Called as these missionaries are to bear the depressing influences of an unhealthy climate; seeing, as they have done, many a fellow-missionary languish and die, they falter not. And why? Because what they do and suffer is for Christ's sake. Love to Christ constrained them, at the first, to consecrate themselves to this work; love to him carries them through its trials and afflictions-while by his grace Christ blesses them in their work, and exhibits to them many tokens of his approval and love.

Heavy as their trials are, that trial would be heaviest of all which should involve the withdrawal of the church at home from this work of love. And as heretofore, so now the tidings of their afflictions are accompanied by the earnest entreaty that the church at home do not allow itself to be discouraged, but in faith and patience prosecute the work with greater zeal and earnestness.

Strange sight indeed! The little band sent to do battle for the Saviour's cause at the point of chiefest danger, as one after another falls, still lifts up the banner of the cross, and cries to the great army occupying a place of comparative security: "Do not faint or be weary." Count it not too great a thing to provide for us that which is necessary to sustain us, and spare from your number those whose hearts God shall incline to come to our help."

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[From the Spirit of Missions of May.]

LETTER FROM BISHOP PAYNE.

The following letter from Bishop Payne contains much interesting and important information. Steps have been taken, it will be seen, for the full organization of the Church in Liberia. May grace and wisdom be given to all concerned, that whatever be done may be in accordance with the Divine will, and be ordered for the furtherance of the cause of Christ, and the extension of his kingdom :

CAVILLA, March 10, 1863.

REV. AND DEAR BROTHER: My last communication will have advised you of my visitation to Sinoe, Bassa, and Monrovia, in January and February. The last mentioned place I reached on Saturday, February 7th. On the following day, being Sexagesima Sunday, I preached in Trinity Church in the morning, and in St. Paul's in the afternoon. On the former occasion, I confirmed three persons. Learning from the Rev. Mr. Russell that Grace Church, Clay-Ashland, was undergoing repairs, so as to be unfit for service, I determined to spend the next Sunday in Lower Cauldwell. There I consecrated a small church, called St. Peter's, on my last visitation.

The Rev. Mr. Russell met me on Sunday morning, and read the first service, but was too unwell to do more. I therefore read service twice, and preached three times, morning and afternoon, to very full congragations.

Untoward events have checked the growth of this church during the past year, but there are materials in its neighborhood to make a good congregation under more favorable circumstances.

It has been supplied with services partly by the clergy of Monrovia, and partly by the Rev. Mr. Russell. To the exertions of the latter in former years the congregation chiefly owes its existence.

CONSECRATION OF TRINITY CHURCH.

On Sunday, February 22d, I consecrated Trinity Church, Monrovia. Rev. A. Crummell preached the sermon; Rev. Messrs. Hoffman, Gibson, Stokes, Russell, Thompson, Wilcox, Toomey, and Jones were also present, and participated in the services. The church, though the largest in Liberia, was well filled, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists having kindly attended the unusual but interesting services.

The building is pewed, but still unplastered. When finished, it will be the prettiest church edifice I have seen on the coast, and remain a noble monument of the beneficence of the Sunday schools of St. George's Church, New York.

CHURCH ORGANIZATION.

Ash Wednesday, February 18th, was the day appointed for the meeting of the General Convocation of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Liberia and parts adjacent, organized at Cape Palmas, in April last. In that organization there was merely the extension of the principles and operations of the local Convocations at Cape Palmas and in Mesurado county, which, in the former case, at least, had contributed much to the life of missionary operations.

There was, further, an approximation to the more complete organization which the churches in Liberia, especially, would naturally desire ere long to effect. While, therefore, in the proceedings of the General Convocation there was a careful abstinence from interference with the legislation of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, a resolution was passed, and, I think, transmitted to you, to the effect that a complete organization was deemed desirable as soon as it could be properly effected.

On Ash Wednesday, after the proper services for the day, I preached a sermon which I had prepared for the Convocation. On proceeding to organize, it was found that, in consequence of the non-arrival of the delegates from Cape Palmas, there was not a quorum of the General Convocation. That, therefore, adjourned. Immediately the six Liberian clergy present proceeded to organize the General Council of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Liberia. There were present at the subsequent meetings one lay delegate from Trinity Church, Monrovia, one from St. Peter's, Cauldwell, and one from Grace Church, Clay-Ashland. It appeared that these delegates had had the matter of organization under consideration, and had determined to act with the clergy.

On Thursday the lay delegates from Cape Palmas, together with the Rev.

Messrs. Toomey and Jones, arrived. A quorum of the Convocation being thus obtained, the resolution was passed "that inasmuch as the Liberian clergy had determined to supersede the Convocation by another organization, the General Convocation be, and is, hereby dissolved." This was done at my suggestion.

As, however, the council was composed of Liberians, (and the Liberian law excludes whites from citizenship,) the Rev. Messrs. Hoffman and Toomey were necessarily excluded from it.

As, moreover, the lay delegates from Cape Palmas (three natives and one Liberian) were not aware of the proposed organization, nor had been appointed by the churches with which they were connected with reference to it, nor indeed appointed by the churches at all, but were only their ministers, they could not properly be considered as members of the council. They were, however, invited to attend and participate in the proceedings, as were also the Rev. Messrs. Hoffman and Toomey. There were no lay delegates from the churches of Bassa and Sinoe.

At an early stage of the proceedings resolutions were adopted expressing the highest appreciation of the services of the Bishop, requesting him to be present, and aid by his councils the pending deliberations, and still to perform Episcopal services in the churches of Liberia.

Business proceeded rapidly, and on Friday evening the Prayer-Book and Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, with only a few alterations to adapt them to their new circumstances, were adopted. A resolution was passed to have them printed, and in due time a copy will be sent to your committee, I suppose.

