here, there were two government schools for teaching English. These have since been united, and moved to premises lately

1868.

It will be remembered that Mr. and Mrs. Hartwell returned to China last year, after a visit to the United States. For several reasons, he deferred writing his impressions in regard to changes during his absence, and present prospects in the field, for several months after reaching his former station. He now sends "impressions and thoughts, both favorable and unfavorable," and a few extracts will be presented here.

Increased Confidence The Women. "On reaching the city and meeting our neighbors, I was led to feel that a decided change for the better had occurred, during my absence, in the increased confidence which the people in the portion of the city near our mission residences feel in us missionaries, and in their friendly feelings towards us; and I think the experience of the four months now past has shown the impression to have been correct. It was very pleasant to see the cordial welcome expressed in many familiar countenances, and even in those of some persons whose recollection of us was more vivid than ours of them. Mrs. Hartwell soon commenced visiting neighboring women at their homes, to read to them from the Scriptures, and was agreeably surprised to find how ready they generally were to receive calls from her for that object. She has also received calls from many companies of women at our house, when she has improved the opportunities to read and explain the truth to them. The beneficial influence of the small dayschool for girls, which she had before returning to the United States, was also very evident, and she has begun a similar school with the present Chinese year. It may not be amiss to state, that in the immediate neighborhood of our houses, here in the city, the prospect of converts to the truth is more promising among the women than among the men.

Government Schools.

project started here over a year since, of building a number of gunboats after foreign model, under French engineers and ship-builders, and of instructing young men in English and French, so as to have them ready to take charge of the vessels at the end of five years, at an expense to the Chinese Government of 3,000,000 taels or ounces of silver, - must have some effect in awakening the minds of the people, and causing them to be more ready to receive truth from foreign sources than they have been hitherto. The scheme was opposed somewhat by the Foochow gentry, but they received word from the Peking authorities, that the order was sent here to be obeyed, and not for criticism. Already numerous buildings have been erected for the residence of the Frenchmen employed, for the accommodation of the French and English schools, and for the various workshops, etc., so that, where two years since were only cultivated fields, I now see and hear the evidence of busy activity every time I pass on my way to the Changloh out-station. Things seem to move, even in long stationary China.

"The Missionary work is also advancing. With wisdom and perseverance it seems possible now to open chapels at important points in all directions. The number of our preaching places has increased to fifteen, and we hope to open one or two more this year. Our greatest difficulty, at present, is to get good preachers in sufficient number to occupy them. I fear there is danger of our extending our ranks too far for efficient effort, unless we are reinforced soon."

ANNUAL REPORT.

loh, it is said:

:

"We have one chapel in Changloh city and another in its suburbs. During the year, two sub-stations have been established in the district, at the large villages of Kang-long and Mwihwa. The former of these, about ten miles from Changloh city, is the market-center of numerous outlying villages; the latter, with a population of about 10,000 souls, is situate on the sea-shore. The people are largely employed in fisheries, on the immediate coast and on the islands of Kwangtong. Soon after our occupation of the place, several of the people became interested in the truth, and five have been baptized during the year. These, with three received in Changloh city, make the present number in the district 17. There are also some inquirers at Mwihwa, and the work is promising."

Another out-station, Yungfuh, is thus mentioned: "This city lies far to the southwest of Nangsëü, on a tributary of the Min, and is distant from Foochow about forty miles. The important field, embraced in city and district, continues under Mr. Woodin's care. A church of 9 members was organized in April, and 5 more have been added, making 14 in all. Of these, two are women over fifty years of age. There are several inquirers who seem sincere, and a growing interest in the truth is manifested."

Two new churches were organized during the year, at the out-stations Langpwo and Yungfuh, and to the five churches 25 members were added, on profession of their faith. There are but two dayschools, and these embrace but 35 pupils. The training-school for helpers, under Mr. Woodin's superintendence, has 17 pupils, "besides two student helpers." Of the 17, 9 are church members. The girls' boarding-school, under Mrs. Baldwin's care, has now 20 pupils, and the report notices progress in the terms on which pupils are received since the school was started, "with but one pupil," in February, 1863, and states: "Thus it appears that progress can be made in one of our most difficult enterprises in China, - both in establishing a girls' school, and in the economy of

Appeal. The report closes with the following statements and appeal :·

"We have two stations with two boarding schools (of nearly 40 pupils) in successful operation, 9 out-stations, 15 chapels or other preaching places, five organized churches, with 87 living adult members. These are some of the visible results of the work. At important points we have helpers stationed, and in some cases with their families. Many of the church members are intelligent Christians, able and willing to stand up in defense of the truth. The books distributed often go far into the interior of the province, and are doing a silent work, whose fruits will appear in due time. Beyond our main city and suburban stations, we occupy exclusively, as a mission, a compact field extending, on the south of the Min, from the sea about one hundred miles into the interior, with a width varying from twenty to thirty-five miles. This region, intersected by ranges of hills, comprises many broad valleys with their hundreds of villages and tens of thousands of souls. The door to this inviting field of labor is set wide open. We go wherever we please, and find abundant opportunities to preach a crucified Saviour. We seem to be living in the dawn of a glorious spiritual revolution, soon perhaps to be successfully accomplished for Christ, in this empire. Matters, social and political, are destined to great changes, and even now China feels the mighty impulse borne in upon her from the Christian West. But

