Morning Calm v.6 no.55(1895 Jan.)

THE MORNING CALM. No. 55, Vol. VI.] JANUARY 1895. [Price 1d.

The Bishop's Letter.

SEOUL: October 1894.

DEAR FRIENDS,

The end of this month finds us still in the enjoyment of the same outward political calm and uninterrupted continuation of our work. I am writing on the Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, the anniversary of the consecration of our friend and neighbor Bishop Scott, of North China. Our thoughts, therefore, are naturally turned to him and the increasing responsibilities of his vast diocese. I am glad to see from the Annual Report of the friends of his Mission, which has just reached me, that his recent visit to England has been attended with the most satisfactory results. Out here we cannot help thinking how he will be permitted to use the enthusiasm which his visit has evoked. For the present the danger to personal safety seems to have been shifted from Corea to China. As usual, you in England know much more about all this than we who get but little news from the parts of the world which lie closest to us, and get that little very irregularly. I am sure, however, that the brotherly interest and sympathy which his friends bespeak on our behalf will be heartily reciprocated by our friends on his. Manchuria, the connecting link between North China and Corea, seems now to be the pivot of a danger which threatens both countries. God grant that it may not extend further! It is evident, however, that what, in the opinion of us laymen, diplomacy could have done easily in July will, if done at all, be done with exceeding difficulty now. For ourselves, the country being free from Chinese soldiers, the Japanese have no one to fight against, but the people whom they wish Europe to believe welcomed their coming and welcomed their reforms. The Tong Haks. the original ostensible cause of this war, are more troublesome, more numerous, and more united than ever. Beyond the reach of their pickets and their money, the Japanese have not a friend in the country. What they have taken by force of arms they must keep by the same means. Resistance from the first has been impossible. It remains to be seen, however, what sort of treatment will be given by the stubborn conservative character of the Corean people to the new Constitution-outside the sphere of influence of the Japanese soldiery. The Constitution, a complete and formidable printed document, though nominally issued by the King's authority through his native advisers, smells of Tokio rather than of Seoul. It is, of course, impossible, unless some one is going to give Corea large sums of money and a strong permanent military executive, to ensure the right spending of it. We know that the Mins have gone, but the Corean officials, who, by Japanese favor, stand in their place, are not a whit less ignorant, less grasping, less corrupt. In two particulars, at least, this new Japanese-inspired Constitution will present fresh difficulties to Christian work and civilisation in the future. By Corean law, Buddhist priests and monks were forbidden to set foot within the walled towns. They were relegated to their mountain monasteries. Is there another capital in heathendom besides Seoul in which temples and an organised priesthood are not to be found ? One of the first steps which the Japanese made Corea take in the path of "progress" was to rescind this law. There will probably be no recrudescence of Buddhism just yet, for in popular estimation the monk in Corea ranks below a slave. But if Buddhism does not avail itself of this liberty, it will not be due to the Japanese.

Again, although concubinage exists in Corea, the Coreans are monogamists, and make all the difference between the children of the wife and those of the concubine, who are not allowed to call the other children by the name of brother and sister. Nor are they permitted to hold offices in the State. The Japanese have swept away this wholesome custom, and have removed these disabilities from the issue of concubinage. In doing so they have, in my opinion, driven these poor people further from the path of civilisation. The position of women here needs to be raised, not depressed. Hitherto Coreans have unwittingly, been so far on the side of Christianity in these two matters. Nor do I think that the possible possession of rail ways and a national debt-for both of which provision is made in the new Constitution - will be a counterbalancing advantage.

