THE JUVENILE REPORTER. 15 this year will be a happy one to you if you spend it well. Devote yourself to God, strive to be holy and useful, and the year will prove to you both "good" and "happy." The Reporter begs to call attention to the notices in another page from China and Corfu-especially the Editor's note about the Collecting Cards. He did intend himself to say a sharp word about them; but now he proposes to wait and see what another month will do. He is very glad to be able to say that the Rev. W. C. Mackenzie, a young minister, has been appointed a missionary to China, and will probably sail about the end of this month; and that Mr. Swanson is better, and hopes to be able to set out for China before very long. Here is a wee note the Reporter met with somewhere. He thinks there are a good many people who ought to read it : "MY DEAR REPORTER,-Be so kind as to speak a polite word for me to some of our friends, when you call upon them on New Year's Day. Some of them do not treat me well. When first I began my public services, of course I expected to be assisted and patronised by nearly all the good people in our church. But whether they have any sort of spite against me, or if it is merely, as is most likely, through carelessness, I don't know; but I very seldom get into a minister's house, or an elder's house, or a deacon's house. Many of them have children and young people to whom I would like to speak a word sometimes, but cannot. Why they should take in so many papers and magazines-even funny Punch sometimes-and shut me out, I do not know. Be so kind, therefore, as to inquire. I have some other requests to make, but must wait till next month-remaining your very sincere and obliged friend, THE JUVENILE MESSENGER. A WORD ABOUT COLLECTING CARDS. Ir is now time that something was being done with the Collecting Cards. We are glad to know that some are being used to good purpose, but there are others not taken out of the MESSENGER yet. Do try to begin the year well; get all you can for China, and return the card, with the money soon, to Mr. Matheson, the Treasurer. BOXES. SOME kind friends in Manchester have been at the trouble to get up very handsome Missionary Collecting Boxes, which they will be ready to supply to schools at a very small price-6d. each. They ought to be in every Sabbath school, to collect the "droppings." Pray send an order for some at once, with the money, addressed to Alexander Fraser, Esq., 8, Queen's Terrace, Withingham Road, Manchester, and the boxes will be forwarded in due course, DEPARTURE OF OUR MISSIONARIES. No doubt you will be glad to hear that our missionaries, Mr. Swanson, with Mrs. Swanson, and also Mr. Mackenzie, are now on their way to China. They sailed from London in the ship Challenger, on the 18th of January. Mr. Swanson, who, as you know, was detained all the summer in his native place through illness, is now quite well. He has left his native land full of zeal, and love, and faith, willing to spend and be spent for the sake of China and the gospel; and we sincerely trust he may be very long spared to make known the Saviour whom he loves to the poor Chinese. Once we expected he would have been in China long before this time, but perhaps he was kept at home for a good purpose. During the summer months, even when ill, he was working hard in Caithness. The Spirit of God was poured out upon the people there; men and women-young and old, in large numbers were uniting together at all hours-morning, noon, and midnight-weeping for their sins, and crying out for mercy. They were seeking salvation, but did not know how to get it. They wanted guides, and Mr. Swanson, though unwell, willingly became one. He laboured along with the minister of the place-sometimes alone-at all hours, and on all occasions striving to lead anxious souls to the Saviour. May the good seed thus sown in broken hearts bring forth fruit to the praise and glory of the Lord Almighty! The other missionary of our church, Mr. Mackenzie, was ordained by the Presbytery of London in Mr. Ballantyne's church, De Beauvoir Town, London, on the 16th of January. He is a very devoted servant of Christ, and has bidden farewell to home, and friends, and privi DEPARTURE OF OUR MISSIONARIES. 19. leges, that he may do some service for the Lord Jesus in a foreign land, and assist in teaching the Chinese the way to happiness and heaven. Do not forget him in your prayers. Now, as Mr. Swanson goes out as our missionary, he bears a very special relation to us, which we must ever keep in mind; and of course there are some plain duties devolving upon us, which, in all honesty, we must do our best to fulfil. First.-We must raise sufficient money every year for his support. He cannot live and pay his expenses in China on nothing. He goes out in our stead to make known the unsearchable riches of Christ; and surely the least we can do is to pay the expenses. The very lowest sum necessary for this is £250 a year. We cannot afford to pay his passage out-others will do that; but we must do the rest of it. If all our friends worked as well as some do, we would soon be able to support two missionaries instead of one; but we cannot expect that, for there are always drones in every hive, and will be, we fear, for a long time to come. As will be seen from the wrapper of this number, the cards are coming in, many of them well filled, and we hope others will quickly follow. "Paul Second.-We must offer special prayer for our missionary. Little good will be done without this. may plant, and Apollos water, but God giveth the increase." And he will give the increase, if we ask him. "Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance." Who could think of sending out a missionary without prayer? Oh, let us remember our dear friend often at a throne of grace; in the Sabbath-school, in the prayer-meeting, in our homes, let us think of him, and plead earnestly with God to preserve him during his |