surely receive the information thus generally given without realizing that this is a very special time for prayer and praise with reference to Constantinople, and the schools connected with our Jewish Mission there.-Free Church Record.

Syria.

RELIGIOUS AWAKENING.

broken down with sorrow for sin, asking, 'What shall I do? What shall I do?' He had formerly borne the character of an unsteady and not entirely reliable youth, but his convictions of sin seemed most overpowering. He mourned and wept, and begged me to pray for him, and, with Elias and Beshara, spent a part of the evening in prayer. Not long after he, too, found peace in

The Work of the Spirit.-"It is eleven years to-day since I first sailed from Boston, on the bark Sultana, on my way to Syria, and this week has been perhaps the happiest week of my whole missionary life. The Lord's Spirit is working among us, and sinners are turning unto God. There has been more real heart-searching inquiry for a few weeks past than I ever knew before in Syria. I wrote you of the awakening in the girls' school, and of the case of Elias Saadeh, of Tripoli, now teaching the boys' school in Beirut. His conversion has been most marked and interesting. Even unbelievers notice the change.

His whole soul seems to be in the work of do

ing good. Though a comparative stranger in Beirut, he has been labouring and praying with the young men about him, urging upon them the matter of their personal salvation and pleading with them to turn to the Lord. It is most sweet and comforting to hear him tell of what the Lord has done for his soul. Hardly a day passes but he brings some young man to me to be prayed with.

"Among his acquaintances here was Beshara Haddad, the eldest son of the lamented Tannoos el Haddad, the first Protestant in Syria. Beshara had grown up in impenitence and indifference. He is now the head of a family, and a teacher in the preparatory department of the College. A fortnight since he came to me with Elias, in deep distress about his sins-almost in despair. With tears and deep emotion he spoke of his past life, and his fears lest he had sinned away his day of grace. After conversation and prayer they went away, and the next day I learned that he was rejoicing in Christ. He came in to tell me of his new experience, his love for the Saviour, his deep sorrow for sin, his entire dedication of himself to the Lord. His widowed mother was taken by surprise. She could hardly believe her senses, and told one of the sisters of the church, 'My son Beshara has gone, and another Beshara has come in his place. The next day another of the teachers of the same institution came in, all

entirely changed. These three young men are educated and are teachers, and their influence Another teacher came to must be very great.

me soon after, much affected, and thinks he has put his trust in the Lord Jesus. On the following Lord's day evening, Assaf, a man in my employ, (whose wife is a consistent Christian,) came into my room in great distress of mind. He is naturally frivolous and thoughtless, and I was greatly surprised to find him in this state of feeling. The Spirit was evidently striving with him. He struggled hard, but could only see his sins in darker and darker hue. At length he yielded his all to Christ, and is now an altered man. I can see the change very strikingly, and his whole manner is that of a Christian disciple.

"After him one of the college students came to talk about his soul, hoping that he had put his trust in the Saviour, and then one of the workmen in the printing press, and a young merchant who has lived for some years in France, and then a young man who had been in the Government employ in the custom-house, and left the post because he was obliged to work on the Lord's day, and then another teacher, and then several young women, until hardly a day passed but some new person came to talk about his soul and ask for the prayers of God's people.

Examination of Candidates. A new Case.— "On Monday evening of this week we had a meeting of the church committee, or session, to examine candidates for admission to the church. Ten were examined, and several accepted. Toward the close, a young man came in, an entire stranger to us all. He was coarsely dressed and of rough appearance, and as the meeting was appointed especially for examining applicants for church membership, we thought that he had made a mistake, and my first thought was to ask him to retire, as he had mistaken the object of the meeting. I instantly decided, however, to ask the brethren to let him remain, as he might gain some good and could do no harm. At the close of the exercises-having observed that he listened

Persia.

NESTORIAN MISSION.

at the monthly concerts, now held, with very few exceptions, in all the villages where we have helpers. About 230 dols. (gold) were also raised

Annual Meeting of Helpers." The meeting was held, by invitation, at Geog Tapa, and the hearty and generous manner in which the people there entertained the delegates and invited guests,' was regarded as one of the favourable signs of the times. There was an opening sermon by Priest Yacob, Moderator of the previous meeting, from the words, Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully.' After the sermon, before a full house, there was adjournment for refreshments, then making out the roll of delegates, &c., and the election of Priest Yoseph as Moderator, and Deacon Yonan as Permanent Clerk.

6

"Reports were then read from Deacon Eshoo of Tabreez, and our helpers in Salmas and the mountains, which were very interesting and deserve more than a passing allusion. Committees were chosen to reply to these letters, and one was appointed to prepare a Pastoral Letter to the churches.

"A short essay was read on the question, How shall we best develop the lay power of the church? This opened the way for an animated discussion, which was very interesting and profitable. The subject was then referred to a committee, with instructions to report before the close of the session, which was done, and resolutions were adopted.

"On Wednesday morning the church was filled with attendants at the sunrise prayer-meeting. Tuesday evening witnessed, in the homes of those entertaining guests, little prayer-meetings; and the voice of prayer and praise was heard on every side. One good brother remarked, "This is a foretaste of heaven.'

