among the members of the churches a provincial missionary society, with the purpose of aiding each other, and especially the pastorless churches. Each member of the society pays two and one half sen per month, and the pastors, evangelists, and treasurer form the working committee. They have asked me to be with them a member of this committee, thus taking me fully into their counsels, and inviting me to work side by side with them. I could not ask for more hearty coöperation than they are giving me.

"Last December, at the request of this committee, I spent three days with Pastor Okubo, of Takasaki, and Mr. Kashiwagi at Annaka, Dr. Neesima's old home, endeavoring to revive the work there, and three more blessed days I have seldom had. Each day began with a six o'clock prayer-meeting, then in groups of two we called on all the church members, and in the evening had preaching and prayer services. That this work helped in quickening the life of the church is the cheerful testimony of the pastor. This last week I have spent four days with the same two brethren at Tomioka and vicinity. The church there, scattered in five or six towns and villages, was formerly a fairly strong, self-supporting church. Coldness and quarrels divided it into several factions, so that it could scarcely raise the necessary traveling expenses for Mr. Okubo, who has gone there on Sunday afternoons. We began our work in Tomioka, the centre of the field, urging upon the Christians a renewal of their personal loyalty to Christ and the necessity of uniting again. in calling a pastor.

"Then we went again in groups, accompanied by the Tomioka Christians, to the outlying villages, walking across the snow-covered mountains, sleeping on beds by no means downy, everywhere urging the same plea, with the result that all whom we could reach responded heartily. God has richly blessed our work. Old feuds have been laid aside, and the church has agreed most heartily to raise at least fifteen yen per month, and to invite a pastor, with some aid for a short time

from the mission; so that the outlook for this church has brightened considerably. To-morrow I go to Omama, where we have one family of excellent Christians; for the whole of next week to Haraichi and vicinity; while next month is to see similar work in Fujioka, Takasaki, and once more in Annaka. After that I hope to spend considerable time in the north part of the province, where the work is in a very critical condition."

OSAKA.

Dr. John T. Gulick writes from Osaka, December 27:

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My own work is largely in connection with the young men who are pressing into the varied departments of business in this great commercial centre. I teach two hours each morning in the boys' school, which has been an important medium of Christian influence during the past ten years. Until recently I have also given two evenings of each week to the same school. A great change came over our station a year ago, when Mr. Imamora was laid aside by paralysis. The four self-supporting Kumi-ai churches of the city, however, hold on with persistent effort, though there has been some shrinkage in their numbers within the last two years."

Dr. Gulick refers specially to the good, earnest work done by the Japanese pastors in the several churches of the city.

from the United States. She shows a most earnest evangelistic spirit, delightful to behold, when so many come back from study abroad changed in this respect, and she is a great addition to our working force.

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This fall, too, we placed an evangelist in a village out about eighteen miles to the east of us, too far to admit of the work being carried on successfully from this city. He looks after the work which has been started in four or five places in that region, and when I was out there about a month ago the prospect seemed very promising. This does not add, however, to the number of our station force, as he was formerly in a place in the southern part of our field from which it seemed best for the present to withdraw a direct worker.

"I returned home just three days before Christmas from a two weeks' tour in the western part of our province, of which the church in Ochiai is the centre. I have never before seen the work anywhere in such an encouraging condition. There are two places in particular of which I have written before, Nishigawa and Yumoto, which were first visited by the pastor and myself about two and a half years ago. Since then the work has been carried on as well as possible from this distance, and has advanced slowly but surely. Now there are eight Christians, four of them school-teachers, and as many as twelve inquirers in the former place, and four Christians and three inquirers in the latter. Besides this there are many inquirers in the surrounding villages throughout the region, making the total number between thirty and forty, of whom probably twelve or fifteen will be ready to receive baptism at the coming January communion service. The Holy Spirit is evidently at work bringing the seed that has been sown to fruition, thus leading numbers to accept the salvation of God in Christ. Any one who had known these places as I have known them during the past three years could not doubt that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation."

Mexican Mission.

GROWTH OF GUERRERO.

MR. WAGNER, under date of January 2, writes from Guerrero :

"During the last months the work has become very encouraging in many ways. Among many of our people Christian growth is noteworthy. The brethren and sisters are taking more active part in prayer and testimony. There is also some encouragement in the offerings, though circumstances have made money very scarce at this place. Sabbath observance is the least satisfactory, though a notable improvement. The attendance at all the services is increasing. Rarely have I seen in a congregation such an active spirit of working for and with others to bring them to the services and to a full knowledge of the truth.

"Our Christmas services and the special services of the Week of Prayer were largely attended, and the interest manifested by so many strangers was more than expected. Our meeting room was often too small to accommodate all the people. The Sunday after Christmas five new members were received, representing three new families. About one hundred and fifty attended the service. At the same time a goodly number of new candidates were received. The sale of Scriptures and Christian literature, and the number of inquirers after the truth and for tracts to further inform themselves, has, during the last month, exceeded that of any month in my experience anywhere.

"Our enemy seems to have weakened lately, so that the people in general seem more free to follow their heart's desire. All around circumstances are unusually favorable for rich blessings in Christian development and the ingathering of a

harvest later."

West Central African Mission.

ADVERSE INFLUENCES.

MR. READ, of Sakanjimba, reports that two Portuguese traders have settled within five minutes' walk of the mission premises.

