hand. Beyond the shaggy hills at your feet, in every direction, numberless tanks glisten in the morning sun; and, during the monsoon, the whole country presents a varied scene of fertility and beauty.

The next morning the idols of the lower temple were brought to the upper in a vehicle adorned with flowers, accompanied by a procession with torches, and with shouts of "Govinda! Govinda !" The feasting and shouting continued the greater part of the night; and this brought the Droog parishe to a close as far as public demonstrations were con

cerned. We had unrestrained intercourse with the people during its continuance. We never appeared to be intruding, for when they saw us they always invited us to come and sit down amongst them. Day after day groups of men and women visited us, and sat down in the verandah of the house, and conversed freely on religious subjects. Our books were gladly bought. What the results will be "the day will declare." We returned home thankful to God for all his help given, but with a painful sense that idolatry is still strong in the Mysore country.

THE following letter from Dr. Elmslie will be read with interest. Having spent a second summer in Kashmir, with great comfort to himself, and with manifest tokens of success in his work as a medical missionary, he returned to the Punjab, in the expectation of wintering at Amritsar, and returning to Sirinagar in April. But instead of carrying out the former part of this arrangement, he has been directed by the Punjab Medical Missionary Society to proceed to Chamba for the winter months, with the view of keeping the door open there for a permanent successor. The letter is chiefly occupied in explaining the nature and importance of the position which Dr. Elmslie has thus been called to fill; and we publish it in the earnest hope and expectation that it may be the means of inducing some qualified agent to offer himself for a field of labour so honourable and so full of promise.

"Some time ago I had a very interesting letter from a friend, who gave me a minute account of your meeting for prayer last winter. It must have been a delightful season, and well calculated to stir up those who took part in it. Assuredly the Lord heard you, and will in his own good time and way answer your prayers, your prayers winged with faith in our Divine Redeemer. Already we are beginning to hear of some ripe fruit from Kashmir. The news I am sure will gladden you, as it has done me; for it must be most depressing thing for a medical missionary who employs his medical and surgical skill and knowledge for the express purpose of winning souls to Jesus to labour on from year to year, without his being able to say that his efforts have been, even in the very least degree, successful in

a

the attainment of this highest of all aims. One of the American missionaries who happened to be passing through Amritsar some days ago on his way to Lahore, told me that several months ago two Kashmiris, from the valley of Kashmir, had found their way to Loodiana, a city in the Punjab, and introduced themselves to him. The story they told was the following. They were both Mussulman priests. One of them, while in Kashmir, had heard the Gospel for the first time in his life at the Medical Mission Dispensary, Sirinagar, during the first season of the mission, and had been so impressed with what he then heard, that he felt an insatiable thirst for more knowledge respecting this new way of life. It being very unsafe in Kashmir, under existing circumstances, to be known as an enquirer after Christianity, this man resolved in his mind to quit his native valley and to go to the Punjab, where he knew for certain he would be safe. Before leaving Kashmir he prevailed on his companion to accompany him. The man who heard the Gospel in Kashmir, after receiving religious instruction from Mr. Rudolph, was baptized by him, and is now a zealous and consistent Christian. His companion also, who had left the valley with his friend for friendship's sake, is now being instructed in Divine things; and Mr. Rudolph intends to give him also baptism, after a short time. I feel very thankful to God for having already made the Medical Mission Dispensary the means, in the hand of his Holy Spirit, of leading two immortal souls to our most precious Saviour.

"By this time, doubtless, you have had under your consideration the new medical mission for

Chamba. All that I can say about the matter is that the opening seems to be the Lord's doing in an especial manner, and that his cause is likely to be very greatly promoted thereby. For some time past the native prince, who at present rules over the beautiful valley of Chamba, has been very favourably disposed towards Christianity. Mr. Fergusson, who was formerly a chaplain to a Scotch regiment, gave up the rank and emolument accruing from such a post, to become a humble missionary. He had his attention directed to the valley of Chamba, doubtless by the Spirit of God, and there he has been labouring for the past three or four years. God has blessed him with great success. No fewer than seventy souls have been rescued from heathenism, through Mr. Fergusson's instrumentality. The Raja has shown him great favour, and has allowed him great freedom of speech and operation. Chamba, as I have already said, is a Himalayan valley of great beauty. The climate, I am told by everybody who knows anything about the valley, is most delightful and salubrious; and the people, who are almost exclusively agricultural, are simple, affable, and very accessible. It is said by every one who is acquainted with the valley and its inhabitants, that with the blessing of God, a medical mission will be sure to prove most successful in Chamba. The condition of the valley, as to medical skill, is like that of all states similarly situated in other respects. There is no European doctor in the whole valley. This is in the favour of the medical mission. I don't know if you have heard, through the Church Mission, the events which have led to the present effort to establish a medical mission in the valley of Chamba. Some two or three months ago the favourite rani, or wife of the Raja, was safely delivered of a daughter. For some time she went on well; but by and by she became seriously ill, and at last died. Great blame was attached to the native nakim, who was in attendance. From that time to this his Highness, the Raja, has been very anxious to have the services of a European physician for his family. With this view he applied to Government; but, as the Government at present have the greatest difficulty in supplying their own necessities, they replied that they were unable at present to accede to the Raja's request, to send a European doctor to Chamba. He, i.e., the Rajah, had his attention drawn to the fact that a society for the establish

