There are a few men still in the vigour of their life, some of them the children of missionary parents, who have taken up their fathers' work; but the missionaries generally are growing old, and unequal to the arduous efforts which the present crisis requires. The following letter has been received from the Bishop of Waiapu, dated August 7, 1867 :— The subject that most nearly concerns me at this time is the removal of my dear brother to his rest. He had been in an infirm state of health for the last six years; but his family were not aware that his end was so near, even up to the last day of his life. For some weeks before his death, a serious native quarrel had been going on close to Waimate; but he was no longer able to do as in former times, to step in as the peacemaker. It is a singular fact that his four sons had left the house on the morning of his death to try and carry out this work of mediation, which was so peculiarly the work of their father. He had long been looking for this change, with his light burning, and his loins girt up. He grieved very much on account of the sad falling away of many; but it was a great comfort to him that amongst those who remained faithful he had the valuable help of the native clergymen, Matiu Taupaki; and he was able to look back into the years that are gone by upon a goodly multitude of those who had departed before him, who, having died in faith, had gone to receive the victor's crown. Those of us who remain here have still to struggle onward, fighting against many difficulties.—Church Missionary Intelligencer. West Africa. DESTRUCTION OF MISSION CHURCHES AT THE Committee of the Church Missionary Society have published the subjoined extract from a letter written by the Rev. J. A. Lamb, Missionary of the Society at Lagos. The Committee earnestly ask the prayers of the friends of Missions at this crisis in the history of the Yoruba Mission:- (Extract of Letter from the Rev. J. A. Lamb, dated Lagos, Oct. 19, 1867.) I would rather that the report I have to give you now had come from some other pen than mine; but as this scarcely appears practicable by this mail, I must give you what I have heard, and the next must bring you the report of the sufferers themselves. Last Sunday morning, without any previous notice, or even the rumour or intimation of such a thing, the Abbeokuta bellman went round early, declaring that there was to be no assembly for divine worship that day. Soon after companies of people proceeding from a meeting at the Bashorun's went to the different churches and broke them all down to the ground, except Ikija, which the chief Ogadife defended. They then broke down the Mission-houses, except Ikija, and plundered everything, not even permitting Mr. Wood, or Mr. Faulkner, or Mr. Allen to go away with the actual clothes they required on their bodies. From Mr. Wood they took hat and shoes; from Mr. Faulkner, hat; and from Mr. Allen nearly all his clothes. One student of the Igbein Institution, who came down yesterday, only had a country cloth on him, which he said was borrowed, for they actually drove him off naked. He had a blow on the side of his head, which he said was given whilst endeavouring to keep his clothing Mr. Morser had dressed it for him. The Baptist and Wesleyan Mission-houses and chapels shared a like fate. All the Europeans are congregated at Ikija, which Ogadife has succeeded so far in preserving, or, rather, which God has reserved as a refuge for his servants in the terrible disaster. We are anxiously awaiting their arrival here. Yesterday Mrs. Lamb and myself went in a large canoe about four hours' journey on the way to meet them. Mr. Ashcroft and Mr. Richmond (the Wesleyan missionary) also went in a boat; and the Governor has kindly sent his boat for the same purpose to-day. The bitter hate manifested against the Christian religion and the unoffending missionaries is the worst feature in the affair. They declare that all the converts shall go back to heathenism or be killed. Women and children were just as furious in the onset as on. men. Mr. White is preparing to leave Otta, having received warning from a friendly chief to hold himself in readiness to go. I understand that Osielle Church and Missionhouse has shared in the destruction, and that Mr. Moore has also taken refuge in Abbeokuta, and is expected here. We have heard nothing of the Hinderers. except that the Governor was here this morning, and stated that he believed no harm would happen to them. He said that he had given Kere, the Chief of Ipara (who owed him a debt of gratitude for obtaining the release of his son), charge to see after them. ། f South Africa. THE LONG MOUNTAINS, KURUMAN. (LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.) occupied in ascertaining the state of those in church fellowship; some of these having but lately removed from