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Lamsan went yesterday to a village on the coast called Kang Khan, where some interest has been shown in the gospel, and three or four seem to have believed. It is a resort of pirates; indeed, the people generally practise piracy; the son of one of the believers (as we hope) is still a head man among the pirates. I visited it a few months ago, and Mr. Talmage very kindly held an examination of the professed disciples. On both occasions they seemed to be subjects of Divine teaching. To illustrate the ideas

murder was denounced as a sin. Much
good seed was sown, but it will remain
unfruitful until the Spirit is poured out
from on high. God is surely encourag-
ing his people just now to pray for floods
on the dry ground. He will have us
wait for the early and latter rain.
Believe me, yours very truly,
ALEX. GRANT.

INDIA.

"Would you kindly tell me

of the people regarding the future state, Extract Letter from Mrs. Murray Mitchell. I may mention that while one man gave evangelical and beautiful answers to the questions asked him, his mother-who, if you and the kind contributors of work perhaps, influenced by the change she saw in him, said she wished to worship God, gave such answers as these. When asked what happiness she expected after death, the answer was, that children and grandchildren should have enough to eat and put on, probably meaning that they should be able to worship her spirit in a liberal manner. When the desert of sin was explained to her, and she was asked if she expected to be an heir of heaven or hell, she replied, "Just as God pleases." And just now one who has been stedfast for several months is annoyed by his wife, who says that of her three sons she will not have one to perform the rites, as the husband requires them to receive Christian instruction, so she earnestly demands that one at least remain a heathen. Shortly after Mr. Talmage's visit, one with whose appearance he was much pleased was called to leave this world. He gave the evidence of enduring persecution and suffering loss by keeping the

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have any special object to which you would like the proceeds applied? or would you leave the matter to our own discretion ? We should prefer the latter very much. Many necessities arise, and many objects present themselves in the progress of our reluctance, we are obliged to leave untouched, missionary work, which often, with deep because of the lack of funds. For instance, I am very anxious to be able to support a colporteur, or rather an itinerant native catechist, who would at once sell books, tracts, and Bibles, and also preach the gospel in villages through which he would pass. know of an agent I could employ in this way, a thoroughly Christian man, whom we know well, and whom my husband baptised some years ago, who would be altogether trustworthy; but alas! I have no funds. I wish to raise for this object £40 or £50 a-year. Then we are anxious to have a shop in a Mahommedan part of the town, and very near where we expect to live, for the purpose Mitchell could go in the evenings to preach. of selling tracts and Bibles, and where Dr. It would be presided over by a native Christian, and my husband thinks it would be very useful. Next we have two nice little At last communion at Pechuia one Mahommedan boys, whom we are trying to young man was admitted. He was also bring up in our more excellent way." examined by Mr. Talmage. He is a They are boarded with a nice, native Chrisvery interesting man. Last year he was tian family, and go to school daily. a persecutor, and greatly grieved his have supported them for some years; poor uncle, Chu-kak, who is a deacon, but little fellows, they were sent to us, when who even then expressed the strongest quite infants, by a magistrate who found confidence of receiving his nephew in them in the jungle. Everything in Bombay answer to his prayers. He was baptised is so terribly increased in expense, that we by Mr. Douglas, on Sabbath, the 5th of February.

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fear we cannot afford to keep them longer without a little help. Excuse the long narrative of our wants, dear Mrs. Chalmers, but Yesterday, two young men belonging if you think the ladies who contributed the to the American Brethren's congregation, work would like it, we should apply the the chapel-keeper, and I, went to a proceeds to one or all these objects. We village about four miles south of this, have just had a most encouraging proof of and preached in it in four or five places. the value of our tracts and books. Large numbers heard. One respectable Sabbath last my husband baptised a most man lost his temper because infant-respectable Hindu, who had only once seen

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a missionary, and whose convictions regarding the falsity of his faith, and the truth of ours, were the result simply of reading. He procured Christian tracts and magazines, and before he came to Bombay, the Spirit had so taught him, that he was ready to be admitted to the Church. His daughter, an intelligent little girl of eight, was baptised with him, and we hope, ere long, to welcome his wife and the rest of his family, who are not now with him here.

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"Female education is advancing much among the natives themselves, so that it is difficult for us now to get up, and to keep up,

good daily schools. Our boarding school,
under Mrs. Nesbit and Miss Laird, is in a
most flourishing condition. We had a very
interesting spectacle lately at the examina-
tion of the native schools, supported by rich
Hindus.
I am, very truly yours,

M. H. M. MITCHELL.

[Mrs. Chalmers, of 1, Park-terrace, Westbourne-park, London, will gladly take charge of any contributions towards any of the excellent objects mentioned by Mrs. Mitchell.-ED. E. P. M.]

