers, when they went forth to
find on the bleak, inhospitable shores of New
England that “freedom to worship God †accord-
ing to the dictates of their own conscience, and
not according to the prescriptions of despotic
rulers or shaveling priests, of which they had
been deprived in Old England, their ancestral
home.
But if Alfred Saker could “ revisit the glimpses
of the moon,†and could be interviewed as to
what he himself regarded as the most gratifying
and satisfying portion of his evangelistic work
among the Cameroons in the days vf his flesh, I
make no doubt that he would refer to his trausla-
tion of the Bible into the Dualla language, by
means of which a hundred thousand West African
negroes might read in their own tongue “the
wonderful works of God.†This was, indeed, the
flower and crown of his unsparing and conscien-
tious labour during the many years he lived suc-
cessively at Clarence, Cameroons, and Victoria.
And when it is also borne in mind, that all this
‘while, he was battling with his own feeble consti-
tution, reduced almost to a skeleton by perpetual
malarial fevers, with sickness and death in his
own home, and with the wearing, nervous
exhaustion attendant upon the proclamation of
the gospel to a race described by Ur. Underhill, as
“utterly barbarous, practising the wildest and
most debasing superstition, and given up to the
practise of every vice that degrades humanity,†the
LITERARY
question may be asked with some degree of confi-
dence if Altred Saker was not a true “ Knight of
the Holy Ghost,†to whom can such a designation
be properly applied ?
We cannot, perhaps, do better than conclude
this brief glance at one of the most chivalrous
and devoted of our modern missionaries, than by
quoting the testimony of one of our most noted
modern African travellers, who visited the West
coast some twelve or thirteen years ago, and who
certainly cannot be credited with much sympathy
for mission work, or with much personal regard
for Christianity. “1 do not at all understand,†he
says, “ how the changes at Cameroons and Victoria
have been brought about. Old, sanguinary cus-
toms have, to a great extent, been abolished ;
witchcraft hides itself in the forest, the fetish
superstition is derided by old and young, and
well-built houses are springing up on every hand.
Itis really marvellous to mark the change that
has taken place in the natives in a few years only.
From actual cannibals many have become honest,
intelligent well-skilled artisans. An elementary
literature has been established, and the whole
Bible translated into their own tongue, hitherto an
unwritten one. ‘I'here must surely be something
abnormal in this.â€
Just so. And anyone who wants to discover
what this “abnormal something†was, let him
read carefully this bright and bracing biography of
Saker by Dr. Underhill, and he wull soon. discover
it to have been this, a heart on fire with love to
Christ, and with love to thuse whom He lived and died
to save, the secret undoubtedly of all true mission-
ary zeal and enthusiasm.
BV. Thos. Law has sent some publica-
tions of the National Council of the
Evangelical Free Churches. These
include the Free Church Handbook, a
small pamphlet entitled “ ‘The Free
Churches in the Victorian Bra,†and a
booklet styled “The Half-penny
Hymnal†a compilation intended for use at
United Mission services. As to this last, not
much need be said. The price forbids it being
a copious collection, but the hymns are evan-
gelical and most of them well-known. Nearly
all of them are to be found in Sankey’s collec-
tion. For convenience the number in “Sankey†is
given as well as the proper number in the collec-
SKETCHES. 59
tion, so the two books could be used together.
The pamphlet, which is the work of Mr. Howard
Evans, has excited a great deal of attention. To
Nonconformists it is most encouraging, and all who
read it without prejudice must agree with the
author that “the steady growth of the Free
Churches in spite of hostile social influences, shows
that the Church of Christ can rely entirely upon
the voluntary offerings of its members; and the
fact that the majority of the worshipping popu-
lation of this country owe their religious life to
the work of the Free Churches, is a refutation of
the unscriptural theory that diocesan bishops are
the sole channels of divine grace.â€
The handbook may be described as an exten-
sion of the pamphlet on the same lines. Our
limited space prevents us from giving a synopsis
of its contents or extracts from its statistical
tables, but I can briefly indicate the nature of its
information. We havea history of the Federation
movement, with the constitution of the National
Council. This is followed by a list of local coun-
cils and their secretaries, occupying sixteen pages.
We have also valuable tables of Free Church statis-
tics and historical sketches of the different denom-
inations and other information of a valuable kind.
We advise all the readers of the Missionary
Ecuo to purchase a copy of this handbook, for
they will find in it condensed information, collec-
ted from all the denominational year books,
information which it is desirable every Free
Churchman should possess. The price is one
shilling.
T have received from the author, Mr. Walter
¥. J. Hayes, a booklet entitled, “The Tribute of
Sin.†He seems to have taken Mr. Coulson Ker-
nahan as his model. He has a copious vocabulary
and a fertile fancy, and will, I hope, do better
work than this. We must gather the narrative
from a mass of description, and it is briefly this.
One who has strayed from virtue in the city, pays
a visit to her parent’s home while the family are
fast asleep, then finds her way to a cliff over-
hanging the sea and commits suicide Unhappily,
such tragedies are common enough, and we are
not called to judge in individual cases as to the
future of the actors. “Oppression makes a wise
man mad,†and God only knows the condition of
‘mind in which wanderers from virtue sometimes
rush into the unseen. But we cannot approve
the words used in reference to the guilty one
meditating self-slaughter, ‘“ For such as her, there
was no peace with man, not yet with God, not yet
—but soon.â€
We can go with Thomas Hood, but no farther,
« Owning her weakness, her evil be.aviour, Be Aa
And leaving with meekness her sins to the Saviour.
No. 2 of the Vandyck Music Record published,
in Hull, by Taylor and Rayward, has been sent
me. It is a threepenny pamphlet of thirty-six
60 BREAKING THE FETTERS.
pages, All the music is copyright, and the prin-
cipal composer is Mr. Arthur J. Jaméneau, whose
work we have already had occasion to commend.
His melodies are at once sweetand strong. Ofthe
pieces by other composers I may mention, “I was
tired and heavy laden†by Mr. William Hodgett
as one well worth knowing. The words are by
Marianne Farningham, and are a favourable
specimen of her work. Why is there no index to
this music record ?
BREAKING THE FETTERS.
BY W. A. TODD.
CHAPTER IV.
_THE BEGINNING OF THE STRUGGLE.
ANDREWS stoutly refused to enter-
H| tain the suggestion made by his
4; friend, that he should go either to
Lamu, further up the coast, or to
Shimba, among the hills. After
much friendly wrangling they made
a compromise to the effect, that Andrews should
make a tour around the other mission stations
under their charge. It would serve a double pur-
pose: the young missionary would get into touch
with the natives of these villages; it would
strengthen Andrews physically to get away from
the swampy regions of Msomwe for alittle while.
So one morning, T'revelyan and the children bade
the young man Quaheri, when Andrews, accom-
panied by four of the youths as porters, pushed off
from the banderini (landing stage) to row further
up the creek.
Many and curious were the incidents which
happened to Andrews during his six weeks’ tour.
He was called upon by the natives to act as judge
in their dealings with each other and with the
heathen outside. More than once he had to in-
terfere in their domestic quarrels. He was brought
into closer contact with the heathen natives than
he had been up to this time. Then it was he
realised how miserably wretched and hopeless
were the social and moral conditions of the natives
outside the civilizing and humanizing influence
of the Gospel of Christ. Many a time, when un-
able tosleep, he lay upon the kitandu (native bed-
stead), and wondered about the ways of God with
man, particularly with the black man. Around him
there were thousands of men, women and children
anitcu
who were born with all the prejudices and the
egacies of a countless ancestry. Add to this the
demoralizing influences of Arab and immoral.
European traders, and the problem was, how to fit
hese for the Kingdom of God. At times he was
in despair, but at last he touched firm ground
when he threw himself upon the infinite love of the
great Father. He remembered that an infinite
ove could know no ultimate defeat, but would
work out its designs in ways unguessed by man.
Tn the meantime he must do the work which lay
within his reach in full confidence that, in some
way, it would contribute towards the glorious day
when the nations of the earth would be the sub-
jects of Jesus Christ.
While this tour round the stations had a broad-
ening and a deepening effect upon Andrews, open-
ing to him fresh fields of thought and purpose,
his physical strength was renewed. He ate more
heartily and was able to do longer journeys with
less fatigue. So by the time he reached Tonza—
which station completed the circuit—he was ready
for real work. ‘To him the last six weeks had
been a time of revelation and of consecration—a
time of the finding of physical and spiritual health.
Early one morning he sat on the wooden steps
of the mission house, reading a letter which Tre-
velyan had sent him by a messenger a few days
ago. The contents of the letter alternately amused
and sobered him. It told of a visit which Sir
William Hilton, the administrator of the Company,
had paid Trevelyan at Msomwe the day previous
to the writing of the letter. This was something
quite unusual, but it seemed there was some sur-
veying being done a few miles beyond the mission
station, and owing to the peculiar difficulties pre-
sented by the members of an obstinate tribe, it
had been deemed necessary for the administrator
to visit them and awe them into subjection. Pass-
ing on the high road near Msomwe, the great man
had taken it into his head to look in at the mission
station. Sir William Hilton had stayed an hour,
and ‘l'revelyan had improved the time by enter-
ing into conversation with his visitor upon the sub-
ject which was the greatest source of anxiety to
the missionary—the subject of slavery.|
“Tt chanced,†said Trevelyan in his letter to
Andrews, “that in the midst of our conversation
I looked up and saw one of the Wajoli—™Maiki, it
was—beating corn in the mission yard. Some-
thing, I don’t know whether a good or evil spirit,
prompted me to point her out to Sir William.
‘ Do you see that girl beating corn?’ I asked him,
before I allowed myself time to consider the wis-
dom or the unwisdom of such a question; but,
having spoken, I was in for it, Andrews. ‘She,’
I continued, ‘is one of the Wajoli about whose
arrival I sent particulars to the office some weeks
ago.’ A look of perplexity came into his face
BREAKING
fora moment. I verily believe he either knew
nothing about the case, or else had forgotten it, for
he answered in a non-committal fashion, ‘ Yes; I
wish you would send them into Mombasa, and we
will look into their complaints—for I suppose they
have complaints to make against their owners,
like all other slaves.’
“Of course, as you know, friend, such a request
was like waving a red flag in the face of a bull.
I made our position on the subject of runaway
slaves very clear, I believe, for there was a little
tartness in his reply, ‘Well, I hope you will help
the Company
in its efforts
to establish
good govern-
ment.’ I
assured him
that I would,
whenever it
did not go
against my
conscience, but
that the re-
turning of \ We
slaves was |\||\ll|)
decidedly '
against my
consci e n tious
belief. Then ~~
we went at it,
as fast and as
furious as we
could. He
hinted several
dark things
in the few
minutes that
followed.
“Just think 41
of this,for the
next few days,
Andrews. He
said, we might
find that
the Compan
had po ee oe
to punish any
one who refused to obey its laws. I suppose he
meant they—he and his colleagues—could fine
and imprison even Englishmen living within
their jurisdiction, who refused to carry out their
inhuman demands. Well, whether fine or prison,
never shall it be on my conscience that I sent
any wretch back to the clutchés of his master.
I told him so, at which he marched out of the
house, without ever a single ‘Thank you’ for
the cups of tea ke had drunk at my expense.
“T thought you would like to hear anything
which concerns the welfare of the Wajoli, so I have
THE FNTTERS. 61
written you at length—and you know how I detest
writing ; I would rather go to the wood and cut
down a tree any day than write a letter. You may
expect me at Tonza in a few days; I shall come
overland to Psai, and shall have the boat sent to
meet me at that place.
“ Just see to it, lad, I find you strong and hearty.
“ By the way, I wonder if it is legai for an
Englishman to be compelled to return slaves to
their masters. It would be a glorious thing, if,
after all, Sir William Hilton’s halé-veiled threats
it should be contrary to British law, under which
J claim to
live ; it would
be like hoist-
ing them with
their own
petard, or some
thing _ after
that nature.
When I come
to think of it,
I’m not sorry
but rather glad
I spoke that
afternoon. Our
conv ersation
clears the
ground. It is
always good to
know which
way the dog
will run.â€
So ended the
letter An-
drews held in
his hand—a
' revelation of
the writer's
frank, impul-
sive, warm-
hearted
nature.
Starting to
his feet the
young man
surveyed for
a time the
i
‘A boak :
expanse of water which stretched below and
‘beyond him. The shores for many miles, in-
deed as far as the eye could see, were covered
with mangrove trees. Everything looked s0
beautiful, so peaceful. And to add to the gazer’s
enjoyment of the scene a strong breeze was blow-
ing in from the sea, tempering the burning heat
of the sun.
As Fred Andrews glanced in a north-easterly
direction where the Reitz Water had begun to
narrow, towards the banderini of Psai, he saw a
black object midway between the shores. It looked
il
nat
beh
iit
62 BREAKING THE FETTERS.
like a small black rock jutting out of the water.
He had not noticed it the previous day, when he
stood for the first time upon the elevation on
which the mission house had been built. While
gazing at it he thought he could see the ripples
of the water dash up against it and sparkle in the
sunlight. Soon, he discovered that these flashes
of sunlight occurred on both sides of the object,
and at rhythmic intervals. It therefore could not
be a rock—could it be a boat? Calling a youth,
one of those who had accompanied him, he pointed
to the object and asked what it was. The lad
studied it a moment, and then, without hesitation
pronounced it a boat and suggested that Bwana
Mkubwa was coming. Before many minutes had
passed, all doubt was removed. The dark object
on the water drew nearer to the shore; it was the
mission boat and the flashes of sunlight were caused
by the lifting of the wet oars through the air.
When they were within hearing, Andrews fired off
the two barrels of his gun in welcome, and,
immediately from the boat came the answering
salute.
Andrews went down the hillside to the shore,
and before long the hands ot the two friends were
clasped.
Trevelyan had brought with him several of the
children from Msomwe, among whom were the
Wajoli. Ever since his interview with the Ad-
ministrator General he had thought it wiser not to
allow these three to go out of his immediate care.
He was afraid, he told Andrews when they were
resting under the baraza of the mission house, lest
some attempt might be made by the masters, or
by the company to regain possession of the girls
during his absence, and no oue knew what intimi-
dation might be brought to bear upon Kapala,
whom he had left in charge.
Owing to Andrew’s report, the rest of that day
was spent in making a thorough inspection of the
condition of the village. Conferences were held
with the fundi of Tonza; plans were laid for the
rebuilding of the chapel, which was found to be
altogether unfit for the holding of Divine worship;
the poor of the village were given temporary
relief, by being sent to the woods to prepare trees
for building purposes ; one or two cases of insub-
ordination had to be investigated, and the native
teacher’s authority established.
The next morning they began their journey to
Msomwe by water. They went due east for
several miles, then passing the ferry they rounded
the north of the isle of Mombasa, and from thence
up the Barrette River. Jt proved to be a very
rough journey, for as they came to the north of
the island they met the full blast of a rising storm
which was blowing from the sea. Several times
they narrowly escaped being swamped by the
waves, and had it not been for the white men’s
presence of mind on more than one occasion, the
results might have been serious. But, by the
middle of the afternoon, all were glad to see the
white mission house of Msomwe, standing out like
a haven of refuge against the blue sky.
They had only been seated in the mission
house a few minutes when Kapala made his
appearance, and declared he had something of
importance to say.
“Say on, Kapala â€
Both the friends’ glances met, and they each
read the same thing in the other’sface. Before
the black servant answered they knew the expec-
ted had happened.
“Yesterday, one hour before noon,†began Kap-
ala in his precise way, “ while I was weighing the
mahindi under the baraza, and putting it into the
iron house yonder as you told me, Bwana, a man
and a woman came into the mission yard and said
they had come for some Wajoli.â€
“ Well, end what did you tell them, Kapala?â€â€™
“JT told them both the white men were absent
at Tonza, and that they must come again if they
wanted to see you about slaves.â€
“And what next?†eagerly asked both the
missionaries.
“They would not go away, but asked me to
shew them where the Wajoli were. I told them
I could do nothing; I told them I had nothing
more to say tothem. Then, after waiting an hour
or more, they went to Mombasa the same way they
came.â€
“Then you did not tell them the three girls were
with us at Tonza?â€
“They did not ask me that question, Bwana!â€
“ Ngema. Bassi sassa.â€â€ (That was good. That
will do now.)
“You see I was right,†said Trevelyan to his
friend. ‘I was afraid an attempt would be made.
Well, well, the struggle is just beginning, Andrews.
Events will follow each other quickly during the
next few days, if I am not mistaken.â€
RECEIVING AND RECEIVED.
* 4 certain woman named Martha received Him into her house.â€
I cannot raise a roof for Thee, dear Lord !
Or bid Thee welcome to my earthly store,
Or ask Thy presence at my lowly board,
As Martha and as Mary did of yore.
But there are loved ones in Thy service spent,
Toiling unheeded through the sultry day ;
May I not pitch for these a sheltering tent,
And find them rest and solace by the way ?
And when 7’hy many mansions are prepared
For “ faithful servants †to sit down with Thee,
And share Thy joy who here Thy trials shared,
Dear Master, keep some ‘“ lowest place †for me.
VHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR PAGE. 63
THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR PAGE.
BY EDWARD ABBOTT.
i} HOPE our Christian Endeavour
Societies will give a good account
of themselves in the effort now
being made to raise the Missionary
income to £15,0V0. This is a
large sum, but not beyond attain-
ment if the effort is general and the young people
take it up enthusiastically. ‘By their work ye
shall know them†is the text which is being
applied to our C. E. members.
In the matter of Missions we have all a call, it
is either go or send. Who will go for us, or whom
shall we send? ‘The labourers are few, compara-
tively, in the great fields of christian labour.
More missionaries and more money is the cry from
our own stations, and love for our Master and our
missionaries forbids us to turn a deaf ear to the
urgent call. Let us do what we can, and never
give in to the lie—that if we cannot do a big
thing we cannot do anything for God and the
heathen. We can do something, and the Lord of
the harvest wants our mite as well as another’s
million.
Tue quarterly conference of the Nelson Union
has been held, at which Rev. H. O. Dinsley gave
an address on “Christian Hndeavour in relation
to good citizenship.â€
Burroy-on-Trenr Society has been celebrating
its first anniversary, Rev. J. King presiding, an
address being given by Dr. Brook, M.A., of
Bristol. Luddenden Foot Society setan excellent
example by conducting service in the chapel on
Sunday night. Mr. Birtwhistle took charge of
the service, and addresses were given by Rev.
