ing, as the fees paid by most of the girls' parents or friends, and the produce of the farm-land, will be sufficient to meet all expenses. Thus a friendly discussion about the "labor of love" has led to the formation of an establishment which, with the neighboring evangelistic institute, is destined, we trust, to render incalculable service to the cause of God in Bohemia. MISSION WORK IN AUSTRIA. But I must not close my story without some reference to the difficulties that in Austria are inseparable from undertakings of this kind. Every new project is regarded with suspicion by the government, especially if started by Czechs, who are all supposed to be impatient of Austrian domination and clamorous for home rule. Then there are many pastors in the Reformed Church of Bohemia whose rationalistic tendencies lead them to regard with disfavor schemes for the promotion of evangelical truth, and this disfavor is largely shared by the rulers of this church, the Upper Church Council at Vienna, who are all, with one exception, members of the rationalistic party. But the chief annoyances arise from the school regulations of the government. Thus, in a school established on a religious basis and for religious purposes, the rules forbid more than two hours per week being devoted to religious instruction. Again, government school-books must be used, and only these, although Romish tendencies and teachings abound in them. Then, as a specimen of the ridiculously precise requirements which are enforced, I may mention that the plan of study having been prepared by the head teacher, must be submitted to the inspector for his approval, and when this is obtained the identical paper sent to and signed by him must be framed and hung up in the chief class room, as also a portrait of the emperor. The absurdity of this last regulation is manifest, for patriotism is an almost unknown virtue in Austria, and one which the enforced presence of the emperor's portrait in every school is not likely to promote. Since I left Krabschitz, the government inspector has conducted his yearly examination of the school. His countenance was closely and anxiously watched. At length it was observed that he smiled a smile of approval, and, moreover, when the yearly festival was held soon after, he seemed to be impressed with the number and the earnestness of the persons who assembled to take part in the services. Nearly 300 came together, some having walked twenty and even thirty miles in order to have the privilege of Christian communion which this annual gathering affords. The majority were converts from the stations supported by the Evangelical Continental Society, which Pastor Schubert, in addition to his other duties, most efficiently superintends. No wonder that such a meeting impressed the school-inspector. It certainly filled the hearts of Pastor Schubert and his colleagues with joy; and as the hymns of praise were sung and the word of truth proclaimed in the chapel of the institution, which had been opened for worship only a few weeks before, they felt that God had indeed been with them, and that He can-to quote Pastor Schubert's words in a letter just received - turn the hearts of men as He turns the courses of the rivers. PARK STREET CHURCH AND FOREIGN MISSIONS. AN interesting meeting was held at Park Street Church, Sunday evening, December 8, when addresses were made by Rev. Dr. Thompson, of the Prudential Committee, and Dr. Clark, Foreign Secretary, giving an account of their attendance upon the Missionary Conference at London, in October, and of interviews with the directors of the Church Missionary Society, with Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, the Marquis of Salisbury, and others. Allusion was made at the close of the meeting by the Home Secretary to the history of Park Street Church in connection with foreign missions, particularly to the services held in the church in 1819, when the first missionary company was sent forth to the Sandwich Islands. In response, one of the oldest members of the church sent a letter to the Missionary Rooms a day or two after the meeting, containing the following reminiscences: "I am almost the only connecting link between our church as it now is and the original members of 1809. I was trained up under their influence, knew them all, and remember much that I heard from their lips about foreign missions. They were sorely burdened with a heavy debt for the meeting-house, and the pressure was so great that one of them absolutely mortgaged his own private dwelling-house, in order to raise money to keep the church from being sacrificed. Yet what a good foundation did they lay in connection with their offerings for foreign missions! "You spoke of fifty-nine years ago, and of what took place in Park Street Church.' I presume I was the only person present last evening who was present when that church for the Sandwich Islands was organized in Park Street Meeting-House, in 1819. I was then thirteen years of age, and remember the exercises very distinctly. What a crowded house it was, the missionaries all standing up together, while Deacon Jeremiah Evarts and others addressed them! I remember how much was said about the enterprise, as one of very doubtful success, and how we looked upon those missionaries as heroes, with the spirit of martyrs." It is not strange that doubts prevailed as to the success of foreign missions, when that little band set sail for Hawaii in 1819. But is it not passing strange that any one now doubts about their success, in view of what God has wrought in Hawaii and elsewhere, within the life-time of an individual? Pilar,' with its thousands of pilgrims to the gorgeous shrine of