Correspondence.

OUR SYNOD'S DEPUTATION TO THE VAUDOIS CHURCH.
To the Editor of the English Presbyterian Messenger.

The following interesting letter has just been received from Mr. Matheson :

La Tour, Vaudois Valleys,
18th May, 1860.

MY DEAR SIR,-Having returned last
night from Pomaret, where I had the
satisfaction of attending the Synod of
the Vaudois Church, and of representing
the Synod of the Presbyterian Church in
England, it occurs to me that a brief
account of the meeting will be interest-
ing to your readers.
And let me first
express my deep regret that Mr. Duncan,
of Greenwich, who was nominated along
with myself on the deputation, and who,
to my delight had made arrangements
for coming, had not arrived up to the
period of my leaving Pomaret. I had
quite counted on his coming yesterday
morning, and sent a carriage down to
Pignerol, a journey which occupies about
two hours either way, to meet him at
the terminus of the railway. It was a
great disappointment to me and to others
when the carriage returned without him;
and as the time for receiving the deputa-
tion arrived, I delivered my commission,
receiving an assurance that, should Mr.
Duncan arrive later, they would afford
him an opportunity of also addressing
the Synod.

Most of your readers are aware that the Church of the Waldenses is older than the Reformation. It has been established on the testimony even of their

enemies that the Christians of these valleys received their religion from the primitive Italian churches; and if the Apostle Paul himself ever did take his journey into Spain, accompanied by the Christians of Rome, it was through these valleys he must have passed, preaching, as was his wont, in every place to which he came.

Be that as it may, from the earliest days of the Christian Church the gospel has here been handed down from father to son in the same purity and simplicity as that in which it was at first preached.

Persecuted on the plains of Italy, the Italian Christians sought refuge in these wild and secluded valleys; and though their blood, and that of their bitter enemies has often dyed the soil, and flowed down their mountain torrents, God has preserved the remnant to this hour, and has granted them in recent years manifest tokens that he has a favour unto them. The deep interest which was taken in them by the late excellent Rev. Dr. Gilly, has especially tended to make their case known to the Christians of Britain. The generosity and friendship of General Beckwith, who still survives, has done much to ameliorate their social condition. The encouragement and wise counsel of the Rev. Dr. Stewart, of Leghorn, who is now their most valued and most trusted friend, have been deeply felt by them. The fidelity, wisdom, and intelligent zeal, of

some of their leading pastors have been conspicuous. They have not failed to see the plain reason for which they have been so remarkably preserved by God as a separate and proscribed people, until Italy with its glorious plains should be opened to receive the Evangelist and the Bible. Accordingly, since 1848, when, by the Constitution which was then granted to the Sardinian States on the accession of the present king, Vaudois were relieved of the civil disabilities under which, till then, they had been crushed, they have established missions at Turin, Genoa, Nice, Alexandria, Pignerol and other places which have been mainly supported by the Christians of Britain and other lands. they have established stations at Florence, More lately Pisa, and Leghorn. And now that the whole of northern Italy is open before them, it is of immense importance that they should be in a position to send labourers to all the important cities, and thus take, in God's good time, a noble revenge for the bloody persecutions of other and darker days.

187

Appia, Evangelist at Pignerol, appointed to the duty by the Table Vaudoise. The sermon, which, with all their proceedings, was in French, was from Luke xii. 42,-" Who then is that faithful and wise steward," &c. and was an eloquent and faithful appeal to the members, and the audience which crowded the church, closely resembling a Highland congregation.