These men trade in cloth, but principally with whiskey, for rubber. They do not openly oppose the missionary work, but, dealing as they do, their influence is deleterious. Though the natives see a difference between the Portuguese and our missionaries, yet they are classed as white people, and there is more or less of confusion as to the relations between them. It will take time to lead these native people to a recognition of the difference between Christian and non-Christian lives. Concerning some encouraging signs Mr. Read writes: ·

"The medical work is making sure if necessarily slow progress. Dr. Bower has four old men and one woman as patients living upon the place at the present time, and the villagers are beginning to ask for medicine, and pay something for it, which they have never done before. Very few girls are coming regularly to school now, owing to the hard and continuous work they have to do in the fields at this season of the year, but the village boys' school is being attended pretty regularly. The Sunday morning service is regularly attended by the chief and old men, and many of the young men who are at home. A Sunday evening service, made attractive by the exhibition of stereopticon Bible pictures, is well attended by elders and children of both sexes.

"Turning to the manual side of our work I am glad to report that our village is walled in with walls that will last for years, and that the village schoolhouse at Lutamo is completed and will be put to use as soon as feasible. There is encouragement for the future as well as in the present. We have the good will and respect of the old men, and hope to keep it and see it increase for the Lord's sake. As those who watch for the souls of the station lads it seems wise not only to point out to them the Way of Life, but to expect them to be good examples, and to vie with each other and their teachers in making our village a Christian village, ‘a city set upon a hill,' an example to the country all around. To this end we wish to make the life as attractive as possible

"This month has been one of hard work and encouragement. Dr. Wellman has succeeded to a gratifying extent in getting back into line some who, while not backsliding in its worst degree, were slipping beyond our control. This has required much will power, personal conversation, and so managing matters that to keep out of the line would be to remain voluntarily in an undesirable situation. Both in the Sunday preaching, which I do, and in evening prayers, which for some months have been conducted by the doctor, and in personal conversation, we have endeavored to reach their reasons, convincing them of the propriety and right of what we insist upon."

NO RUM GIVEN.

Mrs. Currie, of Chisamba, reports an interesting incident concerning one of the deacons of the church, whose bride-elect died nearly two years since. As time progressed there seemed to be no one suitable for a helpmeet for him until recently a nice girl came to visit the station and after a time desired to go to school. Deacon Salusuva sought her hand in marriage. The rest of the story we give in Mrs. Currie's words:

"Some young men had proposed to marry her, among them the chief of Cisingi — a man who owns large numbers of slaves and villages. but she refused them all. However, she accepted Salusuva, though her uncle's consent must also be gained. Last Monday, Lumbo and Cipilika went with the would-be suitor, according to native custom, to be examined and approved of, or the reverse. The uncles were willing, if rum were given to seal the bargain. The boys told them that they did not use rum for any purpose, and asked if cloth or rubber would not do. No,' was the reply; you must give rum or give up the girl.' They waited for some time, and at last came home rather crestfallen. Mr. Currie ad

The scimm. fe of the school has been evinced this term, not so much by me extrariy manfestations, as by sear, quet endeavors to carry out into practice the principles professed during the great revival last term. The interest a Bible study has been great. In a number of instances we have rejoiced in seeing great victories over self, and the cases in which we have had to exercise disepine have been very few. In November the school was examined by the government inspector of schools. He expressed himself highly gratified with the progress made in every department. The primaries, who are under Miss Smith's special superintendence, did remarkably well, and the result must have been very gratifying to her and a reward for all the patience and perseverance with which she has labored.

In the senior department I must particularly mention the highest class. There are only four girls in this, the eldest not yet sixteen. Although the examination was a very stiff one, they succeeded in obtaining full passes in every subject. The inspector said they had thus passed out of his domain,' and were prepared to enter into training as teachers, which I am most anxious they should do, If only God's dear children in America, who are so nobly supporting this work, could see some of these girls, and then look round on their heathen relatives, they would most vividly realize what the Lord had done and is doing for this

percie, through them, and that knowledge cred act help but strengthen their faith, and encourage them in their loving endeavor to extend the kingdom of Christ." Mr Dorward, of Amanzimtote, gives a sumlar report of the work at that station, and also Unsunduri, which is under his cire. Of the latter place he speaks of there unexpectedly on a Saturday afternoon, and quite unknown to most of the people, yet he found a full church on Sunday. The Ireland Home" for girls at Amanzimtote is filled by a very nice class of girls who are manifesting a good spirit. There is great need of reinforcements in this mission, and Mr. Dorward can say, "The life here is to me a constant joy and blessing. I am thankful it was the Father's good pleasure to send us to this land.”

European Curkey Mission.

THE SALONICA FIELD.

MR. E. B. HASKELL, of Salonica, reports concerning several out-stations of that district, in many of which there is varying light and shade: Of one of these places, Drama, he says:—

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At morning service on Sunday twentyfour were present, and I administered the first evangelical baptism in Drama, after receiving the babe's mother and a young man to communion. The interest was so evidently deep that after the sermon I called for immediate decisions to follow Jesus. Such a call is unusual here, and there was a silence. I had asked them to lift the hand. At last I called by name the father of the baby baptized, whom I knew to be decided in mind, and asked whether he did not want to live for Christ. He struggled to his feet in response. Most of the audience were seated on the floor. Then this man's younger brother, a nice appearing youth of nineteen, said aloud, Mr. Haskell, I want to walk in this way'; and this in the face of his betrothed and her mother, who were opponents of this way.' Then another young man echoed, I also wish to.' Then I said that women were not excluded, and