another locality, where they THE Chronicle of the London Missionary Society belonged, to the Griqua Town Mission. Among says: The Kuruman is the principal mission station among the Bechuana tribes, immediately north of the Orange River. It is distant from Cape Town a journey of two months. The mission was joined by Mr. Moffat in 1821. The churches contain 278 members; there are Bible classes and schools; and the printing-press provides Scriptures and school-books in three languages. Mr. Moffat has recently devoted considerable time to a revision of the Sichuana New Testament; but carries on at the same time the other current duties of the mission. The present missionaries are Messrs. Robert and John Moffat. Visit to the Long Mountains. There are two principal out-stations of the Kuruman Mission: one among the Batlaru, ten miles to the north-west; and another series at the foot of the Long Mountains, forty miles to the south-west. Near these mountains are seven branch churches, which Mr. Moffat specially visited at the beginning of the year. The well-known Mr. Moffat writes as follows: "Before John Moffat's leaving for Cape Town, knowing that it would be long before I could get one to supply my place, I left this in my oxwagon on the 16th February. After passing over the Kuruman hills, lying directly west of this place, the course to Tlose, the first station to be visited, lay about south-west. the Corannas there are as yet none who have been baptised. In the afternoon about 100 came together, and listened with great attention to the message of mercy addressed to them. I then went over to the Corannas, about a mile distant, and preached to them through an interpreter." Visit to Lookeng. Going sixteen miles west, Mr. Moffat spent the Sabbath among the church members of Loökeng, or Khoro. "As the people had had timely information of my coming, all necessary preparations had been made; for the church members and candidates had arrived from other villages within ten miles. A meeting was at once convened to examine the candidates left over from last year, with others who had been added. This was done in the presence of some of the more advanced members of the church, in order to aid them in their decision when a selection should be made. This kept me engaged till dark. Next morning the early Sabbath prayer meeting was held, and well attended. It was most consoling to hear the earnestness with which a blessing on the day's exercises was sought, and that by persons whom I had known in their comparatively naked, wild, heathen state, but now clothed and in their right mind, lifting up their hearts, and supplicating the Divine presence of the adorable Redeemer. Of course those like myself, who knew them all when they were the dupes of ignorance and a stupid superstition, must exclaim with gratitude, 'What hath God was held, when eight out of fifteen inquirers were chosen by the church. แ "After travelling the whole night without halting, over a level treeless country, I arrived a little before daylight, thirty-seven miles requiring six-wrought!' Soon after prayer the church meeting teen hours; for an ox-wagon travels only about two-and-a-half miles per hour. As all parties had been expecting me for some time, I received their early salutations and welcome. Tlose, or Koses (as it is frequently pronounced by foreigners), has never been a place of any importance; though it formerly possessed a very fine fountain, which now, through neglect, yields little more than is enough for the present scanty population. That is composed of one village of Bechuanas, and another of Corannas; the former about 200, and the latter about 30. Besides these, there are two small villages in the immediate neighbourhood, which make a community of about 300. On a former journey, I found the Corannas more numerous; but they, from their nomad character, are not long in one place. My forenoon was "The congregation, including strangers, was large, considering the size of the village, containing rather more than sixty households, or 300 inhabitants, allowing five persons to a house, which I found to be the case in this instance. The first service being ended, forty sat down to the Lord's Supper, eight of whom formerly belonged to Gaseep, but had with their families lately removed. All these forty I had known in their youthful days, when residents on the Kuruman River. I thought of bygone years, of our toil and struggle to retain our footing amidst unnumbered jeers and scoffs and robberies of the heathen throng. It was then when some thought they had discovered the source of our forbearance under contumely by setting us down as runaways from our own country to escape the gallows. How changed the scene! And we now adore the grace through which we were enabled to overcome all these things. It was impossible not to make reference