W.R. Clark, and Mr. G. F. Needham.
Tax following hints for a Christian Endeavour
Missionary Meeting may be worth working out,
1.—Ask each member to come with some item
of missionary information.
2.—Set apart a portion of time for prayer for
missionaries and mission committees and
officers.
3.—Ask a number of the members to come pre-
pared with suggestions as to the better ful-
filment of missionary enterprise.
4.—Ask all the members to consider why a
Christian should be a missionary and how he
may be.
Ovr Church at Camborne is well equipped in
the way of Ohristian Endeavour Societies and
receives great help from them. The Junior
Society has just celebrated its third anniversary.
The chair was taken by the Junior President and
reports were given by the leaders of primary and
intermediate branches. The former consists of
children from seven to fourteen years of age,
and the latter from twelve to eighteen. The
Juniors built the “pledge tower,†after which
there was a Free Parliament led by the members
of the Y.P.S.C.E.
Hanuam Society had a celebration on Endeavour
Day, the main feature being a Consecration Ser-
vice. A large number of the members in respond-
ing to the roll-call testified to the blessings they
had received through the Endeavour fellowship.
“Wor. Ourist†is part of the Hndeavourer’s
watchword—the first part, and the most essential.
He has said to us ‘‘ Without Me ye can do no-
thing.†His help is assured, and without His
strengthening touch our most Christian En-
deavours will fail. It issa'd that on one occasion the
‘Duke of Wellington gave one of his officers a
difficult duty to perform. The officer realised the
risk, and said in reply to the order, “I go, sir,
but first give mea grip of your conquering hand.â€
“The conquering hand†is our daily want, and
we can find it and grip it by daily communion
with our great Leader. Clasping hands with
Christ we can say “I can do all things.â€
Many Christian Enieavourers will no doubt
find their own desires echoed in the following
lines :—
“Saviour, I long to walk closer with Thee;
Ied by Thy guiding hand ever to be
Constantly near Thy side—quickened and purified,
Living for Him who died freely for me.â€
Brapyorp Christian Endeavour Union has held
its annual meeting under the Presidency of Rev.
J.T. Shaw. In the afternoon a model Christian
Endeavour meeting was held in which forty mem-
bers took part. The evening meeting was pre-
sided over by Mr. A. H. Hutton, M.P., when
encouraging reports of the work of the societies
were given.
The increase of members was 388 during the
year, also 211 members of the Union had joined
the Church, and £105 had been raised for missions
by the various societies in the Union. Rev. J. J.
Martin was elected vice-president for the ensuing
year.
Crorron (Wakefield circuit) held its second
anniversary on Sunday, Mr. E. C. Denton conduct-
ing services. A public Christian Endeavour
meeting was held in the afternoon, and a service
of song in the evening. On Thursday, there was
a tea, followed by a public meeting which was
addressed by Revs, P. Bennett and T. Taylor.
BY THE EDITOR,
ANECDOTES OF JOHN WESLEY.
No. I.
4|\j| AM going to show what kind of man
a3} Wesley was, in this page of anec-
dotes. My young readers must have
seen already how good, how great,
how useful a man he must have been.
But I will mention some of the
qualities he possessed and illustrate them by
suitable anecdotes.
HIS COURAGE.
John Wesley had bitter persecutions to endure,
and was often in danger of a violent death. Once
in Falmouth the mob assaulted the house where
he was. The family fled, and only Wesley and a
servant maid were left in the house. When the
mob broke into the house, the maid entreated him
to hide ina closet. He declined. A number of
sailors then burst in the door of the room. Wes-
ley advanced to the crowd saying “Here I am,
which of you has anything to say to me? To
whichof you have I done any wrong? ‘To you?
or you? or you?†His coolness and courage
disarmed his assailants. He was allowed to speak
and then taken in safety to a house. He had the
brave spirit of ancient Nehemiah, who, when asked
to secrete himself, replied “‘ Should such a man as
I flee?â€
HIS CHEERFULNESS,
You may sometimes hear of long-faced Metho-
dists, although they are the happiest people that
Iknow. Wesley did not allow cares to depress
his mind. Ten thousand cares, he said, were no
more to him than ten thousand hairs on his head.
His conversation was cheerful, children were fond
of him, and where he was known he was a wel-
come guest. He “served the Lord with gladness,â€
Alexander Knox, a good scholar, and a good man,
who knew him for many years, declared that he
was the most: perfect specimen of moral happiness
he had ever seen. Never suppose that religion
makes men gloomy or melancholy. Dr. Watts
says very truly
“ Religion never was designed
To make our.pleasures less.â€
THE CHILDREN’S PAGE.
HIS DILIGENCE,
John Wesley was one of the hardest workers
that ever lived. Preaching, travelling, letter-
writing, meeting classes, writing books; he was
always about his master’s business. He reminds
me of Samuel Rutherford, a Scottish Covenanter,
of whom it was said, he “‘was always preaching,
always praying, always studying, always catechi-
sing, and always visiting the sick.†When he was
over 86 years of age, he wrote, “I do not slack my
labour,†and continued to rise at four o’clock in
the morning.
HIS |HUMOUR.
I do not think this was a very prominent thing
in Mr. Wesley’s mental character. Geo. Whit-
field could be very facetious, and indulge in
banter, which, though never malicious, was not
always agreeable to those whom he tried to tease.
Still, Mr. Wesley had a measure of humour and
wit. I have heard that when in a narrow lane a
man meeting him, confronted him, saying, “ I
never give way for a fool,’ Mr. Wesley drew to
one side, saying, “I always do.†I do not know
whether this tale is true, but the following one is.
He had a travelling companion named Michael
Fenwick, who complained that his name was
never mentioned in Wesley’s Journals. Mr. Wes-
ley remedied that. In his next journal he
described an open air service, and said that the
people listened well, all save Michael Fenwick,
who fell fast asleep “under a hayrick. I hope
Michael was suited at last.
HIS HAPPY DEATH.
It had been said of the early Methodists “they
die well,†and the founder of Methodism did so.
His last word was “ farewell,’’ uttered to the
friends gathered round his death bed. As soon
as he died, they sang as they stood around his
corpse,
« Waiting to receive thy spirit,
Lo! the Saviour stands above;
Shows the purchase of His merit;
Reaches out the crown of love.â€
The solemn event took place in his house, City
Road, London, on March 2nd, 1791. Until very
recently the house was occupied by one of the
ministers of the City Road circuit, but it has now
been set apart as a kind of Methodist Museum.
It contains many interesting relics and it will no
doubt be a kind of place of pilgrimage from far
and near for those who venerate the memory of
the founder of Methodism. Mr. Wesley was
interred in the burial ground connected with City
Road Chapel and many who will visit the “chamber
where a good man breathed his last†will also ask
where his dust rests till the resurrection of the
last day.
MAY.
Mild winds have blown old winter’s breath
away,
Young is the year and earth is green and gay.
Emity Howson Tayor.
BY MOUNTAIN, ROAD AND RIVER.
BY LUCY SOOTHILL.
No. II.
4 MUSICAL genius of some preten-
tions has just been presented to me
as a recent addition to the little
company of believers. Nostringed
instrument was said to be beyond
her skill, even a journey to
Wenchow, in order to attack the foreign har-
monium there, being in contemplation. She is
a portly dame of forty, and kindly favoured me
with an exhibition of her skill, also promising to
sit by my side and play all evening, if I would
only stay another night. Her father, having
nothing else to do, had taught his daughters
music, not, she explained, that it was of any use
from a monetary point of view, but simply gave
pleasure to themselves and others.
A dear chatty old body whom I visited in
another part of the premises evidently looks with
small favour on our Western style of hair-dressing,
so rough and tumble compared with the well-
oiled tresses of the daughters of Far Cathay. She
opened a drawer, and after fishing about for a
considerable time, drew out a very suspicious
looking comb, and offered it to me, pointing at
the same time to my front locks. 1 hope the
profusion of thanks with which I declined the
well-meant attention eased the hurt to her
feelings,
After tiffin I talked with the women, and urged
them to bring their burdens to the one burden-
bearer. A few words of sympathy and loving
kindness soon drew from them the story of their
hardships and trials, and I quite commiserated one
little mother when she pleaded she “ had so many
children she did not know what todo.†Life is
much the same all the world over.
In the meantime Mr. Soothill had gone to call
on the Ts’ing-die magistrate, who happened to be
in Da-ling-’ao. The interview was not as helpful
as was hoped, crowds were present, and made dis-
cussion of the persecution case impossible. We
had begun service when Mr. Soothill came back,
but I was glad to hand it over, and he straightway
began to preach on, “‘ No man hath left father and
mother,†etc.
After service, and a cup of tea drunk “ with our
loins girded,†we departed for O-ko-die. For
three or four miles we wound our way up what
Mr. Soothill calls our “ kicking horse canon,†after
the famous one in the Canadian rockies, a long,
lonely gorge, with beetling crags and hills,
hundreds of feet high on either hand. The narrow
path was cut in the hillsides, and zig-zagged in
and out, up and down, following the curvature of
the hills. A rushing torrent, breaking now and
again into cascades, and fed by streams from the
almost perpendicular hills, filled the bed of the
gorge. Lovely white flowers, such as the wild
gardenia, huge dog-rose, and jasmine “ wasted
their sweetness on the desert air†in companion-
ship with delicate ferns.
We ascended a considerable height, but had a
still deeper descent on the other side. So
precipitous was it we literally could. not see our
path for more than a dozen yards at a time, and
not always that. It was all I could do to avoid
slipping from my chair. Down, down, almost
straight down, truly it was a curious, wonderful
sight, on either side of us, and in close proximity,
66 BY MOUNTAIN, ROAD AND RIVER.
not the hanging gardens of Babylon, but the
hanging rice fields of China. With what infinite
patience and immense labour had these thousands
of little terraces been built up and carved out of
the solid hillsides, each one carefully prepared,
and inundated, and now waiting for the young
rice plants.
Though we were the first foreigners who had
ever been to O-ko-die the villagers were remark-
ably good, but few following us to the little home-
stead perched up on the very edge of the hill,
and so difficult of access. The low cottage had
only two or three yards of standing room in
front, no small share of which, on either side of
the door, was monopolised by what in China is
tantamount to the ash-pit in England. On our
way hither we heard glowing accounts of the
remarkable provision made for the preacher’s
accommodation. I shall not be far from the truth
if I say we slept in the pig-stye, for our bed was
but divided therefrom by a boarding which did
not even reach to the top of the low ceiling. The
two families of porkers might as well have been
in the same room with us, every sound and move-
ment being heard, and ] may say the smell of
pork is much nicer roasted than raw.
The preacher’s room at O-ko-die has also the
further distinction of having a continually damp
rock jutting out of the mud floor, but we had been
more provident than the patriarch, and brought
our own pillows with us.
The centre room was a mass of closely-packed
faces as we did our duty by attempting to get
something to eat in their midst. Fortunately we
were invited to the house below to hold service,
and there was a quiet attentive audience to whom
Mr. Soothill held forth twice. Afterwards we came
back up the hill, when eight candidates were
examined and baptised. One of these was a
bright-faced old lady of seventy-six, who had
walked two miles to service, and who is the “ first
fruitsâ€â€™ among the women here.
Then the sacrament was, for the first time,
celebrated in this weird, outlandish spot, and was
solemnly partaken of, by the light of the lantern
we had brought with us. Shadows lay thick about
the little room, while I, near the door, could see
the dark black wall of hills facing us on the
opposite side, and the gleam of water in the valley
hundreds of feet below. Then the little company
dispersed, each bearing his long strip of flaming
bamboo as torch, without which it were dangerous
to life and limb to stir a step in the dark.
So the long day ended at 10.80 p.m. after three
services, two communions, eight baptisms, forty or
fifty patients, a visit to a Mandarin, and six
miles of hard travel, a good part of which was done
on foot.
On Monday morning we were awakened at five,
our alarum the near cry of a pheasant, and before
seven had left our high-perched eyrie, after dis-
pensing medicine to a score people who evidently
knew the practice, if not the proverb, of the early
bird and the worm.
From that time till two p.m. we were passing
rapidly through another portion of this vast region
of ten thousand hills and valleys, the beauty of
whose ravines and gorges no feeble words of mine
must defame. Everything was particularly verdant
after the recent rains, and the heavens a canopy
of blue, save for a few fleecy clouds which still
resisted the rays of the increasingly hot sun.
But to the two denizens of a malodorous Chinese
city no small part of the charm lay in the pure,
illimitable breathing space, and the all-pervading
spirit of peace and restfulness which gradually
toned even any discordant notes in our own hearts
into conscious harmony with its own. ‘Then it
were easy to obey the Psalmist’s injunction,
“Cease ye from man,†for as far as east is from
west so far seemed city dirt, and strife, and
squalor. Here we were almost alone amid this
vast solitude, this world within a world, every
turn leading us to fresh ranges, and yet grander,
deeper valleys, as yet untrodden by foreign steps.
Numberless rills streamed down the mountain
side and formed themselves into a rushing torrent
whose voice, as we passed’ by, was more resonant
than our own. Yet. once and again a note was
struck which instantly carried our thoughts to a
far distant English wood we wot of, it was the
plaintive call of the cuckoo.
Anent the cuckoo the Chinese have a curious
legend. In ages long gone by a certain farmer
neglected the call of Spring to his fields. When
he sowed he sowed too late, and the winter came
and found him foodless. He paid the penalty of
his idleness, and died of starvation. As a warn-
ing to others the gods transformed him into a
cuckoo, and now he and his descendants must for
ever cry to the laggard farmer, ‘“ Kue-kung kue-
kung, kue-kung kue-kung,†work on, work on,
work on, work on.
At times we were at a giddy height, and on
this journey I learnt how hardened one may
become, even to the extent of riding for half a
day on the very outside edges of precipices in a
chair slung between two bamboo poles, with the
additional excitement of being suspended over an
abyss at every curve of the path.
Our last descent must have been 2,000 feet.
Here and there the path twisted and turned like
a corkscrew, and placed me at an angle of 45
degrees in my chair. We wound too much to get
a view of the bottom from the top, but when it
did come into sight it was of fearsome depth. At
one spot stood a fine big fir tree more than half
burnt through, to extract the resin. The tree
seemed no worse, and we were told it would not
BY MOUNTAIN, ROAD AND RIVER. 87
die, though it would never refill the sad wound in
its trunk.
Before leaving O-ko-die Mr. Soothill had
astonished the natives by his method of shav-
ing, which perforce had to be performed in
the open. Said they, “he rubbed over a little
silver brush and it was done in a moment.†The
“ittle silver brush â€â€™ is a safety razor, and a great
boon when performing a certain operation under
trying circumstances like these. Now asI walked
beside my chair one of the bearers remarked I had
followed their custom of plaiting a pig-tail, and
seeing that I had “done it up†behind added,
sympathetically, “it
is cooler for the neck
like that.â€
At-.2°>. p.m. we
reached the “ Little
Creek,â€â€™ where we had
arranged to meet our
boat, but were doomed
to disappointment.
We learnt the reason
of its absence later.
The natives were of
course greatly ex-
ercised in mind as to
our appearance, and
crowded round al-
most to suffocation.
“Did I comb my
hair,†they asked, did
I do this, that, or the
other. All this is very
wearying after going
for seven hours with-
out food, so we es-
caped down the bank
some distance, and
there sat and roasted
on the sand for nearly
an hour, while a boat
was being bargained
for, to row us down
stream till we came
across our own
boat.
The “ Little Creek †(so-called) is as big as many
an Nnglish river, being about seventy miles long.
From where we joined to the mouth is one suc-
cession of rapids, with waves which bubble and
boil like the sea, and down which we shot in great
style. In an hour we came across our own boat,
and no sooner were we settled than we learnt that
the little dog we had left behind in the boat had
been the chief cause of the delay. Some miles
below he had got ashore, and refused to return,
‘stead he had started up the nearest hill, in the
hope, it was surmised, of finding his manter and
mistress, since he had previously seen them dis-
Miss Muriel Stevens.
appear in a similar fashion. This was distressing,
for Arabi (“ Habbie ’’) had trotted at our heels for
ten long years, and had also been the children’s
playmate, all of which made the prospect of his
slowly dying of starvation on the lonely hills, in
his old age, intolerable.
We set off at once, and came to a standstill at
the village where Habbie had begun his vain
quest. ‘The whole village turned out to tell us
how they had pursued him far up the hills, indeed
their noisy shouts but sent him further afield. We
decided to go in search ourselves, no light task,
after the toil we had already undergone, and with
a hot sun still shining.
The ascent was long
and steep, and when
we got to a very stiff
part Mr. Soothill
threw himself on the
ground, declaring his
inability togofurther,
adding, “It is hope-
less, he has gone on
and on, if he had
been anywhere near
he would have come
at the sound of my
whistle.†But I, who
had not been preach-
ing from morning till
night the day before
could not yet give up.
So up and up I toiled,
with Pearly-Glory as
companion, pitying
meanwhile the
Chinese who come
hither to cultivate
patches of soil. On
reaching one summit
we found there were
still higher heights
beyond, but also faint
traces of our unlucky
quadruped. I said to
the boy, “We will
just go down that
declivity, and on to the other hill, and if we do not
find him we willreturn.†But even there we found
him not, and to Pearly-Glory’s remark, “‘ We shall
have to give him up,’ I sorrowfully assented. We
tried to console ourselves by filling our pockets with
alarge delicious wildraspberry called “gung-gung,â€
which grows here in great profusion. But before
retracing our steps came one Jast effort, the hills
resounded to an unfamiliar voice uttering a series
of piercing cries upon the name of Habbie. Was
that a faint response? Or was the wish father to
the thought ? Again I called, and yet again, and
this time felt sure a distant answer came faintly
See page 69.
68 ' OUR FOREIGN FIELD.
stealing up from below. “It is he,’’ I cried, and
soon there was no doubting that quick short bark
of recognition. In a few minutes our old friend
was tearing madly up over all obstacles, and what
the joy of mistress and dog I ieave you to imagine.
It was.a happy triumphant trio that raced wildly
back to the boat, as proud of their success as if
they had won an empire.