the ugly little virgin which descended from heaven' on its jasper pillar. There were all kinds of shows, the giants twenty feet high, acrobats, circuses, brass bands, bull-fights, by the most famous fighters in Spain, whose nick-names are household words in every village throughout the land; magnificent processions headed by the Cardinal-Archbishop of Zaragoza, which slowly passed through the dense crowds from the Cathedral of the 'Pilar' to the Cathedral of La Seo' and back again; and, lastly, brilliant fire-works every night, with surging multitudes in all the streets. The fivestory houses had lighted lanterns placed on all their balconies, which made the principal streets look very gay. All this in honor of the 'Virgin of the Pillar,' the 'excelsa patrona' of this uncon quered and ever heroic' city. much better is the idolatry of Christian' Zaragoza than that of pagan Ephesus? The shop windows are full of hundreds and thousands of wooden, silver, and golden images and shrines of the wonderful virgin and her pillar." SCATTERING THE WORD TION. How PERSECU "There were temporary booths for selling all kinds of wares on both sides of the main avenue of the city. We had four colporters in Zaragoza, in two booths, selling Bibles and religious books. We held meetings every night for eight days in succession, and hope some good was done, as in that way a good number of strangers heard the truth. The young men took an active part in the work, four of the meetings being held under the auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association. "One Sunday afternoon lately, as a number of men were leaving the Sunday-school, a priest came along the street of San Pablo, on which our chapel is situated, carrying the viaticum. To avoid meeting him they stepped back just within the threshold of the outer door. He looked at them angrily as he came by, and ordered them to take off their hats. As they did not obey, he repeated his command twice, each time with increasing violence, till finally one of them, our single-eyed colporteur, said: 'We don't interfere with your honor. Go your way, sir; we are in our own house.' At this the priest was even more enraged, and turning, said to a policeman at his side, 'You will see that these fellows are brought to justice for these insults.' He went on, accompanied by the policeman, and our friends went home. Shortly after the policeman came back, and not finding them, left word that as they had been guilty of a grave crime, they would be reported to the authorities for punishment. We have, as yet, heard nothing more of the matter. The priests have, perhaps, concluded that they might lose more than they could gain by taking the matter to court. It is certain that no other consideration deters them. We cannot help being frequently reminded of that decrepit old giant, somewhat stiff in the joints, sitting at the entrance of his cavern, biting his nails and grinding his teeth, because he cannot come at the pilgrims. Now and then he gets one in his clutches. "At our last communion we received two new members, and four who had left us were restored to fellowship." European Turkey Mission. MACEDONIA STILL CALLING. REV. E. W. JENNEY, of the Monastir station, finds himself in poor health, through over-work, but writes encouragingly from Constantinople : — "I do believe that Macedonia will not only call for help, but before many years will give substantial aid in extending the kingdom of Christ. I would that we could put into this work a stronger force. Oh that the theological students in America would each cry, 'Lord, may I become a missionary,' and when they hear the answer, "Yes,' would not examine their digestive organs so carefully, or feel that the Almighty cannot take care of America without their aid. God has cared for America since its discovery to the present time, and we have no proof that he cannot continue to do so for the next fifty years. "The powers of darkness in and around Monastir are so thoroughly aroused, that we know the Holy Spirit is at work. At Perlepe, twenty-four miles north of Monastir, we made an attack last July. The first sermon was delivered to more than a hundred persons, and so was the second. Crowds came to the khan, and we had profitable talks which will never cease to have their effect. For more than two months one of the missionaries preached there each Sabbath. We stayed but three days of the week, just long enough to stir up the people, and left them to discuss the themes we had presented. These discussions were carried on in the most excited manner. Opposition and persecution reduced the numbers at the meetings to a very few, but discussions waxed warmer and warmer. "Many came to me and said, 'We would we could come freely to your meetings, but the opposition here is very great.' Privately they studied the Bible, and slyly came to us for more light. One man came in a very excited manner to the room where I was alone, and exclaimed, 'Your work is of the devil!' 'Why?' I asked. 