But this long introduction will lead you to think that, having no news about ourselves to give, I am filling my letter with padding. In truth there is not much to record. At the beginning of the month I went down to Chemulpó for two Sundays, and occupied my time between them in getting the Church and Parsonage ready for the winter. Hornets, spiders, moths, and mosquitoes going to sleep have to be swept away, and an Autumn succeeds to a "Spring cleaning." I paid two visits to the U.S. corvette Concord, and received much kindness from the officers and Captain Goodridge, who I found was the cousin of a very dear old messmate of mine. The Mercury paid Chemulpó a flying visit when I was there, and loaded us with fresh kindness. The Archer too, returned from Chefoo and brought us back Lay Sister Loïs, who has been absent over a month on a case of nursing. She was well, and though treated by everyone with great kindness, she was so glad to get home again and and the she called “the old country." I came up to Seoul with her last week, and now our nursing staff is once more complete, for, I am thankful to say, Nurse Webster is well mand fast regaining her strength. I found St. Matthew's re-opened and the work going on there as usual with Sister Rosalie in charge, and delighted. Two months ago I heard that “a friend of the Mission” (who can it be ?) had made us a present of twelve bedsteads and mattresses for our Hospital. Various delays - all occasioned by this war-prevented us from receiving this useful and handsome gift until yesterday. The big box was speedily unpacked and - so handy and convenient are the bedsteads - we all wanted them for ourselves! But they were piloted safely into St. Matthew's, and gave the Sisters and Dr. Baldock great delight. This good friend of the Mission, whoever he or she is, has our warmest, our heartiest thanks. Mr. Hodge is as busy as ever-so busy, in fact, that I do not know how to send him down to Chemulpó to superintend the instruction by Dr. Landis of one of his printing apprentices in foreign bookbinding. Mr. Warner is still at Kang-hoa, but has been to Chemulpó for two of the Sundays in this month. On my way up here last week the steamer stopped an hour at Kap Kot Chi, and I was able to pay a visit to the renovated Mission house of St. Nicholas. It is very compact and cosy. In it he has reserved a room for preaching and prayer. He does not get many to come to him yet; but we must expect a long time to elapse before the people believe that we who have, perforce, been silent for so many years have really something to say which is worth their hearing.

Our communications from Niu Chwang are now few and far between. The Mercury, however, brought me three letters from Mr. Doxat. He is well, but I grieved to hear of the illness, from fever, of our good friend Mrs. Doxat. Happily, the last letter brought me news of the crisis being past and of her gradual recovery. Mr. Doxat speaks enthusiastically and gratefully of the kindness which this illness has evoked from all the good Niu Chwang people. How well I know it! It does not matter whether they are bluejackets from the Redpoll, or dear Pownall, or now Mrs. Doxat, the Niu Chwang folk are sure to be kind. We know very little of what is really going on in Manchuria, but the position of the whole community in Niu Chwang cannot fail to be one of great anxiety this winter You will remember them constantly in your prayers, will you not? During the first part of the month I was engaged for an hour every day in reading through Lumen with the Sisters. They were good enough to think that I should help them. I soon found. however, that they helped me. They have studied it carefully, and, instead of being a teacher, I was only too glad to be a scholar.

You will be remembering me, I know, next Thursday, Oh, how much I owe to you for your continued, your daily, your unwearying prayers for me during these five years! and how heartily I thank you for them all and for those which are yet to come! I have issued through our press some Corean prayers for the private use of the members of the Mission-the time having now come when many of us wish to begin to pray as well as to talk in Corean. May we so use them that, joined to your prayers in English, they may avail for the great object which you and we and the whole Church- "built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets"-have in view.

Praying for God's blessing on you all, I am Ever your affectionate C. J. CORFE.

Association of Prayer and Work for Corea.

WE record with satisfaction the addition to our lists during the past month of three new secretaries, each starting a fresh As sociation centre, namely, Miss E. S. Trollope, at Surbiton ; Miss Benson, at Hope Bowdler, in Shiropshire; and Miss A. C. Bannerman, in London.