- most precious thought of all!- we believe that God, by his word and Spirit, more than by all social and commercial influences combined, is preparing the people

to receive his salvation. As we write, the joyous, hopeful note of busy preparation, on the part of our beloved Board and its numerous friends, reaches our ears. More, much more is to be done for China. More money, more prayers, and more missionaries are to go forth on the divine errand of saving these four hundred millions. We feel sure that God has lodged this purpose deep in the hearts of his people, and we are to be no longer disappointed in our hope of aid. May the precious love of Christ, the spring of all true effort for him, so penetrate the hearts of American Christians, that they will come joyfully, and come now, to the gigantic task of giving these starving millions the bread of life. In view of the wants of our field, we ask for three new missionaries physician. And as Miss Peet expects soon to remove to Amoy, we ask for a lady teacher for the girls' boarding-school, who can give all her time to that important department of the work."

66

one, a

- Southern Endla.

ANNUAL REPORT.

A VERY full report of the Madura mission, for 1867, has been received, of which not more than a brief abstract can be presented here. Three of the mission families felt obliged to leave during the year, for a visit to the United States. (Mrs. Rendall died on the way home, and Dr. Lord after he reached this country.) But two brethren, who had been away, returned to the field, with their wives, and the mission was reinforced by seven new laborers, Mr. and Mrs. Penfield, Mr. and Mrs. Hazen, and Misses Smith, Taylor, and Pollock. The health of most of the families was unusually good. There were on the ground, at the close of the year, 11 missionaries and 14 female assistant - missionaries. The field, "which contains 10,500 square miles and nearly 2,000,000 of inhabitants," embraces fourteen stations, respecting which it is said "Most of our stations are so large that, though certain portions of them may be well cultivated, it is the exception, rather

than the rule, that the gospel is preached once a year, in every village and hamlet. Even with our tents, and our new system of itinerating, it must be impossible for us, with our other work, without a considerable accession to our numbers, to go over the whole field, even in the superficial way of visiting every village and hamlet as often as once a year. Much less can we work the field as it should be worked."

The native helpers in the mission work are thus classed-7 pastors, 94 catechists, 28 readers, 6 teachers in seminary and boarding-school, 67 school-masters, and 27 school-mistresses; and it is said, "the quality of our native help is improving every year." "Systematic plans have been adopted, and efficiently carried out, for the intellectual and spiritual improvement of those in our employ."

There are 30 churches, with a total of 1,250 members. Of these, thirteen, with 550 members, are at the station centers, and usually under the special care of a missionary. Seventeen, with 700 members, are in the villages, and seven of these have native pastors. The additions to the churches, by profession, during the year, were 86. Respecting the Christian character of the church members, the report quotes, as admitting of general application, the remarks of one of the missionaries respecting his own people: "While it might be unjust to assert that the piety of our church members is feeble, and poor in quality (for they endure persecution well), we are yet constrained to say that there is in them little of that aggressive spirit which actuated the first disciples. Some of them have occasionally carried the gospel to surrounding heathen villages; but they are in general too easily discouraged, and satisfied with receiving rather than imparting. The church has borne the brunt of all the persecution which has arisen against the Protestant community, and the members have acquitted themselves in a way to give us cause of thankfulness." Individual cases are referred to in which members have been true witnesses for Christ, and bright examples of faith and piety.

The number of village congregations is 162, and there are 255 villages in which

Christians reside, and "175 places where religious services are held, with preach ing, once or twice every Sabbath." The net increase of members of the congregations during the year was only 21. Various causes -as the failure of crops, prevailing sickness, persecutions- have occasioned fluctuations, and in several cases a decrease in the number of members. The whole number connected with the congregations is now 6,294.

"The Itineracy has become a specific department" of mission labor. "Every missionary is expected to take his turn in the tent, for a longer or shorter period," with a corps of native helpers; and all who have been able to itinerate have "greatly enjoyed the work." At other times also, and in other ways, much labor is performed among the heathen, outside the congregations. Taking the mission as a body," it is said, "we spend about one third of our time in such evangelistic work. During the year, we have ourselves visited about 800 villages, some of them many times, and have traveled on missionary tours nearly 10,000 miles. Our catechists have visited half as many thousand villages as we have hundreds, and the gospel has been preached at least once to not less than 150,000 people."

The schools of the mission "are of six varieties." (1.) "The Seminary," for training up suitable helpers for the mission work, which has 54 pupils in the full course." 8 taking a partial course, and 4 in the catechist class. (2.) The "Madura Girls' Boarding School," with 56 pupils. (3.) "Station [boarding] schools," composed of boys and girls from the village congregations, to whom more education is given than they could obtain in their own villages. (4.) "Station day-schools for boys." (5.) "Station day schools for girls." (6.) "Village schools," usually in villages where there are "congregations." These are under nominally Christian teachers, but are, many of them, small, and less efficient than could be desired. "Some of the station day-schools are decidedly prosperous." In one, at Dindigul, there are 34 Brahmins among the pupils, and a number of Mohammedan boys, from very respectable families.

