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In the December Number of the Herald, the Contributions from Chudleigh for China should have been entered as £12, instead of £2; and for the General Fund as £27 3s. 11d., instead of £37 3s. 11d.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

The thanks of the Committee are presented to the following :—

Mrs. Stevenson, Blackheath, for a parcel of Magazines.

Denmark Hill, Camberwell Auxiliary Ladies' Working Party, per Mrs. Stanford, for a box of clothing and fancy articles, value £30, for Mr. Laughton, Yentai, China.

FEBRUARY, 1864.

DIFFICULTIES AND DISCOURAGEMENTS OF AN IRISH MISSIONARY.

Many of the friends of the Baptist Irish Society are already aware of some of the hindrances to the spread of evangelical truth in the Roman Catholic districts of Ireland. Popery often presents greater obstacles than Heathenism. Hence the main difficulties of evangelical missions in that country. The following description of these, given by Mr. Stokes, of Ballina, Co. Mayo, is deserving of attentive regard on the part of British Christians. The statement will be read with deeper interest still when it is remembered that Mr. Stokes is a native of Ireland, and is one of several young men who have been raised up under the care and zeal of our devoted brother, Mr. Eccles, of Banbridge, and are now usefully employed in evangelical labours. Having studied with Mr. Eccles, under the sanction of the committee, he was stationed at Ballina in 1861, and has laboured there with an earnestness and self-denial that entitle him to the greatest confidence and the most generous sympathy of all persons interested in the conversion of men and the glory of Christ :-"Since I first entered on labour in these parts," he writes, "I have often felt how very hard it is to make any change on the existing superstitious customs, or any impression for good on the minds of the poor ignorant devotees of Romanism. And now, after an experience of more than two years, my feelings in that respect are with painfulness I say it daily becoming mofe and more confirmed. My meetings at Ballina, and the country villages, remain in much the same condition : at times in a somewhat encouraging state, at others, indeed, dull enough. They are very fluctuating. Vast numbers of people have for some time past removed from this part of the country; and, though the tide of emigration is not now just so great as in the summer time, yet it continues to flow on. What favourable turn matters might take in a short time is of course impossible at present to say. But to me, at least, one thing appears clear: numbers are still looking forward to a home elsewhere, and among them, many who are in the habit of attending my meetings in the country; being, like others, discouraged by the depressing circumstances of their present position. And, indeed, no one can reasonably blame them. They are right in going wherever they think they can better their condition, and their prospect of doing so here is indeed very dull. But, when I look at these things seriously, and see so little material from which to hope for a favourable change, I, too, frequently get low in spirits, and feel rather discouraged myself. But, though this feeling is very natural, I think on reflection it is somewhat foolish, nevertheless; for I feel that, after all, I can do no more than I have done. Since I came here-I hope I may say it with propriety-I have worked both hard and constantly, like one of old, " in journeyings often," and "in weariness and painfulness." And it has seemed at times, it is true, as if rays of light were appearing to rejoice and cheer our hearts, and in some measure compensate for the long season of spiritual depression and discou. ragement; but, instead of this, they have only been succeeded by dark and gloomy shadows beclouding our sky, leaving the future prospect apparently more hopeless than before. Nothing, in fact, flourishes here except Popery, or something that is more or less akin to it. I must now tell you a little of the present condition of Crossmalina school, and some things that have occurred there lately. It had become, as you are aware, very encouraging. Its numbers had increased since I came here, from about ten or twelwe, to upwards of sixty pupils. These were nearly all children of Roman Catholic parents, many of whom had come from the national school of the village, which is patronized by the priest, because, as they expressed, they received better instruction at ours. When they came to us they got along nicely at learning, and they were soon taken notice of by the people of the village. I gave them some books, which they eagerly received and read, not only to their parents, but to many of the neighbours also, and were greatly delighted with the simple stories of truth they contained, which were indeed new to many of them. Thus, did their influence begin to be felt, and the knowledge of the school to spread, so that the priest soon began to fear for the safety of his craft, he determined to take the matter in hand, and give it all the opposition in his power, and on a certain Sunday denounced it, as