Several reports of meetings and lectures have reached us, which show that the newly-awakened interest in Corea is not stopping short at the war news in the daily papers. At Middle Hendon, near Sunderland, a well-attended lecture was given on November 16th by the Rev. C. E. Fynes Clinton, illustrated by the Association lantern slides. At the Annual Missionary Meeting (S.P.G.) at Marwood, in North Devon, on November 19th, the Vicar, the Rev. W. E. Pryke, lectured on Corea, and on this occasion, and again when Mr. Pryke lectured at Ilfracombe on November 29th, slides were shown by the Rev. R. W. Oldham. The Rev. E. C. Corfe addressed two meetings, also for S.P.G., at Farnham, on December 5th, when the audiences, especially in the afternoon, were both large and greatly interested. The last week in November Mr. Corse spent in Lincolnshire, addressing meetings, preaching, or giving lantern lectures at Rothwell, Thorganby, and Thoresway, on November 25th; at Thorganby on November 26th; Thoresway and Rothwell on November 27th; Thoresway on November 28th (sermon and meeting for children, and a meeting for adults); Wold Newton on November 29th; and Market Rasen on November 30th. We are very grateful both to Mr. Corfe, and to our Secretary at Thoresway, Rev. H. F. Goffe, who arranged for all these effort. On behalf of the Association, and also to the other clergy who so kindly welcomed Mr. Corfe into their parishes. The meetings, which were very well attended - many people walking long distances in these scattered Wold villages to be present-have resulted, we hear, in a considerable addition to the members of the Association, especially of the Children's Branch, while the sum of ₤7. 3s. 1d. has been sent to the Mission funds. Our county secretary for Sussex, Lady Burrell, writes of a drawing-room meeting held at Knepp Castle on November 22nd, during Mr. Trollope's visit to her, and attended by about seventy people. She adds that the Vicar of Shipley was going to preach for the Mission in his church on St. Andrew's Day. At Portsmouth Mr. Trollope spoke at a meeting, got up by the Rev. E. A. Ommaney, on December 4th, when, owing to bad weather, the attendance was not quite as good as it might otherwise have been. Those who know Bishop Corfe and have heard him talk of the Portsmouth Orphanage will be glad to know that Miss Woodin was able to take a party of fisty girls to hear the last news of their old friend, and to see lantern pictures of his distant home, shown and described by Mr. Trollope. Many members of the Association have also had opportunities of hearing Mr. Trollope, when speaking or preaching for S.P.G., at St. Leonard's on November 26th, at St. Andrew's, Worthing, on November 29th and 30th, and elsewhere.

The following fuller report has been received from Yiewsley : - “December 6th was kept by the Yiewsley Mission Helpers as ‘Corean Day’: The services were: Holy Eucharist at 7.30 A.M., the Celebrant being the Rev. L. Mitchell. Mission Litany, 6.15 P.M. Choral Evensong and Sermon, at 6.30 P.M., the preacher being the Rev. H. H. Kelly, who, taking as his text St. John xxi. 3 and 4, gave a most impressive and helpful address The Vicar, the Rev. H. Francis, sang the service, and a number of local clergy were present. At 7.30 P.M. over a hundred Mission helpers and friends sat down to tea in the schoolroom, which was bright with Chinese lanterns and yellow hangings, the tea tables being beautifully decorated with fairy lights shaded candles, and chrysanthemums, all Corean color-yellow: At 8.15 P.M. there was a meeting in St. Matthew's Hall, at which the Rev. M. N. Trollope addressed a large audience, who listened with rapt attention to his most interesting account of the Mission in Corea, and of the manners and customs of the Coreans, illustrated by excellent magic lantern slides. Hymns were sung with accompaniment of piano and cornet, and the lantern was most kindly lent and worked by the Rev. S. Hebert, Vicar of Iver. At the close of the meeting the Rev. L. Mitchell, in proposing a hearty vote of thanks to Father Kelly and Mr. Trollope, said he felt Yiewsley people had been highly honored by having the privilege of listening to them both that evening, adding that they ought to be specially grateful to Mr. Trollope, who had come down to address then though suffering from a severe cold. The contents of the Corean Box of native costumes were also displayed during the evening. Collections during the day amounted to £2. 16s. 10½d., and several persons gave in their names as wishing to join the Association, making a total membership of nearly sixty. One practical result of the meeting was the decision to use the Cuddesdon Litany of Intercession for Missions on the first Sunday of the month after Evensong. We hope, too, that the observance of Corean Day will now become an annual event at Yiewsley." We have just heard also of a meeting held at Southport, and we hope our Secretary there will forgive our quoting somewhat freely from her letter :-

