Great Britain, whose recent exertions to secure the perpetuity of the Ottoman Empire entitled her to consideration, were more than a sham; and it was still feared that if a Mussulman became a Christian, his conversion would, according to the legislation of the Koran, cost him his life. It is, however, gratifying to find that it is not so. "The law of the Koran," says Mr. Porter, "which from the first was the sole civil and criminal code of the Mohammedan empire, condemns to death every apostate. It permits no plea; it tolerates no exemption. By a recent decree of the Sultan, granted on the demand of England, that law was annulled. The first man who availed himself of this decree, by publicly renouncing the errors of Islamism, was Khalil, the Protestant convert of Nebk. The readers of the News of the Churches already know how hard was the struggle to secure for him in practice what the Sultan had solemnly guaranteed to all in theory. For nine months he was a prisoner in the British consulate. During that time the Turkish authorities employed all the artifices of their crooked policy to entrap and ruin him. It is a glorious fact, however, that Khalil was saved, and that a noble precedent was thus established. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has great reason to bless God that her missionaries at Damascus were mainly instrumental in securing this inestimable boon for the Moslems of Turkey. The whole country is now open to missionary enterprise. No cruel statute fetters the Moslem. Every class and every sect is accessible. There may still be opposition. A fanatical populace and tyrannical rulers may even attempt to intimidate missionaries and to persecute converts. They have done so in Palestine within the last few months, and they will do so again. But the influence of England can easily put a stop to all such irregularities. English consuls have a right to interfere; and if they do not fearlessly assert it, the fault is theirs. France openly protects the Papists of Turkey. Russia as openly protects the Greeks. England has done more for Turkey than France and Russia together; and she may, therefore, justly stretch forth her hand to shield Protestants from oppression. The blood of thousands of her bravest sons has been shed in defence of the Sultan's tottering throne; and recent events connected with the missions in Damascus, and other parts of Palestine, prove that our present enlightened rulers are fully prepared to insist upon the rights that have been so dearly bought by our country. It is now only necessary to place the evidences of oppression fairly and clearly before our government, in order to secure energetic remonstrance and speedy redress. "The present, therefore, is the time for vigorous and united action in Palestine. The door of access stands invitingly open. The Great Head of the Church has, by the instrumentality of his ministers, and by the mysterious workings of his all-wise Providence, prepared the way. It remains for us, his obedient, faithful people, to go in and оссиру. In no other part of the world is there such a promising and important field for missionary labour." Nor is the open field an empty one. It is already entered, and partly cultivated; and here and there the green leaf and pretty flower are indicative of spiritual life, and prophetic of a future harvest. "The Word of God," observes the writer just quoted, "in the language of the people, is widely distributed and extensively read; vast numbers of books and tracts on the doctrines and duties of the gospel are circulated through the length and breadth of the country, and are almost everywhere the class-books in native schools; the missionaries are known, and their influence is felt, not only in the large cities, but also in the most remote villages. All sects and classes can now see for themselves what pure Christianity is. There is nothing to repel, and there is everything to attract them in its doctrines and ceremonies. Precious fruits, too, are beginning to appear. The little mission churches in Damascus, Beyrout, Aleppo, Antioch, Sidon, and Jerusalem, contain goodly bands of pious, faithful, and devoted converts. Some of these, such as Dr. Meshakah of Damascus, John Wortabet of Hasbeiya, and Butros-elBistany, of Beyrout, would, by their talents, zeal, and acquirements, reflect honour on any church in Christendom." A noble mission has been successfully opened in the West of Bengal, called the "Chota Nagpur Mission," and deserves the special attention of any who doubt either the capacity of those who are deeply plunged in barbarism, or the ability of the gospel to reach and raise them. The mission itself embraces a "series of districts larger than Ireland or Portugal," west of Bengal, called the "South-western Frontier Agency." It is divided into six political districts, embraces an area of 44,000 square miles, and contains a population of 4,000,000. "In the districts bordering on Bengal many of the people are Hindoos, but for the most part the population consists of aboriginal tribes-the Urans, the Kols, the Mundas, and Santhals." The tribes form a caste, and the caste itself is an idol to the people, and an impediment to the gospel. The mission among this people was established in November, 1845, by the Rev. C. Schatz and three other brethren, sent thither by the old and venerable pastor, Gossner, of Berlin, who finished a long and valuable life, March 30th, 1858. Like many other projects of a philanthropic character, it was not successful at first. Years passed away, during which the missionaries laboured hard but reaped sparingly. "But after four years' of apparently unsuccessful labour, at last the time of the visitation of the Lord came. Several Mundas and Urans came to visit the brethren at Ranchi, attended their Sunday and weekday services, and began to ask about the new way; but they came and went again. At last, four Urans took courage to confess their faith in Christ Jesus, and broke their caste. They were all proprietors of land: two of them were possessors of half villages; the other two had lost their possessions by the trick of a zemindar. They received baptism on Trinity Sunday, in the year 1850; but no sooner had they embraced Christianity than the cross of Christ was laid upon them, and