THE

MISSIONARY HERALD

FINANCIAL PROSPECTS BRIGHTEN.

WE can refer to the subject of Finance with far more pleasure this month, than on any previous occasion. We could only venture to express, very strongly, a hope that the expected deficit would not be so great as was anticipated. But now we know that it will be very much less! This shows that the efforts which have been made, have not been made in vain. This is all the more encouraging because, in many districts, the plans which have been devised are only now coming into operation. Time must be allowed for plans to be formed, friends to be consulted, and arrangements for collection and canvas to be made. All this requires a good deal of correspondence and travelling, and the results will not be realized just yet. But the grand thing to be noted is the fact that our friends are everywhere at work.

Some intelligence has doubtless met the eye of many of our readers through the columns of the Freeman. Many admirable and earnest letters have appeared there. We do not remember any period of difficulty in the history of the Society, and memory now goes a good way back, when the spirit was so hearty and cheerful as at this juncture. A time of trial seems to be a time of mercy. We are sure it has evoked a feeling of interest in missions both strong and deep; and has called forth expressions of attachment to the Society of the utmost ardency, which augurs well for the future.

A few of our friends have complained, though in very gentle tones, that their liberality has been overlooked. Thus Mr. Cowell writes from Taunton, that "no notice was taken in the January number, of special contributions from Somerset amounting to £200." At first we had hoped these were all to come-but we find they were acknowledged in the list of monies received, but were not referred to in the first article in the Herald. We thank our friend for his note, and are glad to have this opportunity of supplying the omission.

We had only time to refer to the Northampton meetings, held in December, at which there were present the pastors and brethren connected with twenty churches, who came together "to deliberate on the straits of the mission-what was to be done and how shall it be done," and it was unanimously resolved, that where practicable, a special collection should be made on the 5th Sabbath in January, but that in no case should it be later than the 1st March. Two Committees were formed to carry out this object, as well as to seek for an increase in the Society's Funds, one for the Northern, and the other for the Southern Auxiliary of the county. This was going to work the right way. Having had the privilege of attending NEW SERIES, VOL. VIII.

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the meeting, we can testify to the devout, earnest, and united spirit which pervaded it throughout.

A similar meeting, Mr. Caven informs us, was held at Southampton, January 12, of the ministers and deacons of the Southern Association, over which the Rev. T. B. Burt presided. Resolutions were passed expressive of sympathy with the Committee, and pledging those present to do their utmost to assist them out of the difficulty,-of a determination to urge the several Churches to make an extra effort by March next,-and to take immediate steps to form auxiliaries in the several congregations and schools, so as to increase the annual subscriptions.

Mr. Pottinger, in conjunction with the brethren in the West Riding of Yorkshire, is carrying on the work with vigour. He writes, January 15, "I paid £80, into our Treasurer's hands, on account, this week, and have some more to hand over to him. Next Thursday Mr. Chown attends, with me, a meeting in Leeds. In addition to the engagements announced in the Freeman, I am to be at Lockwood on the 26th, Hebden Bridge the 31st, and on Feb. 1st I have promised to be present at a Juvenile Missionary meeting at Bromley. I go on thence to Sheffield to preach, and canvass the friends, and thence I go Nottingham for Lord's Day the 21st, and ensuing week. Our visit to the places mentioned in the Freeman produced more than £100 in donations, and in new and increased subscriptions. The Sunday Schools in Halifax have taken up the cause warmly, the young people are manifesting a lively interest in the Mission. Here is our hope for the future. Yesterday, January 12, I began a canvass in Bradford with encouraging results." This is a good report indeed. We were glad to acknowledge in the early part of the month, a considerable remittance from Mr. Wilson, the Treasurer of the Local Auxiliary.

Some pleasant tidings have come from the far north. Mr. Walters writes from Newcastle, Jan. 18, "I have much pleasure in informing you that yesterday I preached two sermons at Bewick-street, on behalf of the mission, when my friends responded in a noble manner. The two collections amounted to £47 2s. 4d. We mean to make the amount £50. Next Sunday we shall have a Missionary Meeting in the Sunday School, to form a Juvenile Auxiliary; and at our next Church Meeting we shall establish an Auxiliary in the Church and Congregation; and we have no doubt that as the result we shall get many new subscribers. I thought you would like to know that there was sympathy for the Society in the North, and a readiness to help it in its time of need. I have no doubt you will get all the money you need; and believe the calamity which threatened will be averted, and the Society permanently benefitted."

No communication whieh we have received has afforded a more sincere gratification than one from the Rev. S. F. Williams, Secretary of the Congregational Institute for Theological and Missionary Training, Nottingham, who says, "the hint has been thrown out that our Independent Churches might gracefully and christianly help our Baptist friends in diminishing their Missionary Society debt? Will yon kindly inform me, very briefly, what are the facts in regard to that debt?" This truly "graceful" epistle, to borrow Mr. Williams's word, was read at the Quarterly Meeting of the Committee, and it has been responded to in a spirit like that which prompted it. It will not be, perhaps a new thing, but it will be a delightful thing if

this suggestion should be carried out ;-not so much for any pecuniary assistance which may be rendered, as for the indication it affords of the true oneness of spirit and feeling which exists among those who are intimately connected with Mission Societies.

Mr. Pugh writes from Devizes, "I thought you would like to know that we had a meeting last night with reference to the Mission debt, and I hope we shall be able to send you some help before long. There is a very hearty feeling about the matter; and our 'Old Baptist' friends will do something too. Their pastor has just sent me £1 as his own subscription."

