tion is, with some aid from us, to erect a larger building as a church next year, and use the present one as a school-house.

"I had two meetings with them in regard to their efforts for the support of the gospel. After a full and free discussion of the subject, they cheerfully pledged themselves to furnish the preacher and his family with all the articles of food required. This will amount to at least one half of his salary. They are twenty families in number. I was very much pleased with the spirit they manifested, all of them freely acknowledging their duty to give according to their ability, and cheerfully pledging themselves to perform it. No particular urging seemed necessary.

The Women. "Mrs. Schneider mingled a great deal with the females, talking with them, teaching them to sing, and urging them to learn to read, and generally to attend to their spiritual interests. They became very much attached to her, and plead earnestly to have her prolong her stay among them; but the arrival of wintry weather prevented us from lingering.

The Armenians. “The indirect influence of the gospel on the Armenians has been quite marked. While the Sabbath was formerly grossly violated, very many of them now pay a strict external regard

to it. Many of them have read the Bible, or heard it read. Though they formerly had no school, they have one now, because the Protestants have one; and the teacher often expounds the Scriptures, and, according to his ability, gives the people exhortation. In these ways the light has very much spread among them, and many of them have become inclined to the truth.

Reflections. "Two things were deeply impressed on my mind by this visit. First, the certainty that a blessing will attend the divine word. It is several years since it was first introduced here, but though in the outset no marked results followed, now the seed sown has sprung up and borne precious fruit. Secondly, how wonderful are God's ways! These uncultivated, uncivilized, and unlettered mountaineers, into whose houses without a single window, and whose only inlet for light is the door and chimney-most cultivated people would not put their horses or cattle, receive the gospel; and by means of it bring forth the fruits of penitence and faith, and prepare for heavenly glory; while vast multitudes in America, in the midst of a highly cultivated and civilized state of society, and surrounded by all the refinements and comforts of a pure Christianity, remain in impenitence, and fail of eternal life."

HOME PROCEEDINGS.

THE NEW ENGLAND WOMEN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

President; Mrs. Albert Bowker, East Boston. Corresponding Secretaries; Mrs. Miron Winslow, 107 Boylston Street, Boston, and Mrs. David Coit Scudder, 9 Brookline Street, Boston. Treasurer; Mrs. Homer Bartlett, 25 Marlboro Street, Boston.

Tuis new Association has just been organized for the evangelization of heathen women. From the first article of its constitution we learn that "The object of the Society is, to engage the earnest, systematic coöperation of the women of New England with existing Foreign Mission

Boards, in sending out and supporting unmarried female missionaries, and teachers to heathen women."

The Association begins its work at the right time, in the right way, and under most favorable auspices. The time has come for enlarged efforts to give the gospel to women in heathen lands. The American Board sent ten single ladies into the field last year, and has now five more under appointment. It will press forward in this work as fast as the way opens and the means at its command will allow.

Its appropriations for this object last year were over $25,000. The aid of this new organization, in awakening among

the Christian women of the country a deeper interest in the spiritual welfare of their sex abroad, and in securing the necessary means for the support of female missionaries, will be very timely.

By coöperating with existing boards, the association will have the benefit of their past experience, and knowledge of the wants and circumstances of the different fields; of the peculiar qualifications and the outfit needed for each; of the best methods of sending out and locating new missionaries; and of what may be required for their comfort, and the most successful prosecution of their work. It will thus be spared all care of details, and most of the incidental expenses of an independent missionary organization, while it will enjoy all the advantages of direct and frequent communication with the female missionaries in the field. This association will devote itself specially to the work of diffusing missionary information, and of collecting funds for the support of those who represent it in the work of Christ abroad. For information, it will rely mainly on such fresh details of the work as ladies may be more free to write to their own sex at home, than for publication in missionary journals. By monthly meetings for prayer and receiving intelligence, it is hoped that a livelier sympathy may be created and maintained in our Christian homes for those who now sit in darkness and under the shadow of death.

The officers and managers of this association are ladies of well known devotion to the cause of missions. The correspond ing secretaries were formerly connected with the India missions of the American Board. Its foreign correspondence is already begun; and its collections for the first month were sufficient to enable it to assume the support of a missionary, soon to embark for South Africa, to take charge of a female boarding-school among the Zulus. The Society will gladly welcome the cooperation of Christian ladies in all parts of the country.

Of the value of the gospel to woman in heathen countries, in bringing her up from her ignorance, wretchedness, and degradation, nothing need be said. No cause can appeal more strongly to the Christian

sympathies of the women of this land; and none is more vitally connected with the progress and early triumph of the Redeemer's kingdom in the earth.

"THE TIMES ARE HARD."

