value it for their women, as well as for their men, and, he added, shall we not give them a CHRISTIAN education? We know not how long we may be permitted to guide the destinies of the vast empire committed to our trust for a season, but while we have the power, a great responsibility is ours. Let us plant in India a knowledge which alone can endure.' He then referred to the marvellous way in which India was given us. 'Without any expense of treasure of our own-without raising vast armies in England, or imposing burdens upon us here this great empire has, as it were, been delivered into our hands, a solemn and wonderful thought, reminding us of the way in which Gideon with his 300 men overthrew the Midianites of old. The Lord set every man against his fellow, and India has been conquered to us by her own sons-not, surely, to gratify us, but to use our influence in elevating and enlightening the vast myriads of her people. This, and other agencies working in kindred lines, are using, as God enables us, the opportunity thus given. Our hearts yearn over the sisters of our race, and we long to see the women of Great Britain go forward and deliver them. The same Divine strength which was given to the Apostles and early Church is promised to us. Jesus, our great High Priest, has passed into the heavens, and by the power of His Spirit great victories will be won for Him in India.' The first Resolution, adopting the Report and appointing the Committee, was moved by the Bishop of Travancore and Cochin, in whose diocese three of our stations are situated. The Bishop reiterated the Chairman's words of thanksgiving for the great work the Society is doing, both at home, by awakening increased interest in India, and abroad, by the efforts of its missionaries among India's women. 'Who amongst us,' he added, 'can measure woman's influence? And when it is rightly exercised, how bright and blessed its results!' St. Paul in his salutations mentions eleven women, and among them 'Mary, who bestowed much labour on us,' 'the beloved Persis, who laboured much in the Lord,' Phoebe and Priscilla, ready to lay down their lives for the apostle's sake, the wife of Philemon, etc. has it ever been, and so is it at the present moment—a most encouraging fact in reference to this Society, and to the work both of clergymen at home and missionaries in India. So The Bishop had experienced this on a visitation to the native clergy, when he addressed special gatherings of the Christian women, on their duties and privileges, in numerous and happy assemblies. Many of these women at once responded to his suggestions, and began to work as they had never done before. He had already formed an Association for young men ; a similar one for women of all ages would byand-by follow; and he hoped to see the native church rising to its privileges. On looking at the population in which India abounds, we do not find the sympathy of the higher classes with us, but adverse to us, yea, even hostile ; and this can be traced to woman's influence on the wrong side. A high native official, 'who loveth our nation,' said to the missionaries, after attending some lectures, 'When I am with you I am free; but as soon as I enter my own portals, I am not my own. Mother, wife, daughter, all against me.' 'During many years of labour as a missionary,' said the Bishop, I never remember speaking to a high-caste woman. I have seen them in the distance passing by thousands on pilgrimage, or with their children, in gaudy Oriental costume, going on visits to friends, but I dared not approach them. Thus the need of female missionaries. Most thankful am I that your Society has commenced work in my diocese to reach those I am unable to touch.' He then went on to allude to Miss Blandford, who resides at Trevandrum, the capital city of Travancore, where she is a centre of blessing. She has not only influence in her schools, but in the palace of the reigning sovereign, where she teaches their own language, English, and different kinds of work, to royal ladies, who listen to the Christian instruction she faithfully gives, and not without effect, though no actual baptism has occurred. 'If,' he added, any hearts here are drawn out to plead for special objects, may I put in a plea for the work going on in the palace of Trevandrum, that the Holy Spirit may be poured out there, that idolatry may cease, and the descendants of that royal family may by-and-by ascend that throne as Christian sovereigns.' The Bishop referred to a visit paid to a school in 1876, where his presence was regarded as pollution; but just before leaving he met with a different reception. Lady missionaries had been at work, and the girls had been taught to regard him as a father. Thus the prejudices of caste are disappearing ; but we want more than this, for our great object is to bring these children to Christ. The Misses Coleman of Trichur, who are at work in the north of the diocese, have a suitable dwelling and a most interesting school among high-caste natives, where in October last there were 146 pupils. Nearly the whole of a most happy day was spent in inspection and examination of these Brahmin girls, who had decorated the room with flowers and themselves with jewellery. The mothers had been to peep at the sight, but had hid themselves before the Bishop's arrival. Two former pupils, now married, were present in modest apparel. Their behaviour was very becoming, and, when invited to share the sweetmeats provided, they declined with delicacy, being no longer pupils; but they showed deep interest, and encourage us to look forward to the day when some of these high-caste girls shall be witnesses to the triumphs of Jesus' grace. The Bishop's warmly expressed personal interest was most cheering, and his appeals for more ladies and more work were earnest and reiterated. The Resolution was seconded by the Rev. T. P. Hughes of Peshawur, who, in a lively and felicitous address, touched the best sympathies of the Meeting at several points. 