could tell you things apparently worse than these, but these are bad enough; and besides, men who do such things will do any thing that is bad. There is no doubt that this people need the gospel.”

GIFTS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.

THERE was an interesting episode during the closing meeting of the Board at Norwich, respecting which some who were present have desired to see an accurate statement. The Treasurer announced, that when he came to the opening meeting, he found a note on his desk containing $50, given by a lady, as an expression of “ gratitude for the liquidation of the debt of the

Board." He had since received various donations, among which was one of $50, from a lady of Norwich, who, in addition to entertaining several guests, wished thus to manifest her deep interest in the object

that had called them to her house.

A Mexican dollar had been sent in by a lady about to go to the Syria mission, as the gift of a humble member of the church with which she is connected. The dollar had been long retained, awaiting some occasion of special interest, which the donor now found in the consecration of this sister in Christ to missionary work in the East.

A gold chain had been received, with the following note: "Please accept the inclosed as a small token of regard from one who feels interested in the cause. I

have not much money to give. This chain was a present from my dear husband. He is now, I trust, singing the songs of redeeming love, and could he speak to me, I feel sure that he would say to me, Do all you can to advance the cause of Christ, however much of sacrifice it may cost you.""

Another offering consisted of a memorialpin, containing beautiful silvery hair, and a plain gold ring, both inclosed in a paper on which was printed :-

"Hark! what mean those lamentations,
Rolling sadly through the sky?
'Tis the voice of heathen nations!

Haste to help them, ere they die."

And on the margin was written, -"Two mites for our poor sisters in foreign lands.

It was all the jewelry she had. Do not ask for the name."

A ring (valued at $10) was also laid on the table, the gift of a lady, and received at the Missionary House some weeks previously, to help make up the deficiency. Also an English silver watch (valued at $100), sent by an honored missionary in China, who had no further use for it, as his donation to the Board, or for the outfit of some young missionary.

The Treasurer said that gifts like these always caused a thrill of pleasure, because of the tender and sacred associations connected with them, and because of the evidence they gave of heartfelt sympathy with the cause of the self-denying Master, and with the devoted men and women who are following in his footsteps. But they were not received with unalloyed pleasure; for it was generally impossible to dispose of them at what would be esteemed their value by the donors, or at their real worth. He hoped there would be no painful sacrifice in the case of those now pre

sented.

Hon. William E. Dodge stated that he was authorized to say, that $100 would be paid for all the articles mentioned, excepting the watch, with the understanding that they should be returned, if possible,

to the donors.*

E. B. Huntington, Esq. (whose sister's life in Syria as the wife of Dr. Eli Smith - will be long remembered) rose in the audience and said, that when the Mexican

dollar was referred to, he decided to offer Mr. Dodge said, $100 for that alone. "The gentleman relinquishes the dollar," and it was taken by Mr. Huntington.

Dr. Stearns announced that a gentleman on the platform, near him, would give $100 for the watch, on condition that it be given to the first new missionary to China who might need it.

Dr. Clark said he had received a threedollar gold coin, contributed by a freedman, who earned it while a slave, kept it buried in the ground during the war, and now gave it to the Lord. Dr. Wood presented a Japanese kobang, an oblong gold coin of about $10 value, which a

*The Treasurer would be happy to hear from the donors and carry out this condition.

lady, who found it in the pocket of her husband, after his decease, wished to give to the missionary cause. Fifty dollars were immediately offered for these two coins.

These transactions occupied but a few moments of time, and contributed not a little to the interest of the occasion. A feeling of tender sympathy with the donors pervaded the assembly, and it has been suggested, that it might be well sometimes, if not always, to announce donations of this nature in the Missionary Herald before the articles are disposed of, in the hope that they may be redeemed, or a sale at a sacrifice be avoided.

On the previous evening, a child's silver cup, the gift of a friend, and after the child's death sent by the mother as a donation to the cause of missions, as "she could do so little," was presented in the meeting, and purchased for $100, to be returned to the mother.

"I send herewith an order to my agent in Boston to pay you $130, as my donation to the funds of the Board. You will observe that the sum is thirty per cent. advance upon my donation of last year, according to the suggestion of Mr. Treat. I would be glad to do more if I could.

"The observations of the six years during which I have been connected with the American Board have in no respect weakened my confidence in its management; and I have no fears but that, in regard to whatever the Lord may enable me to place at its disposal, I shall be able to return to him his own with usury,' when he shall call me to give an account of my stewardship. I thank God that he permits me to devote my life to his service under the direction of this Board."

that there are churches in which no collections are made, where something might be done if the pastors, or other officers, would move in the matter.

"Please appropriate the inclosed sum [$20] for the use of the A. B. C. F. M. It is a poor teacher's contribution, for two years. No collection for the Board is taken up in the Congregational church to which she belongs, but she loves the cause and wishes a share in its work.

"A DAUGHTER OF NEW ENGLAND."

