come, as they must, all that is really solid, and substantial, and nourishing in the preaching of the Gospel in Italy, and its results, would stay in the sieve, and the chaff would vanish through the holes.

Let us all give to both the assistance of our prayers and sincere good will, for both are doing a great work in the Lord's vineyard. Let us rejoice in the good news that we hear from the Valleys, from other parts of Italy, and especially from Florence. In that city, these meetings, for the purpose of "breaking bread" together, as they call it, were held in three different places about a month ago. About sixty persons, it seems, were assembled in each place, thus to do what the Lord has commanded us to do in remembrance of Him. Several persons who had long been Bible readers were then for the first time present, not having known before of such meetings being held. Thus many hidden disciples may be found in Florence like those that suddenly appeared in the time of Elijah, when he thought himself alone. It ought to be mentioned here that by several persons the good conduct of the converts during the days of the revolution has been commented upon. They took no other part in the struggle going on except that of going out in the great square, and trying, in individual instances, to calm down the agitated feeling which here and there was near to break forth into acts of rashness. To the mercy of God alone must it be ascribed that their gentle words were of any avail.

From the Valleys of Piedmont we also have good news. At the Synod of the Vaudois Church held at La Tour this year, a new Table has been elected, which seems to give much satisfaction. One was first elected with Mr. Lantinet at the head as Moderator, and seemed very well chosen, with the exception of, one member, with whom the other members declared themselves unable to work, and one

after another they resigned their election. All was confusion-it was late at night-what was to be done? Prayer was proposed, and, as usual, the Hearer of prayer was present and granted the askedfor boon. The election again began, and when morning dawned, Mr. Revel was Moderator; Mr. Lantinet, Vice-Moderator; Mr. Muston, Secretary; and the two lay members were Mr. Vahl and Mr. J. Malan, of Turin.

This choice is considered a very good one by those who know the state of Vaudois affairs. The experience of Mr. Revel, who was Moderator during many years, will, it is hoped, be of much use in the present critical time.

The former Moderator, Mr. Malan, is gone to Florence, where he worked successfully years ago till he was banished, and it is to be hoped now that the field is open, he may again have a blessing on his missionary work; in that capacity alone he is gone, and not with a view to the forming of a Church. An application has been made to the Sardinian Government by the Vaudois Table to be allowed to send "Aumoniers" (Chaplains) to the seat of war; but it has not been responded to. It seems that the pressure of business at Turin is so great, that matters which probably are considered of minor importance, are not at this moment attended to.

It

Let us not trust in Governments, or armies, or in the existence or non-existence of Church order, but in Him alone who rules in His kingdom and fights the battles of His people, who governs His Church and will lead it triumphant out of all the troubles and apparent confusion of these times. is one in His eyes-let us look to that, and pray that more and more we may come to see it in that light, and avoid, each of us, every word and action that can tend to keep the people of God asunder from each other in heart and feeling!*

A TRAVELLER.

Armenians, 75,000; Syrians and Chaldeans, 20,000; Maronites, 140,000.

In European Turkey there are 10,640,000 Christians, and 4,550,000 Mohammedans,

latter.

Rev. Mr. Wheeler writes from

KHARPOOT.

"We hear of a very encouraging state of things in Palu, where some thirty men assemble regularly to read the Bible. Accompanying this information there came an order for thirteen Bibles and a number of other books. From Choonkoosh, also, came an order for two Bibles, ten Testaments, and twenty other books. Such is the demand for books, that within six weeks we have sold for cash more than 167. worth; and had we had a supply of Armenian reference Testaments, the amount would have been greatly increased. In the city we are encouraged by seeing new faces at our chapels every Sabbath. At the last communion two natives of Haboosi were admitted to our Church.

TOCAT.

"On Monday evening, March 7, the Mission House and Theological College of Tocat were entirely consumed by fire. Mr. Van Lennep escaped with his wife and children, losing all his library, furniture, and clothing. Messrs. Winchester and Pettibone, residing in the wing of the building, succeeded in saving the greater part of their effects, though Mr. Winchester's library and furniture were much injured. The origin of the fire is a mystery, but suspicions are entertained that it was the work of an incendiary. We cannot be too grateful that the calamity occurred so early in the evening; had it been later, lives might have been lost. Mr. and Mrs. Van Lennep sustain their great loss with resignation. Our native brethren are, however, very much disheartened, especially the members of our school.