Our friends in Wales are also earnestly bestirring themselves. The appointment of the Rev. T. Evans to visit the Churches in the Principality, has given great satisfaction; and his services at this juncture will be of the highest value. Dr. Price of Aberdare, has furnished an animated account of the meetings which have been held. We are glad to have this testimony as to the results of this arrangement, which are encouraging to our honoured missionary Mr. Evans, and beneficial to the interests of the Society.

For the present, this is perhaps enough. We may have a few words to say about plans and capabilities, according to our numbers as a denomination, on a future occasion. But surely we have supplied proofs in abundance, that something good and great may be done, when a people are heartily united, full of faith, and "praying always in the Holy Ghost." One thing is certain, that such efforts, carried on in such a spirit, greatly contribute to promote genuine godliness, and protect professors of religion from worldliness and apostacy.

A VISIT TO BARISAL.

BY THE REV. R. J. ELLIS,

The Rev. J. E. Payne, of the London Missionary Society, the Rev. H. G. Highfield, of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, and myself, made out a party to visit Barisal, and some of its out stations; for which purpose we left Calcutta in a hired boat on the evening of the 5th August. On the way to Barisal, we cast anchor at many villages and markets; preached, distributed tracts, and sold many gospels. We obtained, for the most part, good and attentive audiences; and if we may believe the report of the people themselves, it was our lot to preach in some places where the gospel had not been preached before. In some places we met with much opposition, chiefly from the Brahmins; in others, we found those who were favourably disposed towards Christian truth, and who seemed to possess considerable knowledge of it. But the leading feature everywhere was worldliness, and a confirmed indifference to everything belonging to a better life.

WORK BY THE WAY.

On our way eastward we put ashore at Khoolnah, Brother Johnson's station, a place of great natural beauty, and excellently situated for missionary operations. Here we spent nearly a day, and in the absence of Mr. Johnson, whom we had met on his way to Calcutta and Sewry, at which latter place he was to be married, we first crossed the river, and preached at a little village beautifully seated among trees of the richest foliage; then, recrossing, one of our party had a large

audience near the moonsif's court. In the afternoon we attended the market, held about a mile and a half from Khoolnah, where we divided into two parties, and took up our position in different parts, each securing quite a large congregation. To all of these places we were accompanied by two native preachers, both of whom I had the opportunity of hearing preach. I was much pleased with their addresses, and especially with the prominence they gave in them to the plan of salvation. They must be very useful to Brother Johnson.

ARRIVAL AT BARRISAL.

Our desire being to preach at as many places as we could conveniently overtake on our journey out, we were eleven days and a half in reaching Barisal, which we made on Sunday the 16th. A very warm reception awaited us there from our dear friend and brother, Mr. Page, as also from Brother Martin, and their wives. The native Christians had already assembled for worship, in which we gladly united with them. In the congregation were about thirty men, nearly all of whom are connected with the new police, and have been brought in from the out-stations. Brother Martin conducted the service. In the afternoon I had that privilege, and was greatly gratified with the attention of the people, who numbered more than double the morning's audience. The following evening we had the native brethren together for examination. The meeting was necessarily at a late hour; but notwithstanding this, and that the night was dark and rainy, between forty and fifty men and women came forward. Our questions naturally took an elementary form, but were fitted to elicit their general information regarding things spiritual, which we found was by no means little. Some of the women were exceedingly ready, and usually correct in their answers, a feature most pleasing, which we met with in almost all the stations we visited. This is the fruit of Brother Page's efforts at Barisal for many years, where he kept up a most efficient female school, from which these women have been drawn.

SPECIMEN OF THE NATIVE COURTS.

We were detained four days at Barisal owing to a most iniquitous case in court, brought at the instigation of Mr. Bareiro against a poor ignorant fellow of the name of Bhodro, who, because he had ventured to take work with Mr. Page, was charged by the people of the former with bigamy. The man's first wife had been seduced, and one of Mr. Bareiro's preachers, so-called, had given him in marriage with a widow of their party, knowing all the time that his former wife was alive, but living in sin. This preacher was one of the principal witnesses against Bhodro, who, he says, got married by him under the false pretence that his wife was dead. All the witnesses perjured themselves, in order to bring the case within the action of the penal code. Thus the marriage actually took place in or before 1860; Bareiro swears before the magistrate that it took place before 1862; but meantime he learns that the Act, though dated 1860, did not take effect till January, 1862, and so comes before the sessions judge with the lame evidence that "he had heard the marriage talked of before 1862, but that it did not take place till the 25th March, 1862." To this one of his Christians, Benjamin by name, who had been a writer in the magistrate's office, swears as having been a witness; and Brother Page suggests to the judge that papers may be found in his handwriting on that date in the magistrate's registry. Search is made, and papers are found written by him dated the 24th, 25th, and 26th. The judge sees them, and has them returned to the office. Benjamin gets news of the search, enters the office, and when the case is resumed two days after, the dates are found to have been altered, so that the 25th and 26th have, by some mysterious process, become the 24th. This young man is handed over for perjury; but Bhodro is found guilty, and sentenced to the mitigated sentence of three years' imprisonment! being told at the same time that but for the presence of the five gentlemen, he would have been confined for seven years!!

I could tell you many other most iniquitous doings with regard to this case, but forbear. It was necessary to refer to it to let you know what our dear