Though Dr. Scudder occasionally made long tours, he devoted his attention for many years chiefly to one preaching station, close to the principal market in Madras. Yet it is said, that so far as visible results are concerned, he left there" no traces of his labours."*

Some of the causes of the want of success have been noticed. The following remarks by Dr. Caldwell may be quoted in corroboration of the opinion expressed by the Bishop of Calcutta. (Page 103.)

"If the Hindus were usually or easily influenced by arguments addressed to the intellect, the large towns abounding with an intelligent population, would afford the most promising openings for missionary labour; but there are scarcely any people in the world so indifferent to truth in the abstract, so destitute of loyalty to conscience, so habituated to let their convictions and actions go in different directions, as the Hindus; whilst there are scarcely any who yield more readily to the wishes of superiors, the influence of friends, the example of those whom they are accustomed to follow. This is, no doubt, a weak point in their character; but it shows the importance of endeavouring to gain their confidence, and acquire influence over them, if we wish to do them any good. Now, in large towns, the personal influence of the foreign Missionary is as nothing compared with the force of public opinion and the influence of the heads of easte....

"In connexion with all societies that have stations in the cities and large towns, it has been found that the usual routine of preaching and distributing tracts to casual passers by in erowded thoroughfares, and at still more crowded festivals, and superintending small vernacular schools taught by native schoolmasters has been attended with very insignificant results; and apparently for this reason, that personal influence isthe influence of character, station, and neighbourhood-on which so much depends amongst Hindus, is in this system scarcely brought into action at all. This view is confirmed by the circumstances that in those schools and colleges of a superior order established in some of the great towns, in which the Missionaries themselves are the teachers, the influence they

* Proceedings of the Madras Mission, p. 4.

have acquired over the minds of their pupils has been attended with remarkable results."*

Every effort should therefore be made to become personally acquainted with any who are at all frequent listeners. Of course, the enmity of the carnal heart is everywhere the grand obstacle.

Still, preaching in towns is by no means labour in vain. Much knowledge of Christian truth is thus diffused; faith in Hinduism is being shaken, and the impression is spreading that the Gospel will ultimately triumph. After, it may be, a long course of preparation, the people will at last " fly as a cloud and as doves to their windows."

Present conversions, however, are greatly to be desired. They would be encouraging both to the Missionary and the Church at home. Souls would be saved. Above all, the progress of the work would be accelerated. The influence of converts is one of the most powerful means for spreading Christianity.

Zayats. This term is familiar to all acquainted with the Missions in Burmah. The following account of them is given on the memoir of Mrs. Sarah Judson :

"A Zayat is an open shed, used for some public purpose. Zayats are usually erected by the way side, at convenient distances, for affording a temporary shelter to travellers; and therefore they present favorable positions from which to disperse religious instruction. There are always several Zayats in the neighbourhood of a Kyoung, to which the devotees of Boodh resort to listen to their priests; and, in general, like the markets of old, they are suitable and popular places for the discussion of all matters of public interest. The Zayats owned by the Mission are occupied all day, either by a Missionary or Native assistant, who converses with those who will listen, and distributes books to those who will receive them; and though it has been found a wearisome duty, it has been productive of lasting results." Note vii.

* Tinnevelly Missions, pp. 58-60.

Judson spent much of his time in a Zayat. Occasionally for days he had not a single person to converse with. He then went on with translations. At other times he had numerous visitors. Before his death he was privileged to gather a Church of upwards of a hundred communicants, many of them the fruit of his Zayat labours.

Under different titles Zayats are equally common in India. Few attempts have been made in this country to imitate Judson's example, and these few do not seem to have been successful. A Zayat was tried in Calcutta ; but as it was not in the native part of the city, it is not surprising that it was a total failure. Mr. Lacroix attended the bazar chapel in the morning, sitting there for two or three hours, for the purpose of conversing with individuals, and hoping to find some inquirers. But Hindus who come individually to ask the simplest explanation from a Missionary or visit him in private, soon become marked men; and no one ventured.*

The plan seems deserving of a better trial than it has yet received. Probably the following system would answer best. Behind the large preaching verandah, mentioned in the preceding section, let a room be built, sufficiently large and airy as not to be injurious to health. Let the Missionary spend, as often as he can, a portion of each day there. His papers should be around him, that he may have work when there are no visitors. In order to attract people, books in demand should be sold on the premises by a native Christian. Some of the most intelligent and thoughtful among the lower classes would thus be drawn to the place, and an acquaintance might be formed with the Missionary. Less suspicion would be excited, as it was not simply a preaching station, and in an inner room vistiors would be less exposed to observation than in an open chapel.

* Memoirs, p. 164.

Р

In the way of direct visible results, the plan appears as hopeful as that of addressing a fluctuating crowd.

X. VISITING THE HEATHEN, ETC.

Advantages. Some of these are thus pointed out by Oxenden:

"We find the following passage in Weitbrecht's Memoir :A friend at Bath lately wrote to me, while you aim at great things for the Lord, yet keep in view the arithmetic of heaven's exalted joy.' There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.' We must not only cast our nets in hope of a great multitude of fishes, but put in a line and hook even for one.' We should often think of the pains our Lord and Master took with one single sinful woman at the well of Sychar....

A sermon, however forcible and striking, will often fail to arrest a soul, when a word spoken in private may have a most powerful effect. The person then feels that we are speaking directly to him. Thus oftentimes we reap richer and more plentiful fruits from our visits than from our public teaching." A Missionary in Calcutta bears the following testimony:

"Visiting from house to house in the mornings, with the view of conversing on Christian subjects, has been carried on as usual. I am happy to say that I have been more encouraged in this branch of my work among the Hindus, than in preaching to them in the streets. In these visits I have called on all classes of Hindus, and in all cases have met with a cordial reception." Calcutta Report of S. P. G. for 1863, p. xxvii.

A Missionary in Bombay writes :

"Preaching in shops and private houses has been, I am happy to say, carried on more steadily than before. The number of our hearers is comparatively small, but attentive and respectful. The great difference between street preaching, and

* Pastoral Office, pp. 175, 6.

this method is, that whereas by the former we get men who pass by on some business or other and are prompted to stop out of curiosity for a while, their minds of course being busy with different matters; by the latter we secure attention and quietness from those who are partly disengaged, and sit down to listen to us at their ease."-Report of C. M. S. for 1862, p. 36. The American Jaffna Mission make the following recommendation :

"Greatly encouraged by past experience, your Committee would urge upon the attention of each Missionary, Pastor, Catechist, the great advantage of frequent and personal visits to individuals for reading the Bible, for conversation and prayer.

"This is considered a most efficient mode of making known the Gospel. It fastens the nail in a sure place. Christian Schools, where the Bible is made the principal text-book, may do much to remove prejudice and superstition. The eye and soul of the Missionary in addressing assemblies and congregations, have done and may do much more to impress divine truth on the mind of this dark-hearted and deceitful people. But, personal and frequent application of the truth seems absolutely needed, in order to arrest the attention sufficiently to secure the object." Minutes, p. 30.

THE HIGHER CLASSES.

Neglect by Missionaries.-Many Missionaries act as if the Gospel was to be preached only to the poor. Compassion for the humble and despised is a glorious feature in Christianity. Still, the wealthy and noble ought not to be overlooked. In early times this was not the case. Of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few" believed. "A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” It is prophesied of the Church, "kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers.'

English Institutions are the chief means employed at present to reach the higher classes. As they are limited, however, to a few large cities, and affect directly only the young, visits should also be made to houses. The importance and practicability of this is shown in the