to the former condition of those who were before me, reminding them of the marvellous transformation which God in His adorable mercy had wrought among them. The impressive season was closed by singing a translation, or rather an imitation, of 'Come, Thou Fount of every blessing.'" General View of these Churches. "After disposing of some books and receiving a few contributions to our auxiliary, I left for the Kuruman, distant thirty-one miles, grateful to our Heavenly Father for all that I had seen and heard in reference to man's salvation. I did not see all I hoped to see; but it is most gratifying to witness the almost universal desire to learn to read, and that education, often under most unfavourable circumstances, is advancing; so that wherever people live together, many or few, means of instruction of one kind or other are in operation, and even family worship kept up by many who have not joined a church. Doubtless there must be sometimes queer sermons preached, as, with rare exceptions, the native teachers do not stick to their text, but seldom wander far from the cross; and I do rejoice that Christ is preached, however feeble the instruments are. In general the people are poor, and their resources small; the country throughout very dry, except in rainy seasons, for they are not always so. There are no paid agents among those referred to, except the youth to whom particular reference has been made, who is not only an efficient schoolmaster, but conducts the public services as chaplain to his patron, who supplies him with food. Khobetse and his wife, or rather his concubine, are both amiable characters; but the first wife stands in the way of their being received into church fellowship. I have more than once granted a trifling sum to assist in raising a school, and this is all that may be deemed necessary under present circumstances. There is nothing like getting such folks, who are in general very stingy, to help themselves." Celest Indies. WESLEYAN missionaries write from Antigua :Gratitude and joy fill our hearts while we sit to send you a few hasty extracts from our journal, respecting the work of God in which we are engaged in this corner of the vineyard. We have been employed, for a week consecutively, in holding a series of special services throughout the Circuit. They were commenced and closed, we rejoice to say, under most favourable circumstances, and with most cheering results to all our churches. The following is the order in which they were conducted :-Sunday.-Special sermons were preached at Parham and Free-Town by the Circuit ministers, and prayer-meetings held in all the chapels at night, to invoke an outpouring of the Spirit, and a revival of the work of God in all our Societies. The weather was delightfully fine, congregations good, people attentive and devout, and a precious sense of the Master's presence pervaded our assemblage, and gladdened our hearts. Monday.-Both ministers met at Parham in the evening. A short address was delivered, and a penitent prayer-meeting followed. God was in our midst. Many souls were awakened, a few found peace through believing; and several both young and aged were added to our ranks. Tuesday.-Exhortation and prayer meeting at Freetown. Both ministers again engaged. Old members surrounded the communion rail, to plead for pardoning mercy; and four young persons were added to the church. Wednesday. Preaching at Parham and Free-Town; and prayer-meetings in all the other chapels. At the latter place, God was present to apply the healing balm; and the voice of praise and thanksgiving was heard from those who, the previous night, were groaning for redemption; and two others were brought to the foot of the Cross, to groan the sinner's only plea, "Lord, be merciful to me." Thursday. Preaching and prayer-meeting at Seatons. Both ministers present. Chapel inconveniently crowded, with a large number standing without the building. The word of truth comes with power; and sinners, young and old, are smitten down before the Lord, and constrained to cry for mercy. A goodly number resolve for God to live and die. O may they prove faithful! Friday.-Preaching and prayer meeting at Bethesda. Attendance good. Fourteen young persons convinced and decide for God. One backslider reclaimed, and many more deeply affected. Several have since desired admission into our Society, who really seem anxious “to flee from the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins." Present numbers on trial, fiftytwo. LITERATURE. page after page it draws us into a devout, calm, and gracious Sabbath serenity, through which we hear the soft church bells, and look up into the quiet sky. In this pretty and compact edition it is sure to have many new readers, and many old, and to fill many hearts with grave and happy thoughts. "I will not take a solemn leave of my friends just yet," the vicar says, as he closes the "Annals of Marshmallows;" "for I hope to hold a little more communion with them ere I go hence." In that hope thousands will share. To the literature of the pulpit Mr. Hood has contributed a quaint title-page and a genuine book.