'Ten weeks ago,' he replied, 'we in this city were united, and were of one faith and mind; but now half are for your faith and half for the orthodox faith, and we are just this way' (at the same time striking his fists together). Thus the good work is going on, although we are unable to have a hand in it, our helper having left us, and Brother Baird being at Monastir alone. But the Lord is not dependent on weak missionaries to carry on his work." SEED GROWING IN SECRET. "Most of the Bulgarians in Macedonia who can read possess the Word of God in some form, and many of the Greeks and Wallachians have the Testament in their own tongue. Hundreds of hearts have been pierced by the Sword of the Spirit, and are not only convinced of the errors of their church, but know the way of salvation. To many of these we have never had the opportunity to speak one word; but they have heard that there were American missionaries who hold to a so-called Protestant faith, and, curious to know what we believe, they have studied for themselves. "Sometimes I have had callers, or met men in shops, who have been Protestants for a year or two, who had never had an opportunity to speak to us, and on questioning them I have found that they had formed a correct judgment on fundamental truths. Blessed thought, — the Holy Spirit is using our presence to arouse many to whom we cannot speak to search for the truth! We shall never know the results of missionary labor until we stand before the judgment throne. Then, he who thought he had accomplished the least will find that he has done the most, and he who thought that he was all-important will weep over scanty returns.” Western Turkey Mission. THE CENTRAL EVANGELICAL UNION. REV. EDWARD RIGGS, of Marsovan, sends a very full account of a journey to Cesarea to attend the meeting of The account given of their "Union." the proceedings of the assembly will be found of special interest. Mr. Riggs writes: "On Monday, September 23, the meeting of the Central Evangelical Union was organized with eleven delegates, pastors and laymen, from eight of the eleven churches constituting the Union. After devotional exercises, the first business of the meeting was to receive into the fellowship of the Union one new church-that of Istanos, which, though it came into existence in a rather irregular way, is acknowledged as existing beyond a doubt. Next, the Union had to deal with several cases laid over from the previous meeting for corre spondence, mainly pertaining to relations between certain churches and their pastors. "The dignity, charity, and wisdom with which this ecclesiastical body dealt with these matters was very commendable. They dissolved the relations between one church, Yozgat, and its pastor. Another church, Sungurlu, they strongly advised to recall its pastor, who has been for some time laboring elsewhere. Another, Kapoo Kaya, they congratulated on the recent resumption of complete relations with its pastor. To another church, Gurun, they wrote cordially counseling them to use every means for the settling of certain difficulties, in order to avoid the threatened sundering of the pastoral relation. They also appointed committees for the ordination of pastors over two churches hitherto without regular pastors, and for the formation at the proper juncture of a church in Hadji Keuy. "These facts, carefully weighed, will show that the churches here are not without their full share of difficulties with regard to the pastoral relation, but that they are making an earnest effort to overcome them; also that the number of churches is steadily increasing, and the desire and purpose to have every church supplied with a suitable and permanent pastor is strong. Five young men, who have been for various lengths of time engaged in evangelical labors, were granted regular licenses to preach after suitable examinations. Three others only failed to receive the same through exceptional circumstances. Seven of these eight are graduates of the Marsovan Theological Seminary." DEDICATION OF A CHURCH. Mr. Riggs gives also an account of the new church edifice erected in Cesarea, through the aid of funds contributed for this purpose in Great Britain. This is an illustration of the way in which the friends of Turkey, and of missions in England and Scotland, may assist in planting permanently the institutions of the gospel in the land to which they now have such special rela tions. Of the church, and the services of dedication, Mr. Riggs writes: : "The sessions of the Union were held in the building erected for parsonage and school, in connection with the new and grand church building of the congregation in Cesarea. The church is a stately stone structure, of the Romaic or later Byzantine style, the central dome being about fifty-five feet high. The dedication services took place at the usual hour of morning service on the Sabbath, and were attended by a great crowd. When the doors were opened, the seats were all quickly occupied, and after all the standing room seemed to be filled, the crowd at the doors still kept pressing in till the house was closly packed up to the pulpit steps. There were about two thousand people inside of the building, and each of the fourteen windows near the ground gave room for twelve heads eagerly squeezed in, while many persons went away disappointed. "The services were participated in by several native pastors and missionaries, occupying about two hours. A sketch of the beginnings of the Protestant reformation in that region was given by Dr. Farnsworth, the senior missionary, and some account of the building enterprise was furnished by a pastor, Rev. Kerope Yakoobian." A COMPOSITE AUDIENCE. "In the audience there were, of course, large numbers of non-Protestant Armenians and Greeks, and some Turks, also, I believe; while in a prominent place, under the central dome, sat a Circassian in full dress, made very conspicuous by the large and grotesque sheep-skin cap, a very rare sight in any Christian place of worship. He afterwards expressed himself very much pleased with the services, and took pains to be present promptly at all the services of the day, paying strict and respectful attention. At the time of the afternoon service the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper were administered, and again the place was crowded to its utmost capacity. In the evening |