OUR SOUTH-INDIA MISSION. 91 the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. The stream of good news for lost sinners, which pours forth from the Gospel fountain, has crossed the path of many a Hindu in these parts. Some have turned from it with disdain, more with indifference; some have felt their deep need, trusted its efficacy, and have partaken of the blessedness which it imparts; while some are still looking on, undetermined, with more or less apparent desire after it, but with a stronger cord within still binding them to the world. Such especially was the case a few weeks ago, when a young man, in Government employ, stood at the church door during the greater part of our morning service, and heard the word of salvation. He went away in apparent thoughtfulness, and came again the following Sunday, and stood listening at the door throughout the whole time of prayer and sermon. As he left, he remarked to a convert who addressed him, that his heart was stirred up from its foundations by what he had heard. In the evening he came to me to say he must be a Christian, and wished me to fix on an early day for giving him baptism. On further conversation I found that his father was from home, and that he thought that if he could only take the decisive step now, while his father was away, all would become easy. I advised his confession of Christ first of all in his own house, and that, after he had given evidence of his faith and sincerity before his own family, I would receive him into the Christian church. After much expostulation on his part, pleading that he had given up the use of the sacred ashes, he consented to do as I proposed, and, after carnest prayer together, he went home. As soon as his father returned and was informed of his son's intention, he at once sent his daughter-in-law home to her relatives, and got several officials to speak to his son, and advise him not to disgrace his family by renouncing Hinduism, and professing himself a Christian. The young man, thus separated from his wife, whom he had just lately married, and fondly attached to his parents, is bewildered as to the course he should pursue, and now halts between the world and Christ. He has given up all heathen ceremonies. If only there were no cross in the profession of Christ, how many converts from among the higher classes might we have! The Gospel is read by many of them in secret, and admired. Contrasted with their own books, it requires no very great effort of the mind to see at once how pure, benevolent, and glorious the one is, and how impure, baneful, and peurile the other. But who of us can fully understand how much it costs a Hindu of rank to give up all for his convictions for Christ. With respect to the efforts of his own people, the Christians of the Palamcotta district, in the direction of self-support, he adds the following pleasing testimony The efforts which our people are making towards the support of their own teachers continue to be carried on successfully and cheerfully. One great secret in the success we meet with is, that every man does something. The various plans adopted to collect their contributions are the following-1st, We have twelve collectors, all natives, who are supplied with collecting cards, and who bring their collections to me quarterly or monthly; 2nd, We have half-yearly general meetings, when the contri 92 POETRY." SPRING UP, O WELL." butions made chiefly by the women in their own houses, in small pots, are brought together; and 3rd, We have annual meetings in four circles of villages, at which each man presents his subscriptions, and the accounts of the previous year are read, and speeches are made by two or three speakers. A general report is yearly printed and circulated among the people. The amount contributed this year is 964 rupees, which sum, added to their contributions for other religious and charitable purposes, raised within the year, forms a total of 1668 rupees. No one who knows the Hindu character will fail to observe, that where money is thus liberally supplied, it must be that the people feel no small amount of interest in the religion which they thus profess and support. "SPRING UP, O WELL.” DEAR Saviour! help my soul to see Of grace, and strength, and energy. O fill my heart with grateful praise, The stream of Pardon, Lord, I know, So conscious of its daily need, The stream of Life, whose waters feed The stream of Consolation, full My grief: when surface springs are dry, And Wisdom's well-spring near me lies, And draw with gladness from the source Throughout a "land of brooks," my way "Pensive Lyrics.”—Macintosh and Co. (93 A FAITHFUL CATECHIST. ENDURANCE is the crowning evidence of true faith. It is said, "Whosoever believeth in the Son of God shall never perish." It is also said, "He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.” There is no discrepancy between these declarations. They harmonize, for true faith is enduring; and he who truly believes will be certain to endure. If one falls away, it is because his faith was not the operation of God's Spirit in his heart. That faith is unconquerable, for "that is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." There are many such faithful warriors to be met with on the battle-field of Christian life. As of old Paul said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course," so there are many who, as they lay down their lives, are enabled, through grace, to say the same words. "One of our catechists," observes the Rev. J. Thomas, of Tinnevelly, "was removed by cholera, in the month of April last. He had for many years been stationed at an important village surrounded by heathen, Romanists, and Mohammedans. The position was a difficult one, but he admirably fulfilled its duties. To meet the violent temper of Mohammedans, he was gentle and forbearing, and thus disarmed them, so that he could generally obtain a fair hearing. The Romanists he found disposed to offer opposition through the encouragement of the priests, but he managed for years to avoid collision with them. Of Popery he had a thorough detestation. I never knew a native who had a clearer insight into the character of that fallen church than he had. He always bore his testimony against her, even before the authorities; and nobly on one occasion, when a former Collector insisted on his calling the members of that church Christians, he withstood him, and positively refused to call them by any other name than Romanists. "He had for several years lived down all opposition in his neighbourhood, and was a 'burning and shining light' among the heathen and Christians. While yet in the prime of life, and in the zenith of his usefulness, it pleased Him whose will controls the destinies of men to remove him from earth to heaven. On Sunday, the 23rd of April, he attended divine service at 7 A.M., and read the lessons, my son being present on the occasion. He was not well at the time, and left the church never to enter it again. The second lesson was the 20th of Acts, in which occurs the noble and affecting address of St. Paul to the elders of the Ephesian church, on occasion of his bidding them