* "Words," he says, "are lamps, are pitchers, are trumpets," a reflection that may be squeezed out of Gideon's famous strategy, but that will not come without squeezing. They may sound like trumpet tones and flash out the light of thoughts; but the old warrior's pitchers were surely used to conceal his torches, and can scarcely carry the meaning that would "bear refreshment, cool the fear of the spirit, and console and comfort the heart." It is too good a Mrs. Carey Brock's success in weaving the colbook to need so whimsical an adaptation; nor lects of the Church of England into a story, has does the gravity of the pulpit stand in need of any encouraged her to try a new series of Sunday startling oddities to draw attention to the mission Echoes in Week-day Hours.* The thread of the of the preacher. Twenty-two lectures, addressed story is well preserved, and the dialogue is on the to Mr. Spurgeon's students, are included in whole natural and simple. The children, perhaps, this volume, fresh, clever, sensible, and full of are a little too precocious, and too much given to stimulus and thought for men aspiring to preach. put just the question that brings out the right The genius and power of the pulpit are vindicated, answer: but that is a fault almost inseparable its character is pointed out, and the faults and from this mode of teaching. The double convermerits of sermons are touched with a keen and sations with the two Nellies are also confusing, racy criticism, and in the generous spirit of a man and probably in so comprehensive a formula as of large sympathies and culture. An excellent the catechism it would have been better to have feature of these lectures is their copiousness of constructed a number of stories than to have carillustration; and the carefully studied and pic-ried on one through all the articles of the creed, turesque monographs, ranging from Chrysostom and each of the Ten Commandments. The teachand St. Bernard down to Lacordaire and Robert-ing given is not always of the clearest or wisest son, are full of interest. Mr. Hood has done good kind, though one of the Nellies is made to find service to the tabernacle students, by taking them "how easy hard things might be made." A over so wide a field of pulpit literature; and miracle may be hard to explain, but it makes it more ancient colleges than Mr. Spurgeon's might no more intelligible to be told that it is "for engraft a similar course of studies in their theo-breaking laws which only God could make,” God logical curriculum to the great advantage of the the image of God the law-giver as also the lawChristian ministry. breaker is only an additional puzzle and not a help. Yet Mrs. Brock's attempt deserves a hearty recognition, and is sure to receive it from the multitude of young readers to whom her previous Echoes have made her known. Mr. Macdonald's way of preaching is through a story; but the story is so purely the creation of an artist, that the preaching is nearly out of place, and the story never seems constructed for it.t Life, indeed, as he sees it, is full of parables of God, and he only shows life with the parables glowing through it. He has never written a happier or more evenly beautiful book than the Annals of a Quiet Neighbourhood. A delicious sense of rest steals out of it upon the heart, and * Lamps, Pitchers and Trumpets. Lectures delivered to Students for the Ministry in the Vocation of the Preacher. By Edwin Paxton Hood, Minister of Queen Square Chapel, Brighton. London: Jackson,trative of the Church Catechism. Walford & Hodler, 1867. +Annals of a Quiet Neighbourhood. By George Macdonald, M.A. London: Strahan, 1867. At this gift-bringing season good healthy reading is peculiarly welcome, and The Diamond Rose will be a welcome Christmas flower for the young.t Various pleasant characters of a century back live again for us in this pleasant book; and, indeed, out of the fulness of her lore Miss Tytler reproduces, with wonderful vividness, the simple, old Sunday Echoes in Week-day Hours: a Tale illus By Mrs. Carey Brock. London: Seeley, Jackson & Halliday, 1867. The Diamond Rose. A Life of Love and Duty. By Sarah Tytler. London: Strahan, 1867. fashioned life of Edinburgh town fifty years before Jeffrey and Cockburn immortalized it. Waiting woman and tradesman's wife, her heroine, Euphanie, moves quietly through the page, and round her a little group of men and women worth knowing; and lessons of charity, and kindliness, and human sympathy strike in upon the heart. Meant to teach us the philosophy of those large charities, in