Too much ado about a dog? But what asermon
for the Chinese! We had come only a few miles
to save a lost dog, but ten thousand to save lost
souls! Tales of the diabolical cruelty of Westerners
are still circulated in Far Cathay, but surely the
villagers who again turned out to congratulate us
on the success of our efforts, and who had
Christian books presented to them would credit us
with some feeling of humanity.
During the following morning we went ashore
and visited three villages, in two of which we bad
a cordial reception, but the third was decidedly
cool, the principal people being scholars, and
proud Confucianists. Still they condescended to
gather in the rest-house and listened to the
Gospel of the presumptuous foreigners in a casual,
stand-off fashion. At another place we accepted
an invitation to call at the house of a woman who
had heard the Truth at Du-lu, a distant station.
Fortunately a spreading chestnut tree grew before
her door, and sheltered both the crowd and our-
selves during the exhortation.
In the afternoon we dropped down to Zang-
Chang, a large village. Mr. Soothill and the
colporteur had such a good time they decided to
strike while the iron was hot by preaching again
in the evening. Just at dusk the owner of the
house where the service was to be held came, and
said the people there were very quiet, and would I
also go and speak to them. Accordingly at dark we
set out, lantern in hand, over the pebbly beach
into the village. A big crowd followed, and a
pushing crowding, jostling, swaying mass it was
which the preachers confronted.
It is not exactly pleasant to the flesh to rub
shoulders, and come into such very close contact
with diseased, dirty persons, who look as if they
had not been washed since they wereborn. They
were determined, however, to have a good look at
that rara-avis, a foreign woman, if supreme effort
could attain their end. They came peering into
my face, on to which they turned the light of their
lanterns, and the gleam of their blazing bamboo
sticks. They also fingered my garments, but when
their inordinate curiosity led them sill further,
really one had to enter an unmistakable protest.
Higher than fear and stronger than fate
Are love and faith that patiently wait.
Work then, even as He has done, and does, like
a star, unhasting, yet unresting —Carlyle.
EDITORIAL“NOTES.
EASTERN AFRICA.
IN a recent communication to the
4] General Missionary Secretary. Rev.
W. G. Howe remarks that in his
judgment, one lesson taught by the
losses the Missionary Society has
sustained is, that no Foreign Station
should be worked at the lowest possible point of
European agency. The day school at Kibe which
was commenced on New Year’s day has enrolled
105 scholars, not including infants. Three young
men have been engaged as pupil teachers. A gift
of forms had been received for Ribe church and
school. The more accommodation secured, the
more the congregation seems to grow.
* *
Mr. Hows had been inthe direction of Ganjoni
and seen what filled him with apprehension. He
saw a few locusts and was told they were coming
in millions! He fears that a time of great distress
is before them.
* * *
Tur Missionary Secretary has received a letter
from Rev. R. M. Ormerod, dated January 22nd,
1898. His wok consists in conducting daily
Galla service, teaching Galla day school, over-
looking a Pokomo day school. On Sunday he
conducts one Pokomo service and two Gulla
servic-s. Mr. Consterdine preaches in Swahili to
the Pukomos on Sunday, and takes the oversiyht
of two Pokomo day schools. All the Mission
staff are entirely free from malarial fever, but
Mr. Consterdine suffers from sores in the feet,
produced probably by mosquito bites. He has to
be carried to school on a hammock.
JAMAICA.
Lurrers from Mrs. Abercrombie report her as
much better in health. She had been much
benefited by a visit she had paid to Rav. J. and
Mrs. Lockett up in the hills. She had resumed
her Buble class since her restoration to health.
Mrs. Abercrombie, I may explain, kindly remains
in Jamaica for a time at the request of the
Missionary Committee.
CHINA.
In a letter from Rev. W. E. Soothill to the
Missionary Secretary, dated January 3rd, 1898, he
intimates that he and Mr. Stubie had been ona
visit to Lee-chee. They had bad weather but a
good time. He intended starting a high school
OUR FOREIGN FIELD. 69
in February. It was a sore trial to him that at
the time of writing no one had been obtained for
service at Wenchow.
# * *
Ty a letter to the Missionary Secretary, dated
January 5th, 1893, Rev. J. W. Heywood says that
he is highly gratified that a new Settlement
church has to be built. The whole Mission thanks
the Missionary Committee for the help promised.
He refers also to the death of Mr. Li, a generous
and honourable man. His decease is a great loss
to the Ningpo church. He had promised 1,009
medicine and Bible knowledge. Thus he would
have a band of medical Missionaries, natives, who
would be a great help to the church, An assistant
would also make it possible for one of them to
help Mr. Soothill in his Higher Education scheme.
He hoped to be able to commence and carry on a
Bible class one evening per week. ‘The new
hospital was nearly ready for opening,
& # *
I am indebted to the Rev. W. E. Soothill for a
number of admirable photographs of our buildings
in Wenchow. ‘he first of these, a view of
Dingley Hospital.
dollars to the new building. The health of all on
the station was good at the time of writing.
% # #
Dr. Hoge, in a letter to the Missionary
Secretary, reports that he was suffering from an
accident. A bottle had broken and fragments of
the glass had penetrated and lacerated his hands.
He also reports that his two pupils are making
satisfactory progress and he has confidence in
leaving the dispensing in their hands. He would
like to have an assistant, so that he could form a
small medical class out of the members and boys
of the Mission with a view of training them in
Dingley Hospital, appears this month. Other
portions of the hospital premises have been photo-
graphed, and the pictures will be given in due
course. The good man whose name has been
given to the hospital “rests from his labours,†but
“his works follow him.†1 have pleasure in pre-
senting my readers with this ill istration.
THE MISSIONARY FORWARD MOVEMENT.
Mosv successful services in behalf of Missions
have been held in Mansfield. The Missionary in-
come is 40 ,er. cent in advance of last year. lt
mention these services chiefly to call attention to
the fact that Miss Muriel Stevens, ten years of age,
70 GENERAL
has collected £7.6s. 2d. during the year. She
called every week on her subscribers, many of
whom paid a halfpenny per week, and some less
than that. As she had 48 subscribers she must
have made at least 1,118 visits during.the year.
I am glad to be able to present my readers with a
portrait of this patient, zealous, indefatigable little
girl. A cot in the Ningpo Hospital has to be
named after her.
Our church at Newquay has had a week of self-
denial for the Mission Fund. Mr. Wm. Penrose
has collected as the result £1 lds. 6d.
MISSIONARY SECRETARY’S NOTES.
work at Ningpo. He thinks when the new pre-
mises are built, and one more Huropean agent (in
addition to Dr. Swallow and Mr. Woolfenden)
has been sent out, there will be enough European
agents on the spot to initiate and direct a mag-
nificent work executed by native agents,
He has visited a village (Tseo Mo Dong) of over
a thousand families, and where we have. eleven
members, and has had offered him a larger house
of three rooms and the compound in which it
stands for a rental of about five-pence per week.
Thus it is that in every direction doors of service
and ministry are opening to us.
Natwe House at Ribe.
GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY S
NOTES.
CHINA.—NINGPO,
E are still in need of £750 to com-
plete our Ningpo Homes and Hos-
pital scheme. The whole scheme
will cost to carry it out some £1,400,
we have £500 promised. This does
not include the cost of site. This
has been generously promised by our
honoured friend Mr. Alderman Shadford, Spalding,
as stated in last month’s Hono.
Mr. Heywood writes most cheerfully of the
MISS HORNBY.
In a letter just to hand from Miss Hornby, she
desires to express her thanks to the following
friends for the many gifts which have made num-
bers of Chinese friends bright and happy :— Misses
Elsie Marriott and Maggie Oakes, Christmas Cards ;
Dr. Cope, Medicines ; Miss Bushell and the Sis-
ters of Bowron House, bovril and other needful
things for the sick ; Sister Annie’s Girls’ Parlour,
a large number of woollen mittens, scarfs, capes
and babies’ shoes; and Mallinson Road and Bat-
tersea Park Road Christian Endeavour, Christmas
Cards and woollen mittens.
WENCHOW.
Our friend, Dr. Hogg, writes most interestingly
omen T)
â„¢,
ii | scm
a ee
at
——
HOW WE INCREASED OUR MISSIONARY SUBSCRIPTIONS. 7
of our new hospital at Wenchow, which he says is
nearly finished. He encloses a plan of the build-
ings as they are at present, and hopes later on
to'send some photographs. A larger plot of land
was secured than has been used, with a view to
extension. The Hospital at present can accommo-
date twenty patients, or even twenty-four serious
cases. The following are the rules :—
OUT-PATIENTS.
1—The Hospital has been founded for the
benefit of the sick poor. The greater part
of the cost has been raised in Western
countries. Persons of substance who receive
benefit are invited to assist the good work by
: donations.
2.—The out-patient days are Mondays, Wednes-
days, and Fridays from 9 a.m. till 12 noon,
Patients must attend within the prescribed
hours and procure a numbered ticket on pay-
ment of 30 cash (@.e. ¢d.)
3.—If patients wish simply to purchase certain
medicines, they can do so at the dispensary.
4,—Medicine bottles and ointment cups are not
supplied gratuitously.
5.—Patients from a distance seeking advice on
other days are seen at noon and4pm. ata
charge of 100 cash (24d )
§6.—Patients who do not come personally are
liable to be charged 100 cash.
7..-Emergency cases seen at any hour.
8.—Thursdays at 4 p.m. are set apart for women
only.
9.—Persons who wish to be seen and treated
privately can attend at 4 p.m. at a charge of
half-a-dollar (1s.)
10.—Cases visited in the city at their homes,
IN-PATIENTS.
1.—In-patients on admission must bring a
surety, enter their names on the register and
pay a month’s board in advance.
2.—Board, bedding, and hospital dress are pro-
vided. Those desirous of extra or special
diet must consult with the Doctor and obtain
his permission,
3,—In-patients must observe the hospital rules of
cleanliness.
4.—Patients stay in hospital on their own
responsibility.
5.—The hospital is\ not responsible for the
property of patients, which may get lost.
JAMAICA.
The reports from Jamaica reveal a very
‘depressed condition of things. The sugar trade
is about dead, the coffee crop a partial failure,
and the yellow fever has kept the American
ships from the island, so that the oranges and
bananas have had little or no sale. It is a most
anxious time, both for the government itself, and
also for all Missionary Societies. In spite of these
sad facts the late Governor General said, “To
subsidize the West Indian Islands was to rob them
of self-dependence and progress.†There is, how-
ever, a rift in the dark clouds, and we hope the
day of better things is coming.
HOW WE INCREASED OUR MISSIONARY
SUBSCRIPTIONS
BY 8. J.
CAN’T bear to ask for more money,â€
said Hilla, “I am such a _ poor
‘beggar.’â€
“tis hard,†said Ethel, ‘I don’t
like it either, but you know we have
to make a special effort this year.â€
«« Why do they need more money ?â€â€™
asked Hlla.
“To carry on the Missionary work, I suppose,â€
said Hthel.
“ Well,†replied Hilla, “ we can’t be Missionaries,
so I suppose the next best thing is to try and get
money forthem. But oh! I hate begging. I
suppose we ought to like it.â€
“J don’t know,†said Ethel, “some people seem
specially gifted that way, but don’t you think if
we looked on it as God’s work, and that we are
the instruments in His hands it wouldn’t seem so
hard. We are not asking for ourselves, you
know.â€
“Oertainly not. Besides we have undertaken
it now, and we must do our best.â€
While these faint-hearted Missionary collectors
were having this conversation, an invalid lady
many miles away was writing to several of her
friends. ;
“Tam go anxious, dear ffriend,â€â€™ she wrote to
one, “that everyone should know in what great
need are our Missionary funds. I feel inclined
to say with Wesley,
“Oh for a trumpet voice,
On all the world to call.â€
“ As this is an unattainable ambition I must be
content to reach the ear, or rather the hearts of
my friends, and ask them to double their sub-
scriptions this year. I know there are many who
will gladly do this when once they are convinced
that it is necessary. That the “ Lord hath need
of it†is enough for them. Will you respond to
the call?â€
“T only wish I were not laid aside, how gladly
would I, as in other days, beg for the cause so
dear to my heart. As I am invalided here in
sunny climes it appears that at present the Master
has no need of me. ‘They also serve who only
stand and wait.Չۉ۪
When Ethel and Ella called on the first of their
subscribers, they announced the purpose of their
visit, and then Hthel gave Hlla -a little touch to
72 SIERRA LEONE, PAST AND PRESEFT.
signify that she must tell about the increased
subscriptions wanted. Ella said nothing, so Ethel
rather nervously explained.
“Oh yes,†said the lady, ‘I have had a letter
from Miss Rother, telling me all about it. I feel
I must do my best, so put me down half-a-
guinea instead of the usual five shillings.†She
afforded it by determining to make her winter
hat last till she got one for the summer, and being
minus any new spring head gear, which as the
ladies know is rather trying in the bright spring
weather. Of this determination our young friends
were of course unaware.
When the two girls called on the second sub-
scriber (who happened also to be a recipient of a
letter from Miss Rother) they felt cheered and
emboldened by their previous success, and at once
asked for an increased subscription.
“ J wish I could, dears, I have heard of the need
and I considered it well,†said ‘“‘ Number Two.†I
am sorry I must refuse, and only give my usual
half-crown.â€
This was so kindly and sincerely said, that the
collectors felt that sympathy for the cause far
exceeded the amount given, and were not damped
by the refusal.
As they continued their round, nearly every-
where they found the ground prepared for them.
If the subscribers called upon had not heard
personally from Miss Rother, some friend of theirs
had doneso. ‘The subscriptions were time after
time increased, almost before our friends could
ask.
“Here,†said a gentleman, “is a guinea. I
have heard from a lady who tells me I must give
it.â€
“Tt hasn’t been so bad,†said Ella, when their
annual work was once more completed.
“Indeed, it has not,†said Ethel. ‘“ You can’t
think what a lesson it has been to me, and do you
know, Mrs. Bound who only gave half-a-crown,
has been giving five shillings a week for some time
to a poor neighbour who is at the seaside for her
health.
“ Keally! And she never told us.â€
“No, that is where the heroism comesin. It
requires a great deal of courage to give only half-
a-crown when people are expecting one to give
more. It is often nobler to give a small sum than
a large one.â€
“Yes, and it isn’t always the givers of the
largest amounts that think the most of the cause.
How pleased I am that we have continued this
year to collect,†said Ella; <‘ but isn’t the influence
of Miss Kother’s letters wonderful ?â€
“Jt is,†said Ethel, “that is one of my lessons.
I have been thinking it is because she is so conse-
crated and sincere. People can’t help doing what
she asks them.â€
“ And then, Ethel, she prays about everything,â€
said Ella.
letters.â€
“ She will have done so, of course,†said Ethel
thoughtfully. ‘She has done more towards rais-
ing the money than we have.â€
“ Yes, she raised it, we collected it, but I am
glad we were able to do that much. Won't she
be glad?â€
“She will indeed,†replied her friend.
Where does an influence end? dear reader.
When you have read this little account, you also
may be able to find a few lessons.
“No doubt she has prayed about those
SIERRA LEONE, PAST AND PRESENT.
BY THE LATE REY. T. H. CARTHEW.
No. Il.
to build for themselves huts of ac-
commodation, I can scarcely say
houses, They seem to have entered
on their work in the spirit of the
proverb, “Every man for himself
and God for us all.†The Sierra Leone Company
had promised to each man twenty acres of land,
but this was found altogether impracticable in
consequence of the dense bush then surrounding
the District, and which would have taken move
time, labour, and money to clear, than either the
Company or the people were willing to bestow.
Each man therefore was content to take four
acres, and all entered upon their estates “monarchs
of all they surveyed.â€
Eventually the Sierra Leone Company finding
itself unable to carry on its designs owing to un-
foreseen circumstances,—such as war with the
natives, want of harmony amongst their Agents,
pressure of slowly increasing liabilitics,—an Act of
Parliament received the Reyal Assent on August
8th, 1807, whereby the possessions and rights of
the Company were transferred to the Crown from
January Ist, 1408. In the debate on the third
reading of this Act, Mr. Thornton, Chairman of
the Company, concluded his speech by remarking
that in whatever sense the Colony might be said
to have failed, he thought they had afforded proof
of the practicability of civilizing Africa, and it
would be for the Parliament and Government to
act hereafter as might under the circumstances
appear expedient.
Although the Sierra Leone Company had
ceased, its principal members immediately joined
the “African Institution,†through which the
Government acted for some time. H.R.H. the
Duke of Gloucester, son of George III. was Patron
and President; Henry Thornton, Chairman, and
Zachary Macaulay, for many years its hard-work-
ing and unpaid Secretary, who afterwards received
an appointment as Governor of the Settlement
SIERRA: LEONE, PAST AND PRESENT. 73
under the Crown. The first Governor appointed
by the crown was Thomas Ludlam, Hsq., in 18U3.
Since his time to the present there have been so
many changes as almost to justify the witty ob-
servation of Sidney Sinith that “ Sierra Leone had
always two Governors, one just arrived in the
colony and the other just arcived in England.â€
This constant change has been detrimental to the
Settlement, indeed it would be difficult to men-
tion another fact which has more seriou-ly affected
the progress of the Colony. Since it came under
the Crown (till 1887) it has had fifty-six appoint-
ments, and althongh Sir Charles Macarthey held
the Government for ten years, the appointments
will not average a stay of eighteen months each,
travelling time included.
The Peninsula is eighteen miles in length, and
twelve miles in breadth, containing an area of
3U) square miles; that is about the size of the
Isle of Wight. Soon after the Colony was sur-
rendered to the crown, the Governors appointed
to administer its affairs advocated, as essential to
commercial prosperity, the extensive acquisition of
territory both to the north and south of the
Settlement. Their advocacy. however, was not
successful, for it was not till 1861, consequent
upon a little war, that the boundaries were en-
larged. in that year a portion of the Quiah
country, situate on the eastern borders of the
Culony, became a part of Sierra Leone. In the
same year Sherbro’ on the sonth was obtained by
cession, Besides these territories there are several
islands, the largest are the Isles de I.0s, about one
deyree north of the Colony; the Bananas, about
three miles from Cape Shilling, and the Plintain
Islands near the Bananas. There is also a large
slip of land on the Bullom shore nearly opposite
Freetown the capital. These additions bring up
the total pressnt area to thousands instead of hun-
dreds of square miles.