"The session opened at 8 o'clock a.m., by prayer and singing; the roll was called, minutes read, committees announced, and then came a report on village schools.

Schools-Missions-Benevolence." There were thirty-eight schools, with an average attendance of about twenty-one. Nearly seventy tomans, or about 150 dols., were raised from the people for the support of these schools-a large advance upon

last year.

"Next came a report on the subject of the home and foreign fields, from which it appeared that about 80 dols. (gold) had been contributed

in the work on the plain and in the mountains. A resolution was adopted at the last meeting previous to this, to endeavour to increase the amount contributed to the cause of Christ by at least fifty per cent. This was more than done. This report was also discussed and referred, and resolutions subsequently passed recommending still greater advance. It was resolved to devote a portion of the monthly concert contributions to the support of an Evangelist, Deacon Guergis, in the mountains. Geog Tapa has now, in the mountain work, five of her best sons, all but one with their wives. The work there requires vastly more sacrifice and self-denial than almost any field under the care of your Board. Deacon Shimon, of Geog Tapa, has just cut loose from his home, sold his little property at a great sacrifice, and gone with his young family to Botan, to be associated with Mar Yoseph in the work there.

Sabbath School-Essay on Temperance.—“ On assembling in the afternoon of Wednesday, the Sabbath-school, under Deacon Moses' superintendence, consisting of about forty or fifty of the younger children of the village, was exhibited, and a new interest was awakened in the whole subject of Sabbath-school instruction.

"Then came the reading of a prize essay on temperance, a very fine production from the pen of Priest Yoseph of our male seminary. This was followed by an animated discussion, when the matter was referred, and resolutions were subsequently unanimously adopted. In the evening a doctrinal discourse was delivered on the Divinity and Manhood of Christ. This theme elicited a very warm discussion, which was prolonged to a late hour. The discussion was interesting, as evolving the peculiar views of the Nestorian fathers.

Morning Prayer Meeting-Communion Service.— "Thursday morning a most delightful and heavenly sunrise prayer-meeting was held in the crowded church. At eight a.m. the assembly met as usual. The narrative of the state of religion was read by John, our evangelist. Then followed the closing business of the meeting, resolutions of thanks, &c. After this a sermon by a member of the mission, and the celebration of the Lord's Supper. The church was unable to hold all who pressed for admittance. There were probably between five and six hundred.

The scene was im

pressive as the whole company rose to receive the elements of Christ's broken body and shed blood, and after partaking, seated themselves one by one in secret meditation and prayer. At the close, all bowed in low, audible prayer for a few minutes, then rose and sung a hymn, closing with the doxology and benediction by Mar Yohanan.

"I should have mentioned a baptismal scene before the sermon, in which John's little son took the name of Luther, and another the name of his sainted grandfather, Malek Agho Beg.

"This has been one of the most delightful gatherings we have ever had here, and suggests many reflections which I cannot now communicate.""

HINDU FEASTS

India.

RATHA SAPTAMI.* RATHA SAPTAMI, a feast of seven days' continuance, is celebrated in the eleventh month of the Hindu year. The days on which this feast is kept are regarded as unlucky, like the days of the sun's eclipse. In order to avert the bad effects which are expected to follow, ceremonies are performed at dawn and evening, and at intervals during the day. By this means the Hindus hope to change the curse into a blessing. Health, long life, and wealth may be obtained by early bathing, and presenting handsful of water to the sun. During the day, large vessels of gold and silver, or some other metal, are filled with oil, a light is applied, and they are carried to the water's brink. There the worshipper must stand, holding the lamp on his head, and meditating on the brightness of the sun. The lighted vessels must then be thrown into the water. Afterwards follows bathing, and giving of alms to the poor. The merit of this is so vast, that the sins of seven former births can be annihilated, and transmigration robbed of its horrors. The discovery of this method is attributed to a famed rishi, named Ghagaya.

The above is the ordinary mode of celebration. But when there are uncommon astronomical appearances, according to the guidance of the astrologers, certain special ceremonies are observed. Cars, not like those pyramids which we commonly see, but rude waggon-like vehicles, are surmounted by an immense circle, made to imitate the sun. The sun-god is brought and placed in this car, which is then drawn short distances. The pious bathe, stick the leaf of the jujube tree upon their * From the Harvest Field, published in Bangalore.

heads, and address to the sun the following prayer :

"O God, pardon the sins of seven former births. Remove my afflictions and sorrows."

Water is presented to the manes of their ancestors, accompanied with the leaf of the jujube tree. After this, a muntrum, a Hindu charm of great merit, is repeated.