ment of medical missions existed in the Punjab, and that perhaps he might be able to get a man for Chamba through that Society. An application was made accordingly, the Raja offering £20 a month, a free house, a dispensary, an hospital, all the current expenses connected therewith to the Punjab Medical Missionary Society, to provide a man for Chamba. From all that I can learn about the new sphere, it appears to be a most inviting one. If you have a man at your command, I think you may safely send him to Chamba, with the certainty, so far as we can see, of being greatly blessed, both as a doctor and as a missionary. The Punjab Medical Missionary Society, considering the opening a very important one, have decided on my spending the winter months in Chamba, as it were to keep the door open and initiate the work. If you are able to send out a man in the course of this cold season, I shall, if spared, be able to give him some information about the valley, the Raja, and the inhabitants, on his arrival amongst us. The sort of man the society here would like, is a really Christian man, and a tolerably good surgeon.

"In all probability there will be another application sent to you very soon for another man for another sphere. A large mission conference is to be held next week, and the advisability and practicability of establishing a Medical Training Institution in Lahore, for the whole of the Punjab, will be considered. I have drawn up little paper on the subject; and, if the proposition be approved, I shall afford myself the pleasure of sending a copy of it to you for perusal.

"Doubtless you will have wondered why I have not said anything to you about our proceedings in Kashmir during the past season. The truth is, I purpose sending either to you or to Mr. Thompson a copy of the sketch I am at present drawing up. Desiring to be kindly remembered to all members of Committee whom I know personally, I remain, &c.,

"W. J. ELMSLIE. "To the Secretary of the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society." 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.

England.

NUMEROUS prayer meetings were held in all parts in the week of prayer-one, well attended by merchants, in the heart of the city of London. The subjects recommended by the Evangelical Alliance were generally adhered to on the several days.

The Annual Islington Clerical Meeting was held on January 15th. There were about 300 clergy present. The discussions were entirely of a doctrinal character, bearing chiefly on the ritualistic questions, as judged by the standards of the Church of England.

Dr. Manning has been recently preaching on the state of England. He expressed a strong hope that the day would soon come when she would be restored to unity with Christendom; and attributed prevalent infidelity to her divisions. "There was a time when this nation of England was linked to the one true Church, and when the glory and peace of that Church covered the land as the waters cover the sea. There was a time when every man in England belonged to the one fold, knelt before the same altar, and followed the one guide. There was a time when England knew no differences among her people, and when their obedience was claimed by only one church. But what was it that overcast the splendour of this nation? Why was England now in darkness? Why was she torn with schisms, and why were men not only disputing on points of doctrine, but disputing the inspiration of the Holy Book? What had brought England to such a state as this-what had dimmed her glory so much? Because she had departed from the divine authority, and thrown off allegiance to the holy Church of God-this was the cause. She had turned from the paths of her fathers-from the paths of her divine guides. She had pulled down God's altars-she had removed the symbols of his presence. There could be no rest until these wounds were healed -until these blemishes were smoothed awayuntil they all were brought to a true knowledge of peace before the altar of God-until the schisms were all cast out, and until they all rejoiced as

one flock and as one people in the kingdom of Jesus Christ. He trusted that day was comingthat it had nearly approached. It might be a vision, it might be an illusion; men might mock them, but surely if it were a want of wisdom, there was no want of charity in praying and labouring earnestly that a day might come when England would be re-united to Christendom."

From a return made up to the end of the year 1866, it appears (says the Leeds Mercury) that there are 3134 congregational churches in Great Britain, Ireland, and the colonies. This does not include 1065 out-stations. The mission churches in foreign lands are 249; the stations of the Home Missionary Society, 119; and its branches, 400. The number of pulpits vacant is 295. There are 16 theological colleges in active operation, including 4 in the colonies, with a total of 293 students. The preparatory institutions at Cotton End, Nottingham, Bristol, and Bedford are reported as having 98 inmates. During the year 58 ministers died, 125 were newly appointed, 177 exchanged, and 73 resigned, leaving the gross number of ministers (including the colonies), 2782; the lay preachers number 526, and the native teachers in foreign missions 700. The ministers who have left the Congregationalists at home and abroad are as follows:-To the Church of England, 3; to the Baptists, 4; to the Presbyterians, 3; to the Methodists, 3; total, 13. There are without pastoral charges, 447 ministers; tutors of colleges, 18; masters of public schools, 7.