not only now that the great mischief would be done to the children, but sixty years hence, if they should live so long. And he adduced as an instance of the power of memory many old persons living in the neighbourhood, who were alive at the time of the rebellion of Ireland, and who remembered that event as distinctly as if it occurred only yesterday! Such, he said, would be case with the children and the instruction they were receiving; they would remember it when they would become old men and women. Such testimony from such a quarter is valuable; it shows the dread in which the emissaries of popery ever are of sound evangelical instruction; and it should teach us more and more the importance of attending to the Divine injunction -"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." When we scatter the precious seed of the Word we know not when or where it may spring up, and yield a glorious harvest: but this much we do know, on the authority of heaven, it shall not return unto its Author void-" It shall prosper," notwithstanding all the opposition of hell. I only hope and trust the remarks of the priest may prove true, and I have some reason to think they will; but one thing we may rest assured of— it will not be with either his will or Satan's, if they do. He told the parents, who were very reluctant to do so, that, if they did not remove their children from the school, he would never visit them on their dying beds, nor give them "the last rites of the church" (and these, you know, are to a Roman Catholic a sine qua non); and not only this, but in case they refused to obey him, "he would make the grass grow at their doors." This, surely, is enforcing obedience with something like a firm hand. However, the time for such threats to take effect is fast disappearing; they now feel that the old custom of enforcing obedience by the whip would not be borne with the same passive submission as formerly, and this, therefore, they dare not attempt; but even yet, in the majority of instances, the person must needs have the boldness and courage of a martyr who refuses to obey his spiritual guide. And in the present case, for poor, ignorant, and superstitious people to resist such threats and curses, was more than could resonably be expected, and many of them were at length obliged to withdraw their children from the school. And I do not wonder at it in the least; my astonishment rather is, that the school was allowed to flourish undis turbed so long. The poor children themselves were very unwilling to go, many of them crying on leaving. The school is now, of course, greatly reduced; the present number not exceeding fifteen. But let us hope that the fears the priest expressed may be realized, and that when they do become old men and women they may more than remember the truths they have been taught. And, indeed, I believe they will, and am inclined to think that many of them may, not much to his advantage, take the liberty of putting them in practice long before they arrive at that age. I know, too, that the parents will not send their children to the national school; they have been keeping them at home since rather than do so, and are waiting until, in a short time, the storm of priestly wrath blows past, when they will again send them to ours. But, O, how painful to think that, in these days of religious knowledge, such a melancholy state of things must continue in this country; when the poor devotee of Romanism dare not, however his soul may thirst for it, lift up his eyes in search of the water of life! Dark, indeed, are the workings of that cruel, persecuting system which dreads to bring its teachings and deeds to the light of Scripture; and, lest it should lose one of its poor deluded devotees, fears to allow one word of spiritual truth to enter their minds. Well might Ireland groan under the intoler able weight of her spiritual oppression; Her religious atmosphere has, in parts at least, long been cold and cheerless, and enveloped in the apparently impenetrable darkness of ignorance, superstition, and their naturally corresponding results, morals of a very low degree. But to her, there is, no doubt, coming a brighter day; and by the present exodus, among other things, Providence seems, to my mind, to be hastening it forward; not, indeed, when her sons shall be freed from the imagined yoke of British law, but from the real, enslaving yoke of Popery. For this part of the country, it is true, such a change appears yet to be distant, and perhaps too much so for us to participate therein. But, be this as it may, come it will; and should the master appoint other labourers to reap the harvest, let us wish them God speed, rejoicing in their triumphs, and above all in the precious truth that glory is gotten to Christ our Lord.

CLOSKELT, COUNTY DOWN.

AN INTERESTING NARRATIVE.-Mr. MACRORY, the Missionary at this new station, gives the following statement of the formation of this promising cause :—

