reserved terms of the influence exerted by these medical mission labours in opening up the country for himself and his brethren. People from great distances flock to Amoy for medical advice; they are impressed by the benefits received, and by what they see and hear, and returning to their homes often prove warm friends to the missionaries when they come across them in their Evangelistic tours among the villages of the interior. Moreover, Dr. Carnegie has often visited distant stations in his medical capacity, and been of great service in allaying prejudices among a people whose only idea regarding Europeans is that they are individuals who sell opium and steal coolies. All the officials of the hospital at Amoy are Christians, and very earnest and zealous Christians; so that the inn-door patients are brought under many sources of salutary influence. A poor man who came from a village fifty miles off was seriously impressed by the means thus employed, and returning home, became the honoured instrument of planting a native church which, although exposed to hot and long continued persecution, now consists of forty individuals who can thus trace their discipleship very distinctly to the Medical Mission Hospital at Amoy. During a recent visit to Formosa Mr. Swanson became acquainted with a striking corroboration of these sentiments. A man arrived in quest of the missionaries who had travelled seven days continuously that he might hear the Gospel. He was the mate of a junk, and had some time before spent two days in the hospital at Amoy watching over one of his fellow-sailors who had met with an injury. Being brought within hearing of the Gospel his heart was touched, and the impression seems to have been deepened soon after by the death of his wife. He came to Formosa with something still rankling in his bosom, and hearing that Christian missionaries were in the capital, hastened thither in the hope of getting the wound in his soul healed. Not finding them there, for they had been expelled ignominously, he followed them to Takao, a small town on the coast thirtyfive miles distant. He is now a promising disciple of Christ, and in order to be near the means of grace has relinquished his seafaring life, and supports himself by selling fruit. Dr. Gould, a medical missionary in connection with the China mission, has been settled at Swatow for about two years. He has a temporary hospital and dispensary, conducted upon the same principles as he formerly witnessed at the Parent Institution in Edinburgh. He has already ac complished much in the way of opening up the country to the clerical missionaries. A single incident will illustrate this. Some time ago, while Mr. Swanson and an associate were upon a preaching tour through an inland district previously untravelled by missionaries, they came to a place about fifteen miles from Amoy, where they were roughly handled, deprived of their property, and made prisoners. Matters looked very unpromising, until an old man, whose brother had been cured some time before at Swatow, stepped forward and enquired if they were acquainted with Dr. Gould. On being assured that they not only knew him, but resided in the same house with him, he made a sign to his fellowvillagers, and the ill-usage immediately ceased, the baggage being given up, and the missionaries set at liberty. Dr. Gould, besides being an able practitioner, is an Evangelist of the best stamp. His preaching has been accompanied by direct results, examples of which are well known. In Formosa another medical missionary, well known to friends at home, is labouring with great acceptance and success. Dr. Maxwell went thither about two years ago. He is characterized by sound judgment, common sense, and burning zeal. The scene of his labours is a large island, about 120 miles to the east of Amoy, betwixt 200 and 300 miles long, and at some parts eighty broad. Towards the west there is a flat plain containing a population, some say, of seven or eight millions of Chinese, while eastward the country rises into a mountainous district inhabited by a fine race of men quite distinct from the others. Dr. Maxwell took up his residence in the capital, but was compelled to leave it, and then proceeded to Takao, a comparatively small village on the coast. There, alone, yet not alone, he encountered much opposition for many months; but he has lived it out, and now his dispensary is visited by twenty to thirty patients every day. Here is a summary of his work. At 6 A.M., family worship, with the agents attached to the dispensary, and any others who may wish to be present; then studying the language and breakfast; at 10 he preaches to the assembled patients; at 10.30 the work of prescribing commences and goes on until 1; then dinner and visitation of patients at their own houses; at 3 the chapel is again open for preaching; at 8 family worship and preaching to as many as will come and hear. There are five or six Europeans to whom he preaches on the Lord's day. As evidence of direct spiritual results, the Rev. Mr. Swanson, during a recent visit to Formosa, extending from the 23rd of July to the 30th of August, had the satisfaction of admitting four adults to the privilege of baptism, as the first fruits of the medical mission in Forinosa, great pains being taken to ascertain their fitness for the ordinance. It may be mentioned that, as a general rule, a profession of Christianity in China is followed by a loss of wordly prosperity. A Chinaman who ceases to worship his ancestors forfeits his right to his patrimonial inheritance, besides being exposed, as might be expected, to the opposition of his heathen neighbours in various ways. Although the hill tribes and the inhabitants of the plain mutually hate each other, Dr. Maxwell was received very kindly by the former. He met with a