"I send you these few dollars [85] for the Foreign Missionary Society. They used to pass the plate at church, but do not now, nor do they call on me for my mite. I have been a member of this society for forty years. I am a stranger and poor, but I dare not withhold the Lord's share, for he has given me a thousand fold in this life, and blessed me with ten thousand unlooked for blessings."

"A LOVER OF JESUS."

"A Western New York Friend," and his wife, sent $10 with this note: "We have just buried our son, a young man of nineteen years. He first gave himself to the Lord, and then to the work of preparing himself to preach his Word. We cannot forbear to send you ten dollars ('extra,' beyond our regular subscription in October), to help spread this precious gospel, which alone enabled our dear boy to give up the cherished object of life, and which sustained him on a dying bed. Haste to help them, ere they die.""

In the Herald for October last there was acknowledged one donation from Georgia. The young clergyman who had been preaching to the church from which this donation came, and who is himself about to go to a foreign missionary field, makes the following statement respecting it: "Let me tell you some of the circumstances connected with the contribution recently sent to the American Board from the First Congregational Church of this city. It is a colored church, composed of those who were slaves until April, 1865. It was formed in June, 1867, with seven members. It has grown during the year of its existence to the number of 48. Nearly all the members are house servants and waiters in the hotels of Atlanta, and the majority of them are less than 21 years of age. They are very poor; indeed the total value of all their property can be but a few hundred dollars. Yet in the largeness of their hearts they gave $50.50 to the cause of Foreign Missions. Should northern Christians do half as well in proportion to their ability, the Board would not suffer for want of funds, and China would not stand waiting, in vain, for the gospel."

A GLORIOUS CHANGE.

INCESSANT war, merciless cruelty, infanticide, indescribable vice, in many places cannibalism, made the strong races, in the South Sea Islands, a ceaseless terror to each other and to the world outside them. In all but Western Polynesia the gospel has swept this heathenism away. The four great societies which have sent their brethren forth as messengers of mercy, have gathered into Christ's fold 300,000 people, of whom 50,000 are members of the church. They have together expended on the process less than £1,200,000; a sum which, now-a-days, will only make a London railway, or furnish the navy with six iron-clads. Yet how wonderful the fruit

of their toil! "The wolf dwells with the lamb, the leopard lies down with the kid.” -Missionary Chronicle.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL.

Our Life in China; by HELEN S. C. NEVIUS. New York: Robert Carter and Brothers. 1869.

THE present interest in that portion of the world, gives special value to this work. It is a pleasing record of the daily life and experience of the wife of a devoted missionary, and especially of her efforts to reach the women of China. Mr. and Mrs. Nevius went out in 1853, under the care of the Presbyterian Board. They resided for a time at Ningpo; then at Hungchow, one hundred and thirty miles to the northwest, and later at Tung-chow, of the Shantung province in the north. They have thus had very favorable opportunities of observing the character and habits of the people, while the results of their labors were such as greatly to encourage hope for the redemption of China.

Both at Tung-chow and Ningpo, Mrs. Nevius employed native Christian women to aid her in efforts to reach their sex. Alluding to this she says, "The experiment has been tried by various missionary ladies, who have 'Bible-women,' as they are sometimes called, under their superintendence; and has been found to succeed well. I know of no other way in which Chinese women, in the seclusion of their homes, can be reached. Either foreign or native women must go to them with the 'good news' of salvation, or the great majority can never hear it." p. 484.

"No closed zenanas' prevent our reaching those whom we long to instruct. The females are secluded, to be sure, but patient, judicious effort will usually gain access even to the homes of the rich and powerful; while thousands of humble dwellings welcome our presence; and I am convinced that encouragements will not be wanting in the future, as certainly they have not been in the past, to reward every faithful worker in this humble sphere of Christian effort." pp. 122, 123.

HOME PROCEEDINGS.

Appropriations. Important statements respecting the appropriations of the Board for the coming year, will be found at page 398 of this number of the Herald.

Woman's Board of Missions. The Treasurer acknowledges the receipt of $251 during the last month. Particulars will be given in the next number of the Herald.

"Woman's Board of Missions for the Interior." The Advance, of November 5, states: "On Tuesday October 27, a large company of ladies gathered in the lectureroom of the Second Presbyterian Church of this city [Chicago], to consider the matter of forming a Woman's Board of Missions. Representatives were present from different States of the interior, and the large number of letters, more than fifty, received from those who could not come, was suggestive of the earnest and widespread sympathy that is felt in the movement; a fact especially gratifying on account of the very short time which had elapsed since the meeting was proposed. "Rev. Dr. Clark, Secretary of the A. B. C. F. M. was present, and spoke of woman's work among heathen women. . . . .. After his address a society was formed, to be called the Woman's Board of Missions for the Interior,' which is to carry on its operations through the A. B. C. F. M. Vice-Presidents and Managers have been chosen from many of the States of the Interior, but as the list of officers is as yet incomplete, its publication is deferred."

MISSIONS OF THE BOARD.