The peninsula is mountainous throughout; the
highest peak called Sugar Loaf Mountain is about
8,0UU feet above sea level. ‘The soil is in some
places a reddish-brown clay ; in others it is rocky
or gravelly with an admixture of ferrnyinous earth
strewn with granite boulders. In many places
there is found, in the lower grounds particularly,
a cavernous kind of stone easily worked, largely
used for building purposes, and covered with an
alluvial soil. So plentiful is this stone in Free-
town, that in many cases a sufficient quantity can
be raised for building purposes on and around the
site upm which the proposed edifice is to stand ;
and in some cases the owner offers large quantities
to his less fortunate neighbours, who in return
give him other materials for the completion of his
building. Equally fortunate is the colony in its
supply of a great variety of wood for building
purposes. The supply is abundant and seems.in-
exhaustible. It is exceedingly cheap, enabling the
industrious part of the community to build their
own houses and live without paying rent.
The present population (1887) of the Colony is
about 62,000. In Freetown no less than sixty
languages are spoken, so the small community
there, is in some sort an epitome of Africa. The
following fourteen names comprise all those who
may be classified with any exactness as to their
specific African nationality. They are given in
the order of their numerical strength, Timanees,
Mendis, Sherbros, Susus, Lokkos, Mandingoes,
Gallinas, Kroos, Limbahs, Baggas, Foulahs, Jol-
loys, Bulloms and Serakulies. In addition to
these are large numbers of other races, inextricably
intermixed; besides descendants of liberated
Africans whose specific nationality it is impor sible
to state with any degree of exactness. These num-
ber about 35,00U, more than one-half of the whole
population. The Timanees were the original
inhabitants of the country. They are principally
located in the Quiah district and spread a con-
siderable way into the interior. They are pagans;
a few, however, profess the Mohammedan religion.
They are for the most part a dishonest and de-
praved people.
To pourtray each nation in its idiosyncrasies
wculd demand the pen of a Dickens, and a library
of the Bodleian type as a depository. I would,
however, raise my voice against the almost uni-
versal misrepresentation, disparagement and mal-
icious caricaturing of the negro. He may not be
so good as some indiscriminate enthusiasts have
painted him, but neither is he as bad as the fam-
iliar but distorted photographs in poetry, prose,
and painting weuld represent him. It is now
regarded as an elementary fact that societies are.
determined in their growth by their environ-
ment. And what was the environment of the
negro for nearly 400 years? Who placed the
shackles on his feet? Who instituted a prescrip-
tion to all mental development? Who crushed
his sonl from his body by the cruel hand of
slavery? Let us be thankful that we discover in
the African “ the soul of goodness in things evil,â€
and rejoice in the pos-ibility and probability, nay,
the certainty that, under favourable circumstances
and propitions influences, he will by manly exer-
tion and noble endeavour exalt himself and his
country to a proud position among the nations of
the earth.
Tw sure result of regeneration is a devout reve-
rence for the law and a resolute keeping of it in
the heart.—Spurgeon.
TuereE are two things in which we should the-
ronghly train ourselves—to be slow in taking
off-nce, and to be slower in giving it.
Man’s noblest gift to man is his sincerity ; for it
embraces his integrity also.— Thoreau.
WORDS OF THESWISE.
No. I.
BY THE EDITOR.
HAVE been much impressed with utterances
concerning China by Mr. C. T. Studd, who
might be called the converted cricketer, if
that did not imply that playing cricket must
be forsaken when Christ becomes Lord of
our affections. Mr. Studd is a man of
mental power, and very observant. Hear what he
says about
INFANTICIDE IN CHINA.
“ Another evil which we all deplore in connec-
tion with China is the crime of child-murder
which is so prevalent in all parts of China. I
heard a lady in Manchester, belonging to the
Foochow Mission, relate an incident in connection
with this terrible crime. While going to a meet-
ing some way from her station she witnessed
this sight. The towns where she stayed are not
safe unless they have a high wall surrounding
them, and in order to make that wall they have to
dig a moat. She saw in this moat a blue cloth,
and she inquired what it was for. A Chinaman
said, “Don’t you know? Why, they take the
babies there and throw them to the wolves.†She
was so much impressed with this horrible thing
that instead of speaking on the text she had
chosen, she began to talk of child murder, and the
awiul sin and consequences of it. As she wenton
talking the women present laughed at her, and
she could not understand their behaviour. At
last she could stand it no longer and questioned
them, and everyone whom she asked confessed
she had committed the sin of child murder, and
there were some there who had committed the sin
not once but two or three times.â€
The prevalence of child murder is lamentable,
yet it is illegal, and the Chinese government tries
to put it down. Footbinding, however, is not for-
bidden by law, and, in China, Mr. Studd thinks
that it is a greater evil than infanticide. This is
startling, as the taking of life seems the greatest
evil and wrong that can be inflicted. But Mr.
Studd’s estimate must not be dismissed lightly.
Possibly he is not comparing the things in their
moral quality, but in the quantum of suffering and
pain which they cause. The child drowned in a
pail of water or thrown to the wolf suffers momen-
tarily, and then discovers
« There’s a home for little children,
Above the bright blue sky.â€
Footbinding results in life-long torture, and it is
cruelly inflicted. Hear Mr. Studd on the sub-
ject of
FOOTBINDING.
“One day my wife and I were going to a house
which turned out to be an opium refuge, and we
heard the most piercing shrieks. My wife thrust
WORDS OF (THE WISE.
‘open the door, and what did she see?’ She saw a
woman holding a child down on a bed. © And in
front of this little girl was another woman who
had taken off the socks of the little girl and was
extracting the nails out of her toes, and in order
to stop her from shrieking another woman was
striking her on the head with a broom-handle, It
does not end there. After this they take the foot
and bend the toes under the instep, a terribly pain-
ful proceeding.â€
Some of our fashions may be foolish, but, thank
God, we have no English custom so cruel and out-
rageous as Chinese footbinding. Yet the mothers
who, in compliance with a tyrannous and cruel
fashion, can subject their children to such terrible
pain, become entirely new creatures under the con-
straining influence of the love of Christ. It is
interesting to read what he says about
FEMALE CONVERTS.
“Tt is a touching sight to notice what these
women will go through when converted. When
once they get interested in the Gospel they will
travel as many as twenty miles, after a hard Satur-
day afternoon’s work, in order to hear more about,
the Lord Jesus Christ. They travel these long,
weary miles on those little feet, carrying their
babies on their backs, and as they pass through the
villages not a soul has a good word for them, and
they have to bear malice and curses from begin-
ning to end, if it is discovered that they are going
to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, and give up their
idolatry. Though they might even be fainting
with thirst on their way, not one in the villages
through which they go would give them so much
as a drink of cold water.â€
“GIVEM THE NIGGER.â€â€™
A Srory ror Boys.
BY G. H. KENNEDY.
OUNG Tommy Bryant had been to a
Juvenile Missionary Meeting, and
Tommy’s breast was swollen with a
desire to do something for the poor
little heathen boys and girls, who never
wear any clothing, and who never read
the Bible. So when he was saying his
prayers that night he added a bit extra, a most
unusual thing for young Tommy Bryant, who was
accustomed, if he made any departure from the
ordinary course, to cut it a bit short. And this is
what he added: “ And Oh! Lord Jesus, help me
to do something for those poor heathen boys and
girls, who never wear any clothes and who never
read the Bible.â€
Now young Tommy Bryant had just got the
BREAKING THE FETTERS. 75
word “ Bible†out, when he; heard someone say
“Giv’em the Nigger! Giv’em. the Nigger ! â€
He bobbed up at once, but there was no one to
be seen. However, Tommy Bryant didn’t bob
down again; he just said “Amen†and jumped
into bed.
My readers will not know what “Giv’em the
Nigger� meant, but young Tommy Bryant did.
Tommy Bryant had a money box in the shape of
a black man, and this black man was always hold-
ing out one hand, and if you placed a penny in
that hand, he immediately bowed his head with a
kind of jerk and threw the penny down his throat.
He was the funniest nigger I ever saw, and had
got written across his chest ‘ Won’t swallow half-
pennies,†and he wouldn’t. If you put a halfpenny
in his hand he would hold it there and grin at
you, but if you put a penny in, it was inside his
mouth before you could say stop.
' And he had got a mouth! It stretched right
across the front of his face and half way round the
back.
Now Tommy Bryant knew exactly how much
was in that nigger’s stomach. ‘There were seven
pennies, and a two-shilling piece, which an old
lady, Tommy’s Aunt, had placed in the nigger’s
hand by mistake, and which Tommy Bryant said
had been swallowed by mistake, but the old lady
never got her change. And Tommy Bryant was
saving up to buy a rabbit and hutch from Will
Johnson, which was to cost three shillings, so that
-he only wanted fivepence more, and it was that
‘which made him jump into bed so sharp when he
heard someone say “ Giv’em the Nigger! Giv’em
the Nigger!â€
The next day young Tommy Bryant said
néthing, but he thought a good deal, and he had
an idea. He had no doubt but that it was God
who had said “ Giv’em the Nigger,†so that night
he prayed.
“Oh! Lord Jesus, will it do if I giv’em the
nigger and keep what’s inside?â€
But the same voice came again, and it said
“Giv’em the Nigger, money and all, money and
alla
Ycung Tommy Bryant jumped into bed and
pulled the clothes over his head, but he couldn’t
sleep. He lay awake thinking and thinking,
until he had made up his mind to “ giv’em the
nigger, money and all.â€
He had to pass the house of the Juvenile
Missionary Secretary on his way to school, so he
wrapped the nigger up without telling anybody,
and when he got to the house, he opened the door,
shoved the nigger inside, and left a note with just
these words: “For the black boys and girls.
Don’t tell nobody.†And then he went to school
and he cculdn’t make out what was the matter, for
he never felt so happy in his life.
Mrs, Bryant, that was young Tommy Bryant’s
mother, missed the nigger, and was at a loss to
know what had become of him, and at last she
came to the conclusion that he must have swallowed
himself, and really that nigger’s mouth was large
enough !
There were only three who knew—young
Tommy Bryant, the Juvenile Missionary Secretary
and Jesus, and they all three kept it a secret.
BREAKING THE FETTERS.
BY W. A. TODD.
CHAPTER V.
“TAKE HER THEN !â€
[Hi tragedies of life are traceable to
little things. This was the teaching
of the nursery rhyme, “ For the want
of a nail the shoe was lost,†which
little want resulted, through the suc-
cessive losses of horse, rider, battle,
in the grand catastrophe of the loss of
the kingdom. If it were possible to connect
every cause and effect, this nursery rhyme would
be discovered to be typical of all the misfortunes
of life.
Certainly it was only a little thing which
occasioned the alarm, but it nearly ended in the
recapture of Adijuai.
Three days after the return from Tonza, Sarah
—the native woman who superintended the pre-
paration and distribution of the children’s food—
reported to Bwana Mkubwa that the dried shark
had all been used, and that there was no nyama
(meat) to make gravy. She was directed to send
two of the girls together with mpishi (cook) to
purchase a few pice’ worth of meat.
Now, some five minutes’ walk inland from the
mission station there was a heathen village known
as Msomwe Knu (Big Msomwe), so named because
it was'an older and a larger village.
A few minutes’ afterwards, Rai, the cook, and
Adijuai and Sada Mgeni were wending their way
to the market of heathen Msomwe. It was not
long before they entered the village, which con-
trasted very unfavourably with its namesake.
The streets were narrow and winding; cul de sacs
being formed in most unexpected places, made a
safe passage from one end of the village a liberal
education in threading one’s way through a maze ;
76 BREAKING
the houses were in every state of preservation, or
rather of decay. Rotting vegetables were scat-
tered everywhere; the carcases of birds and
smaller animals lay in the holes and gutters of
the street, covered with myriads of flies; ‘the
stench arising from such pollution was horrible,
almost beyond endurance. In the centre of the
village was the market place. The shops had
open fronts; the goods—grain, fruit, mats, linen
cloths— were spread on the ground adjacent to
each shop. The vendors squatted in the door-
ways or reclined in dark and cool recesses.
Rai and the two girls threaded their way
through the
crowds of
people to the
shops where
several scraps
of meat, thrust
through witha
large wooden jj
skewer, were
exposed for (jj
sale.
While Mpishi
was haggling j}\||
with the seller |
over the price,
Adijuai and
Sada Mgeni
slipped away
upen an er-
rand on their
own account.
Not far away,
an Arabsilver-
smith was
busily engaged
carving a
delicate design
upon a silver
anklet. But
what pleased
them more
than anything
else were the
strings of
Haeht cclews taka . he
ed beads and Aken |"
other gaudy
trinkets with which the native women love to
bedeck themselves. They had lingered here
some time and were moving on, when a rough
hand seized Adijuai by the arm in a grip of iron.
At the touch, a spasm of fear thrilled through
the girl’s frame, but her fear became terror when
she turned and caught a glimpse of her captor’s
face. Throwing herself to the ground, she gave
vent to piercing cries of lamentation. These cries
startled Rai in the midst of his haggling over
THE FETTERS.
the pieces of meat. Missing the girls now for
the first time, he darted from the Swahili butcher,
and elbowed through the crowd until he came
upon the scene of the commotion. Some time
elapsed before the gabble of voices subsided
sufficiently to allow of any explanation by the man
who was struggling with the terror-stricken
girl. The comments of the onlookers were many
and varied.
“She is possessed. Leave her alone and let
the evil spirit come out of her.â€
“Do not stand so near, lest, when the spirit
comes out, it takes up lodgings in the first one
she touches.â€
‘She is
pleasant-look-
ing — and a
maiden. She
shall be de-
tained and
wish success to
Bin Salim.â€
This speaker
was referring
to a custom
among the
heathen Swa-
hilies of kill-
ing two
maidens to
ensure sticcess
to caravans.
An old Arab
of the name
of Bin Satim
was at the
head of an
ivory caravan
about to start
inland.
“« But she is
a runaway
bi | slave belong-
fl ing to Hamad
| Bin Azad. I
y; and this
z woman have
been sent to
take her back
again,†at
length declared the man who had been instru-
mental in raisi: g all this tumult.
“Your words may be tiue,â€â€™ said Rai, “but
everybody knows ycu were born aliar.†A wave
of laughter went round the company at the dis-
comforture of Adijnai’s captor. ‘ But even if
she be a runaway slave, and even if you have
bean sent to take her back to her master, be
certain Bwana Trevelyan will have something to
say about the matter. She is one of Bwana
|
|
|
|
|
BREAKING THE FEUTERS. 7
Mkubwa’s children now. So, my man, polypoly.
(Be careful.)
It was evident while Rai was speaking, that
something in his words had a magic about them.
When he ceased, there was a moment’s silence,
while the people gazed at each other, at Rai,
then at Adijuai and her captor. The silence was
only fur a moment, then the gabble began
again.
“It will not be a wise thing to hurt one of
the children of the Mzunguâ€â€™ (white man )
Then the favour of the crowd, whizh, at first,
had been all against the slave girl, now veered
round, This had been brought about by the men- °
tion of Trevelyan’s name. He was a power even
among the lawless heathen and the slavers in the
districtaround. They had not the slightest com=
punction indestroying human life, but they feared
to harm the slave girl, and dared not lay a de-
taining hand upon her lest, by so doing, they
brought upon themselves the anger of the lion, as
they had nicknamed Trevelyan. The very men
who had proposed a terrible fate for Adijuai,
were now anxious to get her out of their village,
and hustled the man and the woman, who had
been sent to capture the Waj>le, out into the foot-
path which led to the mission station.
On the seizure of her companion, Sada Mgeni
had mingled with and been lost in the crowd.
Grasping the situation with a slave's instinct, she
went slowly through the winding streets of the
village, as if she had no need to hurry, but, the
moment she reached the footpath, she started to
run like the deer, never feeling the hard, scorch-
ing ground under her feet. She reached the
mission house, and sank down on the oaken matt-
ing quite breathless and unable to speak. When
she was able to gasp out her story the news spread
throughout the village. It was serious news —she
knew nothing of the turn events had taken at the
moment she gave the alarm.
It needed only a few minutes’ preparation be-
fore both Trevelyan and Andrews, accompanied
by a few of the men of the village, were starting
out for Msomwe Knu. They had not gons far,
however, before Kapala, who, immediately upon
the alarm being raised, had been sent on ahead to
see how matters stood, was seen returning, fol-
lowed in the distance by a group of meu and
women. His report was, that Rai had been all-
owed to bring Adijuai back to M-ome, and that
there were with them the man and woman who
had come from Hamad Bin Azed. ‘This somehow
eased the ten-ion which had possessed the mission-
aries. The greatest danger had been averted, and
Trevelyan felt he could deal with the demands
which might be made immediately. Instead of
going any further, the rescuing party retired to
the mission station, and awaited the arrival of the
others,
The two missionaries took up a position under
the verandah of the mission house, while the men
of the village lingered near at hand, anxious to
witness the comedy about to be played. It was
not long before Rai entered the yard with Adijuai,
who was sobbing with her fright and not sure
whether or no she was safe even yet. Imme-
diately behind came the man and the woman who
had been sent from Mombasa.
“ Adijuai, come here near me, now little one,
nyamaza!†(hush) and Trevelyan endeavoured to
soothe the frightened girl. Bui while engaged
trying to calm her fears, he was mastering the
vehemence of the anger which burnt within his
breast. Then, suddenly lifting himself he turned
to the man and woman—
“* Why have you come to see me to-day?â€
This question was made so calmly that the poor
creatures before him were astonished and could
make no answer—they had expected a torrent of
wrathful words. Trevelyan was a unique man ;
he frightened the slavers with his anger, and awed
them with his calmness. ;
He waited for their reply.
“We have come from Mombasa with a letter
from Bwana Myatt â€
«It would have been better to have come straight
here with it before you had gone to Msomwe Knu.
Let me see the letter.â€
They handed it over tohim. It was a demand
note signed by the Deputy-Governor of the Com-
pany, and directed that the three women slaves
of Hamad Bin Azed, Adijuai, Mtuwaombi and
Maiki should be handed over to the bearers. Tre-
velyan crushed it in his hand and threw it away,
and Andrews noticed the colour in his friend’s
face come and go.