THE receipts at seven places of theatrical amusement in the single city of Boston, for the year 1867, as reported for purposes of government taxation, were, in the aggregate, $818,283. The contributions from the State of Massachusetts to the American Board, for the work of foreign missions, during the last financial year of the Board, were $118,825. From all the New England States the donations amounted to about $195,779; less than one fourth as much as was paid in Boston alone for amusements of this one kind. The donations received from the whole United States, by the Board, were something less than $344,000; but little more than four tenths of the sum paid in Boston for theatrical entertainment. The aggregate receipts at like places of amusement in the city of New York, for the same year, exceeded 3,000,000 of dollars, in the two cities, New York and Boston, about $4,000,000; more than eleven times as much as the Board received from the contributions of the churches for the prosecution of its great work. "The times are "hard" when means are wanted to evangelize the world! Yet why will not even business men of the world consider, that to evangelize is to civilize, and enlighten, and enrich the world?

MISSIONS OF THE BOARD.

Greece. Dr. King, in letters from which extracts are given on pages 82-84, makes encouraging statements respecting the present condition and prospects of the Protestant cause at Athens, in connection with the labors of three educated, evangelical, Greek Protestants, two of them ordained ministers of the gospel. Writing again, December 30th, Dr. King mentions having been presented to the King and Queen, by whom he was received in a

very cordial manner. Of the Queen he says: "I was most agreeably disappointed in her appearance. She appeared not like a girl of sixteen, but like a young lady of eighteen or twenty, with a dignity suited to her situation, and at the same time with a graceful simplicity of man

ner."

Western Turkey. Mr. Tracy, of Marsovan (page 85), gives first impressions, not enthusiastic, but satisfactory; and "we," he says, "are satisfied," and "thank God

that we are here."

A letter from Mr. Smith, of the same station (page 87), makes very gratifying statements respecting the theological school and pupils, and the girls' boarding-school. Mr. Greene, of Broosa (page 84), notices the proposed union of the Broosa and Nicomedia stations; cheering progress in the native churches in the matter of selfsupport; the organization of the first evangelical Greek church in Turkey, at Demirdesh; and the recent "best conducted and most successful meeting" of the "Evangelical Union of Bithynia," by which the missionaries are much encouraged.

Central Turkey. Mr. Schneider (page 88) gives account of a pleasant visit to Hasan Beyli, in the mountains; the formation of a church there; and a marked moral change among the people of the village, formerly noted for their highway robberies and wickedness.

Eastern Turkey. Mr. Knapp, of the Bitlis station, now in the United States, furnishes the following extracts, and items of intelligence, from letters recently received from native laborers at Bitlis: "Pastor Simon, in a letter of September 11th, in view of the wants of our field, writes: 'Come, come quickly, dear friends. You have a very great work to accomplish in Bitlis. If you should bring with you four missionaries, and two lady teachers also, doubtless you will exclaim, even weeping, that the laborers in the harvest are few. Come, and bring with you the ardent and heartfelt prayers of faithful servants of God. Bring with you the prayers of strong young men. Bring with

you the counsel of experienced and good men, who have passed the greater portion of their lives in working in the vineyard of the Lord.' He writes that there are eleven young men awaiting our return, to enter our next training-class; that he bishop of the Armenians has opened a school in Bitlis for their females, in which they use our text-books; and they have purchased a great number of our Testaments, to be used as reading-books in their school!

"The native teacher of our female school writes us that she, and her largest scholars, go out as colporters and visit from house to house, and read the gospel to the women; and that they also meet with a warm reception from the Armenian females. The congregation has increased to about 150, and the work of the Lord is progressing finely."

Syria. Mr. Thomson wrote from Beirut December 2: "Mr. Mitchell [of Tripoli] has made an excursion into a part of his field, and was well received in places where the missionary formerly could not appear without danger. He seems greatly encouraged, and writes for a native preacher to conduct religious meetings in Tripoli and elsewhere, until he becomes sufficiently master of the language to do this himself. We send, this week, the best we have, and hope that the blessing of the Lord will go with him. He is a somewhat recent convert, but manifests an intense desire to preach the gospel to his country

men.

"The schools, the college, the press, and the preaching at Beirut, are all progressing as usual. Our congregations are large and solemn under the preaching of the Word, and additions to their number are frequent. There are also urgent calls for preaching, and for schools, from important villages on the mountains. But the grand deficiency in our mission presses us now harder than ever. We have no native preachers, nor do I see any immediate prospect of relief."

Dr. Post, of this mission, has felt constrained, by the state of his health, to ask a release from his connection with the Board; which the Prudential Committee

have granted with great reluctance. He will be connected with Syrian Protestant College, where it is hoped he may still be able to labor effectively for the good of the people.

66

Ceylon. Mr. Hastings sends a printed account of a meeting held at Batticotta, November 9, to consider the subject of education. It was composed mostly of native Christians, connected with the different Protestant missions in Jaffna District. It is hailed in the "Morning Star" as an indication that our educated men begin to appreciate, in some measure as they ought, the Christian education they have received, and are disposed to do something themselves to provide such an education for their children." The meeting resolved, that "there should be in the province an educational institution of an high order," and that, "to secure this end, effort be made to raise the sum of £5,000" ($25,000), to support four native teachers; appointed a large committee, from different places, to solicit subscriptions; and requested the missionaries of the American Board to act as trustees of the institution, with power to associate with them an equal number of native gentlemen. The resolutions also request the Board, through its mission, to supply a Principal for the institution.