they were put to the trial of their profession. One remained unmoved, and has done so to the present time, standing as a pillar in the congregation. His name is Nouman. The others wavered and bowed under the stroke, and have never since regained their former strength, though still confessing their faith in Christ. The embankment, however, was broken, and the flood took its way, widening from year to year, notwithstanding the wrath and opposition set against it; so that we are now unable to state the exact number of those who have joined since, as they increase from day to day, and every Sunday's service is attended by those who, in the foregoing week, have resolved to join the flock of Christ; certainly they number far above one thousand. None are baptized till after they have undergone the trial of the reality of their profession, and after having received closer instruction. Of such, including children, there are about four hundred." The good thus commenced among a people "addicted to vices which made them not unlike the savages of the South Sea Islands," was hindered, and, but for its depth and genuineness, might have been annihilated by the Indian mutiny, the washings of whose terrible waves reached even there with fury. When the work was resumed in 1858, the missionaries stood where they began thirteen years before; but since then their holy toil has been a swelling triumph. From the town of Rauchi (head quarters) into numberless villages and away among the Santhals in the remote jungles, the word of life has run and prevailed. Judge Wylie, of Calcutta, writes:-"On Christmas-day upwards of fourteen hundred persons assembled at the head station (Rauchi), among whom were a hundred and fifty new families who had come from the heathen to seek for baptism. When Mr. Schatz returned from Germany in January, he was astonished at the progress of the work. Apparently the people are themselves spreading abroad the tidings of the gospel, and there is every reason to hope that the Spirit of God is moving in their hearts, and in the hearts of many to whom they speak. Whereunto this will grow cannot yet be conceived, but certainly there is a call for special prayer that nothing may grieve away the gracious Spirit, and that a signal manifestation of Divine power among these interesting people may convince the most doubtful of the glorious tendency and prospect of missionary work in this country." Similar for its success is the good work in the neighbouring country of Burmah, among the Karens. "The Karens occupy the mountain ranges which run almost parallel with the Burmese coast, from the borders of Bengal as far south as Rangoon." The country is rugged and wild, akin in many respects to Scotland, but more luxurious; and the people are described as less effeminate than inhabitants of the East generally, and "not devoid of genius." They were prepared for the gospel by the existence among them of curious traditionary beliefs and documents, which asserted the existence of God, and reprobated idolatry. Mr. Wade, the first missionary there, drawn by the solicitations of a Burmese convert, thus describes his first interview :-" On our arrival, every man, woman, and child, had deserted their dwellings, and hid themselves in the jungle. We sat down in the shade of their houses, and after some time, one or two of the men summoned sufficient courage to show themselves, and ask our object in coming to their village. Komyat-kyau told them our only object was to tell them about the true God, and the way of salvation. Oh, is that your object?' they replied; we thought you were government officials, and we were afraid; 6 but if you are religious teachers, come to tell us of God, we are happy; we will listen. Have you brought God's book? Our fathers say the Karens once had God's book written on leather (parchment), and they carelessly allowed it to be destroyed. Since then, as a punishment, we have been without books, and without a written language. But our prophets say, the white foreigners have the book, and will restore it to us. Behold, the white foreigners have come, Our as our prophets foretold! fathers have told us, that when the white foreigners bring us the lost book, and teach us the true religion, we must listen and obey-then prosperity will return to us-but if we do not listen and obey, we shall perish without remedy. Long have we suffered, and prayed for deliverance, and now that the white foreigner has come with the lost word of God, according to the saying of the fathers, if we do not listen, we know that the threatening also will be fulfilled."" So prepared, we are not surprised to learn that the progress of the gospel among them has been signal and brilliant. There, at present, are 14,000 regular converts, and nominal worshippers and readers of the Bible in tens of thousands. And the work still spreads. Writing in December, Dr. Mason observes:-" When I look at the mighty work in progress around me, the prospect renews my youth, and I feel younger than when first I entered the mission. North, east, and south, Christian villages are budding into existence around a centre in which they are blossoming and bearing fruit by the hundred; and all have sprung up out of darkness, deep as chaos, within five short years, as by the waving of a magician's wand. The poetry of the conference and prayer room is here changed to literal prose. 'See heathen nations bending Before the God we love, The gospel call obey, While we write, London, like Jerusalem at one of her festivities, when the tribes of Israel met in "the city of their solemnities," is all life and stir. The May meetings are passing off with, perhaps, more than their wonted interest. It was our purpose to review them in relation to missions, but as we go to press earlier than usual, in anticipation of Conference, we defer the pleasing task till our next. IOTA. WRATH DISARMED BY CHRISTIAN CANDOUR.