space were I to describe the manner in It would occupy too much of your which the proceedings were conducted, or to give any details of the business that was transacted. If it should be likely to interest your readers, I may do so on a future occasion. The election of Report of the Table, the administrative a president, vice-president, and clerk, the body elected at each Synod for the conduct of business subject to review by the next Synod, and the critical report by a commission who had had under their review the Report of the Table during fifteen days prior to the meeting, and discussions upon both these reports ocDeputations of the Free Church of the cupied the first few diets. Then the Canton de Vaud, and the Free Church of Scotland where heard, the latter composed of Dr. Stewart, of Leghorn, Mr. Macdoggall, of Florence, Mr. Thomson supplying at Genoa, ministers, Sheriff Jamieson of Edinburgh, and Mr. Young of Leghorn. Sheriff Jamieson was the principle speaker, and claimed in warm terms their earnest attention to the evangelistic work in Italy. evidently produced a deep impression. His address At a subsequent diet Mr. Pendleton, a clergyman of the Church of England, formerly chaplain at Monte Video, gave a deeply interesting account of the Vaudois settlement in that country. This gentleman has acted a noble part to the poor Vaudois whom he found there in great need of encouragement and succour. has, in fact, been a father to them; and The Synod was held this year at been able to send out lately a minister through his exertions the Church has Pomaret, instead of at La Tour, the and schoolmaster from the valleys. Any usual place of meeting. Pomaret is a further assistance which friends may give beautiful spot, situated at the bottom of to Mr. Pendleton will be admirably bethe Val San Martino, in which is the stowed. A large audience of the peaBalsille, for ever consecrated in Vaudois santry attended to hear Mr. Pendleton, history by the Rentree glorieuse of Henri and a touching scene followed, when he Arnaud and his seven hundred followers. was presented by the President, in the The weather was delightful, and the Synod was opened on Tuesday, the 15th instant, under the most favourable circumstances, by a sermon from Monsieur

It was accordingly felt that the Synod of the present year would be especially important, and it was this which chiefly led me to suggest that it should be visited by a deputation from our church. Nor has that expectation been disappointed. It must indeed be stated that there is still a party in the Vaudois Church who do not cordially enter into the views of their more evangelistic brethren. Indeed such of us as are familiar with the ecclesiastical discussions in Scotland, sometime previous to the disruption, felt that something very like the ancient "moderate" type might have been detected in certain of those who favoured the assembly with their observations. It is often said that everything has its use, and even a moderate is not without value when he drives men of a different mould to an uncompromising confession of the truth and to deeds of Christian heroism.

He

name of the Vaudois, with a beautiful
silver cup, as a memorial of a country's
gratitude for his benefactions to her sons.
It was then that I was called upon to

address the Synod, followed by the vene- seminary, where, when interested in the rable and beloved Frederick Monod, truth, they can be trained to go forth to who visits the valleys for the first time. The reply of the President to the Deputations was in affectionate and grateful

terms.

The necessity of earnest prayer for a revival of religion was much dwelt upon during all the time we were assembled, and I cannot avoid the impression that much good will result from the meeting. Among the other friends who were present were Admiral Pakenham, and Mr. Evans, of Cannes, and Mr. Duncan, of Liverpool.

Trusting to be very soon among you again, greatly improved in health,

I remain your's very sincerely,
H. M. MATHESON.
19th May.

their countrymen as fully furnished Evangelists. Never, in my judgment, was a more signal answer to prayer; fears were entirely disappointed, and a result for which we dared not at one time hope achieved in a manner quite unexpected, and with an enthusiasm never before seen at a Vaudois Synod.

Our friends will, I am sure, rejoice in this with thanksgiving, and will contribute to help forward the spread in Italy of that gospel which alone can give true liberty, peace, and prosperity to any nation. Yours very sincerely,

H. M. M.

MINISTERIAL SUPPORT.

Australia, March, 15th, 1860.

Messenger.

P. S.-About an hour after I left the Synod Mr. Duncan arrived there, and had the satisfaction of addressing it next morning. He also witnessed the close To the Editor of the English Presbyterian of the proceedings, which I was unable to do. I must add a few lines to tell DEAR SIR,-My attention was drawn the you the principal decisions come to, and other day to two articles in the "Messenger" which I feel convinced will initiate a for October and December last, elicited by new era in the work of evangelism in a letter of mine that appeared in the SepItaly, and be for the ancient church of tember Number. I am glad that the mind the valleys a scarce looked-for seed of of the Church has again been drawn to the blessing. important subject of ministerial support. 1. A commission was appointed, with I then stated that the miserable provision Dr. Revel, late Moderator, for President, made for the ministers of the English Presto superintend the Evangelisation in Italy. byterian Church had to do with their deHitherto the work has been superin-parture, one after the other; some back again tended by the Table, in addition to the

administration of the Church's internal affairs. This change, although opposed in argument by the best friends of Evangelisation, and only carried in a house of sixty and upwards by a majority of seven, was accepted by the minority in the true Presbyterian spirit, and an excellent Commission was named, embracing the very best men the Church possesses.

