Several new photographs of persons and scenes connected with missions in Micronesia have been received, and some engravings from them will be found in the portion of this number devoted to young people. The picture above shows the home of the missionaries at Oua, Ponape. The house in the distance is the dwelling, that in the middle is the stone church, that at the left is the school-house, or "Academy." In the hay-stack-like cu pola hangs the sweet-toned bell, the gift of some personal friends of the missionaries in America. The dormitory for the boys, and the one for the girls, though near by, are not shown in the engraving. Amid the luxuriant vegetation will be seen the cocoa-nut tree, the bread-fruit, the sagopalm, as well as the banana and the pine-apple. These premises are about one eighth of a mile from the landing, and are one hundred feet above low water mark. These beautiful islands are waiting for God's law. The statement in the letter of Mr. Logan on another page is remarkable, that after one more station is occupied by white missionaries, the work of evangelizing Micronesia ought to be left to native converts.

THE London Missionary Society has intelligence that its missionaries reached Lake Tanganyika, Central Africa, on the 23d of August, having been on the way several months, detained by a series of misfortunes and unlooked-for obstacles. The journey from Upwapwa occupied seventyeight days, but the letter announcing the arrival was carried to the coast in forty five days, and thence to London in thirty-three days, seventy-eight in all. On their way the missionaries met, in Mirambo's town, certain members of the tribe in which this chieftain was brought up, the Waugoni or Watuta, who speak the Zulu language. This fact should be considered, in view of the recent suggestions that South Africa may be made a base of operations for the interior.

"THE MISSIONARY HERALD." VOLUME LXXV.

WITH this volume this magazine completes three quarters of a century of its life. It antedates the organization of the American Board by five years. Its first issue was in May, 1803, under the name of "The Massachusetts Missionary Magazine." Printed at Salem, it was under the care of thirteen editors, appointed by the Massachusetts Missionary Society, chief among whom were Rev. Drs. Emmons, Spring, and Austin. The Massachusetts Missionary Society, organized in 1799, had for its object "to diffuse the knowledge of the Gospel among the Heathens, as well as other people in the remote parts of our country, where Christ is seldom or never preached." In 1801 it employed four missionaries, who seem to have been itinerants: two in New York, one in Maine, and one in Vermont.

The first number of the "Missionary Magazine" contained but one missionary communication, entitled, "Brief Account of a Religious Attention in the North Parish in Weymouth, Massachusetts." The subsequent numbers, during the five years of its separate existence, contained each from one to three pages of intelligence from missions, at home and abroad. In 1808 this "Massachusetts Missionary Magazine" was united with "The Panoplist" (a theological and doctrinal monthly, established in 1805), and the double title was used until 1818, when it was changed to "The Panoplist and Missionary Herald," and so it continued until 1820. During these years the missionary intelligence occupied about one half of the magazine, the other half being devoted to theological, historical, and miscellaneous articles. It was issued by private enterprise, though under the auspices of the Board, a portion of its profits being devoted to missions.

In 1820 the Board decided to make the "Herald a strictly official publication, issuing it at its own expense and excluding from it all subjects but the transactions of the Board and its missions, and those of kindred societies. From this purpose there has been no departure during all these subsequent years.

The "Herald" has, therefore, during its long life, been permitted to chronicle the vast and varied missionary operations of the last three quarters of a century. It has had, we believe, no small share in quickening and guiding the missionary zeal of the churches of America. It was early seen to be essential to the birth and growth of a true interest in the kingdom of Christ upon earth, that the people keep themselves informed as to the progress of that kingdom. How shall men feel for that of which they do not know, and how shall they know except they are told, and how shall they be told save as they read the records? For, though many missionaries return to speak of their labors in foreign lands, such occasional and fragmentary reports would utterly fail to give any intelligent survey of the vast operations now going forward for the evangelization of the world. President Edwards used to pray with the map of the world before him. Every Christian who would pray intelligently, and who would be stirred up to pray, "Thy kingdom come," must keep himself informed as to the progress of that kingdom. The "Missionary Herald" has sought to present, and has, it is believed, succeeded in

presenting, such intelligence both of our own missions and of those of other societies, that no one could carefully read its monthly issues and fail to know what Christ's church in this century is doing toward fulfilling his last command.

During the last twenty-two years, this magazine has, with the exception of a few numbers, been under the editorial care of the Rev. Isaac R. Worcester. That he has conducted it with ability and excellent judgment, all will bear witness who have kept themselves familiar with missionary operations, or who have compared it with the publications of other missionary boards. After this long and faithful service, he has asked for release from his charge, and the difficult task of editing the magazine now falls into new hands. Amid the profusion of attractive publications issuing weekly and monthly from the press, the "Herald" must not lose its place. While it needs to be made interesting, it must be remembered that nothing of the kind can permanently interest those who are not truly interested in missions. Let it be remembered, too, that different persons are interested in different matters, and that the "Herald" must serve as a chronicler of facts, some of which are not specially entertaining to any one.