-A man of my acquaintance, who was of a vehement and rigid temper, had a dispute with a friend of his, a professor of religion, and had been injured by him. With strong feelings of resentment, he made him a visit for the avowed purpose of quarrelling with him. He accordingly stated to him the nature and extent of the injury done him, and was preparing, as he afterwards confessed, to load him with a train of severe reproaches, when his friend cut him short by acknowledg ing, with the utmost readiness and frankness, the injustice of which he had been guilty, expressing his own regret for the wrong which he had done, requesting his forgiveness, and offering him ample compensation. He was compelled to say he was satisfied, and withdrew full of mortification that he had been precluded from venting his indignation, and wounding his friend with keen and violent reproaches for his conduct. As he was walking home, he said to himself, "There must be more in religion than I have hitherto suspected. Were any to address me in the tone of haughtiness and provocation with which I accosted my friend this evening, it would be impossible for me to preserve the equanimity of which I have been witness, and especially with so much frankness, humanity, and meekness, to acknowledge the wrong which I had done; so readily ask forgiveness of the man whom I had injured, and so cheerfully promise a satisfactory recompense. I should have met his anger by anger, &c. There is some thing in religion that I have hitherto been a stranger to." He soon after became a Christian.-Dr. Dwight. ARCHBISHOP USHER AND THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT.-At the annual exhibition of the grammar schools of Boston, Edward Everett closed an admirable speech with the following anecdote: The celebrated Archbishop Usher was, in his younger days, wrecked on the coast of Ireland, at a place where his person and character were alike unknown. Stripped of everything, he wandered to the house of a dignitary of the Church in search of shelter and relief, craving assistance as a brother clergyman. The dignitary, struck with his squalid appearance after the wreck, distrusted his tale and doubted his character, and said that, so far from being a clergyman, he did not believe he could tell how many commandments there were. "I can at once satisfy you," said the archbishop, "that I am not the ignorant impostor you take me for. There are eleven commandments." This answer confirmed the dignitary in his suspicions, and he replied with a sneer, "Indeed, there are but ten commandments in my Bible; tell me the eleventh, and I will relieve you." "Here it is," said the archbishop: "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another." HEAR ME, YE HILLS, YE Rocks, AND WOODS.-A Mr. Ramftler states that a Hottentot, being under deep conviction of sin, wished to know how to pray. He went to his master, a Dutchman, to consult him; but he gave him no encouragement. A sense of his own wickedness increased, and he had no one near to direct him. Occasionally, however, he was admitted into the family at the time of prayer. The portion of Scripture which was one day read was the parable of the Pharisee and Publican. While the prayer of the Pharisee was read, the poor Hottentot thought within himself, "This is a good man; here is nothing for me;" but when his master came to the prayer of the Publican, "God be merciful to me, a sinner!" "This suits me," he cried; "now I know how to pray!" With this prayer he retired, and prayed day and night for many days, and then found peace. Full of joy and gratitude, he went into the fields, and, as he had no one to whom he could speak, he exclaimed, "Ye hills! ye rocks! ye trees! ye rivers! hear what God bas done for my soul; God has been merciful to me, a sinner!" KIND WORDS.-They never blister the tongue nor lips, and we have never heard of any mental trouble arising from this quarter. Though they do not cost much, yet they accomplish much. They help one's own good nature and good will. Soft words soften our own soul. Angry words are fuel to the flame of wrath, and make it burn more fiercely. Kind words make other people good natured. Cold words freeze people, and hot words scorch them, and bitter words make them wrathful. There is such a rush of all other kind of words in our day, that it seems desirable to give kind words a chance among them. There are vain words, and idle words, and silly words, and hasty words, and spiteful words, and empty words, and profane words, and boisterous words, and warlike words. Kind words also produce their own image on men's souls. And a beautiful image it is. They soothe, and quiet, and comfort the hearer. They shame him out of his sour, morose, unkind feelings. We have not yet begun to use kind words in such abundance as they ought to be used. -Pascal. SPEND YOUR TIME WELL.-Spend your time in nothing which you know must be repented of. Spend it in nothing on which you might not pray for the blessing of God. Spend it in nothing which you could not review with a quiet conscience on your dying bed. Spend it in nothing which you might not safely and properly be found doing, if death should surprise you in the act. "I am CONTRAST IN DEATH. taking a fearful leap in the dark," said the dying infidel Hobbes. "This is heaven begun. I have done with darkness for ever. Nothing remains but light and joy for ever," said the dying believer, Thomas Scott. Oh, for a moment's peace!" cried a dying infidel. "Peace! blessed peace! Come, Lord Jesus!" whispered a dying Christian. HUMILITY. "The bird that sings on highest wing Builds on the ground her lowly nest, And she that doth most sweetly sing, Sings in the shade when all things rest; In lark and nightingale we see THERE is one single fact-one that may be opposed to all the wit and argument of infidelity-that no man ever repented of Christianity on his death-bed. MEMOIRS AND RECENT DEATHS. MRS. PERRY, LEEDS. By her Grandson, Thomas Gardner. (Continued from page 289.) SHE was very social in her nature, and delighted much in the company of her Christian friends. Frequently, after joining the Methodist New Connexion, did she make tea parties, inviting to them the ministers and other friends; and these meetings were made, through the blessing of God, meetings of spiritual profit. The Bible and Hymn Book were on the table, and nothing but religion was conversed about. At one of these parties, while prayer was being offered up before tea, one of the company received the bles sing of sanctification. There were present on that occasion the Revs. John Henshaw and Andrew Lynn, ministers whom she dearly loved. The happy |