We have still humbly to confess before God our manifold sins and shortcomings, our failure to avail ourselves as we should have done of the many privileges and opportunities which He has vouchsafed to us, that we have so little of the mind of Christ, the many divisions and jealousies which still separate the Lord's people and weaken our testimony to His Holy Gospel, the prevalence of intemperance and Sabbath desecration, the lack of Spiritual power in circumstances where it is so greatly needed for the enlightenment of those in darkness, and reformation of Society, and the salvation of souls.

We earnestly invite you to unite with us on this Day of Prayer for Ireland in offering up our common supplication at the Throne of Grace that it may please God to put forth speedily His almighty power for the Spiritual emancipation of our country and the establishment of His kingdom in the hearts of its people. Signed on behalf of the Council,

BANGOR (President). E. J. SAUNDERSON, D.L., M.P.; H. TOWNSHEND, M.A., Dean; HENRY GALBRAITH, M.A., Archdeacon; DAVID DRUMMOND, J.P.; WILLIAM TODD MARTIN, D.LIT.; JOHN A. LONG, M.A., Archdeacon; WESLEY GUARD; JOHN MURPHY, J.P.; ROBERT J. HANDCOCK; GEORGE CHAMBERS, J.P. (VicePresidents). JOHN R. FOWLER, M.M.; SAMUEL M'COMAS, J.P. (Honorary Treasurers). J. DUNCAN CRAIG, D.D.; J. DENHAM OSBORNE, M.A.; JAMES S. FLETCHER, D.D.; WILLIAM NICHOLAS, D.D. (Honorary Secretaries). DAVID MULLAN (Secretary). Christian Union Buildings, Dublin, Feb. 12, 1894.

THE annual meetings of the Langholm Branch of the Evangelical Alliance were held on Friday, 11th of December last. The prayer meeting took place in the North United Presbyterian Church Hall, in the afternoon, and the public meeting in the Temperance Hall, in the evening, when Mr. Malcolm, of Burnfoot, presided. The Chairman, after referring to the beauty of Christian fellowship and unity, said there was very considerable progress seen in the spirit which animated Christians of different denominations. He also spoke of the work of the Alliance during the past year in assisting persecuted Christians of Russia, Turkey, and other lands.

The principal address of the evening was given by Dr. Macfarlane, of the London Missionary Society, who spoke of mission work in the South Sea Islands, taking a rapid glance at the progress of Christianity generally and of mission work throughout the world. He felt there was a great deal to encourage them to go forward, and sufficient to convince them of the value and adaptability of the Gospel to all races of men. He then gave a vivid description of mission work in the field where he had laboured for so many years.

The Rev. Geo. Orr then briefly addressed the meeting, which was closed in the usual way.

MARÉ. The missionary work on this island, it will be remembered, suffered severely on the passing of the island under French rule. For a time the Roman Catholic governor ruled in a way that hindered the work of the missionaries of the London Society, and aroused the deep hostility of the native Christians. Recent reports speak of a better state of affairs, the present governor being a good and just man. Nevertheless the Roman Catholics have pulled down a Protestant Church and another church has been closed, so that the people worship outside beneath the trees. Native Christians still delight in the Word of God, and they dwell in their thoughts upon the happy days when they received the Gospel from the hands of the missionaries. There is clear evidence of the genuineness of their love and zeal in the fact that they have recently raised and sent to the Paris Missionary Society as a contribution 580 dols., the French Evangelical Society having undertaken to prosecute the work which was turned over to them by the London Mission.

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM JAN. 18 TO FEB. 16, 1894.

Alliance House, 7 Adam Street, Strand, London, W.C.

**Remittances may be made payable to the order of the secretary (Mr. A. J.

Arnold), or to the Treasurer.

THE Annual Conference of the Evangelical Alliance is this year to be held in Tunbridge Wells, and the time has been fixed, at a meeting of the Local Committee, attended by the General Secretary, for the 25th, 26th, and 27th of September. We trust that the well-known prevalence of Evangelical teaching in the Church of England in and around Tunbridge Wells will cause a more than ordinary interest to be felt in the work and objects of the Alliance, and that Nonconformity, which is also well represented in the neighbourhood, will show its interest in Christian union. It is too early as yet to speak of details, but we hope in time to be able to announce an attractive programme. We would also remind our readers that the Annual Conversazione will be held on Thursday, May 17, at Regent's Park College; the kind invitation which has for so many years been given to the friends of the Alliance by the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Angus having been this year continued by their successors, the Rev. Principal and Mrs. Roberts. It is expected that, as usual, several foreign brethren will be present and take part in the meeting. Full particulars will be given in our next issue.

The Council of the Evangelical Alliance have found it necessary to issue a statement to the effect that they were not in any way parties to the seditious political movement now being carried on in Armenia, and would only use the influence of the Alliance on behalf of those who were really suffering from religious persecution. The following paragraph has, therefore, been recently published: "The activity of certain Armenians and their friends in Great Britain and elsewhere is seriously imperilling the safety of Protestant

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Christians in Turkey. The Turkish Government naturally fails to distinguish between the different sections of the Armenian community, and there is the gravest danger that the law-abiding and really Christian portion of the Armenian people will be made to suffer punishments which should fall on others who, having secured the safety of their own lives, now take care to keep themselves outside the territory of the Sultan. The statement that there are "2,000 Armenian Christians" suffering imprisonment is simply untrue, unless it be claimed that the whole Armenian population are "Christians" in the proper sense of that word. There are scores of Protestant Christians in Armenia who are suffering persecution, and the efforts which are being made on their behalf are greatly hindered by an agitation carried on for political purposes."