“{ have no words to say to you,†was all the
answer Trevelyan made after reading the demand,
which, if he had complied with it, would have
made him an abettor of slavery. When he had
thus spoken he strode into the house. The man
and the women hesitated a moment or two, then
hurriedly crossed the yard and ran down the vill-
age road towards heathen Msomwe, amid the
jeering of the people on the mission station.
Everybody was breathing freely again. But
the episode wags not quite over and the crisis was.
not yet passed. Scarcely five minutes had elap-
sed since Thomas Trevelyan walked into the house
before an Arab, armed with a large, curved sword,
a dagger and a couple of small firearms stuck in
his belt, stalked through the gate toward the
mission house.
“Took, ‘Trevelyan, who’s coming now?â€
ejaculated Andrews, who had remained outside
talking to Adijuai.
Instantly Trevelyan stood at the door, and was
confronting the fierce-looking Arab, who was
darting toward the slave girl. The unexpected
appearance of the missionary caused the intruder
to fall back .a pace or two. His eyes glowered
with brutal anger, he was like a wild beast kept
in check by a stronger force it was compelled but
hated to obey.
* What would you say if I came into your house
rajaki (friend) without crying Hodi?†inquired
the missionary. Be good enough to cry Hodi
when you want to come into my house.â€
The Arab,unheeding the question andthe implied
rebuke, demanded his slaves who had taken refuge
with the white men.
It was Hamad Bin Azed himself! After send-
ing two of his slaves with the letter he had ob-
tained from Myatt, he had been seized with a
desire to follow them. Reaching Msomwe Knu
too late to hinder the return of his slave, Adijuai,
to the mission station, he had been in time to
hear the story of the man and woman whom he
had met returning to the heathen village. Curs-
ing them for dogs who should suffer for their
failure, he had come in pursuit of his three slave
girls, and now stood before Trevelyan, trembling
‘with rage in every limb.
Andrews wondered how his friend would deal
with the Arab, but never for a moment guessed
how near his wit’s end Trevelyan had come. Tre-
velyan patiently waited until the fiery eloquence
of the Arab had expended itself, all the while
_tacking his brain for a defensive line of action.
By the time Hamad Bin Azed had ceased talking,
Trevelyan had decided:to make a bold move.
“Would you know your three slave girls if
you saw them, Hamad Bin Azed?†was 'Trevel-
yan’s inquiry. He was prepared to call the three
Wajoli before him, if needs be, in the carrying
out. of his plan.
“Should I be able to know my own mother ?
Perhaps not, but most certainly I should know my
slaves. There is one of them yonder under the
verandah,†and the Arab pointed to Adijuai, who
was more dead than alive with her fright.
“Come here to me,†said Trevelyan. <“ Now,
Hamad Bin Azed, look at this girl. Look well
before you answer. Are you sure she is one of
the three slave women who, you say, have run
away from you?â€
“Tam sure of her. Her mother is at Chan-
gamwe working in the plantations.â€
“« You have no doubt—not the slightest doubt ? â€â€
“JT have not the slightest doubt!â€
“ And the company says she and her companions
are to be handed over to you?â€
6 Yes.â€
«Since you recognise her as your slave; since
the Company permits you to recapture her—rTaxu
HER, THEN!â€
These were the simple words, but the world of
defiance concentrated in them, made them for-
midable words.
78. BREAKING. THE FETTERS.
_ Adijuai began to cry again,,as the Arab took
one step toward her, and then weakly hesitated
and stood stock still.
“ Hamad Bin Azed, if she is your slave, why
don’t. you take her with you?â€
The scene reminded Andrews of the old
prophet Elijah’s treatment of the servants of Baal,
and of their discomforture.
With aterrible oath, the Arab, maddened beyond
all control by his weakress of purpose and will,
and by the knowledge of the strength of the white
man, and frightened by the unknown quantity of
Trevel)an’s attitude, took to his heels and was
soon out of sight. :
The crisis was over! It had been turned by a
bold and a desperate wove.
What this strain cost Trevelyan can never be
known. After it was all over, Andrews saw him
stagger like a palsied man to his own ro: m, and
when he fullowed his friend it was to find him in
fever.
The Wajoli were saved for the time being, but
the children got no gravy, they had to be content
that day with dry mahindi.
SUNDAY SCHOOLS AND MISSIONS.
It is interesting to know what steps are taken in
our Sunday Schools to encourage effort on behalf
of our Missions. Jn Dock Street Sunday Sch ol,
Monkwearmouth, for the last five years there has
been offered to the collector (boy or girl) who col-
lects the most during the year a silver medal. Last
year the silver medallist was Miss Ada Armstrong,
who collected £5 10s. Od. Two or three years ago
Miss Ada Barlow formed what is called ‘‘ A Busy
Bee.†It is a band of young ladies who meet every
Saturday afternoon, and under Miss harlow’s
supervision do needlework which is offered for
sale annually. Last year the handsome sum of
£i7 was thus raised for the Missions. Mr. J. B.
Allison is the School Missionary Secretary, and has
communicated these interesting facts.
* # * *
I am glad to find that on the part of our Sun-
day tchools there is so much zeal and in some
cases such ingenuity displayed in raising co: tri-
butions for our Home and Foreign Missions. New
City School, Norwich, has between fuity and fifty
juvenile collectors. Rawtenstall young people
raised over £8 by a Christmas Tree. Baillie dtreet,
Rochdale, Sunday School raised £44 16s. 9d. for
Missions last year.
Cuaracter is what a person is in the dark.
Loox at it this way. ‘The world and every-
thing in it is yours to help you make a true man
of yourself.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR PAGE. 79
THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR PAGE.
BY EDWARD. ABBOTT,
= WO most important. matters have
ii been under consideration of late—
| ‘The Problem of the Prayer Meet-
| ing,†and ** How to keep the Chris-
8) tian Endeavour Pledge.†The
understood fact is that the Church
Prayer Meeting is not so well attended as it might
be; and the Christian Hndeavour Pledge is not as
faithfully kept as it onght to be. There is a defi-
nite relation between the pledge and the prayer
meeting, and when the connection is broken,
confusion and disappointment are sure to follow.
Prayer is power—pledge keeping power, and if
the Hndeavourer cuts himself off from his source
of strength by neglecting the “ morning watchâ€
or the church prayer meeting his promise to do
“ whatever God would have him do†wiil be un-
fulfilled. Be instant in prayer and you will be
constant in duty:
A)
Ava most in'erestiny convention recently, one
minute reports from the Societies present were
asked for, and althongh it might seem that little
could be reported in a minute, yet numerous hints
and helps to service came to light during the
conference. One Societv reported its practice of
sending regular supplies of literature to mission-
aries, Another, open air services and cottage
meeting. One Society told a strange story of
having given an entertainment for the benefit of
the parish church. That they should have done
80, is not perhaps. so strange as that they were
allowed to make such a Christian. Endeavour.
One of the best samples of service was that of a
Society Birthduy Book. As the birthdays of the
various members came round the Secretary sent
them the congratulations and Christian wishes of
their fellow members.
Briston Norra Visrricr has been holding its
annual meeting. The meeting took place in
Brunswick Chapel. The report showed that there
were 27 societies in the division, with 1,2U0
members, Kev. 8. Poad was the president.
Revrors. The Society here has been showing
its zeal for the church in a practical way by pro-
viding a stall at the recent bazaar, by which £20
was secured for the Church funds. The Society
‘has done even better than this, by holding a fort-
night’s mission at one of the couutry churches,
where 28 perso:s have professed conversion.
Preston and District Christian Endeavour
Union has held a United Mission. Preparatory
meetings for prayer were held at the various
chapels, the mission itself being held in Orchard
‘Chapel, M.F.U. Rev. W. Bainbridge was the
Missioner, giving Bible-readings in the afternoon,
and conducting Hvangelistic
evening. Many Christian Endeavour Associates
came to decision for Christ, and many others
received blessing through the Mission. Mr,
Bainbridge acknowledges the valuable and earnest
aid given by our ministers, Revs. EH. Askew and
O. Greenwood.
Drrsy, Beckett Street, has held a successful
anniversary. Rev. J. H. Bowker (President)
preached special sermons on Sunday. On
Monday a most encouraging “At Home†was
held. The room was tastefully decorated and
an excellent programme of music provided.
Miss Boyes read a report of good work done,
and Rev. H. Abbott spoke on “ Taking and keeping
the pledge.â€
services in the
Yarmovurn. A brief but significant item comes
from this society. It reports great blessing and
eighteen new members.
Tae Durning Road (Liverpool) Society
conducted a special Missionary service on Sunday
afternoon, addresses being given by Messrs.
Walker, Jones and Beeston. Missionary sermons
were preached morning and evening by Rev. J.
Naylor and Mr. Morris Jones.
Tue annual meeting of the Leeds Christian
Endeavour Union took place on Saturday in
Lady Lane Chapel. Rev. J. G. Hopkins gave an
address at the afternoon meeting on “Junior
Christian Endeavour.†This address was fol-
lowed by discussion. in which Miss Horsfall,
Miss Fisk, and others took part. The evening
meeting was presided over by Mr. J. C. Town,
and an able address on “The Christian
Endeavourer’s Renunciation, Aspiration, and
Inspiration,†was delivered by Rev. J. B.
Morgan, Chester, President of the National
Christian Endeavour Union. A consecration ser-
vice, conducted by the Chairman, brought this
excellent anniversary to a close.
Suerrientp (Mount labor) Christian Endeavour
has celebrated its second anniversary. Sermons
were preached on Sunday by Rev. J. S. Hockin,
a former minister of the Church. The annual
meeting on Monday was presided over by Rev.
H. M. Booth. Papers were read by Miss Hdna
Baggaley on “True Womanhood†and by Mr.
G. Walker on “ Our Society work and how to
improve it.†During the evening, gold C.H. badges
were presented to Mr. Booth and Mr. Hockin in
recognition of services to the society.
A MODEL meeting has been conducted in Widnes
Methodist Free Church by the members of the
Congregational Young Peoples’ Society of Christian
Endeavour, with the result that a society is about
to be formed at Albert Road.
ra’ Oye ae Non
ADI ROO,
Se saUyess
Py Or
BY THE EDITOR,
CHILD LIFE IN EAST AFRICA.
jj SAY, as usual, by the Editor, but all
3/ I have to do with the Children’s
Page this month is to select some
passages from a letter sent by Mrs.
Howe to Mr. C. Eastwood, Treasurer
of the Missionaries’ Literature
They are all on the above subject,
Association.
and I hope they will interest my young readers.
BOYS AND GIRLS.
When a boy is born it is a custom amongst the
Wanika for its chief nurse, generally an aunt, to
-have the baby tied on her back. ‘hen a door-
key is fastened round the neck, and the nurse
takes cord and wood and everything in miniature
that a man is likely to use. and carries them round
the room with her. The key is to shew that the
child, if spared, will be a householder, and the
other things shew that he will work as a man
usually works. When a girl is born she has a
small matting bag put upon her head with all the
implements of women’s work in the shambas
(plantations), and a mortar for grinding and beat-
ing corn is placed by her side. We may say with
Paul, “These things are an allegory,†or with the
poet Campbell,
« Coming events cast. their shadows before.â€
: NAMING THE BABY.
A soon as a child is born it is named by its
friends, and the naming is done in this way. It
is put upon the floor near the door, its ears are
pulled and it is told to listen, then it is told its
name. Every child brought to be christened
has a native name, which after its baptism is
used as a surname. This custom differs from
that of the Amrrican Indians, who have native
names and Christian names quite distinct.
When I was a boy I heaid an Indian Chief as
Rev. Peter Jones. His native name was Kahkew
Aquonaby. Long afterwards I heard the Kev.
George Copway, whore Indian name was Kah-
Ke-Ga-Gah- Bow.
LITTLE HELPERS.
The children when very young are apt to be
much neglected. Their father and mother are at
work in the shambas, and it is only at the close of
the day they can look after their children. As
soon as they are old enough they are taken into
the shambas, either to nurse the baby whilst the
mother works, orto make a great noise by runuing
THE CHILDREN’S PAGE.
from place to place to frighten off the monkeys.
Here boys ani girls use clappers to frighten
the crows; in Hast Africa it is monkeys that must
be scared away. Mrs. Howe says that little girls
in East Africa become useful more quickly than
the boys. I think it is the same at home.
AMONGST THE SWAHILIS.
The Swahilis are Mohammedins. Amongst
them the boys are allowed all sorts of privileges,
and can go just where they please, but it is very
differeut with the girls. ‘The Swahili women do
not come out.in the daytime at all. If the
younger girls go out after sundown they are
usually attended by slaves and are always under
cover. ‘The slaves hold a large coloured hand-
kerchief or something of that kind by all its
corners, as high as they can, whilst their young
mistress walks underneath. It is strange how they
seem to be cag: d.
EARLY MARRIAGE.
When Mrs. Tlowe was at Sheila at the mouth
of the Tana river. a lady visited her and brought
her two daughters, one of whom was about six-
teen years of age, and the other ten. ‘'n-y were
as beautiful girls as she had ever seen. After that
visit only the elder sister came with her mother,
who explained that the younger dared not come
because \she was not married. The evening she
came she had been seen and was severely repri-
manded. ‘ But,†said the mother, “she will soon
be married now, and then she will be free to come
to see you.†Girls who marry at ten are surely
“tov early wed.â€
SLAVERY.
It has been a great grief to our Missionaries,
that they have been expected to return slaves who
have sought refuge on Mission stations. Happily
this has come to an end. Mrs. Ilowe says, “‘ No
trade in slaving is legal. Alihough no public
proclamation freeing all slaves has yet been made
there has been a great stride in the right direc-
tion, and we are not ordered to return runaway
slaves to their masters.†For this we thank God
and take courage.
NOTE BY THE EDITOR.
I do not know whether any of my little readers
have read my life of Rev. IT. Ll. Carthew.
There they would find how that good man vexed
his syul from day to day with the sanction given
by the East African Company to the sin of
slavery. ‘The feelings of English Missionaries at
the outrages on freedom sanctioned by the
English government are shewn also in the inter-
esting tale by Kev. W. A. Todd, appearing in the
Ecuo from month to month. I think we shall
not be wr-ng if we believe that the grief and
indignation ascribed to Mr. Trevelyan, set forth
very correctly the feelings that wrung the
benevolent heart of Mr. Carthew at what he saw
and heard of the curse of slavery in British Kast
Afriva,
JUNE.
Many a lay wears out the day
In many a leafy grove.
J. 8. B. Monsett.
OUR MISSIONS IN NINGPO.
BY FREDERICK GALPIN,
CHAPTER III.
THE COMMON TASK OF A OHINESE MISSIONARY.
HE autumn and winter of 1870 afforded me
another opportunity of resuming my active
out-door work.
If not a Connexional, I certainly was
a circuit evangelist, my chief aim and
duty to woo and win the people in every
place visited, from the miserable formalities of
heathenism into the blessed realities of the gospel.
If I did not succeed in making the poor people
happy; I certainly gained much happiness my-
self.
With a close study of the Gospels, and intimate
contact with a sinful and’ suffering people, I was
led to seek and to find ample strength for my
work by direct trust in the ever-present spirit of
the Saviour. It was my custom to walk from
village to village and while walking to sing aloud
some familiar hymn to give expression to my happy
emotions,
On Saturday, October 22nd, 1870, I find the
following entry in my diary.
_“ Visited four villages and preached at each,
giving books to the few whom I met and would
read, Many manifested the desire to hear, and
appeared to be losing the feeling of doubt and
distrust that has existed during the past four
months.â€
It was an agreeable and delightful sensation to
feel that the dark cloud of suspicion was breaking,
and that every Chinaman did not believe that I was
a wicked kidnapper of the worst type. Child-
stealing was at that time a common custom, and
many explanations were offered as sufficient reasons
why we shared in the crime.
Englishmen were building lofty walls and strong
houses, and most Chinamen were supposed to
believe that a foundation could not be secure with-
out a human sacrifice. At this time a stone em-
bankment was constructed on the foreshore of the
Ningpo river, the structure fell in twice, owing to.
the absence of a secure foundation.
The third time the stonework stood firm, and
many Chinese said, and more believed, that the
contractor had made sure of his work by the sacri-
fice of a few victims that had been bagged and.
hurried to the spot in the night, and buried alive
in the large sacks that had been drawn over their
heads.
I had received an anonymous placard, taken
from the city wall, warning all the people to
remain indoors at night, and by no means to
venture out alone, but to keep on the alert and to
bring to justice the foreigners who were again busy
at their old tricks of man snatching.
My readers can imagine the extreme difficulty
of the situation. To go out with an earnest and
sincere desire to win the people, but to encounter
everywhere the deeply-rooted suspicion of the
Chinese, who were regarding us as the lowest
type of human depravity, far worse than any
Chinese type of human wickedness with which they
were familiar.
It was then a delightful change of circumstances
when an audience would gather round the
evangelist and appear as if the evil spirit of
suspicion had been charmed away, and its place:
taken »y a readiness to listen to the preacher's
message.
During the year 1870 my circuit extended about
twenty miles $.E., and twelve N.W. of the city
of Ningpo. There was much pleasing variety even
in this small district. | When I travelled south of
the city I found myself in villages for the most
part full of farmers’ families or farm workers.
The rice fields extended from one end of the plain
to the other, and having a good supply of water
from the hills, plentiful harvests were the rule, and
scarcity the exception.
We usually began our address by quoting some
popular proverb suitable for the occasion.
One of the best introductions for a young mis-
sionary at a strange village is to repeat some well-
known saying and make it the foundation of his
remarks.
Should his knowledge of the language be very
imperfect, the people may be able to understand
some of his remarks because of their association
with the well-known proverb. If he does not
secure their attention at once, the audience--will
_ content themselves with a fixed look at his features
and clothing, possibly one may remark that “the
foreigner is very like a monkey,†and this will be
intended to convey a compliment. For the
majority of Chinese used to think that a native
monkey was more sagacious and more virtuous than
a foreign man. :
One Chinese statesman is said to have objected
to the proposal to open a new door for foreign
commerce, mainly because the hills and woods were
inhabited by monkeys whose calm and peace would
be disturbed by the innovation, and as a result
much disaster might come upon the human inhabi-
tants, who would be the victims of apish anger and
indignation.