“Southport, December 12. “Our meeting took place last night, and, as I promised, I am sending you an account as soon as possible. We began at a quarter to eight. Unfortunately it was rather a wet evening, but I think we did very well, for there were over a hundred people present. The Vicar of the Parish, the Rev. C. S. Hope, very kindly lent us his splendid lantern, and had promised to exhibit the slides for us. As you may imagine, we were all very sorry when we found he could not be with us because of ill health. However, he found us a very able substitute. I don't think I told you that I had to give the lecture. As it was my first attempt at that kind of thing I felt rather nervous, but I was told afterwards that I could be heard all over the room, of which I was very glad. The two other clergy at the Church were most kind in giving all the help possible. The chair was taken by the Rev. J. S. Gardner, and after introductory remarks and a hymn the lecture began. The slides, I think, were thoroughly enjoyed. Besides the members of the Corean Mission, we had also the ‘Guild of the Children of the Church,’ the ‘Guild of the Good Shepherd'—both Guilds being in connection with S.P.G. — and, last but not least, we had the Local Secretary of the S.P.G., Dr Barron, present. As it is the first time that anything in connection with this Mission has been held in Southport, I can scarcely feel too grateful to the clergy for the very kind way in which they have helped me throughout. We had placards up at five different churches, and I fancy that they brought us a few strangers. During the singing of the last hymn we had a collection which realised £2. 4s. 3d."

Those who think of asking for the Corean Box with costumes, &c., to attend meetings, will be glad to know that the General Secretary has been able to add to the somewhat meagre collection a good many interesting Corean curios sent home by the Sisters for sale at the Corean Stall at the St. Peter's, Kilburn, Bazaar. We have just heard from Stoke Newington that our old friends there propose holding a sale for Corea on January 28th. Will members who have been doing, or are going kindly to do, some work for us, please take note of this?

The General Secretary hopes to receive, as usual, large numbers of January reports, and would like again to remind Secretaries that these should reach her before the 10th, and county reports, being longer and therefore less easy to deal with at the last moment, before the 7th; also that no subscriptions for 1895 should be sent with January reports, but only the contributions belonging to the last quarter of 1894. M. M. CHAMBERS HODGETTS, Exeter. General Secretary.

Correspondence.

DEAR MR. EDITOR, -

I hear that you are without a letter from the Bishop - indeed, without news of any kind from Corea-for the January number of Morning Calm. I have but little (very little) time for letter-writing-a fact which I hope will be patiently borne in mind by those numerous correspondents whom I have treated with such scant courtesy—and in any case I am afraid I am but a poor substitute for the Bishop. I have, however, letters (and very cheerful letters) from his Lordship, written under dates September 15, September 27, and even so recently as October 23. Of course, so far as Chinese and Japanese troops are concerned, a profound peace reigns in Corea, and affairs appear to be gradually assuming, more or less, their normal condition, minus the presence of the Chinese, which, of course, means a good deal. As for the war, it appears to be following pretty well the course which everybody foresaw. I think we all knew pretty well that a tremendous drubbing awaited the Chinese at the outset, though, perhaps, none of us quite realised how sudden and serious the collapse would be. There are, however, just three points worth bearing in mind, I think, with reference to the war.

First, that the Chinese are by nature not a warlike people. War simply does not interest them, and, as I believe Sir Thomas Wade has recently pointed out, fighting is hardly considered consistent with the gentlemanly character in China.

And the Chinese being primarily a literary and a commercial nation, they are just the last people in the world to act upon the principle "Si vis pacem, para bellum." The result is that, with the exception of the spasmodic action of a more or ‘less’, enlightened Viceroy here and there, there is no such thing as an organised war department in China ; and even where (as apparently in Port Arthur) considerable sums of money have been devoted to the accumulation of an expensive plant and highly developed engines of war, little or no attempt has been made to perfect the organisation and discipline which alone could make them of any value. People sneer at the cowardice of the Chinese troops, but it is not easy to be brave (as I think our own troops in South Africa found out once upon a time) when you are outmatched in arms and skill in using them. Under modern conditions of war, personal courage has much less to do with the issue than scientific skill and discipline, which the Japanese possess and the Chinese don't. Scythes and bows and arrows are excellent things in their way, but they are not of much account when matched with machine guns and repeating rifles, and even the latter are not of much avail when placed in the hands of those who don't know one cud of a rifle from another. How little organised the war de partment" in China is may be realised from the fact (at least, I believe it to be a fact) that the Chinese fleet which we know by the name of the Pei Yang, or Northern Squadron, and which got so battered by the Japanese, is in reality only, so to speak, the private fleet of the Viceroy of one of the eighteen provinces of China. The Viceroy of the neighboring province probably prefers junks and bows and arrows, and, me teste, he has them. Generals Gordon and Wolseley and Admiral Lang are responsible for the statement that Chinamen make splendid soldiers and sailors when competently led. And if Japan does succeed at all in rousing China from the lethargy which paralyses her in matters of war, she may probably, in the course of the next few years, think it worth while to send to Europe for instructors, who will enable her to create an army and navy worthy of the name, if only to curb the pretensions of her pertinacious little neighbor, Japan.