"Much sympathy will be felt for those on whom this trial has fallen, and who have lost all in a strange land, far removed from relatives and friends. It is pleasant to know, however, that they meet with kindness where they are. Mr. Pettibone says: 'Many of the most ignorant and bigoted of the Armenians rejoice at this calamity, but the better class grieve much, and wish to do all in their power to render us com

fortable. They assure us that their houses are all ours, and at our disposal.' Mr. Van Lennep writes, a week after the fire: Many friends have come to light during this trial. Many of all classes called to express their condolence and sympathy; quite a number gave us most urgent invitations to stay at their houses, and we are now the guests of the principal Armenian in the city, who not long since opposed us, but is now doing everything he can for our comfort.' He says: 'I cannot begin to speak of my personal losses; of all my private papers, sketches, and books, collected together during the last twenty-eight years; of so many tokens of kindness from distant friends, and mementoes of departed ones; of my library of nearly two thousand volumes, in English, French, Greek, Armenian, Turkish, Latin, and ancient Greek, with a sprinkling of Italian and Arabic; of my sermons in Armenian, prepared with a view to future usefulness; of my lectures on sacred and profane history, the natural sciences and theology, all carefully prepared in Armenian; of the commentary on the Old and New Testament in Armenian, in the process of revision; and an elaborate commentary on the first eight chapters of the Epistle to the Romans, nearly ready for the press. .. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken blessed be the name of the Lord.'' TRIPOLI, SYRIA.

away;

Rev. Mr. Lyons writes::"While seated with my family at the dinner-table, a young Arab friend entered hastily, and in an excited manner said, 'Kowaji Lyons, come and see a strange sight.' Having finished my dinner, I descended with him into the street, and proceeding to the eastern gate of the city, I met an immense crowd of men and boys, completely filling up the street and making further progress impossible. Ascending the stairs of a small shop close by, I perceived a long procession with flags and music advancing, just without the city gate. Inquiring into the reason of this display, I learned that a new Moslem Sheikh had just been in

augurated to take the place of one who had recently died, and that they were now escorting him to a mosque in the city. The crowd slowly giving way, the procession came up, preceded by a band of ten musicians, their musical instruments consisting mainly of noisy drums, tamborines, and castanets. Next came a number of men bearing the Turkish flag and the green sacred banner of the Mohammedan faith. Then another band, followed by four men destitute of clothing except a girdle round the loins, gashing and cutting their naked bodies with knives and swords. These miserable men suppose that by inflicting torture they render themselves holy and acceptable to their prophet, Mohammed. Then came other bands of music, at short distances apart, with flags and banners; next followed another company of men, cutting and wounding themselves with swords; and near the close of the procession appeared the Sheikh himself, mounted on a black charger, accompanied by a number of persons on cach side bearing banners above his head.

"And now it remained to me to witness the strangest part of this spectacle. A space was cleared in the street near the point where I stood, and eight or ten men, throwing themselves down on the earth side by side, the Sheikh rode over their prostrate forms amid the shouts and acclamations of the infatuated throng. This was repeated several times as the Sheikh proceeded through the city; new persons presenting themselves at each place for the privilege of being trampled upon by him, thinking that this act was pleasing to God and would make their entry into paradise doubly sure. They believe, also, that a faithful Moslem, if he have any disease, by throwing himself before the horse of a newly-inaugurated Sheikh, will be instantly cured. I am told that this dangerous experiment often results in broken bones and other serious injuries. My heart sickened at the heathenish spectacle.

"On meeting some Moslem acquaintances in the evening, in answer to their usual inquiry whether I had any news, I recounted to them the strange scenes I had just witnessed, and compared them to the pagan worship of the Hindoos in casting themselves before the murderous car of Juggernaut. They admitted that I was quite right, but assured me that it was only the more ignorant and superstitious portions of Mohammedans who participated in these performances. But the sad fact is, that the

ignorant portion of their sect comprises the great mass of the whole, and the more learned among them are morally no better and no nearer the truth than the unlearned." The annual report from Tripoli station states:

"On the 1st of June we purchased a place for religious worship. We had long felt the need of a larger room than any of our houses could supply, and, after much searching, we finally selected a large room, thirty by forty feet, in a central and eligible location, belonging to two young Moslems, and at the time rented by a Greek, who used it for a grog shop. At first they feared to sell it, being told by some bigoted Moslem that their children would die, and other calamities would befall them, if they let their house to the infidels. After waiting a few days, the eldest brother went to one of the religious dignitaries of the Moslem sect, named Abu Gosh, and asked his advice. The Sheikh said to him, 'Do not fear. I know these men; they honour God and reverence His prophets. They are honest, and pray truly; they do well who convert a grog shop into a house of prayer.' After this assurance, he came to us and expressed his desire to lease the building to us. He was afraid to sell it outright, but leased it to us for seventy years. The price paid was so small, in a city so crowded as Tripoli, that many persons have re. marked, 'Satan must have been asleep when that bargain was made.' The Greek who kept the grog shop and was compelled to remove, leased another house for his business, and Mr. Jessup has also secured that for the coming year-thus turning him out a second time; so that some of the people have remarked that these men have at least one proof of apostolic authority, 'they cast out devils.' The building purchased for a chapel has been repaired and fitted up neatly, and will now seat nearly 150 persons."

CANA.

Rev. Mr. Eddy writes:

As

"A Jesuit priest, who is a graduate of Oxford University, has recently visited Cana, with the express intention-everywhere loudly proclaimed-of bringing back the Protestants to their former faith. he had a good knowledge of Arabic, and much plausibility of address, he was calculated to make a great impression. On arriving, he commenced with the teacher.

Come,' said he, 'I have just seen your father in Ain Zehalta, and he has turned Catholic, and so have all the rest of your