'If,' said he, 'your Committee work in other places on the same lines as at Peshawur, I would invite them to do as much as they like, even though I knew not who the Committee might be.' He had noticed a general impression abroad that England is very bad; and there is doubtless much sin here, but counteracting agencies in abundance, and he sometimes thought there was a superfluity of effort in the Church at home which might be shared with India, where it was still more in request. Some women here seem to have too much leisure, yet attempt nothing; some teach in Sunday-schools, but might do more. If wealthy ladies of leisure could see, as he had seen, Zenana missionary ladies at work, they would be impelled to offer their services either to go themselves, or help to send others. He referred to Miss Norman and other ladies, as undertaking work only possible to be done by female agents, and especially to those who had the courage and devotion which enabled them to take up their abode so low that such an appeal as this shall fall powerless? Impossible! He believed in this Society, and many, he felt convinced, would have allied themselves to it had they been invited; for surely there must be among us devout-spirited, earnest, pious, noble women, who only wait to be called. This Society has among its workers some native ladies of whom it is impossible to speak too highly. Such is Mrs. Imam Shah, who, in active work and in Christian fortitude under trial and bereavement, magnifies the grace which God has given her. in the midst of the people. Miss Hewlett, at Amritsar, made him quite at home when he visited her, and he found her living right in the heart of the native city. He referred to the activity of the Church of Rome, who have free and beautiful schools, superintended and sustained by ladies of large means, who far outstrip us in their zeal. A little orphan was brought to him by a soldier, who said, 'If you will find a home for this little one, I will gladly give it up.' No home was available, and it was given to the Roman Catholics. Will no Protestant ladies take this to heart, and make similar sacrifices to those Roman Catholic ladies? If so, he would not have referred to this sad case in vain. Has Protestantism in England sunk The second Resolution was moved by the Rev. W. R. Blackett, M.A., Principal of the Cathedral Divinity School, Calcutta. Mr. Blackett's speech was interesting and important. In Mr. Parker's absence, he very kindly acted as our Hon. Corresponding Secretary in Calcutta. Others had special opportunities of becoming acquainted with our North India Missions while his seat on the Education Commission entitled him to speak with authority on the general subject. 'Go on,' he added, 'in your great work of subduing heathen prejudice and bringing India's women into captivity to the obedience of Christ.' 'That this Society resolves, by the grace of God, to press in by the open doors which are on all sides set before it in its work; with earnest and believing prayer that fresh labourers may be consecrated by the Holy Ghost for this holy service, and wealth freely dedicated to the Master's kingdom in the diffusion of His glorious Gospel among the female populations of the East.' He said India is a land of open doors for women, but not for men. The whole country presented open doors of opportunity for their lady missionaries. He was but a man, and thus was excluded from the sight of a Zenana, or the interior of a Hindu home; but he was not devoid of means of gaining information, for he could see those, and hear the details both of sorrow and joy, from those who, as women, were privileged to see and speak with India's women. He alluded to the sad case of a woman desiring baptism, whose own little girl of nine years was taught to revile and curse her mother, whose purpose was defeated by over whelming opposition, and who was heard of no more; but reports were rife of cruel treatment in the recesses of the Zenana. He spoke of the influence of Miss Good's schools, which he had examined with great satisfaction. He was specially careful to ascertain whether the assistants were good, and he had proof that they were. They could repeat Bible stories in Bengali with a power of expression which struck him much. Of our Normal Schools, where young women of the country, and purely native women also, are trained, he spoke most highly, both as to their importance and their efficiency. The influence of these trained teachers would, by God's blessing, be productive of great results. Being on the ViceRegal Council of Education in India, he could speak, from personal observation, of the splendid results achieved by the agents of