In the preface to the volume of 1808, when it was the "Massachusetts Missionary Magazine," the editors wrote: "Illy prepared should we have been for an undertaking of this kind, had we calculated on giving universal satisfaction and answering fully the wishes of our readers. Among six or seven thousand readers, living in all parts of the States, an immense variety of particular humors, tastes, and views must exist, and an attempt to accommodate ourselves to them would be as chimerical as the issue would be mortifying." These words may now be repeated with added force, in view of the 25,000 copies which are circulated monthly. But no labor shall be spared in seeking to present such principles and facts respecting missions as will be calculated to give an intelligent and inspiring view of the work intrusted by Christ to his church. Some changes, it will be noticed, have been introduced in the present number. Maps and illustrations will be sought for coming numbers, and a young people's department has been added, in view, not so much of those for whom the "Missionary Echoes" in the "Wellspring" are designed, as of a somewhat older class who do not take the children's papers. Every effort will be made to make the "Herald" an efficient agency in the missionary work.

It is animating to think what records this magazine may have to give in this last quarter of its first century. The progress it has recorded, though wonderful, is as nothing to what might be, and what faith permits us to hope shall be. What revivals of the spirit of benevolence and consecration; what offerings of men and of money; what conquests of our King on continents and islands may be witnessed within the next twenty-five years! Among the missionary forces of the coming era, the "Missionary Herald " hopes to find its place. While it rejoices over the past, it hails with yet greater joy the future.

THE NEW YEAR'S PLEDGE.

LET it be as generous as possible to the good cause of foreign missions. Remember that this cause includes direct evangelistic work through missionaries and native helpers; the educational work of schools and seminaries, for the moral and religious training of several thousand children and youth; Sabbath-school instruction; the preparation, publication, and circulation in various languages of books and tracts; assistance in the erection of church buildings; grants in aid to native home missionary societies; the noble, humane service of missionary physicians, and charitable ministry under many forms to the sick, the poor, and oppressed in times of pestilence, famine, and war. All these departments are economically managed under the one efficient instrumentality of the American Board.

Remember, also, that your contribution, unless designated for some specific work, as it may be if you desire, is judiciously distributed, according to immediate necessity, among the missions under the care of the Board. You have thus the pleasure of knowing that your gift, in its measure, is helpful on every field, and that you do something for the comfort of every missionary.

It may interest the donors whose contributions went into the treasury of the Board during the last financial year, ending September 1, 1878, to know the proportion in which these gifts were distributed among the several mission fields. It will do them no harm, perhaps, to know how far their "little candle throws its beams." Every hundred dollars contributed during the year, for general missionary work, went forth upon its several errands of. mercy to the following localities, in nearly the following proportion, for the spread of the gospel : —

Making an aggregate of $93.50 thus widely distributed. The remaining $6.50 constituted the total cost of the economical home administration, a part of which was employed in the service of the missionaries abroad, and a part in the communication of missionary intelligence at home.1

1 The total cost of administration last year, relatively to the entire receipts, including the payment of the debt, was only five and three quarters per cent.

Does any donor regret his last year's gift? Does he not wish that he could have multiplied it four-fold? Can you think of any investment for the year to come which can be more widely and wisely distributed, and which will bring in ampler dividends? The call for enlargement in every missionary field is at the present time most urgent.

We earnestly request pastors and church officers to make it sure that the churches they represent set apart some time and some method for the public presentation of the broad foreign missionary work from the pulpit; for its regular remembrance in the monthly concert of prayer; for the communication of missionary intelligence through the enlarged circulation of the "Missionary Herald," and of "Life and Light" of the Woman's Boards; and that opportunity be given for every individual, old and young, to present his personal offering for the spread of the gospel throughout the world. Do not forget that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who solicits the gift, and that your annual missionary pledge may be one of your most joyous expressions of grateful devotion to Him whom we delight to honor as our risen and reigning Lord.

LONDON MISSIONARY CONFERENCE.

BY REV. A. C. THOMPSON, D. D.

It is an evidence of increasing unity among the disciples of our Lord, and of widening interest in missions, that a call should come for such a Conference as was held in London during the last week of October. The first gathering of the kind took place in the spring of 1854, upon the occasion of the late Dr. Duff's visit to this country. It was held in the Lecture Room of Dr. Alexander's church, New York, one hundred and fifty members being present, and the session lasting a day and a half. In the autumn of the same year there was a similar convention in London, continuing for two days. After an interval of six years occurred the Conference on Missions at Liverpool, with its four days' sessions, a representation from twenty-five societies, and a much wider range of topics. The recent Conference made approach more nearly to a general gathering, and yet in that respect came short of what could be desired. The circular issued last

March by a committee, of which the Earl of Shaftsbury was president, and Sir William Muir chairman, was rather an announcement than an invitation. In spite of this informality, representatives from about forty different societies, English, Scottish, French, German, and American, assembled at Conference Hall, Mildmay Park, holding sessions, thirteen in number, from Monday evening to Saturday noon. Six hundred delegates were said to be present. Owing to inadequate announcement from London pulpits and papers, the commodious hall, with twenty-five hundred sittings, was in no instance filled. The body was composed of the officials, directors, and other prominent friends of various societies devoted chiefly to the work of foreign missions, and of foreign missionaries off duty for the time. Among them. were names eminent in social position, authorship, and administrative talent.