Gaboon. For some time past letters from the Gaboon have not been encour aging in regard to hopeful conversions among the people, or the character and influence of those who had united with the church. A letter now received from Mr. Walker, dated August 21, refers to the excommunication of several members within

"about two years," states that on the 26th of July last "seventeen more were pub licly cut off as dead branches," and adds, "there was no question about the propriety of such action in a single case.”

This must leave the number of natives in present communion with the church very small, and indicates how sore have been the disappointments, and the "perils among false brethren," of the missionaries in that field; and how urgent are the reasons for remembering them in prayer. Mr. Walker refers to the fact that they have been sadly deceived by native professions, and states: "Mr. Preston was present at the examination and admission of all these persons, and has often remarked, in reviewing their cases, that if others should now apply, giving the same evidence of fitness that these exhibited at the time, he could not refuse them. So it has seemed to me; and we are not without hope that some of them may yet return, and that others may be brought into the fold." "This work must not die.”

Central Turkey. Mr. Perry wrote from "Aintab, September 10th: "Good news from all parts of the Aintab field come in upon us almost like a flood. At Birejik the old difficulties are all settled, and the whole church has subscribed to the payment of tithes. They seem happy indeed in this new state of things. At Jibbin, the little community are building a house of worship. With only a little help from us, they having raised 1,000 piasters for the work. Both Mussulmans and Armenians come to listen and worship in our congregations, and send their children to our schools. At Ehnesh, an Armenian village formerly occupied, but for some reason abandoned, they are blaming us for withdrawing the teacher, and actually begging for another. We hope to send a man there immediately. In the First Church at Aintab, also, -the oldest and most sluggish of all the churches, the poorer part of the members are making decisive progress. Forty men from this church have recently signed the tithe-list, and are looking about for a man to send forth to preach the

gospel in the places beyond. Thus Mr. Schneider's own pupils are coming forth and actually entering into his labors. In all the movements of advance, not I, they are the agents. Remember us, that when the work prospers as well as when it languishes, we may be continually supported by the divine blessing."

Eastern Turkey. Statements of much interest respecting the persecution at Mardin will be found at pages 401-403. As these fearful outrages were enacted under the direction, or influence, of a Papal Patriarch, they serve to show what is still the spirit of the Romish church where it is unrestrained.

Mr. Parmelee and family, Messrs. Pierce and Cole, with their wives, and Miss Van Duzee, who left New York August 15, arrived at Erzroom September 30, after a "rapid and prosperous journey" of only 47 days.

Nestorians. A marked instance of energy and perseverance in a native helper, striving to secure a chapel, is noticed in a letter from Mr. Perkins, page 404.

Mahrattas. Letters from Mr. Bruce and Mr. Wood (pages 406, 407) forcibly present the need of reinforcement in the Mahratta mission.

Madura. Mr. Noyes's letter (page 408), presenting the details of a case which he had just witnessed, indicates that the old practice of hook-swinging, in honor of idol gods, is reviving again in the Madura District of India.

Dakotas. Statements respecting various settlements of Dakotas, the Pilgrim Church, a missionary tour, the organization of several churches, the licensing of native preachers and the ordination of one, and the usefulness of such native agency, may be seen at pages 399-401.

OTHER MISSIONS.

China. The Church Missionary Intelligencer gives a report of a recent visit of

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the Bishop of Victoria to the Foochow mission of the Church of England, which was very encouraging. The Bishop "held an ordination" at Foochow, and a confirmation," at which 18 men 10 women and 5 youths were confirmed. He also visited several out-stations, at one of which he confirmed 4 men and 5 women, at another 5 men, and at another 26 men, 9 women, and 1 youth. "The entire number confirmed during this visit of the Bishop was 90," in Mr. Wolfe's district. In another mission district also (Mr. Cribbs), there were confirmations (at one place 11), and baptisms of adults. The Bishop seems to have been greatly pleased with what he saw of the mission work, and Mr. Wolfe writes respecting his visit: "Though the bishop has visited our mission, and seen our principal stations, he has not seen half the extent of our work in the country, inasmuch as we have stations over one hundred miles beyond the furthest point which he visited in the northeast district, and ninety miles beyond the farthest point which he visited in the western district. On the whole, however, we hope he has taken away with him a tolerably correct idea of our work, and a sense of the necessity of more help from home."

India. The Macedonian for September furnishes the following extracts from Mr. Clough, of the Teloogoo missionBaptist Union: "Hardly a day passes that inquirers do not come to the mission-house, and frequently half a dozen or more at a time. The call also comes almost every week for me to go out into the villages." "The Lord's work is still moving on. The first Sabbath in May I baptized six, and yesterday, seven,-making 16 in all whom I have baptized since coming from Nellore."

The Missionary Advocate gives an extract from a letter from a missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Board, at Moradabad, which, after alluding to some other trials, states: "One of our missionaries has been mobbed in a native village — the first instance of the kind in the history of the mission. He had accompanied a native helper to a public well, that he might act as witness in case anv one prevented the