The

"O Saptami! thou art the mother of all creatures. Thou art the mother of the sun. Therefore, destroy my sin." Tradition and religious books tell of a number of rishis, kings, and others who obtained heaven in this manner. Krishna, the Indian Apollo, the favourite god with young and old, once told this to Dhamaraya, a king famed in Hindu song and romance. king became desirous of obtaining similar blessings. He thus addressed Krishna: "O Swami, in order to obtain the dominion of the universe, what must I do?" Krishna replied, "You must perform the ceremony of the Ratha Saptami." Dhamaraya asked, "How can I perform this? What kings in former ages did it? What fruit will be obtained?" Then Krishna told the anxious king the following story :

"In the country of Khumbooja there was a king Yeshoovartma. In his old age he had a son who was afflicted with all loathsome diseases. The father beheld the son with great grief. In his perplexity he summoned an ascetic from his hermitage, and enquired the cause of the calamity which had befallen his son. The rishi said, Your son in a former birth was a most avaricious merchant. One day he saw the Ratha Saptami, from the merit of that sight he was born the son of a king. On account of the sin of avarice he is born diseased.' 'What shall I do to avert this heavy calamity?' asked the king. The ascetic replied, 'If this mean-spirited and covetous man use the same religious austerities to be healed of his malady as he used to obtain his wealth, he will not only be cured of his loathsome disease, but will gain the dominion of the universe, and live in great enjoyment.' The king enquired the day on which ceremonies of such amazing worth were to be performed. The rishi said, 'You must perform in this month, in this lunar fortnight, on this day.' The rishi also directed him to bathe in a river or tank with the sesamum seed; performing at the same time the daily ceremonies; to attend the temple of the sun, to gaze with fixed attention upon the god, and fast the whole day. The rishi assured him that then these blessings which he had described would be his. The king,

to perform the ceremony.

"The king first of all had two cars made, one of gold, the other of copper. He followed the directions given in the shastras for the worship of the sun. In these cars he invoked the descent of the god, drew him in state round and round, and through the palace gates. In the open area in the centre of the palace there was a mantapa, in which they put him, and attending with great honour before him, they presented food, and offered the following prayer :—

"O Sun, giver of blessing, lord of the universe, creator of water, saviour of the world, creator of light, chief of the universe, source of strength, without beginning, middle, or end, receive with thy blessing the worship which I, destitute of works, of merit, and of muntrums, make to thee.' "The father gave the cars away in charity, and presented money to the poor. The result was, the cure of the son's disease. He became a great hero, possessed of great wealth, and had a son and grandson, who lived in great happiness and peace."

Dharmaraya heard the words of Krishna, and returned to perform the same in great piety. The observance of the Ratha Saptami was as propitious to Dharmaraya as Krishna promised.

The puranas say that as much merit may be obtained by this observance as by the horse sacrifice, even as much as would atone for the atrocious crime of the murder of a Brahiman.

neighbours. The women and children, gaudily dressed, took fruit from house to house, till the circuit of their friends was made. Then, each house was lit up with lamps, rich carpets were spread on the floor, and singing and music were the entertainment for the evening.

Australia.

(Special Correspondence.)

ADELAIDE.

THE Annual Meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society is always an occasion of great interest in this city; and the free contributions to the funds has been each year, for some time past, £600. This year the meeting was held in the new Town Hall, and a very large number of the friends of the Society, from all the Protestant denominations, filled the noble room. The Hon. W. Peacock, M.L.C., was in the chair. Some unusual interest was excited by the singular course taken by the Rev. Lionel W. Stanton, M.A., who, in reply to an invitation to aid the Committee, had written a letter that had appeared in all the papers. He said, "he had always regarded the principles and practices of the Bible Society as contrary to the Bible, and hostile to the Church;" and, "I look upon the Bible Society as one of the arch-enemy's most plausible devices to delude men into the notion that they are doing God's work, while confounding truth and error,

1st. Whoever observes it will in a future birth be born a king; and will be blessed with immense wealth, the gift of the sun.

2nd. Whoever shall pay all the necessary expenses of this Ratha Saptami, shall possess eternal dominion.

3rd. Whoever dies during this feast will be

received at once to heaven.

In Mysore where the feast has just been celebrated, seven or eight cars were drawn. Each car was a mock-sun or a mock-planet. His highness the Maha Rajah, his adopted son, the children of his concubines, and thousands of the people were there to honour the occasion. Plantains, and twigs of the davana, a fragrant shrub, were thrown at the car.. Woman, adorned with jewels, and attired in their best raiment, and little children finely clad for the occasion, were joining in the procession. When they had witnessed the public spectacle they returned to their homes, where

strongly to the obtrusion of Dr. Tucker into his parish. The Committee felt it their duty to refer to this letter briefly in the report, especially as three other clergymen had also expressed similar opinions. The Rev. Dr. Tucker gave a tolerably full and temperate reply, and the large meeting expressed their warm attachment to the principles of the Society. With ministers of all Protestant Churches, there were at the meeting Dean Farrell, Archdeacon Woodcock, and several other clergymen of the Church of England.

New Zealand.

THE REV. T. S. Grace, of the Church Missionary Society, has been amongst the Hauhaus. The impression, says the Church Missionary Intelligencer, which he received from intercourse with them are embodied in the following extracts from his letter:

"I believe the natives generally are preparing