the Zenana Missionary Societies. Alas! out of the hundred and more millions to be taught, only 126,000 attended schools. He saw before him 400 or 500 people; suppose only one person in that assembly could read and write, what a state of darkness would that imply! The proportion in India was even less. About 200,000 at least ought to be in school; but there are no schools for them, and no teachers to instruct them. A training-class in connection with Jabalpur was spoken of. This was a hopeful sign; but it is to the ladies of England we must look to go forth to the aid of their less favoured sisters, whose condition is a reiterated cry for help. 9332 women were under Zenana instruction, and though the difficulties still to be overcome were terrible, by the grace of God these would be overcome, and the vast empire of India would become subject to the rule of our Divine Redeemer.' It was hoped that the Rev. Canon Tristram would have taken part in the proceedings, but indisposition prevented him from doing so. The Rev. D. T. Barry, therefore, formally seconded the Resolution. Our venerable and beloved friend, Sir William Hill, in thanking the chairman for presiding, offered a few concluding remarks :— No one could leave that meeting unimpressed. The utterances had been most clear, the testimony to the deep importance of the Society's work by eye-witnesses so conclusive, that they would commend our object to every mind. It was a movement for the honour of Christ. The great work of bringing the vast empire of India to the knowledge and love of God was open to them, and he trusted those present would resolve to accord their aid to our efforts. He wished to express, on behalf of the meeting, their gratitude to Sir John Kennaway for the kindness he had shown, and the interest he had expressed, and trusted that this interest might grow, and our cause be advanced through his influence. Sir John's thanks, and an earnest prayer for success in the coming year, terminated the best meeting, in every sense of the word, the Church of England Zenana Society has ever yet held, and for which the Committee and all their friends desire humbly and fervently to thank God. 'Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory.' The Rev. R. H. Maddox, Vicar of Kirkheaton, closed the meeting with prayer. On the evening of the same day more than fifty of our Association Secretaries and other friends assembled, on the kind invitation of Sir William and Lady Hill, at a very interesting conversazione, at 8 Kensington Garden Terrace. On Friday, May 9, a Conference of the Association Secretaries was held at Hampstead for united prayer and consultation as to the best means of promoting the work of the Society. Mr. Stuart pointed out that there had been a general pecuniary increase in the receipts from Associations of more than 15 per cent. ; and very interesting reports were presented by the Association Secretaries present of the work in their several counties. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered in the evening at St. John's, Downshire Hill, when a very stirring address was delivered by the Rev. H. Sharpe, Vicar of Holy Trinity, Hampstead. Speaking on the words, 'Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?' (Josh. v. 13), he dwelt on the wide difference between the 'Can God?' of unbelief, and the 'God can' of lively faith. He showed that Israel sinned in not going up to possess the land which God had given them, and which they had only in faith to claim. So with us. God has given us three great gifts, such as Israel might have had in Canaan-Rest, Riches, Victory. It is for us to claim them as our own. As to Rest, he said the Christian Sabbath did not end the week: it began it. It was the first day, not the seventh. The Christian worked not up to rest, but from rest. As to Riches, he said God's people were too often like Israel, princes living as paupers '! And then he spoke of Victory as a covenant promise also, and exhorted all to look for the Captain of the Lord's host as Joshua found Him (a) When alone, in the early morn. ing hour; (b) when in the dust, as Joshua fell on his face in lowly dedication; (c) when listening for His voice: What saith my Lord unto His servant?' Then will the Jerichos of world-power fall before the servants of the Lord, and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ. The Anniversary was brought to a close by the delivery of the Annual Sermon at the Parish Church of Paddington, on the evening of Ascension Day, by the Lord Bishop of Ossory. The sermon is printed in full in the recently published Report. China. 'Then David said, This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of the burntoffering for Israel. And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God. And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates. and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight; also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians, and they of Tyre, brought much cedar wood to David. And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death. . . . Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the Lord an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.'-I CHRON. XXII. 1-5, 14. 'Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God, the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, |