instruction and occasionally tracts to provided an eligible site could be obthose who call. Our usual congrega-tained, to build. A small lot was subtions vary from fifty to 200. The visit- sequently obtained, lying on the city ers of the assistant during the week bank of the river, about one fourth of a are often 200 or more. On three days mile without the wall, and the same of the week Dr. Macgowan attends at distance from the residence of Dr. the hospital, which adjoins the chapel. Macgowan. Upon this site a small, Here he has abundant opportunities to but convenient and comfortable house heal the sick and preach the gospel to has since been erected, and is now octhe poor. In addition to his medical cupied by Mr. Lord. Br. Macgowan services at the hospital and in private had suffered still longer and far greatfamilies, he gives occasional lectures er inconveniences and exposures beon medical subjects to native practi- fore getting into his present house. tioners. On Saturday afternoon he has This was formerly a Chinese house; a bible class at his own house, which but has been so remodeled as to make is attended by those who are regarded him now a very pleasant and comfortas inquirers. A monthly concert is able dwelling. It stands just without also conducted, which several Chinese the city wall and within a few yards of attend besides the native assistant. one of the gates. The building occuConsiderable labor has also been per- pied as chapel and hospital, is within formed during the year in places which the city, and is located on one of the It has been renthave been visited for health, and also most public streets. in our daily walks and occasional ex- ed at a moderate price, and made to cursions in our own and adjoining answer present purposes with but a neighborhoods. A mission church was small outlay of expense. The mission, formed on the 31st of October. On however, is greatly in need of a better the 21st of November Chiu Seen-sang chapel, and better accommodations for was baptized. He was formely Dr. a hospital. Macgowan's teacher, but he is now employed as assistant. There are two others that have applied for baptism. One of them we have some encouragement to believe has been converted. The mission have distributed during the year scriptures and tracts amounting in all to 95,000 pages. A much larger number might have been advantageously distributed, had our means for this purpose been adequate.

The missionaries have had no schools during the year. Arrangements, however, are being made to establish a small day school, with the hope of being able at some future day to enter more fully into this very important department of missionary labor.

Mission houses.

Upon Mr. Lord's arrival at Ningpo considerable difficulty was experienced in endeavoring to obtain for him a suitable dwelling. This was owing not so much to any unwillingness on the part of the Chinese to rent houses to foreigners, as to the fact that the houses they have to rent are not such as foreigners need, and also that they are usually in places where it is either inconvenient, or, on account of its unhealthiness, unsafe to live. After a month or two of hopeless effort to obtain a house that could be made to answer with a small outlay of expense, it was thought to be the better course,

Prospects-Grounds of encouragement.

To this brief account of our doings, we will only add a few words in relation to our prospects. These we do not regard as either dark or doubtful. It is true that as yet we are few and feeble, and have difficulties to encounter which are of no ordinary magnitude. The people around us seem physically, intellectually and morally degraded to a level but a little above the beasts that perish. We see them entrenched in their systems of idolatry, which, strong at first, have been gathering strength for ages, till now as a mass it seems a bulwark almost impregnable. In addition to these and the difficulty of acquiring their language, must be added another which perhaps throws more real difficulty in the way of the missionary thau any or all the others combined. It is their deep-rooted and universal dishonesty. It may be doubted whether there can be found a Chinese, from the emperor on the throne to his most distant and menial subject, excepting the few who have become Christians, that is a man of veracity. It is easy to make among them many friends, but it

is difficult to make one that you could | wont to be made," in the shade of a trust even with your life, should the broad-spreading tamarind tree,-and mandarins offer for your head a small | there to receive to our number another bounty, except you knew it in time to offer a greater. But all these things do not discourage us. We firmly believe that He who has commanded us to go and teach all nations, will be with us unto the end; and make, through the agency of the Divine Spirit, the gospel which we preach the power of God unto the salvation of those whom he has ordained unto eternal life. This is our hope of success, and this must be the missionary's hope whether in this or in other lands. We are far, however, from believing that China, with all its difficulties, is, compared with other portions of heathendom, a discouraging field of labor. If it has its difficulties, it has also its advantages. Ningpo is doubtless one of, if not the most important and promising fields in China, accessible to Protestant missionaries. They enjoy here full toleration. They go wherever they wish, and wherever they go they can preach the gospel without the least molestation. The people are invariably kind and respectful. Nothing of that hateful and bitter feeling exists here, which characterizes the people of Canton; or, at least, if any of it exists, it is carefully suppressed. Another advantage which Ningpo enjoys, is its freedom from the evils attendant upon a large foreign trade. Its foreign population is almost entirely missionaries. The Catholic influence too, is here very small, which is a consideration of no small importance.

