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any great loss of produce has yet been the result around Jessore; but the suffering of the people is very great, and there is no pasture for their cattle. Food is rapidly rising in price.

The mission boat was drawn up on the bank for repairs, and before the necessary planks could be replaced, the river suddenly rose and covered the boat to the windows. There was

no place on which she could have been farther drawn up, and so the water has gradually risen over her until she is now almost covered. In two or three months we hope to have her all right again. This mishap confines my labours for the present to the stations, where, however, our daily congregations are unusally large and attentive.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

The annual contributions from various churches and Sunday-schools have reached us; but few of the friends who so help in our efforts vouchsafe even a line to say for what purpose the money is sent, or to whom a letter of acknowledgment is to be addressed. Under such circumstances we cannot send the letters which our kind friends

probably expect of us. Such of them as write to me when sending money, will bear witness that they receive a prompt acknowledgment on its coming to hand. Will the others kindly consider that we long as much for home letters, as they do for foreign ones?

IN

A Church in a Sepoy Regiment.

N the MISSIONARY HERALD for March and April, 1865, we gave a very interesting account of the conversion and labours of Doss Anthravady. This excellent native brother was then acting as pastor of a native Church formed in one of the native regiments of the Indian army. During his recent visit to Pooree, the Rev. G. Kerry met with him, and it will gratify our readers to learn more of his history. Mr. Kerry says:

Since the beginning of this glorious and interesting work in the regiment one hundred and thirty-five persons, men and women, have been baptized. At the present time there are fifty-five resident members of the Church; the others are either dead or removed elsewhere. But Anthravady regards all who have been at any time united to his Church, wherever they may be living, as still forming part of his flock; and he keeps up as frequent correspondence with them as circumstances admit. Three of the former members of

the Church are now engaged in preaching the Gospel, as unpaid labourers in the vineyard of the Lord: one in Madras, where he has a Church of six members; and another at Coconada, with a Church of eighteen members; another brother preaches at Rangoon.

The brethren meet for worship twice on the Sabbath day in a small building within the regimental mess compound, the use of which, through the kindness of the officers, they are allowed to have. During the week two evening services are held in

the regimental lines at the houses of the members of the Church. One, on Tuesday evening, is a "sisters' prayer meeting." Only women are present. The female members of the Church take turns in conducting this meeting, and not only pray, but give exhortations to their sisters present. On Thursday evening, a general cottage prayer-meeting is held, which the brethren take their turn in presiding over. Every night, excepting Thursday, an inquirers' meeting is held:

many of the brethren attend to take part in it. Hindoos also come, as well as others every meeting ends with singing and prayer. Tracts and gospels are freely given to the inquirers, many of whom have been brought to final decision for Christ at these meetings. The Christian women have also shown much zeal in the work of the Lord; and by visiting their heathen neighbours have been the means of leading many to the Saviour.

THEIR CHURCH ORDER.

When one of the Sepoys is converted and baptized, he has in some cases to bear a little persecution from his comrades, who are for a time excited by the event. On one occasion, when a baptism had been appointed, and one of those to be baptized was a soldier of the regiment, some of the Sepoys having learnt the hour at which the baptism was to take place, seized him and locked him up in a room, until the time for his baptism had passed by. Meanwhile, the Church, filled with some anxiety for the safety of their brother, assembled for prayer on his behalf, and whilst thus employed, he walked into their midst unharmed; and the brethren remembered with joy and thankfulness the deliverance of the apostle Peter from imprisonment, and his appearance among his praying brethren and sisters

at Jerusalem, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. Every convert on being received into the Church is presented with a copy of the New Testament. On the evening of the day of every baptism, a "love-feast" is held, which is prolonged until one o'clock in the morning; the time being spent in singing and prayer, and mutual exhortations and the narration of Christian experience. On the last day of the year it is the custom to hold a "watch night," the services of which are prolonged until the first morning of the new year dawns. The purity of the Church is maintained by the exercise of careful and strict discipline according to the law of Christ; but, happily, hitherto, cases calling for severe discipline have been of very

rare occurrence,

SOCIAL INTERCOURSE.

The account which I have thus given of the origin and growth of this Church of Christ, I received direct from Anthravady himself, and wrote down at the time the main facts as he stated them to me. But my story is not yet ended, there yet remains a

little to be told of what I saw and heard. Anthravady sent a kind invitation to the missionaries at Cuttack and myself to dine with him, which we very gladly accepted, and did this the more readily because we were promised the pleasure of meeting with

his people afterwards. Our host provided for us a most excellent dinner in the English style. The company comprised four English missionaries, my two Bengali brethren who had accompanied me from Calcutta, one of the deacons of the mission church at Cuttack, and two brethren of the Church in the regiment. We had a truly pleasant season of social intercourse. Soon after eight o'clock in the evening, dinner being ended, the other friends who were expected, began to arrive. We retired to the verandah for a short time, while the large room in which we had dined was prepared for the congregation assembling. The large table was removed, mats were spread on the floor, chairs were placed for the guests, a little table at the end of the room, with Bible and hymn book, served as a pulpit, and all was ready. When we re-entered the room, as interesting and picturesque a congregation was present as I have ever looked upon. Botween forty and fifty men sat on the mats on one side of the room, whilst on the other side sat the women, numbering about twenty. All. had their hymn books; and soon a sacred song to a cheerful tune was sung-men, women and children joining in the singing with a heartiness and fervour which was refreshing to

see and hear. My one cause of regret was, I could not understand the Telugu language in which they sung. But there was no misunderstanding the spirit of it all, and with that I was glad to be in full and entire sympathy. They were praising the Divine Redeemer, ours and theirs. After singing, prayer was offered by the pastor, then followed another hymn which was sung in the same pleasing manner as before. Anthravady now requested me to speak briefly to his people in English, he being my interpreter. I could not refuse such a request. I therefore addressed to them a few words of loving recognition of my newly-met Christian brethren and sisters, and expressed the sincere and deep joy I felt in the exhibition which I witnessed among them of the grace of God, and my hope that with full purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord. My short address being ended, the Rev. Dr. Buckley followed in the same manner with words of affectionate appreciation of their work and life, encouraging them to continue diligence unto the end. There was then more singing, after which one of the sisters engaged in prayer. The meeting was then concluded with the benediction, pronounced by Anthravady.