Secondly, we must be on our guard against imagining that the brilliant feats of war which so impress the imagination of the news-reading public of Europe have at all the same effect on the public opinion of China-if, indeed, China can be said to possess such a thing as a public opinion. I speak under correction, but I imagine it to be still true that nine-tenths of the subjects of the Emperor of China are still profoundly ignorant of the fact that there is any war going on. Certainly I am sure it is true that not one in ten thousand Chinamen ever heard of Port Arthur. Thirdly—and this is a point which most of us have by this time, at any rate, begun to realise the news from the scat of war must be received with the very greatest caution, at least in its details. Of course, it is roughly true that Japan has had very much the best of it, and that China, like Humpty - Dumpty, has “had a great fall." But Orientals-and, after all, the Japanese cannot help being geographically and ethnologically Orientals still—are proverbially inaccurate in matters of detail, especially when figures are involved, and the details with which the despatches from the seat of war (all or most of which are issued from Japanese sources or under Japanese supervision) are "embroidered" must be received with whole pinches of salt. For instance (I am open to conviction, but I have reason to believe that that marvellous piece of Japanese strategy which so took the world by storm, and which enabled the Japanese commander to concentrate three bodies of troops with almost miraculous precision at a given moment upon the city of Ping Yang, simply never took place at all. It remains true, of course, that they did take Ping Yang, but I have my very serious suspicions as to the truth of the marvellous strategic details wherewith the account of that capture was "embroidered." The same holds true of the nonsense with which the Japanese keep the European papers sedulously supplied, about the welcome they have received from the Corean populace. Recent events, even on the confession of the Japanese themselves, seem to point to the fact (of which all residents in Corea have long been aware) that the word "welcome" hardly describes the attitude of the Coreans to their Japanese friends. My latest letter from Corea says" except a few odd thousand m Seoul and Chemulpo, there are, I believe, no Japanese soldiers in Corea. Those that are here are for protection from the Tong Haks" (why will the newspapers call them "Tribesmen"? they are really a sort of society, half-rebel, half-patriot) “who now, numbering more than 100,000, hold the South of Corea and are as near as 25 miles to the capital. The Japanese have sent a force of 1,000 against them, with two magistrates. But the Tong Haks have the Corean method of speedily becoming an impalpable body. Meanwhile, they are spreading and occupying Seoul and Chemulpó. In a word, none knows who is Tong Hak and who is not. But trade is reviving," &c., &c.

To turn to other subjects, we must all be very sorry to hear the Bishop say (as he does in his letter of October 23rd): “A letter from Mr. Doxat gives us news of Mrs. Doxat's serious illness from fever, though (I am glad to say, he adds) on October 11th she was out of danger and recovering. "A letter from Mr. Smart tells us he is settled with a teacher in Arrina, about 18 miles from Kobe (in Japan). It is difficult to get communications to and from him, but I think he is getting on as well as we could expect.

" In Seoul, Nurse Webster is convalescent from her serious attack of dysentery-but not yet at work. This, and the absence of Sister Lois (who has been in China, nursing) have prevented St. Matthew's Hospital from being reopened. The other Sisters are well and busy; and so is Miss Cooke. “Mrs. (Isabella Bird) Bishop is at Chefoo, and is expected here to stay with Mr. Hillier at the Consulate-General ; you will be glad to hear that the books are back again in their places in the library, and your catalogue is in a fair way of being completed.... Mr. Warner is in Kanghow, but has been suffering from a return of his asthma, which took him to Seoul last week for medical advice.