Eighty new places of worship have been opened, and 37 foundation-stones laid; while 36 edifices have been improved and enlarged. Twenty-four new school-rooms have been opened, and 10 more commenced. Twenty-one chapel debts have been removed, and 13 new churches formed. The Bicentenary Memorial Hall subscription list (commemorative of the ejection of 2000 ministers in 1662) is going on favourably, £56,000, including the sum to be paid by the Metropolitan Extension Railway Company as compensation for the loss of the premises in Blomfield Street, London, out of the £70,000 required for the purchase of the site and building expenses, having been raised.

be consummated, much will depend on our immediately succeeding discussions; but if we do not find a way of extricating ourselves, of making our paths clear for entering into that union so long talked of, and so long projected, I for one will leave these negotiations, not only with a feeling of regret, I will leave them with a feeling of inward grief and sorrow, that in our time these Churches have not come up to the standard of their duty; that I, as a minister of one of them, and others, as ministers of my own or of the other Churches, are all chargeable with having had a great opportunity, in the Providence of God, of accomplishing a blessed union, and with having thrown it away through our own infirmity, and our own failing faith in the result. Delays are proverbially dangerous; and while delays are necessary, while delays in certain circumstances are our duty, while we would violate our duty if we were to urge things unduly forward, still let us bear in remembrance that if we adjourn this question, if we break off these negotiations, if we suspend them in the hope of beginning again at some indefinite period, how unlikely it is they will speedily be resumed, how great the danger will be of misunderstanding, of temporary alienation, deepening into confirmed mutual distrust and practical rivalry and opposition, so that over the length and breadth of Scotland and of England it will be said, 'Look at those Churches which have been brought into such close and friendly contact, that have been almost locked in mutual embraces, see them again become divided, estranged, and separated.' It will be a grief to all to whom the blessing of the unity of Christ's body, which is the Church, is dear and sacred, and a rejoicing to the common enemy. It will bring the language of taunt and of scorn from the worldling and the infidel--they will say, 'Behold how these Christians love another!"

A movement is on foot for the increase of the stipends of ministers of the Established Church. It is proposed to make every living not less than £200 a year. To attain such a minimum, the raising £25,000 annually would be sufficient. A large and influential meeting has been held to inaugurate the movement.

The Glasgow Wynds Mission has been one of the most successful of Home Mission efforts. Several congregations have hived off from the central one. At a recent anniversary of his church, the Rev. D. M'Coll mentioned that already they had sent out twenty-two Bible-women and fifteen lay missionaries, and that they had

trained, or were in process of training, seventeen nurses for hospital and household practiceindeed, about one-fifth of the nurses of the Glasgow Infirmary were those whom they had trained.

The Rev. Dr. Thomson has recently made a strong appeal in the United Presbyterian Presbytery of Edinburgh, on the subject of the want of sufficient candidates for the ministry, specially for the missionary field. The appeal has been published, and will, it is hoped, effect much good.

The Rev. John Anderson, a well known minister of the Free Church, at Helensburgh, in Dumbartonshire, died recently. He is known by two works, "The Ladies of the Reformation," and "The Ladies of the Covenant." He had long been in delicate health.

Ireland.

(From our own Correspondent.)

THE bulk of the money voted by Parliament for the education of the people seems steadily drifting into the hands of the Church of Rome. Whately foresaw clearly enough the changes that would come over the Roman Catholic population, if the National system were preserved in its integrity. The Roman Catholic prelates saw it also: but when it was too late to oppose the system openly. They then tried intrigue, and have succeeded. Their most formidable opponent is the Presbyterian Church; but, in spite of determined opposition, concession has followed concession to the Roman Catholic policy. Another vigorous stand is made now on the proposal of turning conventual and monastic establishments into training schools, endowed by the State. In the memorial presented by the Presbyterian Church it is conclusively shown that the statistics on which this singular change is to be founded are inconsistent with other statistics published by the Commissioners of Education, and that all they really prove is that the policy pursued has seriously damaged some of the existing model schools. It is also shown that the present machinery is sufficient if worked. The conclusion of the memorialists is, that if the change be effected, the destruction of the present system of education is inevitable, and people are already discussing the system that will take its place. It is worth notice that Professor Kavanagh openly claims the changes which have been made or proposed as concessions to the Roman Catholics, concessions made under pressure, and but instal