Four "station boarding-schools" were commenced in June, 1866, and it is reported: "Thus far these schools have given, to those in charge of them, great comfort and satisfaction. Mr. Washburn says of his school, It is full. The scholars are well taught, and are interested in their studies. The monthly examinations, and those at the close of the terms, by the missionary and his wife, show that the scholars have made excellent progress. . . . I see improvement in the conscientiousness, truthfulness, and good behavior of the children. I think they are learning Christian morality and duty more rapidly than at any former period of their lives." Of the station boarding-school for girls, at Mana Madura, it is said: "There can be no more hopeful field for labor than such a school, and it is Mrs. Capron's privilege to have strength and time to devote to it. Probably there is not a happier company, of the same size, in the Madura District, — interested in their studies, cheerful in doing their daily task of work, and entering into play with a good deal more than usual zest. It has been specially gratifying to observe the attention of the pupils to religious instruction."

"The Madura Girls' Boarding School," (now under the superintendence of Mrs. Chandler, aided by Miss Smith, who is expected soon to have the sole charge,) was commenced thirty years ago. More than 300 girls have enjoyed its privileges, many of whom have died in the faith, and many are now the wives, or the mothers, of the mission helpers. The report respecting this school states: "Its highest usefulness, I think, is only just begun. I believe it is hereafter to become a powerful instrumentality for good, in this city and in this whole District. A woman of the Gentoo caste, who was educated here several years ago, visits daily the house of a rich man of that caste, who holds office under government, to teach his wife and daughters to read. Mrs. Chandler has been invited to the house of this native lady. We trust this may be the beginning of more systematic work among the native women of the higher classes in the city. There seems to be, at the present time, a decided movement in favor of female edu

cation in Madura. A pleader in the Madura court, who was formerly a teacher in our Seminary, in an address before a large audience recently convened in our church, made a most earnest appeal to the educated women to engage in Christian effort for the heathen females of the higher classes. He remarked that the customs of society were such that none but they could do it; and that these females, surrounded by all the circumstances of wealth and position, must perish in their ignorance unless Christian women would take up the matter.

Medical Department. "The Dindigul dispensary has been opened 93 days during the year. There are always present, at the opening, not only the patients but also their friends, so that not less than 10,000 adults have listened to the gospel on these occasions. There have been 6,856 patients, of whom 4,351 were new cases, or those coming for the first time. This is 726 more than last year, and 11,966 since the dispensary was first established."

At the Madura dispensary, now in charge of Mr. H. Cheesman, native medical assistant, 2,640 patients were treated during the year. Contributions from "His • Excellency Lord Napier," from many English residents and native friends, to aid the dispensaries and other departments of mission work, are gratefully acknowledged.

Zulu Mission.

(South-Eastern Africa, near Port Natal.)
AMANZIMTOTE.

LETTER FROM MR. IRELAND, February 5, 1868.

MR. IRELAND, it will be remembered, has charge of the seminary at Amanzimtote, and a few passages from this letter, with reference to the school, and some other matters, are of interest.

The Seminary. "The last term of the school was on the whole the most satisfactory of any since its commencement. My assistant is proving himself very useful.... The utter destitution of even

tolerable school-teachers, makes this school a vital want of our mission, and my heart is continually burdened for the pupils, that they may become earnest and devoted Christians. I am glad to be able to report some signs of spiritual life among them. One of our best scholars (a lad of about sixteen, and a son of the principal native assistant here) came, the other day, to talk with me about his soul; and said that he had been for three months struggling with his heart, but that he was now resolved to be a Christian. I have had two interviews with him in my study, and he seems now quite in earnest. Three others in the school have at times manifested a similar determination. I trust we shall have the prayers of Christians. With the aid of God's spirit we might have a most interesting and refreshing work of grace, while without it, even the little we have seemed to gain we shall soon lose. Please hold up this school as an object of special prayer."

French Mission in Basuta Land. "Reference is made to a severe illness of Rev. F. Coillard, one of the French missionaries driven from their field in Basuta Land some time since, who has been rendering very acceptable service in the field of our mission, and Mr. Ireland states:

"He is now fast improving under the invigorating prospect of returning to their old mission field, in Basuta Land. In a letter I had from him last week he says, that through the interference of the French Emperor, the Duke of Buckingham, and other influential persons, the whole of the country embracing that mission field is to come at once under British protection. Sir Philip Woodhouse, the Governor of Cape Colony, and Her Majesty's High Commissioner, has received instructions to fix the boundary, and to take in all the old stations of that mission. How reassuring to God's people are such answers to prayer."

Ifumi Station. Respecting his former station, Ifumi, now without a missionary, Mr. Ireland writes: —

"We have two reliable men there, who are real pillars in that little church, and