individual, buried with Christ in baptism and rising again, as we humbly hope, to newness of life. Chek Pit, a man in middle life, has long attended worship, and for some months past given very satisfactory evidence of being a true worshipper. I trust he is an evidence that the Holy Spirit, with his regenerating influences, is among us. His penitence for sin,-his gratitude to the Savior,-his love to the brethren,-his love of the bible,-and his zeal to make known to others the blessed news which have sounded in his ears and gladdened his heart, are, we believe, genuine fruits of the Spirit; and we hope to see the work, thus commenced, finally consummated in eternal glory. We trust his is another tongue which from among the Chinese will join in the song of redeeming love around the throne forever; and from present appearance we would hope, he will also be the means of bringing others to the knowledge of the truth. There are two others on whom we look as hopeful converts. Besides this, two of the brethren, who had caused us much grief and anxiety by their neglect of public worship, seem to be awakened, and we hope may in future be more devoted and consistent in the service of Christ. Thus our hearts are made to rejoice in the midst of our trials, and we feel abundantly encouraged to go on in our work, as we have evidence that our labors are not in vain.

Who would not be willing to labor In conclusion, we may express the even in this dark, despised corner of hope that the Board will not become the earth, if he might be permitted (as discouraged with this far-off and per- we have been) to gather in a few hopehaps expensive mission. A mission ful converts every year? Certainly this cannot be established and its machin-field is not yet destitute of promise or ery put into operation without expense. encouragement. And as we are now

closing another year, we are enabled to begin the new one with new hopes and new efforts for the salvation of souls. Whether we shall be permitted to continue those efforts to the close of the year, is known only to Him who knows the end from the beginning. Our lives are but as a vapor; yet while they last, it is our pleasure to sow and reap and gather in fruit to life eternal. And when they vanish away, who will break to this little church the bread of life, and point this dying people to the Lamb of God? Who, I ask who?

Native contributions to the work. During the past year one native tract distributer has been supported by the monthly concert contributions of the church, at an expense of thirty-six ticals ($22,00); and a subscription has now been opened for the support of the assistant at Leng-kia-chu during the coming year. Twenty-five ticals have already been subscribed by the native brethreu.

We have also purchased a lot of ground at Bang-chang, and one of the brethren has gone with his family to live there.

A pledge given, and to be redeemed. By the help of God we hope to do something there notwithstanding our weakness. We have no mind to retrench our operations or abandon our work; and we hope (though sometimes against hope,) that the people of God will not abandon us in this season of our extremity. We have committed ourselves, and we intend to commit ourselves more and more, to the work in which we are engaged. We intend to pledge the honor of the Baptist denomination in the United States, to maintain the cause of Christ even in this dark land. Nay, rather, that denomination have long since pledged themselves. And how are they redeeming the pledge! Here we are, our name has gone abroad through the whole kingdom as those who freely give books to teach the way of salvation; and in consequence multitudes of Siamese, from different parts of the country, are daily calling on us for such books; and we are often unable to furnish them. We are obliged to say, Come again some days hence, and we hope we may have some ready; or, perhaps, we give them again some tract which they have already read, or some part of an unfinished tract to satisfy their present demands. How can this be called redeeming our pledge? But we also have a name as teachers, who explain the true doctrines and teach the way of life; and, therefore, men come to converse with us; when, lo! from the pressure of duties and few ness of laborers we have scarcely any leisure to converse with them. They go away disappointed; and thus is our pledge redeemned !

Christian friends, consider, I beseech you, what you will do in these circumstances, and do it with your might. On us rests a responsibility, and also on the churches in our native land.

We have to mourn and to confess that our part of the responsibility is but poorly sustained, and we desire the prayers of our Christian friends that we may be rendered more faithful and useful. And we also endeavor to remember our friends afar off in our feeble prayers. Oh that there was more of genuine, believing prayer on earth; then might we hope to see greater things than we have yet seen.

Mr. Goddard adds in a subsequent letter, Jan. 22, “The field is as promising as ever. I believe it is a false view which regards the Chinese as diminishing in numbers or influence. Our labors continue to be blessed, and there is room to labor and gather in fruit unto life eternal. But we have asked for laborers till I have no heart to ask again."

