variety of nicknacks and curiosities,-little mummy figures from Egypt, chimney ornaments from England, a small globe, and these form grand attractions to my visitors, who are as delighted to see these things as a child is to see a raree show. Besides this, fame has carried abroad that I possess some magnetic fish and ducks, and a camera obscura, and other wonderful things from Europe; and I often find after a long conversation on other matters of a higher kind, that I have been favoured with the visit in consequence of my visitor's curiosity to see the wonderful things I possess. I, of course, gladly exhibit them, and so I hope I prepare the way for more confidence and kindly acquaintance with my native neighbours; besides conveying to them as full statements as I can of the way of salvation through Christ. With the younger part of my visitors I find that so simple a thing as a magnetic toy goes to shake their confidence in their heathen miracles, as exhibiting to them the existence of natural wonders greater than those which their people tell them regarding the gods. The fish and the duck that will come when they are called, and have the semblance of life, although they are manifestly only two toys, afford a ready comparison with the idols, which can neither stand nor walk, nor hear nor see, and yet are said to be alive." Memoirs, pp. 223-4. Evening parties, well conducted, have a very beneficial effect. The compiler has been present at some of a most interesting character at Dr. Wilson's house, Bombay. Hindus will not take even a cup of tea; but a small bouquet of flowers may be given to each on retiring. Whatever, good in itself, tends to break down the wall of separation between Europeans and Natives, should be encouraged. If any European gentleman of rank at the station is well-disposed, the Missionary should endeavour to induce him to have occasional meetings of the above character at his residence, to which respectable natives should be invited. Lectures-Much good may be done among educated Hindus by efforts of this nature. The Government Colleges will continue to attract the great bulk of the youths of wealth and position. Perhaps the chief mode "The very of reaching them is by means of lectures. word lecture," says the Rev. A. Burgess, Madras, "has peculiar attractions to the more advanced Hindu students, whilst the associations of a sermon would repel them." Lectures even on ordinary subjects, like those before the Bethune Society, Calcutta, have a healthy influence. Still more valuable are those addressed to educated Natives on religious inquiry. An admirable series of this nature was recently delivered in the Cathedral, Calcutta. Occasionally some of the lectures are printed. The Missionary should endeavour to obtain copies of them. Magic Lantern.-This has been successfully em-ployed to collect audiences. It is especially adapted to persons of a lower intellectual grade than those who can appreciate lectures, though it is attractive, more or less, to all. By a judicious selection of subjects, much knowledge of the highest value may be imparted in an interesting and impressive form. Tickets of admission may be distributed beforehand, to guard against crowding and the presence of a mob. Native Music.-This powerful instrument has been greatly neglected. There are scarcely a dozen European Missionaries in India who know any thing of, or seem to care anything about, native music. Several Missionaries of the American Board, however, have paid much attention to the subject. With our usual self-complacency, we think our music the best, and all our efforts are directed to teaching it to the natives. The success varies in different parts; in some cases fair progress is made, in others it is very different. After the lapse of twenty years, the compiler has a vivid recollection of the first singing he heard in a Native Christian congregation in Ceylon. In spite of the interest and solemnity of the occasion, it was with the utmost difficulty he could refrain from laughing outright at the ludicrous discord. The people of India are as fond of their national music as we are of ours. Though the young may be familiarised to English airs and enjoy them, it is different with the adults. Any music which they can appreciate must be their own. Poetical compositions set to well-known favourite native tunes, might be as useful in India as the hymns of Luther were in aiding to bring about the Reformation in Germany. The people will sit for hours while a religious teacher celebrates the praises of some god, with singing and instrumental music. The Ahmednuggur Missionaries have turned this to account. One or two of the Native Christians are good poets, and several can sing and play on musical instruments. Compositions have been written on several subjects, as True Humility, a Comparison between Christ and Krishna. The leader sings, while his companions join in the chorus. After a few verses are sung, an exposition of the song is given, and a few remarks are made, usually in the style of a recitative, the key of the previous tune being preserved. To prepare the way for the next subject, a suggestion is made, or a question asked, and then immediately follows the next song, in which the question is answered. The same Native Christians visited many parts of the neighbourhood, accompanying the singing with instrumental music. The people came in crowds. The Report thus notices the effect produced : "In two or three places the hearers were so interested that they demanded the singing should be continued the whole night, declaring that they did not wish for rest, so long as they could have such entertainment. The singing of these Christian songs has been the means of bringing the truth to the ears of many who would never before listen to the important declarations of the word of God, and in the case of some the tears running down their cheeks have testified to the deep interest of their hearts." The Report justly says, "It gave to some of us new ideas in respect to the use that may be made of the native music of this land." XI. INQUIRERS. Difficulties.-It has already been stated, that one of the sorest trials of the Missionary in India is from the worldly motives of persons who profess concern about religion. A quotation on the subject was given from a paper by Mr. Lacroix. The evil is worst perhaps in North India, where in some cases men, as in the middle ages, go from one Mission to another, where they are supported as inquirers and subsequently baptized. Generally they decamp after committing some theft or other criminal act. The Rev. H. W. Shackell refers to an itinerant preacher, who had been twice baptized, and had either poisoned or attempted to poison his wife. A Missionary informed the compiler that he himself had baptized the same man twice! So wide-spread is the idea that an inquirer secures employment, that a heathen, when spoken to on the subject of religion, has said, "I have a situation; why should I become a Christian?" The Rev. F. E. Schneider, of Agra, says : "In no previous year have I had so many inquirers as in-the past. In most cases, however, the motives for embracing Christianity were chiefly the desire to find employment and to have their bodily wants provided for, which was increased by the pressure of the famine. It is only in a few instances that the wants of the body have been the cause to lead souls to Christ, to embrace Him as the only Saviour from sin and its evil consequences. Experience has taught me not to be in a hurry in baptising inquirers, but to have them first properly instructed, and to inquire well after their motives; for it is a fact, that many new converts have, after * Report for 1862, pp. 14,15. + Missionary Notes and Queries for 1864, p. 37. their baptism, not adorned their Christian profession by a becoming walk and conversation; and so have even proved great offences and stumbling-blocks to the cause of Christ. There is also this idea becoming prevalent among converts, that when they are once baptized, the Padre, or the congregation, must also provide for them. I have almost come to the resolution not to baptize an enquirer till I know how he may be able to support himself in an honest way, for if his bodily wants cannot be supplied, he will only be a burden and disgrace to the Church."* Hough remarks: "Notwithstanding all that is said about the invincible prejudices of Hindus, a very small temporal advantage would induce many of them, even those of the highest caste, to embrace Christianity."+ Buyers observes :— "This circumstance (the British being the rulers of the country, and the supposed distributers of patronage and wealth) has, no doubt, led some of the more ignorant of the Natives to imagine, that, if they were to adopt the religiou of the English, they would likely obtain some situation or employment, that would more than recompense them for the loss of caste and former connexions. This is most frequently the case with persons who are in some way or other on bad terms with their relations."+ Mr. J. P. Raow may be considered the exponent of the ideas of many Native Christians in North India :— "If they (Missionaries) gave education to their inquirers, and ultimately to their converts and prepared them for such employment as the converts liked, and sent them into the world to support themselves, and to bear their own burdens, I think they would thereby fulfil both a moral and a religious obligation. For it is certainly incumbent upon Missionaries that they should thus provide for every one who embraces Christianity, and make him independent."§ * Church Missionary Report for 1861-2, p. 121. Letters, p. 243. § Punjab Conference Report, p. 217. |