It is, perhaps, only necessary for me now to state, that provision was made for four dioceses or sees, corresponding with the four counties of Liberia, to be called "The See of Monrovia," "The See of Buchanan," (Bassa,) "The See of Greenville," (Sinoe,) and "See of Harper," (Cape Palmas.) Foreign missionaries may reside anywhere, and especially among the heathen, on promising conformity to the order of the church in Liberia.

Just as the council was about to adjourn, (not finally) late on Friday afternoon, a resolution was passed, “That the organization shall go immediately into effect."

To this resolution, on the following day, (Saturday,) I felt it my duty to object, and took occasion to express my views generally on the organization.

The remarks made on Saturday and Monday received respectful attention, and before the adjournment on the latter day, the following resolution was passed: "That the organization go into operation after nine months." In the mean time that it be referred to the churches of Liberia for opportunity to state their objections, if any, and report at the next proposed meeting in December, 1863. Committees were also appointed to correspond with the Foreign Committee, and with the presiding Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.

At a later date the Bishop writes as follows:

CAVALLA, March 13, 1863.

The press of engagements growing out of matters referred to in the longer communication herewith sent, has prevented me from referring to the recent afflictions of our Mission, and to the condition in which those afflictions have left us.

It was at Monrovia, on Thursday after Ash Wednesday, in Trinity Church, while we were engaged in the matter of the Liberian Church organization, that Samuel Seton, our native catechist, just arrived from Cape Palmas, came in and announced to us the death of Mrs. Auer on the 10th, and Miss Delia Hunt on the 12th ult.

While Mrs. Auer and Miss Hunt were thus passing away, Mrs. Hoffman again had another attack of disease. Dr. Fletcher urges the importance of her leaving Africa at once, and I believe her husband has determined to take passage with her about the close of this month for Liverpool, in the ship of Mr. G. W. S. Hall. Mr. Hoffman's health, I feel, will be much benefited by the temporary respite. I say temporary, for he hopes to be back again in a few months, leaving Mrs Hoffman, if necessary, with his brother-in-law in London. Rev. Mr. Auer is also under the necessity of going soon to the United States, both by his poor health, and to take his two babes to their grand-parents in Philadelphia.

To fill the many vacancies thus occasioned, so far as may be, we have appointed Miss Hannah More and Mr. Miles to the Orphan Asylum, and Mr. J. T. Gibson, Treasurer. Miss More was some time a missionary teacher among the Choctaw Indians in the United States, and more recently in the Mendi Mission. She left that Mission, about two years ago, after some six years' connection with it, without anything affecting her character as a teacher or a Christian. Mr. Miles has also lately left the same mission, under similar circumstances. We met both at Monrovia, seeking employment, and thought it a providential supply of our great need. Mr. Miles was only a licentiate amongst the Presbyterians. He cannot succeed Mr. Hoffman as Rector of St. Mark's, but can superintend the Asylum and Hoffman Station, while Mr. Toomey and myself must endeavor to supply St. Mark's as well as we can in Mr. Hoffman's absence. I have, in another communication, written more fully of the appointment of Mr Gibson as Treasurer.

In our diminished ranks, and ever-opening field of labor, I trust the committee will recognize constraining motives to send us help speedily.

Rev. Mr. Auer has submitted to me some plans to be proposed to your committee, in reference to education in the Mission, especially for making the High School what it was designed to be, but never has been yet, a proper training institution for teachers, catechists, and ministers. I think Mr. Auer admirably adapted for such an institution. I trust, therefore, should he (D. V.) reach the United States, your committee will by every means aid his designs.

Bohlen is again left vacant, except as supplied by Brownell, and a colonist agent to take care of the Mission property. Mr. Auer thinks the place not healthy. I have repeatedly stated a different opinion. I do not think that either Mr. Auer or Mr. Messenger were in a state of mind or body to try the station fairly. I cherish, therefore, the hope that it may yet realize the expectations of the committee and my own. For many years to come, however, the High School at Mount Vaughan will be more appropriate for Mr. Auer's plans of education than Bohlen. Owing to the wildness of the people about the latter, it must be developed very gradually.

Letter from the Rev. C. C. Hoffman.

CAPE PALMAS, March 14, 1863.

DEAR BROTHER: On my return from Monrovia on the second, I was rejoiced to find Mrs. Hoffman able to be about, but in so weak a state that a change is absolutely necessary for her. Such is the opinion of the physician, and likewise of the Bishop. My own judgment fully agrees, and by a speedy departure, I trust she may be restored, to labor with me for a longer period. Anticipating this, the Bishop had engaged the services of Mr. Miles and wife, of the Mendi Mission, of whom he has doubtless written you; also Miss More, formerly of the same Mission, who is now with us, in charge of the school. We like her much.

My own health has been so bad for some time past that I have not been equal to my duties; the voyage to Monrovia has benefited me, though I am still feeble. Our little girl, too, has suffered, and is still unwell. We did think of waiting till the 16th of April, and then taking the steamer, this delay giving time for the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Miles, but the expense by steamer is so great, that we deem it best to take a sailing vessel-the brig Palmas, now daily expected.

We hope to be able to return in a few months, and leave our work with sad hearts; but I feel that if you would have us longer in the field hereafter, we must recruit. We have broken down sooner than usual, (two years and three months,) for we have been at this station most heavily pressed.

The following hymn, from the pen of one of the ladies in our African Mission, is copied from a late number of the Cavalla Messenger. It breathes a gentle spirit of loving trust and devotion:

ANNUARY.

Let us pause and place a pillar

Where the old year meets the new;

Call it Galeed, heap of witness,

Of God's love so firm and true.