The Christian World has interviewed Professor Thoumaïan and his wife on the subject of what it calls their "crusade " on behalf of the Armenian prisoners, and reports the interview under the sensational headings of "Two Thousand Christians in prison," "Professor Thoumaïan's crusade," "The Evangelical Alliance favours the unspeakable Turk." Professor Thoumaïan, in answer to the question, "What is the object of your present crusade ?" replied: "It is purely religious. I want to arouse English public opinion-which is much respected in Turkey-by making you acquainted with the actual facts, and I should have thought that my work would have been approved by the Evangelical Alliance. It prefers, I know, to work quietly, and to make its appeal to influential persons only. But is that sufficient? By so doing it may obtain the release of a few prisoners, but it has little influence on the general persecution. I want to help all, and it seems to me that the appeal to the people is more evangelical than the policy of the Alliance. I think I am called by God to a special work which the Evangelical Alliance cannot do."

This last sentence reveals the real state of the case. It is quite true that the Evangelical Alliance cannot do what Professor Thoumaïan has undertaken to do-viz., attempt to stir up public opinion in England against the Turkish Government on the grounds which he puts forwards; for, according to the best information they can obtain, such grounds will not bear examination. So far as they are informed the number of prisoners concerned is not 2,000, but some scores only. Moreover, Professor Thoumaïan considers the fact of their being, as Armenians, nominal Christians entitles them to be regarded as persecuted for their Christianity, whereas this is distinctly denied by the Turkish Government, who profess to respect their treaty obligations to grant religious liberty to their Christian subjects. No doubt Turkish officials may, and often do, abuse their power; and any well-authenticated case of an Armenian Christian suffering distinctly for the Gospel's sake and not for political disaffection, would enlist at once the sympathies of the Evangelical Alliance. Their only fear is that such cases will be all the more difficult, if not impossible, to help by reason of the agitation which is now being carried on. The release of Messrs. Thoumaïan and Kayayan is the best proof that the Turkish Government is amenable to reason when it can be shown that religion alone was the cause of any being imprisoned.

The Methodist Recorder deals with the same subject, publishing an interview with the Secretary of the Alliance, and also a leading article from

which we quote the following extract: "Two things have always to be remembered when we read or hear about the persecution of the Armenians. One is the need for distinguishing between the acts of the Sultan and the acts of local authorities; and the other is the extreme difficulty under such conditions as prevail in Armenia in judging between religion and sedition. The present Sultan of Turkey is by no means an incapable or unreasonable ruler, and as the Evangelical Alliance has proved again and again, and as Lord Rosebery knows still better, it is not difficult when clear evidence is available to induce him to redress wrongs inflicted by local subordinates. On the other hand, in the present circumstances of the Turkish Empire it must be obvious to every thoughtful observer that there is strong temptation to utilise Christianity in the interests of political intrigue. Dr. Hamlin, who organised Robert College in Constantinople gives a circumstantial account of a Revolutionary party, whose centre is in Athens, and which has branches in every village and city of Armenia, and also in the Colonies."

One more extract from the same source will conclude our present reference to the subject: "Mr. Thoumaïan and his friend Mr. Kayayan were unjustly imprisoned. They and other Evangelical Christians were involved, without the slightest fault on their own part, in the confused tumult attendant on a seditious movement. They were condemned to death. They owe their life and liberty to the wise and resolute efforts of the Evangelical Alliance and the English Charge d'Affaires in Constantinople. The Sultan gave them a free passage to Brindisi, and a sum of money sufficient for their journey to England. Mr. Kayayan is quietly studying in Edinburgh, and there can be little doubt that if Mr. Thoumaïan had pursued a similar course the English Government would have had it in their power to do more for the Armenian Christians than is just now possible, and the Evangelical Alliance might have secured permission for these two brethren to return to their missionary work in the College at Marsovan. We have made diligent inquiry into the whole question, and can only conclude that whilst no benefit at all can possibly accrue from the agitation which Mr. Thoumaïan is conducting, very real injury may be done to the interests of Evangelical Christianity in Armenia."

The Archbishop of Dublin is to be congratulated upon the success of his long and persevering efforts on behalf of the Reformed Episcopal Churches in Spain and Portugal. The Irish Bishops-two only dissenting-have agreed to give him liberty to proceed to Spain accompanied by two of their number-the Bishops of Down and Clogher-to consecrate the Bishops-elect for Spain and Portugal respectively. The party in the Church of England who regard this as another outrage upon what they consider their sister church of Rome in those countries, are very indignant; and The Church Times expresses its indignation at what it calls "a new Dublin scandal" in very abusive terms. Many of our readers may not, perhaps, consider liturgical forms to be the best mode of public worship for Spanish Reformed Churches; nor, even if they do, may they regard consecration by other Bishops as a step in any way necessary to the being of an episcopal church, so many and great are the superstitions which have sprung up around the theory of Apostolic succession. But if only the new Episcopal Churches will avoid unchristian exclusiveness, and will maintain

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