“A fortnight ago we gave a picnic to the Marine Guard, and Mr. Davies found a splendid ground for football in the large parade ground just inside the east gate of Seoul. The lunch was a great success, and afterwards there was a cricket match till four, when a football match -the event of the day-followed, to the huge delight of an enormous concourse of excited by most well-behaved Coreans. We all longed for you to be thee. "Since I last wrote, I have given the Sisters an hour daily at Lumen, and went through it all with them. They were good enough to say that they received much help, though I felt that they knew much more of it than I."

And now, Mr. Editor, I must close. There is not much of directly missionary interest, perhaps, at any time in our letters from Corea at present. But your readers have realised by this time how the period of "suspense and anxiety, to which in any case we expected to be subjected for the first few years of our life in Corea, has been extended and made more inevitable than ever by the present disturbed state of affairs in the East. At least you and your readers will be glad to have news of our Friends in Corea, and to know that they are alive and for the most part—though, unfortunately, not quite all-well.

Yours very truly, MARK NAPIER TROLLOPE. [N.B.—Since this was written a letter has been received from the Bishop, which we insert above.-ED.]

The Spirit of Missions.

"LET it be more disgraceful in your thoughts that your children should know nothing of the planters and waterers of Christ's vineyard in Africa, than that they should be ignorant of the exploits by which Switzerland became free, or of the battle-fields on which Germany was made one."- Dean Vanghan. Testimony to the value of the work done by Foreign Missions sometimes comes from unexpected quarters. The SOUTH AMERICAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY has for some time had agents working among the Indians of Gran Chaco, in Paraguay; and a letter recently addressed by the Public Land Surveyor of the Republic to the President, describing a recent expedition into the interior, bears eloquent witness to the value of their work. "I am surprised," he writes, “at the security and tranquillity with which we can now travel among them-thanks to the effective measures taken by the Missionaries of the South American Missionary Society to Christianise those natives. The last time I traversed the same ground, five years ago, I took with me fifteen specially selected men, all armed with Remington rifles and revolvers, and I never allowed anyone to go alone to seek water or to explore our road. We always rode in company and armed, and never went far from our encampment. At night we set sentinels, and slept with our weapons at hand. When measuring, if we saw smoke we fell back on our main body, and any signs of Indians made us advance with redoubled caution. In the toldo [Indian village] of the chief called Michi, near the Montelindo river, our horses disappeared, and while a portion of our party sought them, the remainder, who were in camp, were surprised by a company of native Indians, painted and adorned with feathers, who certainly had no peaceable or friendly intentions.

“To-day this spirit of hostility has entirely disappeared. made my present survey with Indian assistance and have not carried a single firearm. At night we slept tranquilly at whatever spot our labor for the day had ceased, no watch being set, and several times in the vicinity of stranger Indians whom we met on the road. We sought the villages instead of avoiding them as formerly." Shall a party of Christian ladies start for Uganda next spring? No English woman has yet reached Uganda, or even essayed to go; but the Mission sorely needs them the Baganda women are waiting to be taught as only women can teach them; and Bishop Tucker earnestly desires them. But the road is long and trying ; the journey will be a severe test of physical strength; there can be no frequent coming and going as in the case of West Africa with its regular steamers; and the first party should be a picked one indeed. Young wives will not do ; nor (at first) such as might possibly become so in Uganda. We want, first, four or five married couples, not too young, and whose children, if they have any, are old enough to be lest at home without anxiety or a necessity for their parents' early return; and then, with these, some single women, of experience and strength of character, could go too. Let prayer be specially offered that if the Lord has-as we believe He has - work for such in Uganda, He will Himself raise them up and send them forth."-From the Church Missionary Gleaner. Here is a letter taken from the Mission Field for November, from a Missionary in Newfoundland to his father in this country. As will be seen, it gives a very striking account of the ordinary work of a priest in that diocese :--