Edinburgh called hospitals, the story wanders off into a less formal and more artistic purpose. If Lady Somerville's maidens dwelt under formal discipline, and " were drawn out in files to bed, to prayer, to study, and even to play," and if the question is put, "How do all generalisations of the kind result?" she can only answer, "In the weal of some, and the hurt of others; but inevitably in the gain of the honest heart which directs them and the honest heart which suffers them." And so at the end we only see Euphanie. "She holds in her hand her diamond rose, and sheds behind her the glittering leaves; but she bears away on her head, in an everlasting crown, the red and white roses of love human and love divine." Sermons from the Studio* are under some disadvantage, not springing out of the free desire but of the advice to write them. They needed no introduction, and some of them are charmingly written, notably The IVhite Rose of Deerham and the Roman Painter; but they are scarcely free from the restraint of a purpose too distinct, and that only becomes, and was not originally, the purpose of the writer. Mr. Aveling tells us "She is an artist herself as well as an authoress; and, while pursuing her studies in her former capacity, became painfully conscious that the service of art is too often entered upon and followed, not only with a disregard but with a hostility to revelation. She saw this was unnatural, that the two ought to be joined together in happy friendship." The sketches are full of vigour, as, for example, that of The Gipsy Girl, and even where the incidents are familiar, they are handled with great skill. It is an interesting and remark able book. The same purpose is manifest in a slight book, interesting, but with no pretension to artistic power. Men of fashion, wealth, statesmanship, literature, and the world, are singled out to show that, "in forsaking the fountain of living water, they found only a mirage, and grasped vanity and * Sermons from the Studio. By Marie Sibree, with an introduction by the Rev. T. W. Aveling. London: Jackson, Walford & Hodder, 1867. vexation of spirit."* It is a motley but significant group. Beau Brummel and William Beckford, Burke and Pitt, Haydon and Byron, Hook and Chesterfield, Scott and Napoleon; and the object is, in most cases, fairly and clearly shown. The paper, print, and illustrations by Tenniel constitute it a genuine Christmas book; and the same considerations in a still higher degree, and including the very pretty binding, apply to the new edition of Mr. Taylor's Memorials of the English Martyrs.† Passing from Lutterworth to Smithfield, from Smithfield to Carmarthen, from Carmarthen to Canterbury, each martyr is reverently followedJohn Wickliffe and John Beresford, Askew and Harper, Latimer and Ridley, and some more. The illustrations are well selected and admirable, and this handsome book will worthily perpetuate memories which England never more needed to cherish than at this hour. A popular edition of Man and the Gospel, may be simply mentioned as a public gain. Popular, the highest ends, Dr. Guthrie's popularity grows, by gifts that have been uniformly consecrated to rather than diminishes, by age; and the further the press spreads his impressive appeals, the more popular he must become, and the wider will be his influence. His preaching is full of arrest, and overflows with the sunshine of a very brave and kindly heart; a preaching that stirs up all the old and, perhaps, forgotten appeals that men have buried under hours of care and pleasure. In no especial book of doctrine will find a text for Drops from the Brook by the Way,§ those who have every day with brief comment, selected from devout writers as far back as Augustin, down to Bickersteth and Monod. BOOKS RECEIVED FOR REVIEW. Lives of Indian Officers, by J. W. Kaye (Stra han.) Memoirs of Thomas Archer, D.D., by the Rev. John Macfarlane (Nisbet.) Homeward: or the Rest that Remaineth, A Memoir, by Ellen lings: a Scotch Story, by Norman Macleod, D.D. Barlee (Seeley, Jackson, and Halliday.) The Star(Strahan.) Ithuriel's Spear, by W. Shepheard, M.A. (Nisbet.) Voices of the Prophets, by C. J. Vaughan, D.D. (Strahan.) The Family: its Du ties, Joys, and Sorrows, by Count V. de Gasparin (Jackson, Walford, and Hodder.) The Trus Sanctuary: its Priesthood and Ministers, by H Hurgill (Morgan and Chase.) Man's Renewal, by Austin Phelps (Strahan.) The Man of Sorrows | and his Relationships (Stock.) *The Mirage of Life. With Illustrations by Tenniel. C. B. Tayler, M.A. New and revised Edition. London: Memorials of the English Martyrs. By the Rev. Religious Tract Society. 1867. Man and the Gospel. By Thomas Guthrie, D.D. Popular edition. London: Strahan. 1867. § Drops from the Brook by the Way. London: Religious Tract Society. 1867. LONDON: R. BARRETT AND SONS, PRINTERS, MARK LANE. |