a final farewell. The language was exceedingly appropriate, and might with truth have been adopted by the departed catechist as his own farewell address to the people, among whom he had so long and faithfully laboured, and by whom he was so much respected and beloved. My son visited him, and spent three hours at his bedside, while he was suffering from the disease, encouraging the people to use every means for his recovery; and he did rally, and for a time hopes were entertained that he might survive; but he had a relapse, and rapidly sank. He was in a remarkably calm and happy frame of mind. Shortly before his dissolution, he said, 'I have fought a good fight; the time of my reward is come; my sins 94 A TOUR IN MONGOLIA. are cleansed by Christ's blood, and I have no fear.' Those who witnessed the departure of his spirit noticed a sweet smile on his countenance, and he breathed his last full of hope. The inhabitants of the whole neighbourhood, heathen and Christians, testified their respect for him by attending his funeral, and the congregation of the place have erected a tomb over his grave, the headman bearing the expense of the inscription, which he selected himself. It serves as an admonition to all who knew him. The verse is (Heb. xiii. 7), "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.'” A TOUR IN MONGOLIA. WE were last month obliged, for the want of space, to leave out from our concluding article the following very interesting account of a tour in Mongolia, performed by an American Missionary. Having started for Chang-kia-keu in North China, on the 9th of August last, the writer proceeds to say— For fifteen or twenty miles we were continually ascending, and sometimes up hills so steep that we were obliged to walk, as two horses could not, without much difficulty, draw us up. The scenery was grand and varied. On one hand the deep ravine, on the other the dizzy mountain heights; the huge stones of some standing out in all kinds of fantastic forms, as if ready to roll down upon us, the more gentle slopes of others covered with scanty vegetation. About fifteen miles from Chang-kia-keu, on the highest ridge of a mountain range, standing on the great wall, we feasted upon scenery far surpassing in grandeur and beauty any thing I had before beheld. On the right and on the left were fertile valleys, interspersed with refreshing streams, and many ranges of low hills, some barren and rugged, some covered with varied corn-fields, the cultivators and fields alike ready for the harvest. Beyond, hill above hill, mountain above mountain, arose to view, till mountain and sky appeared so to blend that it was difficult to distinguish the one from the other. Although the country appeared to us thinly populated, the well-worn roads, in all directions, show that there must be a great deal of traffic. On one day we passed fourteen or fifteen trains of bullock-carts, laden with soda and other things, each train having about one hundred or more carts. For the next two days of our journey we managed to keep the right road, with the help of the friendly Mongols, of whom we frequently inquired the way. Much we enjoyed travelling over those vast pasture lands, often amidst beautiful flowers, reminding me of dear Old England. There were the pretty blue and white campanula, and forget-me-not, wild thyme, mint, the brilliant blue larkspur, dandelion, thistles, buttercups, and many other flowers, scattered with profusion all around. We passed many Mongol huts or tents, and large droves of horses, camels, cattle, and sheep, but often travelled many miles without seeing a human being, the country here is so thinly inhabited. You may be surprised that we dared to venture alone in that way, and were not afraid of robbers. There was no cause for fear A TOUR IN MONGOLIA. 95 amongst the honest Mongols. The very way in which they live, in huts far apart, without the least protection, shows the confidence they have in each other. August 17th, we arrived at Lama Mian (Bhuddist Temple), or TolonThis is a place of some commercial importance, situated about two degrees north of Peking. nor. The large temples from which the place derives its name are situated on elevated ground, about half a mile from the town. There are two main buildings, more than one-fourth of a mile apart, each surrounded by several hundred priests' residences and smaller temples. These Buddhist temples of Mongolia are like the monasteries of olden time, the chief seats of learning, and preservers of the literature of the country. The priests, like those of the Romish Church, take a vow of celibacy, and there is much also in their mode of worship which reminded me of what I have heard and read of the Romish ceremonies. We went to the principal temple at their worshipping time. There were about fifty men and boys in long yellow surplices, made similar to clergymen's white ones. These were seated in two long rows, facing each other. The eldest sat nearest to the "altar," above which was an image of a goddess; not of the Virgin Mary, but I dare say it was as much like her as many of the images of her. On the altar-table there were fruits and cakes, and a pot of burning incense. At the head of the two long rows of priests and choristers were two large vacant chairs, or thrones, on one of which was a hat and surplice like those worn by the priests, and before it a table, with millet and other things upon it. I suppose these must have been to feed the soul of the departed priest while in purgatory. Near this chair sat an aged grey-haired priest, who conducted the ceremonies. He also had a table before him with millet on it, which at intervals he solemnly sprinkled towards the vacant chair. He started a chant in a low bass voice, the others gradually joined in, and soon, from a low deep murmur, their voices rose to a cheerful song, which in its turn gently died away. In time and tune they kept harmoniously together. The effect was grand. Between the chants, or prayers, were the beating of drums, the ringing of a bell, the blowing of trumpets, and occasionally a long, deep, mellow blast from two large horns, each ten or twelve feet long. In the midst of one of their prayers, a priest, bearing a chalice of holy water, sprinkled a few drops towards each one as he passed. Some reverently held out one hand to catch a drop, and then put it to their lips. At a given signal they all put down their musical instruments, and arose and put on their hats. Thus clad in hat and surplice, they presented an imposing scene. Their hats are made of yellow velvet, with a feathery-like row of wool at the top. There was one thing which struck me-the very apparent heartlessness with which they went through the whole service. And no wonder. All their chants and prayers are in an unknown tongue. The Mongols all live in a very simple way. Their flocks and herds furnish nearly all they need-food, winter clothing, fuel, bedding, and even the walls and roofs of their houses. The milk they use in a variety of ways-fresh, boiled, sweet, curdled, made into cheeses of different kinds, and cakes, made by drying it over a slow fire. They also make very |