race of people numbering about 10,000, who disclaimed being either Chinese or Aborigines. They claimed kindred with the doctor, and loaded him with every species of attention and kindness. It is thought that they may be descendants of the Dutch, who formerly had a settlement in the island. These statements are surely full of interest and encouragement, not only to those who believe in the Scriptural authority and value of the medical mission principle, but to all who seek the advancement of Christ's cause and kingdom throughout the world. Contributions to the various objects of the Medical Missionary Society are received in Edinburgh, by the Commercial Bank, or Dr. Omond, 43, Charlotte Square; and in London by Mr. James Watson (Messrs. Nisbet and Co.), 21, Berners Street, W.; or by Messrs. Fuller, Banbury, Mathieson and Co., 77, Lombard Street. CONTRIBUTIONS. ... ... 14 17 8 19 17 2 ... 25 10 0 ... ... 46 15 8 18 1 3 ... 15 06 5 00 Aberdeen Subscribers, remitted by Pro- £ s. d. ... ... ... THE POPE'S BLESSING.-The following observations occur in the Naples Observer:-"A Neapolitan con. temporary looks upon the benedictions Pio IX. now and then bestows upon his favourites as conducive to evil fortune rather than good, and cites the following as instances, which certainly go a long way towards verifying his assertions. Pius in 1848 gave Italy his benediction; everything was shortly afterwards overturned from the Alps to the Adriatic. He blessed at Gaeta, Ferdinand, of the Bourbons, and his dynasty. Everyone is aware of the horrible death of the one, and the luckless deprival of his kingdom of the other. Several Neapolitan families who left Naples for Rome for the purpose of receiving the Papal benediction have on their return experienced every kind of misfortune. The pope blessed in Ancona three large merchant vessels before they started on their first cruise; the whole of them were shipwrecked and the crews lost. Generals Lamoriciere and Priodan before leaving to fight against Italians (and their brothers in Jesus Christ) likewise received a blessing from his Holiness; one fled dishonourably at Castelfidardo and the other perished by the bullets of the excommunicated. He blessed Advocate Boggio, which benediction augured badly for the ill-fated historiographer, who perished before twelve months had passed in the waters of Lissa. He gave his benediction to Austria; she was beaten and humiliated by Protestant Prussia. He blessed Count Argy, the commandant of the French Foreign Legion; halfan-hour afterwards that worthy fell from his horse and broke his leg. He blessed the Empress of Mexico that illustrious lady a short time afterwards became insane. He blessed Monsigneur Scitowski, the Primate of Hungary, and the telegraph almost immediately announced his death. Contrasting the benedictions with the excommunications and striking the balance, it will be seen that those people whose fortune it has been to fall under the Papal displeasure have been far better treated by Providence than those on whom the Father of the Church has bestowed his benedictions and good augury. What now remains for him to do is to bless his prelates and himself, and perhaps that will be the signal for the cessation of the temporal power, and even of the Papacy itself.” INTELLIGENCE. England and Scotland. THE Ritualistic controversy has been proceeding vigorously during the past month. The Bishops of London, Oxford, and St. David's have delivered charges, in all of which Ritualism occupies much space and attention. The Bishop of London recognizes the action of sacramental principles as absolutely contradictory to the doctrines of the Reformation, and denounces them; but he does not consider that any legislative measures can be taken in regard to them. The Bishop of Oxford denounces with great vigour the Church of Rome, but shows a somewhat inconsistent sympathy with the Ritualists, while he is strong in his denunciations of the Evangelicals. He pronounces that no change of vestments should be made by a clergyman between the Communion service and the sermon, and he declares his intention to enforce the observance of saints' days when parishioners invite him to do so. The charge is fitted to give encouragement, as might be expected, to all those tendencies which are now so rapidly driving numbers to Romish idolatry. It also fully accepts the priestly theory, with all its consequences, of the real presence, which is the gist of the whole question. In regard to this, the Church Review, the organ of the extreme section, says "In the Bishop of Oxford we have one who possesses an intelligent sympathy with the revival, not merely in its accidents, but in its true spiritual character. In this he is committed to an innovation of so tremendous a character, that beside it, or separate from it, even the most extravagant Ritual introductions are matters of 'mint, anise, and cumin."" The Bishop of St. David's, Dr. Thirlwall, denounces the movement in no measured terms. He considers that it inevitably drives its votaries Romeward. He thinks it may reach its termination in the secession of a whole party, or in an open rent in the Church. Dr. Pusey, with much boldness, continues to advocate the practice of the Confessional, which he states to be now pretty general in the Church. He defends it on the highest ground of the power of the keys being committed to the priesthood, arguing that they have power to bind and loose as much as to baptize and preach the gospel. Dr. M'Neile answers the Scriptural argument by stating that to those to whom were committed this power of binding and loosing, there was also committed the power to work miracles, such as raising the dead and casting out devils. S. G. O. continues his most able and vigorous letters in the Times, in which he denounces the whole system