The young missionary in China must not show
displeasure or anger if he hears the audience
remark upon his resemblance to the tree climbers.
To the Chinese there is nothing offensive in the
comparison, on the contrary, the observation con-
tains an element of admiration. My teacher, Mor
Si—who was a most interesting talker—used to
tell me of the toiland service rendered to mankind
by the monkeys who inhabit the alpine regions
of China. On these inaccessible steeps the most
excellent tea shrubs flourish, and are in great
abundance, but—like many other treasures in this
world—the tea plants are beyond the reach of man,
for no human feet can climb such awful heights,
many venturesome men have attempted the ascent,
and all have forfeited their lives as. a penalty for
their rashness.
In these dreadful heights the monkeys find their
paradise, they climb the mountain sides with great
speed and perfect ease; men who witness the
movements are filled with feelings of reverence and
admiration.
82 OUR FOREIGN FIELD.
For ages there has existed an “ understanding,â€
or covenant, or treaty, between the men and their
monkey brothers.
The mountaineers annually convey packets of
cakes and biscuits as high up the hills as they dare
to venture, and after depositing their tributes of
pastry, the men retire toa respectful distance to
await the arrival of the return present from the
monkeys of the mountain forests.
The denizens of the lonely heights then most
cautiously descend, and scouts are sent forward to
examine and search the way; should any man be
found too near the presents the scouts would retire
in anger, raise the alarm and descend in over-
whelming numbers, and destroy the intruder. But
if the way is clear, the tribute is carefully examined,
its quality tested, and its quantity counted, and
if approved it is carried away, and in an incredibly
short time a large supply of the choicest tea is
conveyed to the same place as a return tribute given
in exchange for the present brought by the men.
According to this story the monkeys appear as the
more honourable of the two parties in the trans-
action, for they generously give much in exchange
for little. My good and somewhat over-credulous
teacher was very grieved because I made some
very sceptical observations at the close of his nar-
rative, and asked him a few sharp questions as to
the monkeys’ method of packing their tribute, and
how Chinamen had managed to make a treaty with
monkeys and keep it. This being about the only
treaty that the Chinese did faithfully observe.
I have already reached the end of my tether. I
trust I haveat least madeclear one thought regarding
the Chinese. That is, that when they do call an
Englishman a monkey they do not mean to sug-
gest any very offensive thought. The idea is that
the Englishman may be good and serviceable, but
he is not as cultivated as a Chinaman, consequently
considerable allowance must be made for him,
Emma Hornby, dated February
24th, 1898, in which she states she
has been engaged in several medi-
cal cases for the American Baptist
and China Inland Missions. She
had not been much in bed for some time, as she was
called out in the small hours of the night, As
there is only one port doctor in the place, she gets
plenty of medical work for the various missions.
OUR FOREIGN
Of this however I am sure, wherever Miss Hornby
goes she will tell the story of the Cross.
* # *
Miss Hornby sends a copy of a letter written to
her in English by a young man, a native convert,
who had removed to Shanghai. He intimates
that his employer had been in many countries,
but disbelieved “in the true and honorable Jesus.â€
—*TJ shall try a good plan to make him under-
stand all of the Jesus, afterwards I can lead him
to Church.†No doubt his English is imperfect,
but I am glad he is learning it, and better pleased
to find that, away from his former surroundings, he
is trying to do good.
*
* *
Tn a letter from Mrs. Soothill, dated, Wenchow,
February 10th, 1898, she answers a question I had
asked concern-
ing Ch’i-djioe,
Ding Ts’a and
Zie Lioe, three
Chinamen
whose ___por-
traits are
given in this
month’s Eco,
“They are the
three Chris-
tians who
were cast into
prison because
of their Chris-
tianity, along
with Ding-oe
whose photo
you have al-
ready shown.
The three men
are all Fung-
Ling Chris-
FIELD. 83
have been received from esteemed young men.
* # *
Rev. W. E. Soothill has sent home a printed
report of the Wenchow Mission for 1897, It is
a very interesting, and in some respects, a most
encouraging publication. The aggressions of
Russia and Germany are not pleasing in any point
of view, but it is delightful to read of the educa-
tional and religious progress that is being made in
China. There are now 904 members with -600
probationers in our Wenchow Mission. These
figures shew a net gain of 160 members on the
year.
* * *
At Fung Ling the fine congregation is in a
difficulty. Land was bought with the 126 dollars
they raised last year, but there are no funds with
which to-erect
“a sanctuary.
The owner of
the present
meeting- room
refused to let
thom have it
later than
March, so un-
less some pro-
vidential
opening has
appeared the
church must
now be with-
out a home.
* * *
Cases of
persecution
have occurred
during _— the
year. In one
instance
tians.†I have
pleasure — in
presenting my
readers with the
faithful and true.
a * *
Mrs. Soothill continues, “It is sad to know that
Mr. Chapman has such great difficulty in getting
offers for Wenchow. We know he is exerting
himself greatly. One of the difficulties may be
that it is not everyone who is fit for China, and
our best young men evidently prefer England.
We have a measure of sympathy, but we would
that the love of Christ constrained them to sacri-
fice themselves (or rather their prospects) that the
Gospel might have free course. God will be debtor
to no man, the reward is sure, here or hereafter.
And we are willing to “go slowly†if thereby
theright man may be forthcoming.â€
Since this letter was written, offers of service
Wi Dyice.
photos of these three men so
Ding Ts’a.
Tsing-tien
Christians
were ordered
to attend the next meeting of the clan’ on
pain of excommunication. When they went and
refused to bow before the ancestral tablets, one
of them was brutally attacked and was thought
to have been killed. Under Dr. Hogg’s treatment
he recovered.
Zie Lie.
* * *
During the year, Dr. Hoge has had 10,201 visits
from 5,728 native patients, in addition to numer-
ous calls from the Huropean residents of the port.
The year’s working expenses have all been met
without asking a penny from the Committee,
though this has demanded considerable sacrifice
onthe part of Dr. Hogg. ©
* # *
Two native preachers on the mission staff are
supported by friends in Australia, and a Bible-
84 GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY’S NOTES.
woman is still supported by the kindness of Mrs.
Etches of Leeds. An advanced school, for which
two masters had been engaged, had to be started in
February. For this work Mr. Soothill earnestly
desires that a fully qualified man may be sent out
from England.
GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY’S
NOTES.
EAST AFRICA.
=yHE news from our Hast African
| Stations is somewhat depressing.
The health of the Missionaries them-
selves, thank God, continues good.
But they are having to contend with
adverse conditions.
* = *
Ribe Station. Mr. Howe writes cheerfully of
the work generally, but concludes his last letter
thus :—“ Our people are feeling very much the
scarcity of food resultant from the long drought.
. » . The hope induced by the shower or two
we had a fortnight ago has turned out so far
quite delusive. O, for a good downpour. These
seasons of drought and consequent distress are so
regularly recurrent that I hesitate to appeal again
for help. Nevertheless some of our people are likely
to be ere long in great distress.â€
* *
*
Wits Mr. Howe, we do not like to make a
special appeal, but now that the facts are before
our friends we shall be pleased to forward any
subscriptions that may be sent to us for this special
object.
* * *
Tana River Station. Mr. Ormerod, in a letter
just to hand, writes :—‘‘I regret to report that
our new church at Bura was completely burnt
down on Friday, durimg the course of an exten-
sive bush-fire.†This new building “ represented
the gratuitous labour of a band of twelve or thir-
teen young men for fully thirty days.†The
partly finished building had been used during its
later stages for teaching and preaching.
* % %
Tux destruction of this new Church will greatly
hamper the work at Bura, a new station of great
promise. Mr. Ormerod deserves both our sym-
pathy and our prayers. This fire will not only greatly
tax the general resources of our Tana station, but
also the faith and courage of the young men of
the district. This may be one of God’s plans for
trying our work as it goes on.
CHINA.
In China, while the great powers of the earth
are ina painful way, contending for portions of
this vast empire, the Spirit of the living God is
working silently yet mightily in the hearts of its
people. In letters recently to hand from Mr.
Heywood, we have wonderful confirmation of the
mighty working of God’s Spirit. The unexpected
is happening, and the “ mightier works†of which
Christ spake are revealing themselves on every
hand. ‘The romance of fact is far exceeding the
romance of fiction, and within the very temples
of Buddha the kingdom and'reign of Jesus Christ
are being established. We will give two or three
incidents from letters just to hand of the wonder-
ful way in which God is working on our Ningpo
station. “On the Monday I was off up river
some 70 li to a place called Tseo Mo Dong. It is
a village containing almost 1,000 families. We
had eleven members and several enquirers in the
village, these were wishful to have a preaching-
room established. My journey was with a view
of trying to secure a preaching room. It turned
out an unexpected pleasure. Difficulties were
removed in a remarkable manner ; the owner of a
large three-roomed house offered the whole com-
pound for a rent of about 5s. per week. The
“rough places †are indeed being “ made plain.â€
* # *
Tur end is not yet. ‘In a letter just to hand
there is the following wonderful narrative
“JT have kept back the good news till now.
At a place called Kyin En, some 30 li south
of Ningpo city a temple has been given to our
Mission for the purpose of converting it into a
preaching hall and school. A Buddhist nun visited
some three weeks ago a Christian family belonging
to our Ningpo Church. Shesoon made known the
object of her visit, she was anxious to become a
Christian. To prove her sincerity she wanted to
give the temple (of which she had charge) with
everything belonging to it, to the Church.†‘This
was indeed something quite unexpected, and Mr,
Heywood was not quick to believe. Interviews
were arranged, and eventually a deputation was
sent to Kyin Vu to lay the whole matter before the
leading men of the village, in whose hands the
temple was vested. The deputation of four on
arriving at the village laid the whole case before
the head men and some 200 villagers. ‘“ Are you
willing that the Christians should use the Temple
for a preaching hall and school ?†was the question
submitted to those who had assembled to meet
the deputation. Not one dissentient voice was
raised. All expressed their desire that the temple
should become a preaching hall as they were eager
to hear the Gospel.
* # #
In response to a request that they should write
a letter to the Foreign Pastor in proof of their
willingness, one of the head men of the village,
an old man of 70 years of age, rose and desired to
say a few words. He: said,—‘‘ We are not only
willing to write a letter to the foreign pastor, we
GENERAL MISSIONARY SECRETARY’S ‘NOTES. 85
will write out a legal deed of gift, making over
the temple and all it contains, and all the land with
which itis endowed.†Turning to the crowd, the
old man cried in a loud voice,—“ You are my
brothers! What do you think of this affair? Is
it right or wrong? Speak!†And a great shout
went up of “ Hao! Hao! â€â€”“ Good! Quite right,â€
again not one voice was raised against the pro-
posal. : :
Tur deed has been submitted to the British
Consul, with details of the whole incident, and
Heywood says,—So far as I know, this is the
first time that ‘such an event has happened in
China.â€
* * *
In addition to the temple and the land within
the boundaries there are also 22 Chinese acres of
land worth about 800 dollars; the value of the
whole is considered to be about 3,000 dollars.
* % *
WELL may our devoted missionary ask:—“ Can our
faith falter whensucha manifestation of God’s grace
od
Men's Ward, Dingley Hospital, Wenchow.
his reply is— The deed of gift seemed perfectly
in order.†Mr. Heywood visited the village three
days after these events, and says,—“ The unan-
imity of the peopleis simply marvellous. The
temple has been changed internally, the idols have
been stored away in one of the rooms—which will
be kept locked ; the large central hall in which the
‘three Buddhas’ reigned supreme converted into
a splendid preaching room,—the people having
lent pews for the time being ; and during the past
two weeks crowds have attended to hear the gos-
pel.†Surely this is a marvellous thing! Mr.
working in the hearts ofthe people is madesoclear ? â€
* * ®
Even this does not end the record of great and
glorious events. “ At one of our country stations
last week,†continues Mr. Heywood, “1 had the
joy of baptising seven adults and one junior, and
the adults were two men, one a literary ‘ B.A.’ and
the other a military «B.A.’†To God be all the
praise. Missions a failure ; the romance of Missions
a thing of the past! Never were Missionaries so
signally successful as they are to-day ; and their
romance is as new and glorious as the sunrise.
86
Wencuow. The work on this station continues
to advance in aglorious manner. Mr. Soothill has
been out of health, but is, we rejoice to say, in his
usual health again.
WEST AFRICA.
Tur last news we had from Mr. Proudfoot was
very cheering, but the news in the daily press is
most disquieting. Let us pray that God will throw
His strong arm around the Missions and Mission-
aries in West Africa, and‘ that He will cause the
wrath of man to praise Him. :
MISCELLANEOUS.
Ax UR Missionary Anniversary Meetings were
del: || held in Exeter Hall, on April 25th.
The Convention in the afternoon was
very wellattended. The chair was occu-
pied by Mr. F. W. Dixon, of Southport.
Excellent addresses were delivered by
Mrs. Swallow (wife of the President) and Rev. H.
T. Chapman, General Missionary Secretary. The
evening meeting in the “large hall†showed an
- attendance equal to the best of previous years, and
a deep enthusiasm. The absence of Dr. Clifford
was a great disappointment, but as it was due to
loss of voice it was unavoidable. His place was
well supplied by Rev. W. J. Dawson, who had
engaged for the afternoon. He made an admir-
able speech. The chair was occupied by James
Chippendale, Esq., Mayor of Harrogate. In addi-
tion to Mr. Dawson, Rev. Dr. Swallow and James
Wright delivered addresses, Rev. H. T. Chapman
gave a comprehensive yet succinct report. Rev.
J. Austin announced that the chairman’s list of
subscribers amounted to £132 8s. Od. ach of
the chairmen gave a liberal donation, Mr. F. W.
Dixon giving £25, and Mr. Chippendale, £190.
Members of the Choral Union rendered excellent
service by conducting the praises of the gathering
and rendering some exquisite music in admirable
fashion. Madame Maude Snell was the vocalist,
and her services were much appreciated.
* * %
A lady member of the Society of Friends was
solicited lately to contribute to our Missions. She
hesitated to comply as she had observed that some
African missionaries seemed to countenance war.
She wanted information on the point as to our
missionaries. The collector applied to me and I
told him that our Annual Assembly had repeatedly
passed resolutions in favour of international
arbitration and so recently as in 1896 it had called
upon our Government to enter into negotiations
with all civilized Governments with the view of
promoting this. Of course our missionaries would
defend their lives if attacked, but not one of them
believed in the sword for propagating the gospel.
My letter was sent to the lady, and she responded
by contributing £5 to our Mission Funds.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Rev. E. D. L. Thompson, of Sierra Leone, sends
a very kind note in acknowledgment of the
Misstonary Hono which is sent to him regularly.
“JT am much interested,†he says, “in the reports
it gives of our various mission Fields and Workers,
It does not forget our missions here.â€
I am heartily glad to know that Mr. Thompson
appreciates the efforts made to supply readers of
the Ecuo with news from ail our mission fields.
I should be delighted if I heard a little more fre-
quently from our zealous workers in Sierra Leone.
* * #
A pleasing instance of enthusiasm for our
Missiors is recorded from Lincoln. At Glentworth,
a village eleven miles from the city, there resides
a good Free Methodist called Mrs. Crow. She
brought her box to the Missionary meeting with a
tiev. Lhos, Coke, Kounder of sheiuourst Missroise
threepenny piece lying on the tcp, and said she
could not get it in.. We like to succeed in that we
undertake ; this failure gave the good lady joy.
But it seemed so ridiculous to fail in such a thing
that a strong man, in the person of the Rev. 8.
Walmsley tried to accomplish it, but he also retired
defeated. The box contained £1 7s. 3d. It trans-
pired, though not from Mrs. Crow’s lips, that she
had walked through eleven villages in collecting
the above sum. Such zeal is worth recording, and
worth imitating. So admirable did her labour of
love seem, the Circuit Missionary Secretary, the
Rev. J. E. Swallow, has asked Mrs. Crow to accept
a framed portrait of our Missionary President. The
gift is of nominal cost, but most heartily appreciated.
May this little story from real life inspire many
otheis to similar service.
PRIZE
OUR WEST AFRICAN MISSIONS. THEIR
HISTORY AND PROSPECTS.
Prize Essay.
BY WILLIAM CODLING,
ie ye into all the world and preach the
\' Gospel to every creature,†this was the
command of Christ to His disciples, and
they went forth in His name, preaching
repentance and the remission of sins.
The message was brought to England
long ago; it has been delivered to us; we in turn
are called to carry it to others. So we send out
missionaries and to-day there are many, in all
parts of the world, enduring hardship and loss, in
order that they may bring light to those that sit in
darkness, and in the shadow of death. And this
is why there are missionaries in Sierra Leone,
even though it be known as “The White Man’s
Grave.â€
The scenery of Sierra Leone is most beautiful.
Viewed from the sea, its background of lofty hills
speaks to the mind of breezy health ; but through
all its loveliness there steals the breath of the
deadly miasma. “The pestilence walks in dark-
ness, and destruction wastes at noonday.†Not with-
out cause has its name been conferred, and terribly
has it sustained its evil reputation.
The population of the colony has been derived
from different sources and does not alone consist
of the native tribes. Freed slaves were brought
thither from America after the war of independ-
ence, and likewise many who were rescued from
the holds of slave vessels captured on the West
African coast. These were allowed to settle here,
and given land whereon to dwell, in this, the
country of their fathers. But though now free
men, yet still they are under the bondage of sin,
and so our missionaries, braving the death, have
gone to tell them of the greater emancipation that
may be theirs, “to proclaim liberty to the cap-
tives and the opening of the prison to them that
are bound.â€
Sierra Leone was not an entirely new mission
field when the Free Methodist Church first sent a
missionary there. Our Connexion was approached
by a body of West African Methodists, who already
had fourteen places of worship, and who, having
heard of our constitution, were desirous of being
joined to us, It was in compliance with this
request that the Rev. Joseph New was sent out in
1859 to undertake the superintendency of the
Mission. He found that a great work lay before
him, and at once set himself manfully to do it. In
the following. year he was joined by the Rev.
Charles Worboys, and. a little later by the Rev.
James Brown, Hverything .seemed favourable to
the progress of the Churches, but. unfortunately
the missionaries were repeatedly prostrated by
“ce
ESSAY. 87
fever. So severe were the attacks that at last Mr.