"In 1859 it pleased Almighty God to visit Ireland, especially the north, with an unprecedented manifestation of the Holy Spirit's presence and power, causing light and joy to arise in many hearts which, up to that period, were strangers to grace and to God. And although many, concerning whom high hopes were entertained, appear to have gone back to the world, there are very many whose 'walk and conversation' testify that they have been with Jesus; and who can say that if Revival work' was delusion to all others, it was a reality to them. In the sweet season of the Lord's presence referred to, prayer meetings were held almost daily, and in many instances numbered, not by hundreds, but by thousands, of deeply attentive hearers. And, oh, with what earnestness did they pour out their hearts to Go.' for pardon and deliverance through the precious blood of Jesus; and when the Holy Spirit revealed a reconciled God, and no 'condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus,' was written upon the heart, who can wonder that, in the joyous emotions of that thrice happy hour, mountain and valley, wayside and common, should resound with the praises of our redeeming God? No shame to speak of Jesus and his love and power to save then. No service too long or too frequent then. In conducting those meetings I was privileged to take a somewhat prominent part, travelling over a district of some ten square miles proclaiming the gospel almost daily, and frequently occupying the pulpits of Presbyterian ministers. Eventually I had few Sabbaths unemployed. It was during this period I began to feel that believers' baptism, was the baptism taught in the word of God, and that Christian ordinances were for Christian people alone; that they were not converting ordinances, but ordinances for the converted. About this period I went over to Banbridge to consult our worthy and much beloved brother, Rev. W. S. Eccles, by whom I was afterwards baptized. And now I come to trace more fully the leading of the Lord in his Providence. I was desirous to preach the gospel, but as yet knew not where I might be placed by the king and head of his church. I soon found, however, that I was not alone, and that a number of those Christians with whom I had so long enjoyed sweet fellowship, were undergoing a similar change of mind, and were also desirous to do homage to the divine precept by putting on Christ by baptism. Since then we have had twenty-five baptisms, and a goodly number are at present looking forward to the same privilege. Finding in January of the present year (1863) that the Lord had not only a people here, but a special work to accomplish, I, at the request of the little flock, determined, in the Lord's name, to commence a regular Sabbath service. But where could we assemble? The Lord had made provision. Some two years previously a large and commodious barn had been built, I believe, with the idea that, at some time, it might serve the double purpose of the Farm and Preachinghouse. This edifice the proprietor, Mr. Dodd, Closkelt, at once, and in the most handsome manner, lent us for the present. It was in this building that we were favoured with your much valued visit in July. And now we have to notice the providence of God in another instance. Where shall we have a place in which to worship God permanently, as Mr. Dodd will eventually require the use of his barn? Again the Lord is the provider. While thinking over this seeming difficulty, and speaking of it to a noble and generous Christian, whose heart the Lord had touched, he, Mr. Samuel Rea, of Derynale, at once and without solicitation, said, "I can give you ground in perpetuity." May we not say the Lord's hand is in all this? A conveyance of the ground, which contains one and a-half roods, Irish measure, is being prepared, and a commodious chapel is in course of erection. The house is 50 feet by 40; height 18 feet from level of floor to the square, which we have now attained, and which will be sufficient for a gallery at some future time, When completed this chapel will cost from £350 to £400, but funds are very low in this neighbourhood, and we could not erect this house without aid from the generous Christian public of the sister isle, which aid I have the fullest confidence we shall obtain when application has been properly made. I would merely remark that by receiving some £160 we shall be able, with the blessing of God, to complete the entire by our own efforts.

"I may inform you that Derynale is a district lying inland, and distant from Banbridge nine miles, from Newry thirteen, from Castlewellan four, and from Newcastle eight miles. Newcastle is a beautiful watering-place, much frequented in the season; and there also I have the privilege, during summer, of preaching to large audiences in a school-room, the property of the Countess of Annesly, whose beautiful residence is situated at the base of Slieve Donard, the highest of the Mourne Mountains.

"Around Derynale are a mixed population, composed of Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Roman Catholics. I find much advantage in maintaining a calm uncontroversial spirit. I trust it shall be mine to preach a full Christ, and present salvation, to perishing sinners, rather than to express the shibboleth of a party. My sphere of labour is very wide, extending in some districts over five miles. The more remote districts I visit monthly, others every two weeks; and at Closkelt twice weekly, one evening Prayer-meeting, and another Bible-class, which I find to be a most valuable auxiliary to a preached gospel. At our meetings the audiences vary from twenty to over one hundred. Our Sabbath services I have divided, they are as follows:-In Closkelt, Sabbath School from ten to twelve, then regular services until half-past two o'clock; Derynale, five o'clock in the evening, when we have a large attendance in a large house kindly lent by Mr.. Rea, the owner of the ground. At these evening services

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