--

Foochow. Mr. Hartwell and family, and Miss Peet, reached Foochow city on the 10th of October last. Respecting their passage out, by steamers, via San Francisco, Mr. Hartwell writes: "It is not possible to do away with all discomforts in crossing the sea; but in our experience during this trip, magnificent vessels, gentlemanly officers, good fare, and pleasant companies of passengers, have done much to diminish them, in comparison with our past experience in voyages around the Cape, in sailing vessels."

North China. Mr. Gulick wrote from Kalgan, August 10. After considerable waiting and looking about, "daily committing the need to the Lord," 66 one of the best places we could have chosen," he says, has been rented for Mr. Williams, his asso

ciate at the station. As soon as this matter was disposed of he made arrangements and visited Yu Jho, 100 miles south of Kalgan, accompanied by a Christian servant from Peking, and by Tsae Ching, a convert now employed as chapel keeper and exhorter, whose father and mother, residing at Yü Jho, were baptized by Mr. Blodget in the autumn of 1866. (Mr. Blodget spelled the name of the place Yu Cheu, and placed it 90 miles southwest of Kalgan.) They found these converts "holding on to their faith;" met with some others who seemed at least favorably inclined towards the truth, and with two or three "who appeared to manifest a sincere love for the gospel;" and spent a day or two, on their return, near "West River Çamp," with a farmer, a friend of Tsae, who had expressed a desire to know all the doctrines, and had urged them to visit him at his home and preach to the people of the village. He wished them to remain longer, but it was a very busy time with the farmers, and Mr. Gulick thought it would be better to go again, a few weeks later, taking Mrs. Gulick also, who might have access to the women, there and in other places. "What I have seen on this tour," he writes, "impressed upon my mind the importance of visiting often the same places, if we would reap fruit from our preaching tours."

Dr. Treat, who sailed for this field, via San Francisco, September 21st, reached Shanghai November 14th, after a very pleasant passage of fifty-four days from New York." He had "a most delightful interview," on the way, with missionaries at Yokohama, Japan; was "most cordially welcomed by brethren at Shanghai ;" and says, "my first impressions of missionary life are very pleasant indeed." He was expecting to leave Shanghai for Tientsin November 19th.

pany with four Chinese Mohammedans from Ransub, the northwest province of the empire. They reported that one third of the population in that region are Mohammedans. This may be a large estimate; yet they are very numerous throughout Ransuh, Shensi, Shansi, Honan, Shantung, and Chibli. We need for them the Bible in Arabic. They can read, that is, their teachers can, in that language. But for the appearance of Europeans on the coast of China, and the power they now have in the government, the Mohammedans might at some day have possessed the empire."... "Mr. Wilson, an agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, has just returned to Peking, after a long journey of more than two months for the sale of the Scriptures. He has met with good success, and a kind reception in every place, and reports that the people are calling for the living preacher to explain the Word.

West Africa. Mr. Bushnell wrote from Baraka, Gaboon, October 17: "Some months since I mentioned the arrival of a new French Commander at the Plateau, and expressed a favorable opinion of his qualifications for the responsible station. He still remains apparently friendly to us, or at least courteous; but we regret to learn that he is a zealous Ultramontane papist; who believes fully that the church is infallible, and that there is and can be no salvation out of her; and, consequently, that all Protestant teaching is ruinous to the souls of men. So, undoubtedly, he will be in full sympathy with the Jesuit bishop, priests, and Sisters of the Sacred Heart, who are located near us, under governmental patronage. Already efforts have been made in the direction of having one or more pupils, who have been for years under Mrs. Bushnell's care, transferred

from her school to that of the sisters. It is an easy matter to get a child or parent baptized, which, with a cross and other trinkets hung upon the neck, constitutes a sufficient papal claim. The present Admiral, who, like most French officials, has seemed to 'care for none of these things,' is soon to leave; and we are a little solicitous lest his successor may be an Ultramontanist."

Dakotas. A letter from Dr. Williamson, dated February 4, states that the Indians on the new reservation, "between Lac Traverse and Fort Wadsworth," have suffered severely for want of food, needed provisions not having reached them. He also states that the Lord is owning and blessing the labors of the native preacher, J. B. Renville. Within a short time he had baptized three young men and ten women.

OTHER MISSIONS.

South America. Mr. Blackford, of the Presbyterian Board, reports the addition of 4 persons to the church at Sao Paulo in September last. Three or four others expressed desire to unite with the church soon. In October, 6 were received at Brotas, and about 30 others stated their desire to be admitted at an early day. In a rude neighborhood, about thirty miles from Brotas, Rev. Mr. Pires, the missionary, was set upon by a mob, excited by a woman who told them he was "the man who was catching the people to make them Protestants." They ran after him, crying "Let us kill the devil"; but he was rescued by the bold interposition of a friendly woman, who risked her own life in his defense.

Japan. Dr. Hepburn, of the Presbyterian Board, writes: "It seems, by recent occurrences in Nagasaki, of which you were fully informed in a previous letter, that the Imperial edict against Christianity in this land is now almost a dead letter. The government have failed to enforce it against the persons there arrested. These people, some sixty in number, having