Brown lay nigh unto death. Mr. New watched
over him, almost in despair, when suddenly he
himself, being worn with watching, was stricken
down and taken away. The blow was keenly felt
by the Mission, and the grief of the people was
very great. Mr. Brown recovered, but being
utterly broken in health, he, together with Mr.
Worboys returned home. Mr, Massey went out
some time later, but was also forced to return.
The Rev. J. S. Potts. then volunteered. His term
of service lasted only four months. At the end
of that time, while his hands were full of work,
the fever came swiftly upon him and he died.
Still there was found a man ready to step into the
deadly breach—the Rev. W. Micklethwaite.
Fortunately his constitution proved to be better
adapted to the climate and withstood the attacks
of fever. For seven years he toiled, accomplishing
a lasting good. He was able gradually to raise
the status of Free Methodism in the Colony, and
established the Churches on a firmer basis.
Towards the close of his term he had the co-opera-
tion of the Rev. Silas Walmsley. Mr. Walmsley
stayed on after Mr. Micklethwaite came home, and
for three years continued to promote the welfare
of the Mission, returning at length to England in
1876. The Mission was thus again left without a
Superintendent, and for some time so remained
tended by native ministers. One of these, the
Rev. Philip Wilson, acted as Superintendent, but
being an old man, he earnestly asked that a
missionary might be sent. Great was therefore his
joy, and that of the Mission people likewise, when
they heard that the Rev. Thomas Truscott had
volunteered. The old minister was ill, and prayed
that he might but be spared to see and greet his
successor. His desire was not granted, for ere
the new Superintendent had arrived the old man
had laid aside all earthly office, and his eyes were
closed in death. It was in October, 1881, that Mr.
Truscott took up his charge, and this was his
work for seven years, the last seven years of his
life. His term of office has been called an era of
chapel-building. He found the existing buildings
in a ruinous condition, and immediately set about
the work of restoration. But great as was the
labour entailed by all this Mr. ‘I'ruscott accomp-
lished much besides. By-and-bye he penetrated
into the interior, where Joseph New had longed to
go, and there in the midst of heathenism, at
Senehoo and Paitafoo planted the standard of the
Cross. In 1883 he was joined by the Rev. T. H,
Carthew, and the two laboured zealously together.
Other chapels were renewed and then but one
thing remained that Mr. Truscott had set his
heart on doing, and that was the rebuilding of the
principal chapel, Samaria, which for long had stood
dilapidated. After this object was accomplished
he intended to return home, Mr. Carthew entered.
88
enthusiastically into the project and came to
England on furlough, and to gather subscriptions.
The chapel was rebuilt, but by other hands than
theirs, for ere the work was complete, one of them
had gone to labour in another sphere, and the other
had entered into rest. A Superintendent was
sorely needed for Hast Africa, and Mr. Carthew
went there, instead of returning to Sierra Leone.
Mr. Truscott was bitterly disappointed, but in
1887 the Rev. W. Vivian went out to his
assistance. Then the preparations for rebuilding
went on with renewed vigour. The Mission mem-
bers out of their scanty store contributed most
generously to the fund, and in October, 1888, all
was ready for the work to begin. Mr. Vivian
preached the Farewell Sermon in the old chapel.
The following week when the work of demolition
began, Mr. Truscott was ill, and was not there
to see. He progressed toward convalescence, but,
weakened by the attacks of fever from which he
had repeatedly suffered, was again stricken, and
rallied, only again to sink; and ere the founda-
tion stones of the new building were laid he had
gone to that “building of God, the house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens.†Mr.
Vivian remained to carry on the work. Samaria
‘Chapel was completed and opened. Nor was this
all, for yet other chapels were put into a state of
repair, and enlarged to accommodate increased con-
gregations. And now the Mendi mission received
i the much needed support. Before long a bold
BH} advance was made—it having been determined to
push still further inland and establish a mission
at the important town of Tikonkoh. The Rev. C. H.
Goodman had at this time been associated with
the work in Sierra Leone for two years, but it was
decided that he should go to the new station.
Accordingly, Mr. Goodman, together with Mr.
Vercoe, accompanied Mr. Vivian to Tikonko, here
arrangements were made with the chief, and the
work was begun. Mr. Goodman remained in charge
of the mission, and in addition to Mr. Vercoe, had
with him a native minister, the Rev. J. C.
Johnson. From the first the work was attended
with great hardship. The missionaries were badly
housed ; it was the rainy season, and the water fell
upon them as they slept, while, outside, the streets
‘were converted into filthy cesspools, emitting the
foulest odours. The missionaries were prostrated
‘by sickness. Sometimes for days together they
lay there helpless, and but for the kindness of the
native minister’s wife would have been in a very
sorry plight.
Still they persevered. The old chief would not
himself accept Christianity, but he said the younger
-ones could do as they pleased. Soa school was
commenced. Then, by dint of great exertions,
temporary mission premises were put up. At this
‘stage Mr. Vercoe was forced to leave the work,
IH Hi A and return home, owing to the illness of his wife,
PRIZE ESSAY,
who had for some time aided him in Africa. Mr.
Goodman, however, was able to continue. After
a time a substantial new mission house was
erected. The missionaries were thus in a better
position to resist the assaults of the climate; and
the building was likewise an object lesson to the
natives, for looking at it they realised that the
white teachers were not there for a season, but
thenceforth had an abiding place in their midst.
In 1895 Mr, Vivian returned home, at the end of
eight years of devoted service.
Shortly afterwards there went out to co-operate
with Mr. Goodman at Tikonkoh, the Rev. W. §.
Micklethwaite, son of the missionary who in
former years had done so much for the mission. A
General Superintendent was not found till 1896,
when the Rev. James Proudfoot, who for a period
of over ten years had done yeoman service in
Jamaica and Central America, consented to under-
take the charge at Sierra Leone. Upon arrival
there, and after due inspection, he reported the
Churches to be in a satisfactory condition, and full
of promise. There was the appearance of work,
and a staff of earnest and intelligent workers.
The latest returns from West Africa shew that we
have there twenty chapels and fifty-eight preach-
ing rooms, 2,849 church members and a large
number on trial, and thirteen Sunday schools,
attended by 1,500 scholars. These are superin-
tended by nine ministers, several lay missionaries,
and 103 local preachers. Of the nine ministers,
six are native brethren, some of whom have been
trained in England at our Theological Institute.
And so the work goes on. May it never
languish. Much yet remains to be done. Money
is needed, and more than money, men. The
Mendi mission wants another missionary. It is
now more than two years since Mr. Goodman
voiced this need. What shall be done? It is
generally felt at the present time that our missions
have arrived at a critical point in their history.
The difficulties, with which in past years our
missionaries heroically fought, until they fell in
the conflict, are now being overcome. From all
around the tidings come that the field is opening
up. From China we hear of the falling of the
strongholds of error, and the turning of the people
to the ways of God. From Hast Africa comes the
cry that the interior now lies before us. The
coast we have held for long, brave Carthew would
fain have pressed forward; it is left-for his suc-
cessors to be able to advance within the confines
of the Dark Continent. And the Mendi country
too, is everywhere open to the spread of the
Gospel. Our missionaries have preached at
Panguma, almost on the frontier of the Protec-
torate. They received an attentive hearing, and
came away reluctantly, sorely wishing that they
could open a chapel in that desirable place. But
their hands are already too full, They cry for
BY MOUNTAIN, ROAD AND RIVER. 89
more helpers. Will none heed their cry? Shall
not others arise fired with the spirit and zeal of
New and Truscott, to carry forward the work in
this day which they longed to see? And surely the
mission will not suffer for lack of support? Shall
we, in the Churches at home, shirk our responsi-
pility, and, by neglecting to strengthen the hands
of our missionaries, cause all their efforts to be
atraitened? We have prayed for the extension of
the kingdom. “The kingdom of Heaven is at
hand.†“The fields are white to the harvest.â€
Where are the labourers ?
BY MOUNTAIN, ROAD AND RIVER.
BY LUCY SOOTHILL.
No. III.
S yet we have no station up the creek,
whose clear, green waters contrast
favourably with the muddier river, but
we hope soon to establish one at Zang
Chang, where quite a little handful of
people are interested. During the time
Mr. Soothill was preaching one man
burst out with, “But how are we to worship
God?†then coloured up and looked round to
see if anyone was looking at him for putting his
question. His self-consciousness betokened the
sincerity of the question, and was the more joy-
fully answered.
After such a tumult it was deliciously restful
to sit on the boat, and in the darkness and almost
perfect stillness, watch the stars shine out in
their clear splendour.
It spoke well for the people of Zang Chang
that on the previous day, with no companion
save Habbie, I was able to take a long walk
along the high bank of the river. There I saw
men standing in the shallow part of the stream,
up to the waist in water, casting fishing nets.
Slung at their backs were little baskets, into which
they put the results of their labour.
Between Zang Chang and Zie Yue we shot two
rapids. On approaching the rapid the boatmen
“put on steam,†rowing with all their might, as
a boat answers more readily to the helm when
going quickly. Below these rapids the water is
as placid as a mill stream, and on its calm bosom
floated a little fleet of small boats, whose snowy
sails looked like bright white wings in the gleam-
ing sunlight.
Here we expected to meet a man from Wenchow,
with fresh bread and our mail. Alas! there was
mo trace of him. So not knowing when we
should be found by him, we left directions and
came on up the river. In the afternoon whom
should we see marching ahead of us but our man!
We hailed him with joy, and were speedily feast-
ing on the good news from a far country, as well
as on the nice bread sent by Mrs. Hogg, and
which relieved our now mouldy crusts. Friends
at home little realise what “cheerupodists †their
bright letters are, read, maybe, amid nature’s
lonely spots, on mountain, road, or river.
Next day we called in at one or two villages,
but found the people busied in their fields. The
wheat was being harvested, the rice planted out.
One of these villages reminds me of “earlyâ€
English streets, so narrow one could shake hands
from opposite houses. It was the dustiest place
we were ever in, for a man monopolised the prin-
cipal street with his threshing “arrangement,â€
and the dust he made choked and blinded us in-
tolerably. The mode was simplicity itself; a
large tub, two-thirds of which are encircled by
by a high, stiff mat. The thresher, taking a
bundle of wheat, stands at the aperture, and
beats the wheat against a sort of washing board
placed in the tub, the grain drops in the tub, the
straw remains in his hands, and the dust, on
this occasion, found its lodgment all over and in
us. Preaching was almost impossible.
On Thursday morning we again got out and
went into a village where Mr. Soothill and the
colporteur talked to the men and I to the women.
From this place we sent the boat ahead, and set
out to walk to Zih Mang Dong, or stone door
cave, a great show place on the river, though com-
paratively few foreigners get up so far. One man
said it was ‘just here†in distance, another said
“it was a rough road, and only fit for T’s’ing-die
men,†For two long hours we were steadily climb-
ing steep paths hundreds of feet above the river,
and only fit for goats—or T’s’ing-die men! Once
or twice, indeed, it seemed as if there were no
‘path at all, but we presently realised we must
either make one over the face of the rock, or go
back—the latter an appalling prospect under such
a burning sun. One or two risky places I ac-
complished in safety by sitting down and shuffling
along, a few inches at a time, clinging with
hands and feet to the few inequalities in the
rock. Habbie regarded this method as eminently
unsatisfactory ; he would insist on coming to the
rescue, but was an added danger, and in the end
had himself to be helped forward—by his master’s
foot. By the time we reached the highest point a
third of the little party were ready to sink with ex-
haustion. We then passed through a narrow
opening between the hills, and, to our surprise
and relief, found the famous cave below on the
other side. :
Zih Mang Dong (stone door cave) takes its
name from the high, bold rocks which guard its
entrance from the river. Once inside, however,
the name “cave†seems to be unsuitable, as a
large amphitheatre extending, a quarter of a mile,
gradually opens to view. It is a spot of ideal
beauty, being completely enclosed by high hills,
and towering rocks of varying form. Its seclu-
sion is valued by a few ardent scholars, who re-
tire to the temple in this quiet nook for undis-
turbed study. There was also no lack of gods to
whom they might appeal—I counted 36 Buddhist
divinities ranged round the temple. But the
chief attraction of Zih Mang Dong is a very fine
waterfall, which falls some hundreds of feet
down the bare-faced rock, into a beautiful, large
green pool. There was little water now, but this
was atoned for by the beautiful forms into which
it broke, shooting down exactly like “ Roman
candles†reversed. The grand mass of shelving
rock at the side, on which is inscribed ancient
characters, provided us with a refreshingly cool
resting place after our hot walk, and the canopy
of rock overhead shielded us from the persistent
sun. When Mr. Galpin and some other Ningpo
missionaries called here twenty years ago, on a
tour round the province, they took off their hats
in this lovely spot, and sang the Doxology, and
our hearts have done so many a time since then.
That same afternoon we proceeded towards the
next county, Chu Chon, intending to visit its
principal city, which is one hundred miles from
Wenchow. At dusk we took on board two more
men, fearing the effects of the heavy work on our
boatman, who is not strong. That night we had
a trying rapid. Four men were tra king, and
queer, weird creatures they looked in the twilight,
other three were in the water, literally, pushing
the boat along, and yet we scarcely seemed to
move, though the long towline was strained al-
most to breaking point. Time, much shouting,
and patient work at length brought usinto calmer
water, toeveryone’srelief. Pearly-glory evidently
enjoys this kind of life; he has tracked, rowed,
poled and pushed with great gusto, being oftener
in the water than out. He can swim, too,
though the Chinese method of lifting the heels
high out of the water at each stroke seems a great
waste of energy.
The river is still wide, and the mountain char-
acter more than ever maintained. Here and
there the stream narrows, and we are shut into a
narrow gorge. Asa rule, the hills are bare, save
for brushwood, which the economical Chinaman
shares every year for firing, but once and again
our eyes are gladdened by groves of bamboo, and
Scotch fir.
We reached Chu Chou with no more exciting
incident than having to send back Pearly Glory
for the indispensable tea, which he had carelessly
left behind in the small boat occupied by the
colporteur.
About four in the afternoon we emerged com-
pletely from the hills, and entered on a large
plain, the inevitable hills only appearing as a far
WORDS OF
THE WISE.
distant background. We were told this was Chu
Chou, and landing at the cluster of houses on the
bank, we set out to find the residence of the
German missionaries there. A native directed us
to “go straight on,†and said they lived a mile
away. Our respect for the city of Chu Chou did
not rise; it appeared but a feeble village, and
soon we were out in the open country, where in a
large pond for the first time I saw water lilies ap-
parently growing wild. I say “apparently†ad-
visedly, for Iam not sure even these were not
cultivated for the seeds as food. We trudged on
for a couple of miles, looking in vain for any
traces of Huropeans, when behold! the walls of a
city sprang into sight. So this was the city, and
not the other miserable handful of houses. We
entered the gates, and for quite another mile
passed along the main streets of a busy city, whose
size was an agreeable disappointment. By the
time we reached our destination, escorted thither
by hosts of Chu Chou children, we had had more
than enough. Though complete strangers, our
German friends treated us most kindly, and as we
were the first other Europeans they had seen for
along time, the sincerity of the welcome was
manifest. Chu Chou has been worked as a mis-
sion station for twenty years, but up till now
Christianity has made small progress. We got
back to our boat the same evening at 9.80,
and retired, the men having to start for T’s’ing-
die at daylight, as it takes all Saturday to
reach there, a distance of sixty miles. But
how different going down from coming up!
Spite of a head wind we floated gaily down, and
can always tell when we are coming to a tah, or
rapid, by the sound of rushing water. We reached
Zih Mang Dong by noon, and ate our tiffin under
the fall, arecognised custom, enjoying meanwhile
the currents of cool air generated by the waterfall.
WORDS OF THE WISE.
No. II.
BY THE EDITOR.
FRICA is often spoken of as the dark con-
) tinent, though now we may say to it,
“ Arise, shine, for thy light is come.â€
What shall be said of South America?
Hs So far as Protestant Missions are con-
cerned, it may be called the neglected
continent. Miss Lucy Guinness has given some
interesting, but painful statistics in reference to
missionary work—or the want of it—in South
America. Very noticeable is what she says as to-
the
VASTNESS OF SOUTH AMERICA.
«We have here a map of South America, and
as we look, ore thought stands out beyond all
BREAKING THE FETTERS. 1
others—its vastness. We could put the whole of
the United States into Brazil. The basin of the
Amazon is as large as those of the Indus and Gan-
ges together.â€
It is strange how, amidst the revived missionary
zeal of the churches, the Roman Catholic popu-
lation of Brazil, Peru and Chili should have been
overlooked. Five millions of the aboriginal in-
habitants still remain on the continent, but no man,
comparatively, has cared for their souls. Captain
Allen Gardiner commenced a Mission to the Pata-
gonians at its southern extremity, and his success
amongst heathens of a low mental type excited the
wondering admiration of the famous Dr. Darwin.
But the great bulk of the inhabitants of South
America remain untouched. It is time to remem-
ber the forgotten. Happily, eyes are being directed
to the neglected continent and beginnings have
been made. We may regard our own Bocas del
Toro Mission as one of the first steps. Although
we speak of it as in Central America some of our
stations are properly South American, and on the
Warri Biarra river we come in contact with abo-
rigines. I trust that we may be able to extend
our borders and increase our agencies, and that
other associations, with tenfold our capabilities may
soon send forth labourers to this great harvest
field.
MISSION CONVERTS.
Hear what Dr. George Smith has to say concern-
ing mission converts. ‘The most modest estimate
will place the fruit in converts now all over the
world, brown races, red races and black races, at
four and a half millions of more than nominal
Christians. From my long residence in the east,
and intercourse with missionaries and reading of
missionary literature, I should put these four and
a half millions of native Christians before the same
number of professing Christians either in this
country or in America. But this four anda
half millions are those only who are alive at the
present time. I should like to make a calculation
(and I believe it could be done with a little
patience) of how many native men and native
women have come over from the various false
faiths to Christ since the year 1800, when Carey
led down into the muddy waters of the Hooghly his
first Hindoo convert, the carpenter, Krishna Pal.