2. A proposal made with much diffidence by M. Appia, evangelist at Pignerol, and warmly supported by M. Meille, evangelist at Turin, to transfer their Theological College from La Tour to Florence, the centre of Italy, was eventually carried by a unanimous vote, the result of which was received by a shout of enthusiasm from the whole assembly. Nothing could be more in accordance with the earnest desires of Dr. Stewart and the true friends of Italian Evangelisation, as the youth of Italy will have at their own doors

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to Scotland, and others to the Colonial field; and I did not hesitate to state that it was one of the elements that determined my own course. Nor can any one at all conversant with the facts of the case wonder that it should be so. My object at present is simply to advert to one or two misconceptions that have arisen in the minds of the writers of the articles in question. (1). It is a misconception that I left the English Presbyterian Church animated by a feeling of bitterness against it. Little does the writer know how sincerely I was attached to it, and ignorant indeed must he be of the humble efforts I made for twelve years to advance her interests, in venturing on a statement so rash as this. I can only say that when at length I was induced to transfer my ministry to Victoria, it was with deep regret that I left the church in which I was licensed, and within whose bounds I had so long laboured. (2). It is a misconception that I was constrained to do so by "straitened circumstances." If by that is meant that my case was peculiar, or that I had obligations I could not meet, there

mensurate with your necessities, if the evils under which you have so long groaned are to be removed. Why should they give occasion to despondency or despair? The remedy for most of them lies in the hands of the people, and on them a very grave responsibility rests, if they suffer them to continue. The remedy for the deficient sus tentation of the ministry clearly lies with them, and on them must rest the responsi bility of driving earnest and laborious ministers out of her pale. A fund for ministers' widows, and the proper support of ministers when disabled through affliction or old age, are indispensable parts of your financial machinery. All this requires large heartedness and liberality; and these, I trust, your people will be enabled, through the grace of God, to display.

never was a greater mistake. My worldly all reasonable ground of complaint on this circumstances were probably better than score be taken out of the way. those of the one half of my ministerial In God's good providence I am settled brethren. True indeed my stipend was in an important sphere in the land of my 1207. per annum. No very great amount, adoption, free from all external anxiety, and some will be disposed to admit. But if you relieved of all that "service of tables" that deduct 251. from this for house-rent and not unfrequently presses on ministers at taxes, and imagine yourself encountering home-and I shall often turn an anxious eye the cares of a household on the remainder, to your proceedings in England. Most you would probably conclude that your heartily do I wish you "God speed." I circumstances were somewhat "straitened." know of no section of the Presbyterian In this sense too many of the faithful minis- Church that has greater difficulties to conters of the English Presbyterian Church tend with than yours. But these very diffi may be said to be in "straitened circum-culties, if rightly viewed, ought all the more stances." And in this sense only I may to rouse your people throughout all your admit that the phrase was applicable to me borders to the adoption of measures com. as to others. My case was not peculiar in this respect. As to the other view of it, that I have supposed, viz., that I had obligations that I could not meet, I have only to say, that I owe no man anything, nor ever did. I am clear with the world. (3). It is a misconception that I meant to reflect on the church at Hexham. What I said was intended for the church at large, and not for the congregation at Hexham. Its membership was small, and its resources limited. The Communion-roll when I went amounted only to about 70, and when I left to about 130; a higher number than it had reached for upwards of twenty years. And if it be remembered that during my pastorate of two years and a half they regularly met all their obligations, and cleared off a debt of 4007. that had encumbered them for many years, it will appear that I had but little room for reflecting on them. The truth is they did more than many whose numbers are vastly greater. Moreover they knew, and the church knows, that we parted on terms of mutual respect, and amidst mutual expressions of Christian affection. I repeat emphatically that the writer grossly misrepresents the truth, and that I meant not to reflect on the church at Hexham at all, but on the church at large, for suffering such a state of things to exist. Some of the poorer members of the church may not be able to see the justice or necessity for any such reflection even on the church as a whole; but there are others who both can and ought to see it, and labour in the spirit of the measures inaugurated last Synod, till

I have felt constrained to say these things, that I might be set right in the eyes of friends at home, and contribute, however humbly, to the rising feeling in the English Presbyterian Church, that something must at length be DONE, to right the position of her ministers, and render her future more hopeful. My conviction has long been, and if possible is now stronger than ever, that the consolidation of existing interests, rather than the hasty extension of her borders, is the present duty, as well as the safety of your church; and that she would act wisely in making this her policy. Praying that present prosperity may dwell in your Zion, I am yours, very faithfully,

ROBERT HENDERSON.

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