The subjoined paragraphs are from a letter dated at Singapore, April 6.

Urgent need of reinforcement.

I wrote you some time since that I was entirely discouraged in asking help for the Chinese in Siam, but as my health improves, my courage increases; and as I have more leisure for thought, I see more reasons why something should be done for them.

I know not what my health will allow me to do, or what the Committee wish me to do. I am ready to engage in whatever labor at whatever place the providence of God may indicate. At present those indications are not decisive, farther than that I should remain here for the present and be quiet. But the church which has been established among the Chinese in Bangkok, will doubtless stand, and the worship of God be continued. If there is no missionary to labor with them, the Siamese missionaries will, I suppose, try to do something for them; and thus prematurely wear themselves out by excessive labor. Br. Jones wrote me a few weeks since, that either himself or Mrs. Jones usually attended the morning and Sabbath worship of the Chinese in order to encourage them. Now this is a great tax on their strength, and, after all, cannot be of very great benefit; as they cannot understand or impart instruction. It is all they can do, and is very necessary to be done; but it takes nearly as much of their time and strength as it would of a Chinese missionary, who

could do so much more for the benefit of the church. Besides, there are candidates for baptism, who cannot be properly examined; and in cases of discipline, what is to be done? I need not go on to show the need of one to break the bread of life to this church. You well know it.

cess should encourage and strengthen the hearts and the hands of missionaries and of those who support them; and I can also understand why he who is persecuted in one city for making known the testimony of God, should flee to another. But why the servants of Christ, with his promises, and his command to disciple all na tions, before them, should forsake their work, merely because it is a difficult work, I cannot understand.

The angels in heaven rejoice over repenting sinners, and the saints on earth may with great propriety be partakers of that joy; if it have, as in the

If my health is restored, I shall expect to return to Siam for a time, whether I am able to remain or not; but how soon it will be prudent for me to return is uncertain. I did think that perhaps prudence would require me first to spend a winter in China, but future circumstances must decide. My desire, in view of present circumstan-case of the angels, a primary reference ces, is to return to Bangkok as soon as possible. I trust the Lord will direct my steps. The fact that there is in Bangkok a good native assistant who is married and likely to remain there if his life is spared, and who is likely to be increasingly useful; and also several brethren who are capable of rendering much assistance; gives us great advantages in carrying on the begun good work. With but a single missionary, the work may go on better than at other stations with two; because when he is sick or temporarily hindered, the native helpers, with a little supervision and encouragement from the Siamese missionaries, can go on for a time and be useful; whereas in most stations, when the missionary is sick or gone, the work stops or goes entirely wrong. I do not mean to say that the cause there can now go on permanently with its present means. Errors and abuses must gradually creep in; and I shall feel anxious to hasten back as soon as providence will permit. I hope the Committee will take the case into immediate and prompt action. I suppose my friends are scarcely as sanguine as I am, relative to my ever being able to return there.

to the glory of God. Such joy could not fail to expand the heart with benevolence toward all men. That joy might unquestionably be regarded with suspicion, the effect of which upon the heart is, not to expand, but to contract its benevolent operations toward mánkind. I apprehend, however, that the joy arising from the immediate conversion of sinners, is far from being the only joy of Christ's people here on earth. It would indeed seem that Paul nearly or quite left this out of the account when, about leaving the field of his former labors, he took a hasty glance at the trials and difficulties through which he had passed; and said, before those who had witnessed his persevering labors, "I take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men; for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." The chief support of his mind on this trying occasion seemed to arise from the reflection that, whether men would hear or whether they would forbear, he had faithfully declared to them all the counsel of God.

While I feel a sincere joy in the suc cess which attends the labors of my brethren in other fields, in the immediate conversion of great numbers to Christ as the fruit of their labors, I re

MAULMAIN MISSION. - -Letter of Mr. joice the more that I am permitted to

Howard.

In a letter of April 22, Mr. Howard, in allusion to the comparative infrequency of conversions in the Burman department of the mission, holds the following language.

Grounds of rejoicing-"Debtor unto all

men."

labor for the salvation, more especially, of the hard-hearted Burmans.

If there is any one thought which fills me with complete satisfaction as to the field of my labors, it is that while there is so much to discourage effort on their behalf, I am still allowed to labor for their benefit.

It is easy, comparatively, to gain attention on behalf of the more docile I can easily understand why im- Karens; but being myself a debtor mediate and abundant tokens of suc-lunto all, I am ready to preach the