Let your imagination work through what you
know, and you will be able to realise to some ex-
tent what a vast procession they form. There is
no vision of Mirza equal to it, because we follow
them across the bridge that spans the sluggish
stream of death, not into the Hindoo hell or the
Buddhist annihilation, or the abode of demons
whither the Animists and other native cults fancy
the departed go. We follow them to the Para-
dise of God; we hear them sing the song of Moses
and the Lamb.â€
Let such thoughts as these cheer us when we
hear unfavourable tidings from our mission
stations, or when the enemies of Christianity blas-
pheme. The late F. W. Stevenson, of Dublin, who
went to inspect many stations in the foreign field,
came back with the conviction that the present
day progress of Missions was greater than that of
Christianity in the days of the Apostles! Be that
as it may, there is certainly ground to make us
“thank God and take courage.â€
BREAKING THE FETTERS.
BY W. A. TODD.
CHAPTER VI.
SARAH'S LITTLE RUSE.
N the second day after the Arab’s discom-
fiture Andrews lay down to take his
siesta, with the words, “I leave the
Wajoli with you. I know you will take
care of them †ringing in his ears.
A few hours previously Trevelyan had
gone on safari to Tonza to rebuild the chapel
there, leaving his friend in charge of Msomwe.
Trevelyan had read the character of his companion
and had concluded it was far better to leave him
alone. It would draw out Andrew’s latent powers
of discretion, quick judgment and self reliance to
have to plan, think and provide for the many
exigencies of a mission station of slaves even if there
-should be another attempt to capture the slaves—
which Trevelyan thought extremely likely to hap-
peninthe next few days—it would bea testingof the
young man’s aptitude for mission work. He had
not the slightest doubt but his friend would rise
to the occasion and quit himself like aman. His
heart was in the right place, and, judging from
many chance remarks, his heart would be streng-
thened by a hard-headed policy.
They had in their numerous conversations since
the Wajoli had made their appearance, come to the
conclusion that the best way to defeat the wiles
of the slave owner and the time-serving tactics
of the Company was by pursuing a passive policy.
The slaves were on the station ; they might remain
there as long as they observed the rules of the
mission station; they were free to leave when it
pleased them to go; if searchers were sent for them
the onus of the capture lay upon the searchers ;
the missionaries would not hinder and certainly
they would not help. Therefore all Trevelyan
92 BREAKING THE FETTERS.
needed to say, he said, “I leave the Wajoli with you,
I know you will take care of them.â€
Soon the oppressive influence of the mid-day
heat overcame Fred Andrews and he slept; and
while he slept circumstances were hastening to
try what stamp of man he was.
After sleeping nearly two hours he was aroused
by the monotonous repetition of “ Hodi, Bwana]!
Hodi, Bwana!†At first in his dream it was like
a voice far away, but it came nearer, until he
awoke to consciousness that the voice was at the
door of the
mission house.
Rising to his
feet, he bade
the speaker
enter, and
there stepped
into the hall
two native
soldiers. The
asikari, who
seemed to be
of — superior
rank, stepped
up to Andrews
and held a
letter in his
hand. An-
drews took it
and found it
was directed
for his friend.
But since
Trevelyan had
given him
directions to
open all cor-
respondence
and answer it
as he thought
fit, the young
man tore open
the envelope.
It was what
he had ex-
pected — an-
other demand
for the mis-
sionary to hand over the three slave girls to the
bearers. It then went on to recount, with more
or less accuracy, the events connected with the
attempt at recapture two days previously. Then
came the words :—
“Since the status of domestic slavery is con-
sidered by the Company to be necessary in the
interests of civilization, whether you like it or not,
you are expected to support the Company in any
reasonable request. Hamad Bin Azed declares he
dare not return to Msomwe in search of his slaves,
even though you told him to take away Adijuai,
one of the three Wajoli. Our veracity as a Com-
pany is at stake; we must be faithful to the pro-
clamation which we issued, and to“the promises
we have made to Hamad Bin Azed. I am now
obliged to send this up again with an escort, who
are authorized to take the slaves by force, and I
trust no more trouble will be given.â€
Then, in the nature of a warning,—for Myatt
was a friend to Trevelyan—was the underlined
postscript: “ It may be safe to play with an Arab,
but is it safe
to play with
the Adminis-
trator - Gen -
eral?â€
When An-
drews lifted
his head from
the reading of
the letter, he
caught sight
of Sarah slyly
entering the
hall by the
other door.
Without heed-
ing her, he
said to the
soldiers, “ You
have come for
three slave
girls, I sup-
pose. How
will you be
able to tell
those you are
sent for when
you have so
many to choose
from?â€
COP 7 203,
Bwana, we do
not know, but
Hamad Bin
Azed has sent
a man and a
woman to
identify the
girls—they are all Wajoli.’â€â€™ Then the soldiers
bade the man and woman step forward and show
themselves to the Bwana.
Sarah had passed out of the door, but stood lin-
gering under the verandah and listened with her
ear to the open window. She had been suspicious
of the errand of thetwo soldiers, when shesaw them
coming towards Msomwe some ten miautes before.
“ You know what to do,†said Andrews, “ I shall
not help you; I shall not hinder you. Go search
anywhere and everywhere for the girls.â€
BREAKING
Before these words were finished Sarah had
bounded away, and when the soldiers were cross-
ing the mission yard they saw a woman flying
down the village street. Sarah found Adijuai and
little Mtuwaombi, all oblivious of approaching
danger, sitting at the door of the girls’ dormitory,
busily employed grinding corn for the children’s
evening meal, ‘They looked up and laughed to
see Sarah running.
“T did not know you could run so quickly,
Sarah. Is it a heavy burden to carry so much fat?â€
was Adijuai’s audacious question.
“ Be silent, you simpleton,†gasped Sarah, quite
breathless with her exertion. ‘The soldiers have
come with another letter, and now they are on
their way to take you back to Hamad.â€
The joke which was on the girl’s lips was never
uttered. The black face became pale and once
more the terror came into her eyes. Little Mtu-
waombi went on labouring with the grinding
stone, which was too heavy for her, now Adijuai’s
hand was feeble. She did not as yet understand
the nature of the news Sarah had brought.
“Save me, mama. Hide me away from’-the
soldiers,†wailed Adijuai with all the terror of the
past in her soul,
With the quickness of resource born in slavery,
Sarah had made up her mind what to do with the
girls before even she had fled from the verandah
of the mission house.
“Hold your noisy tongue, girl, if you value
your skin. Where is Maiki?†Unable to obtain
any coherent reply from Adijuai, she was com-
pelled to turn to Mtuwaombi for information.
‘Where has Maiki gone, little one?â€
“ Maiki has gone to the pwani to cut kuni (fire-
wood) for the fire to cook the meal,†answered
Mtuwaombi.
“ Ngema,†grunted the woman. “Come now,
follow me quickly to the swamp. Leave the grind-
ing. Stay there one moment.â€
Going into the middle of the street she glanced
up the road. At once she waved the girls into
the shadow of the baraza. They obeyed the silent
command, for their wits were returning. The
searchers were dangerously near—only a hut or
two away. The soldiers did not enter the huts
but compelled the man and woman, who had been
sent to identify the slaves, to do the actual search-
ing. This was decidedly awkward; it was necess-
ary the girls should cross the village street in
order to reach the side nearest to the swamp.
Sarah hesitated a few moments—but this was
so much time lost; it allowed the searchers to
come one hut nearer. Something must be done
and done soon; to stay where they were meant
capture in a minute or two; to cross the street
seemed to be almost too risky with the soldiers
remaining outside—any hurried movement would
be sure to attract their attention and arouse their
THE FETTERS. 93
suspicion; but they must cross the street somehow.
There was one way; if it failed —she would
not think of that.
She went back to the girls and a few whispered
words were sufficient to make them like dough
in her hands. She made them take up a position
behind her back; they were not to move an inch
more than she did ; they were not to utter a sound,
and when she gave them the signal they were to
run for their lives; but, first of all, they were to
find Maiki and then make either for the long
grass near to the swamp or, if they thought it
safer, hide among the trees of the swamp itself.
Again she went into the middle of the village
road, sidling there as one does whose curiosity is
awakening. The soldiers saw her and made a
joke about her fat carcase, little guessing that be-
hind her ample proportions, hiding them from
sight, were two of the Wajoli they were seeking.
Flinging back a Roland for their Oliver, she
sidled slowly to the hut on the opposite side of
the road, her curiosity being, apparently, fully
aroused by the unusual proceedings in the village.
She kept up a fire of foolish remarks and ended
up by asking if they were searching for a flea.
She lifted her hands, and clapped them twice at
the soldiers, as though in saucy defiance of them
and their authority. This was the pre-arranged
signal. There was a flutter of clothing and a
rustle among the tall grass and the two girls, Adi-
juai and Mtuwaombi were descending the hill,
hand in hand, toward the swamp to seek Maiki
and a hiding place from the searchers.
The hardest part of her self-imposed task was
accomplished; it was necessary, however, to play
the farce a little longer. After giving the Wajoli
a little start, she moved toward the searching party
and assisted them with as muchsincerity as though
she were the most innocent babe in the world—like
most Africans she was a splendid actress.
Of course their search was a failure as Andrews
had hoped and prayed it would be; it was not
until] some hours afterwards he heard the part
Sarah had played in the girls’ escape.
“So you have searched every hut, you say. You
are sure they are not on the mission station?â€
was Andrews’ remark to the soldiers when they
again stood before him.
“ We are sure, Bwana Mdogo—not even a dog
escaped our notice.â€
«Remain here, I will send a barua (letter) to
Bwana Myatt.â€
Andrews retired to the table and wrote a long
letter to the Deputy Governor. He gave it to the
soldiers, and said—
“Be sure you do not lie. Tell Bwana Myatt all
you know. Do not tell any lies for I have written
all about it in the letter. Go your way, now.â€
Saluting him, they left the mission station and
returned to Mombasa. And at sunset the three
VARIETIES.
slave girls crept into the village ready for their
evening meal.
The foliowing day Thomas Trevelyan had a long
and full report from Andrews of this second at-
tempt to recapture the Wajoli. Everybody’s share
in that afternoon’s business was described, and it
was no stinted praise which Andrews gave to
Sarah. For weeks afterwards she wore on Sundays
a fine kerchief Trevelyan gave her on his return
from Tonza as a token of his appreciation of the
part she had played.
There was something in Andrews’ letter which
set him thinking. “Ihave enclosed Myatt’s letter,â€
wrote Andrews, “so that you might read it for
yourself. In my answer I said, ‘ At last the ob-
ject for which Mr. Trevelyan has fought has been
gained. We do not feel it our duty to drive
slaves away—this has been said time after time.
But we grant full permission for the agents of
the Company to do their work ; further than this
we cannot go and we ought not to be asked to do
more. I may say that any trouble which has
arisen has not been of our seeking.Չۉ۪ .
“The lad puts it pat, ne has some grit'in him,â€
commented Trevelyan on this part of his friend’s
letter. “I only wish he had better health and
he would do good work for the mission, I know.â€
He turned again to the letter.
“But the part of the Deputy Governor’s letter
which frightened me was that postscript, ‘It may
be safe to play with an Arab, but is it safe to
play with the Administrator General?’ Do you
notice, Trevelyan, it is in Myatt’s own handwrit-
ing—the bulk of the letter was written by one
of the Hindoo clerks I should fancy. It seems
to me that Sir William Hilton is still sore about
the conversation you had with him some time ago.
Myatt is your friend, and, after the letter had been
copied for future reference, he must have written
that postscript as a warning. I do hope there
is no mischief brewing. I’m glad you were not
at Msomwe this time. You were out of it. I’m
as glad of that as though I had been left a for-
tune.â€
F=Trevelyan was touched with this expression of
his comrade’s affection. ‘“ What a heartease it is
to have one who loves you,’ murmured Trevelyan,
and a tear fell upon his hand.
SELF-RESPECT.
“2 THERE are many men and women who are a
law unto themselves, who follow right paths, and
forsake crooked ones, not from any compulsion of
the law or fear of social displeasure, but from the
dictates of their own consciences and the general
purity of their own desires. Their self-respect is
dearer to them than any praise that could be
showered upon them; their self-disapproval is
harder to bear than society’s frown or the law’s
penalty. Without disregarding or despising either
the one or the other, they have a higher standard
than either, and they cannot be content when they
fall short of that.
ETERNAL LIFE.
Waar is eternal life? It is heaven here in
the soul; joy unspeakable and full of glory; an
abiding assurance of the love and favour of God
and that all things work together for good to
them that love Him.
Rey. A. C. Morrnovusz.
THE WAITING CHRIST.
Lord, what am I, that, with unceasing care,
Thou didst seek after me, that Thou didst wait,
Wet with unhealthy dews, before my gate,
And pass the gloomy nights of winter there ?
Oh, strange delusion! that I did not greet
Thy blest approach, and oh, to Heaven how lost,
If my ingratitude’s unkindly frost
Has chilled the bleeding wounds upon Thy feet.
How oft my guardian angel gently cried,
“ Soul, from thy casement look, and thou shalt
see
How He persists to knock and wait for thee! â€
And, oh! how often to that voice of sorrow,
«To-morrow we will open,†I replied,
And when the morrow came, I answered
Still, “To-morrow.â€
Henry Wapswortn Lonereniow.
SELF-RELIANCE.
Fight your own battles. Hoe your own row.
Ask no favours of anyone; and you will succeed
five thousand times better than one who is always
beseeching someone’s patronage. No one will ever
help you as you help yourself, because no one will
be so heartily interested in your affairs. The first
step will not be such a long one, perhaps; but
carving your own way up the mountain, you make
each one lead to another, and stand firm in that
while you chop still another out. Men who have
made fortunes are not those who had £500 given
them to start with, but started fair with a pound
or two. Men who have by their own exertions
acquired fame have not been thrust into popularity
by puffs begged or paid for, or given in friendly
spirit. They have stretched out their hands, and
touched the public heart. Men who win love do
their own wooing. Whether you work for fame,
for love, for money, or for anything else, work
with your hands, heart and brain. Say “I will!â€
and some day you will conquer. Never let any
man have it to say, “I have dragged you up—l
have made you what you are.†‘Too many friends
hurt a man more than none at all.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR PAGE. 95
THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR PAGE.
BY EDWARD ABBOTT.
COMMEND to the attention of the
Christian Endeavour members the
following account of the Young Peoples’
Society of Christian Endeavour at
Lowtown Church, Pudsey. By carol
singing at Christmas the Society raised
over £6 for the Missionary Fund. Ata
recent sale of work the Christian Hndeavour stall
added over £18 to the exchequer; a most prac-
tical solution of the problem, “‘ How the Society
may help the Church. This Young Peoples’
Society of Christian Endeavour is the largest in
the Bradford Union, having a membership alto-
gether of 112. Besides this, the Junior Society
has a membership of 100. The membership is a
very real affair at Pudsey. During a series of
special meetings held at Haster the following atten-
dances were made. Thursday, 82; Good Friday,
94; Saturday, 105; Easter Sunday morning at
7 o'clock, 96. The consecration meetings bear
highest testimony to the Christian activity of the
young people. At the January meeting 54
responded to the roll call out of 56 present. In
February 56 out of 56. March 55 out of 56.
April 58 out of 58. This is Christian Endeavour
indeed and of truth.
Hayux Christian Endeavour has celebrated its
second anniversary. Preachers on Sunday were
Rev. 8. Wright, St. Ives, and Miss Hocking, of
Penzance. A young peoples’ service was held in
the afternoon, conducted by Mr. J. Dale. The
Tuesday’s meeting took the form of a District
Rally. The Camborne and St. Ives Societies were
represented, also the Wesley Guild and Hayle
Endeavour Union. Mr. H. Thomas presided and
addresses were given by Revs. 8. Wright and W.
Matthews.
Tux most satisfactory sign in the progress of
this movement to the writer of these notes is the
increasing number of our ministers who are
throwing their influence and energy into this
good work. At Stockton, Endeavour gatherings
have been held in our Church, presided over by
Rev. J. Taylor, the able and energetic pastor. At
Bury, at the District Union Convention, Rev. J.
Bentley, president, took the chair, and his inspir-
ing addresses were greatly appreciated. At
Stapleford the Convention of the Western
Division of the Nottingham Union was under the
leadership of Rev. W. J. Hopper, whose cultured
and intensely spiritual address was most profit-
able,
Span just now is occupying a good deal of
attention, and coming in deservedly for a good
share of strong condemnation. There is one bright
spot at least in this dark and_priest-ridden
country, viz., Christian Endeavour is winning its
way, and is now represented by twenty-nine
societies and 592 members. “ Advance Endeavour.â€
Tur Muntz Street Society, Birmingham, has
long felt the need of a more commodious room
for its use. Plans have been prepared for a
building to serve the double purpose of Christian
Endeavour meetings and infants’ class. The
Endeavour members recently organised a concert
in aid of the project and handed to the Treasurer
the substantial sum of £6 towards the fund.
Hoxtseaca Young Peoples’ Society of Christian
Endeavour has celebrated its third anniversary.
Mr. T. R. May, president, took the chair. Miss
Barrett read a paper, followed by a Free Parlia-
ment. Revs. A. E. Cawdron and G. H. Gill gave
interesting addresses.
Tun Albert Street Society, Bradford, United
Methodist Free Church, has sustained a great loss
by the sudden death of Miss Ellen Smith, one of
the most zealous and active members.
Oxrorp United Methodist Free Church Society
also mourns the loss of a useful member and
worker, George W. Tombs, aged nineteen.
Tue annual meeting of the Glossop Convention
was made doubly interesting by the presence of
Miss Abercrombie, an Endeavourer who has
devoted her life to Missionary work and will
shortly leave for China. Miss Abercrombie is the
daughter of Rev. Ralph Abercrombie, M.A., and
is possessed of great intellectual gifts, and an
earnest cheerful manner. Fellow members of our
Christian Endeavour order, pray for the success of
this gifted and consecrated young lady.
To the Secretaries of our United Methodist
Free Church Societies I should like once more to
appeal for our annual registration fee of one
shilling per annum. A number of societies have
responded to the circular sent out in November, a
greater number have not done so. Will
Secretaries kindly consider this, and whether able
to subscribe or not furnish me with the locality of
the Young Peoples’ Society of Christian Endeavour
and the name and address of the secretary.
During the week ending April 16, 58 societies
were affiliated with the National Union, the largest
number ever registered in one week in the United
Kingdom. ‘There are now 5,500 societies in the
British section.