as opposed to the principles of the Reformation, and as subversive of the healthy, manly tone of English religion. He writes with great earnestness, and is exciting strong sympathy. If the bishops can do little, though they might do much more than they attempt by excluding extreme Ritualistic curates from their dioceses, and other means, the laity must bestir themselves. A movement is in progress in this direction, but how to proceed, whether by legislation, appeal to the law as it is, or mere agitation, it is most difficult to say. Some of the leading counsel have, in opposition to Sir Hugh Cairns and Sir Roundell Palmer, decided for the legal character of the vestments. The Revival Movement still advances in Kilsyth, and other parts of Scotland. A correspondent of the Revival writes an account of what he had recently witnessed :-" Having spent a week at Dunnipace, a village in the county of Stirling, it gives me much pleasure to bear testimony to the work of the Spirit there during the last two months. At the beginning of his ministry, the sainted M'Cheyne for a year or two laboured here. Since that time, however, from the opening of coal and iron mines in the neighbourhood, the population has been greatly changed; and it has been by those men, toiling hard all day, that the meetings have been filled at night. The first impression was made by the open-air preaching of one or two evangelists from Glasgow, one of whom, employed at his occupation of sailmaking all the week, the writer heard preach with great power in the open-air on the Lord's Day at a neighbouring rural village. The place was successively visited by Mr. Smith, and several of those connected with the City Mission in Edinburgh, and others, all of whom were more or less useful; so that during the time the meetings have been kept up, about two months, there have been fifty or sixty hopeful cases of conversion, many being young men, who are beginning to be useful in extending the work, by holding prayermeetings in cottages, &c. Had it not been for the judicious superintendence of an elder in the next parish, and of the members in whose church the meetings were held, in all likelihood the efforts would have been more spasmodic, and the results far less." A fund is being raised to commemorate the services of Dr. Tidman, on his retirement from the secretaryship of the London Missionary Society. It is hoped that a goodly sum will be obtained. He is succeeded by the well-known Indian missionary, Dr. Mullens, under whose auspices the Missionary Chronicle promises to be greatly improved. The Patriot and the British Standard are to be amalgamated under the title of the English Independent. It was simply to have been the Independent; but, some one having heard of this, forestalled the proprietors in taking up the title. Dr. Campbell retires after a long period of editorial labours. Ireland. (From our own Correspondent.) THE ink is scarcely dry in Cardinal Cullen's last pastoral when the feast of the Immaculate Conception calls for another. It is a doctrine that, when proclaimed, "everyone cried out that Peter had spoken through the lips of Pope Pius" it was setting the last and brightest jewel in the Virgin's crown." We learn without surprise that the unity and delight of the Catholic world with this new dogma were unsurpassed, and that it existed from the earliest ages of the Church. It is the function of cardinals to read history backwards. For a doctrine so ancient we are surprised to find that the authorities are Cyril, Ephraim of Edessa, Epiphanius, the poet Prudentius, and Peter Damian. Any deficiency of authority is compensated, however, by a litany of the Irish Church, attributed "to the sixth or seventh century," and some rhetorical lines of Leontius. On the other hand it is plain the Irish Church is dragged in for the sake of reasserting that, if the "modern Church Establishment" claims descent from it, it must legitimately preserve the sacrifice of the mass, prayer for the dead, and adoration of the Virgin. The last is claimed on bold grounds :-"Was it not through her that the reconciliation of God with man was commenced, for which the patri archs and prophets, and all just men of old, so ardently sighed? Was it not through her that the fetters of our slavery were broken, the abyss vanquished, and all heresies overcome? Was it not through her and her divine Son that we have been raised from the degradation to which the fall of our first parents has reduced us, that heaven has been opened to our hopes, and that all the riches and treasures of God's mercy and love have been poured into our souls?” "It was not meet that she, who was to give birth to the God of holiness, should ever have been sullied by the stain of sin; or that she, who was to carry on an incessant war against the ancient serpent, and to crush his head, should ever have been the slave of that enemy of the human race. According to the eternal decrees of heaven, she was to be exempted from the curse which fell on all the children of Adam, and preserved from every stain of original guilt.” This picture of the Protestant Church is an excellent instance of the impressions that are industriously made on the ignorant Roman Catholic population, of the cunning with which her errors are grouped from every side as if they were all she taught: "It has neither altar nor sacrifice, nor priesthood, nor remission of sins. It is a sad thing to be obliged to add that it now ignores baptism, and that its belief in the Sacred Scriptures, in the great mysteries of the Trinity, and of the Incarnation, and in the eternal punishments of the wicked is greatly shaken." This fresh proof that the nations of the world are rushing to destruction against the invincible walls of the Church is from Belgium itself, where there is a society "for