REMARKS.

I look back upon this meeting with Anthravady and his little company of attached people with feelings of unmixed pleasure. The remembrance of it fills my heart with hope: it kindles a bright light in the midst of the darkness of despondency and doubt which too often overshadows and envelopes my mind, in relation to the advancement of Christ's kingdom in India; and I think I can see more plainly than

ever before, how God may be pleased to accomplish His gracious purpose toward the people of this land, and at the same time terminate many of the controversies and perplexing difficulties regarding methods of mission work which engage the anxious thoughts of many Christian men at the present day. Why may not other Churches of a similarly free and independent order spring up here and there

to witness for Christ and His gospel? Such Churches would rejoice in their freedom, and would be possessed of much more life, and spirit, and power, than belong to most of the Churches connected with the missionary societies which are too often feeble and stagnant. He who has raised up Anthra

vady to be His instrument for gathering a Church in a Sepoy regiment, can raise up ten thousand Anthravadies throughout India, until in every town and village in the land there shall be found some to hold forth the word of life. May the Lord do this in His own time!

THIS

The Gospel in Inagua.

HIS far distant island, with other islands of the Bahamas Group, has long been the scene of the labours of the Rev. W. Littlewood. He is now advancing in years; but his labours have been abundant, and he has been permitted to gather in much fruit into the "garner of the Lord." The Church in Inagua numbers 105 persons. In a recent commun'eation he writes as follows:

"We are not without tokens of Divine favour, and possibly it is our fault we don't enjoy a greater degree. We had calculated on a falling off of scholars in the Sabbath school, Mr. Darling and family having removed to Nassau at the time the church folk were making an extra effort to get the children into their school by canvassing, giving clothes, &c. A few only left, and some of them have since returned.

"The times here have been very trying, but little work and less money. Yet for all that, every article of food and clothing is enormously dear. Our station's income has consequently fallen off,

and the native pastors get but littlo from their people. Our congrega tions remain about the same. Wo had an interesting baptismal service a few weeks ago. Moro might have beon admitted, but caution is needful. We might do better had we more spiritual vitality. I confess that the thirty years of incessant toil in the tropics have tended somewhat to abate the ardour of youth, not that I delight less in my Master's service, but my physical ability is less equal to the strain. My poor wife is quite a martyr to neuralgic affection, but my own health was never better."

Rome and its Environs.

WE have received from the Rev. J. Wall the following interesting

records of his labours in and around this ancient seat of

Christianity, but so long the throne of superstition and impiety. Evory

Christian must rejoice that the power of the Pope is broken, and that evangelic truth finds free entrance into the very heart of the papal system.

"Tuesday, 15th August.-Started with two Roman brethren for Porto d'Anzio, a small city on the Mediterranean, about 25 miles from Albano. I desired to go to this city because many of the ex-soldiers of the Pope have taken up their residence there, and many visit it for the baths.

"The road by which we reached Porto d'Anzio gives an idea of the desolation which the papacy has brought on this province. We went about twenty miles without meeting a single person. The wheat is all gathered into the garner, and the countrymen were occupied in burning the stubble. Flames were rushing across whole fields, birds and animals were escaping from the fire, to be devoured by hawks and falcons hovering above, and when they saw a vic

tim plunging down through the smoke -a fearful picture of the time of tribulation.

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By the wayside we saw an occasional heap of stones with a cross upon it, showing the spot where some poor traveller fell under the stroke of the brigands, who infest the surrounding woods.

"About half way our mule was attacked by a swarm of insects, three or four times as large as the musquito and quite as bloodthirsty. In a short time the poor animal's neck was covered with spots of blood; the number of insects so increased, notwithstanding our efforts to disperse them, we feared the animal might be unable to continue. Shortly after we left the wood and the plague ceased.

DISTRIBUTION OF SCRIPTURES.

"Early the next morning, I began the distribution of the Scriptures in a town, Nettuno, about a mile from Porto d'Anzio. The people received willingly, but it was evident they knew no more of the Scriptures than the Ephesians did of the existence of the Holy Spirit (Act xix. 2). I walked outside the city heavy in heart, and praying to the Lord to show me what to do. Shortly after a man came down the road, to whom I offered a New Testament. He looked at it, and then received it with pleasure. He then told me how much he had wished to possess it, and how he hoped to read it to his fellowtownsmen. I found several interest ing cases on my return to Nettuno. Hoping to avoid the noise an d bustle

of a crowd at Porto d'Anzio, I went with a few copies from shop to shop. In a caffe I had an interesting conversation with two gentlemen who professed to receive the Word with joy; they came with me to the inn, and continued with me until I was about to leave. It was soon known that I gave gratis, and the crowd came together. I suspended the distribution and went to breakfast. While eating, I suppose fifty persons came to see me, some few of the well-to-do, some women, and some sailors. When I went out the remaining copies were distributed in a few minutes, and I promised to forward copies to such as would leave their names with a gentleman there who sympathizes fully

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