Heart's Content, May 14, 1894 "My dear Father,-I have just returned from the Mission of Random, and think you may like an account of my travels. I left Heart's Content on the afternoon of Ascension Day, May 8, driving with my pony and slide to the half-way house. Though in many places there were great bulks of snow, yet much of the road was bare ; and just after passing the half-way house I met the mail-courier, who told me there would be no further use for my slide, so I shouldered my nunny-bag and sent the pony and slide back. I spent the evening with Frank Colley, who was glad to see me after the long winter, and who sent his pony and man off with me at 7.30 in the morning to the station at Harbor Grace, and at nine we started in the train for Whitbourne. Here we were delayed till 1.30 P.M., when we made a move for Random. I had never before travelled by the northern line, and was glad of the opportunity of seeing a little of the interior of the country, which did not, however, quite come up to what I had expected. We passed through a good deal of barren-looking land and much burnt timber, and the ground was still covered with snow, while the lakes looked quite as ‘winterish' as if it were January. I dare say, however, a month of warm weather and sun will give everything a more promising appearance. “At 6.30 PM. I came to the end of my journey by train, being met at Clarenceville by Captain Seaward. I remained with him till 10 P.M, and then started with the mail couriers for Hickman's Harbor, a distance of about twelve miles down the north-west arm of Random. As there was no wind we had to row all the distance, and did not reach our harbor until 3 A.M. Adverse currents and patches of very thin ice through which we had to row must account for such a short distance occupying so long a time. About daylight we knocked up John Vardy, of Hickman's Harbor, who soon had the fire in and the kettle down. As you may imagine, a good warm cup of tea was acceptable after our long cold midnight row. A wash was also refreshing At 7 A.M. I again shouldered my bag for a walk across Random Island, and about nine reached Nance Cove. Here a cup of tea was both refreshing and soothing, for I had not long finished my meal before I found myself stowed away in a corner fast asleep. My snooze over, I started off to visit the few Church families and to tell them about the services for the morrow. Our services were as follows:-Saturday: Evensong, Nance Cove, 7.30. Sunday after Ascension: 8 A.M., Holy Communion and Sermon Nance Cove, 12 Communicants ; 11 A.M., Matins, Sermon, and Holy Communion, Burgon's Cove, 25 Communicants; 3 P.M., Evensong and Litany, Burgon's Cove ; 7 P.M., Evensong and Litany, Nance Cove. " The poor people seemed to appreciate the services very highly. It was the first time they had been visited by a priest for more than two years, and owing to difficulties in travelling and bad health, Betley, the deacon in charge, had not been able to visit this portion of his extensive Mission since November. Monday I spent in visiting from house to house till 4.30 P.M , when boat and crew were ready to row me to White Rock, the next Church settlemen( Tuesday I spent, with Mr. Stone as my pilot, visiting the people. We walked twelve or fifteen miles, calling upon the various Church families. At 8 P.M. a goodly congregation assembled in the neat little church for Evensong, which was very heartily joined in. On Wednesday, at 11, we had Matins and Holy Communion, when fifteen persons availed themselves of the blessed opportunity then given, the only one they had had for nearly three years. At 8 P.M. we had Evensong, followed by quite a nice hearty singing practice, to which all the congregation remained. Owing to the cause above mentioned, Mr. Betley had been unable to visit this settlement since February. We who have the ministrations of the Church and Clergy daily cannot understand what a deprivation it is to these poor people to be denied these blessings, but we may well learn a lesson from the great interest they take and the earnestness they display in Church matters. "On Thursday I was again on the move, and after a sail in a thick snowstorm once more reached Captain Seaward, to await the homeward-bound train. There are only two families of Church people here, but we spent the evening pleasantly, and I trust profitably, in catechising the children and saying Evensong. At 2 A.M. I was again rushing along for Whitbourne, where we arrived at 7 A.M. Here I found, as always, a welcome at the Parsonage from Mr. and Mrs. Bull. "As you may imagine, I brought back with me many happy recollections of my visit to this half of Random Mission, feeling thankful that I was thus able to help Betley and this portion of his scattered flock. This is, of course, only half, and the smaller half, of this extensive Mission. I am glad to say that Mr. Knapp, of the College, has gone to do priest's work in the other half, which also has not seen a priest for two years.... “ Your affectionate son, "HENRY C. H. JOHNSON." It was no very pleasant experience which recently sell to the lot of Archdeacon Jones-Bateman, of the CENTRAL AFRICAN MISSION, who has recently been on a visit to the Rovuma Country, on his return journey. “The last evening," he writes, “whilst lying down on the ground waiting for the evening meal, I felt as if the calves of my legs were being fastened together by a soft india-rubber cord. This cord turned out to be a black snake, who thought he had found a specially nice place where to sleep. Luckily he did not bite me when I sprang up and shook him off."