preventing the baptism of children, the administration of the sacraments to the sick, the religious celebration of marriage, and the offering of prayers for the dead." 66 The Fenians are condemned on the ground that anyone who commits a crime gives strength to the enemy;" while to the national schools both the cardinal and the Grand Orange Lodge curiously unite in ascribing all the disturbances of the country. The change threatened in collegiate education has been postponed by the suspension of the Supplemental Charter to the Queen's University. The legality of the charter must first be argued, and its propriety will no doubt have been debated in Parliament before the Chancellor's decision. Preparations are made by the Romish bishops in the expectation of its illegality being confirmed. They intend, it is believed, to apply once more for a separate charter on the ground that they have suppressed the Fenians, and that the only hope of peace in the island rests in large concessions to their interests. Houses have been purchased near the existing Catholic College for the site of this new university, and the disorganization of the various boards of education and the boldness of the denominational party lend some substance to their dreams. It is significant also that the National Board have furnished to the Government an estimate of £20,000 a year for what would be practically Roman Catholic normal schools for the training of teachers who may be boarded in monastic establishments. The singular decay of intermediate education is also attracting more of the attention it deserves; and, if men of all parties unite, as they seem disposed to do, they may prevent the farther existence of a great scandal and the further growth of a great evil. Ritualism continues to excite suspicion, and is to the Church party much what Fenianism is to the people at large. It appears in many country districts, though in its most advanced form far short of what it has come to be in England. Lively protests are also issued against it in the newspapers and by public lectures. At a large meeting of the Association for Promoting Christian Knowledge, a resolution was unanimously passed removing the Christian Year from sale among their books until the alteration of the hymn for the 5th of November into a statement of the real presence is withdrawn. The Archbishop of Dublin, who was in the chair, stated that "the unhappy alterations have given him great pain, and caused him many anxious thoughts from the first moment that he became aware of it, and that he saw at once that some such step as that contained in the resolution proposed by the Bishop of Meath was inevitable, and he would even add, emphatically, justified and required by the necessities of the case." At the opening of St. Andrew's Church-almost the only Gothic structure amongst the modern Dublin churches—a very remarkable sermon was preached by Dean Magee on the position of the Church and its buildings. The dean took for granted, for the sake of argument, that her endowments were withdrawn, and begged that all members would consider in that event how they were prepared to maintain her structures. He denounced ritualism and the ritualists with vehement force, urged a reconciliation with churches that held the truth instead of with those that corrupted it, acknowledged that the Establishment had hitherto been a church upheld by law, and not by the affections of the people, and urged a frank confession of all sins of the past as a preliminary to a stable and great future. A crowded congregation, including several of the bishops, was present, attracted by the celebrity of the preacher. Temperance meetings have been held in rapid succession, including one of the Ladies' Temperance Association. On the other hand the large brewers and distillers cannot keep pace with their orders even by enlarging premises already overgrown. A branch of the association for closing public-houses on Sunday has been formed and met wide support. It is stated that in the diocese of Ferns the Roman Catholic bishop, Dr. Darling, had by his personal effort induced every liquor seller to stop the sale on Sundays and holidays, with the result that comfort and love had taken the place of vice and misery; and a letter was read from Mr. Fitzgibbon, one of the Masters in Chancery, in which he said, "I have no doubt that the revenue derived from the license to carry on this demoralizing trade has been and is a strong, if not the chief reason for tolerating it, and the loss of this revenue will probably be the real motive for refusing to abolish it. But, seeing that this revenue is levied from the mere labouring class, and directly taken from the daily wages of this class, and that enticement to intemperance and vice constitutes the force by which the tax is imposed, it must surely appear an odious imposition in the eyes of all reflecting men who have the happiness and prosperity of the nation at heart. No rational man who stands above the degraded victims to this vilifying fiscal contrivance will complain of any substitute that may be proposed for recouping the treasury, if that substitute do not draw after it such a train of brutalising evils as attend the present licensing system." The plan of a free-will offering is growing in favour with the Presbyterian congregations of Ulster. The debt is to be cleared in a collective mode; the deacons send to each family and communicant a letter stating the object, and enclosing an envelope in which to return the contribution, and the offerings are then laid on a plate in the vestibule. One congregation has received thus £93, and another £83 within the last month. The success of the movement is greatly owing to an admirable tract on the subject by the Rev. L. E. Berkeley, "God bringing to men, men bringing to God." |