trust, true in their obedience to their heavenly Mastermany who, but for the Mission work would, humanly speaking, now be found in the ranks of Romanism, and perhaps among the supporters of rebellion.

Often good is done also amongst those whom we directly influence, even more than we sometimes expect. A poor woman, for instance, was lately brought by a Reader to one of the Mission Sunday-schools. She was a Roman Catholic, very ignorant, and apparently with but little intelligence. The teacher was discouraged, for the poor woman, while she seemed to listen, sat quietly in her class, and scarcely ever showed by her answers that she was receiving the teaching imparted. After a few months thus spent, the Reader received a message from this woman, saying that she was ill, and begging him to come and see her, and to be sure and bring the Bible with him. The Reader hastened to the house, and found the poor woman surrounded by Roman Catholics. She welcomed him gladly, and especially begged him to read the Bible for her. "For," said she, "that book always gives me a heartease when I hear it." The Reader had an interesting visit, and found that the poor woman had retained a vast amount of the instruction she had received at the school, though there had been nothing in her manner to indicate how deep the impression had been.

While thus reviewing the past year, we must not omit to record our thankfulness to our gracious God for the way in which the funds have been provided in answer to prayer. Only a few months ago, the Committee were in circumstances of the greatest anxiety on this subject. Their treasury was exhausted, and they seemed to be without any prospect of receiving the necessary supplies at a time of the year when the collection of money is always difficult. A special appeal was, however, liberally responded to, and though some reductions in the work have been unavoidable, yet these have been comparatively few, and care has been taken, in carrying out this painful necessity, to do so with as little injury as possible to the whole work.

While noticing this subject we cannot but add that the pressure on the funds of the Society has shown how deep is the interest taken in the cause by its many supporters

and friends; and we would call special attention to the following touching and self-denying proof of sympathy and right feeling, which the Missionary and Agents of the Society in the Antrim Mission have shown in the following address which they have sent to the Committee :

"We, the undersigned, Agents of the Irish Church Missions in the Glens of Antrim, have learned with extreme regret that the Committee, in carrying on their work of faith and labour of love in Ireland, were placed in very trying and anxious circumstances, owing to the want of funds to maintain the existing Agency of the Society in other parts of Ireland, especially at a time when, under God, so much good was being effected-when the Protestants generally were being roused to feel the great importance of, and to take a deep interest in the Society's operations-when Roman Catholics were being stirred up to think seriously, to inquire anxiously, and to read diligently the Holy Scriptures for themselves-when the Romish priesthood, seeing their craft in danger, were making desperate and jesuitical efforts to counteract the spread of Scriptural truth.

We have therefore felt it to be our duty to deny ourselves, and to give some practical expression, however inadequate, of our regret and sympathy, by subscribing the sum of Seven Pounds and Seven Shillings towards the Society's funds, accompanied with the prayer that our Lord may be pleased graciously to interpose, and to strengthen the hands and to comfort the hearts of the Committee, in sending them speedy and effectual aid; and by stirring up his believing people to come to the help of the Lord against the mighty."

We cannot close this opening article without urging on the friends of the Society the importance of making its claims known, by circulating information of the progress of the work. We shall endeavour to make these pages both interesting and edifying, and hope they will contain many striking evidences of the power of the grace of God in his dealings with the heart and conscience of men. This very Number will describe one such instance in the succeeding article, which cannot be read without profit; and the reports from the Missions will show how God is blessing the labours of his servants in the various districts of the Mission field.

If our readers could obtain additional subscribers to THE

BANNER, the cause would be advanced; and we would equally commend to their notice the other publication of the Society, "ERIN'S HOPE," adapted for children, which is full of interesting matter, at the low cost of one halfpenny per month.

With thankful, but we trust humble, confidence, we look forward to the uncertainties and labours, the disappointments and the successes of 1862. The power in which we can go forth without fear is the mighty power of faith. What though the difficulties seem great, and the enemy strong, nothing need daunt him who relies on the strong arm of One who is "mighty to save." May this strong and invincible faith be felt by every reader of these pages, and every friend and helper of the work; and then indeed our labour shall not be in vain, for we may say with Asa of old, "Lord, it is nothing with Thee to help, whether with many or with them that have no power. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, Thou art our God, let not man prevail against Thee."

UNDER this title an account has just been drawn up of the death of one of the most interesting cases of conversion we ever had to record in the Dublin Mission. The title was an expression of the poor man himself, who, as he lay weak and in much suffering on a bed of death, declared that he felt "gloriously happy." We have the permission of the kind friend who has put together these memorials of a departed saint, to publish the narrative in THE BANNER. We give the first part now; the remainder to appear in the number for February.

It was a cold, dark day in early winter; we had picked our steps through many a dirty lane, and entered many a noisy court, and visited many a wretched home; and we were well nigh weary, when my companion said, "I believe I never took you to see George Connor; he is an anxious inquirer, and I fear he is suffering from deep poverty." It was not very much further, and I consented.

We entered a room on the ground-floor of a small house. Though poor and scant the furniture, the room had an air of neatness. The walls were whitewashed, and the straw bed was covered by a clean patchwork quilt. There was not a spark of fire, but on a stool, near the empty grate, sat a woman knitting.

She rose to welcome us, hastily brushing away the tears which had been rolling silently down her cheeks. We asked for her husband and her little children, and heard in reply a sad tale of poverty and suffering.

At this moment the door opened, and a nice-looking_man, in his shirt-sleeves, entered. This was George Connor. There was no seat left for him, and he stood with his back against the door.

"Wife," said he, "don't take on that way; let's hear a little of the good Word from Mr. M'Guigan; maybe he'll pray for us.

"Indeed I will," was the ready response; "but first tell me, George, how it is we find you in such distress ?"

Well, sir, I suppose you know my wife there was always a Protestant, and she always liked to have the children in the Mission school; and I never opposed her wishes, though I was a stiff Roman Catholic, seeing as the wee things got on so nicely, and learned to sing so pretty. But you know, sir, when you and the gentlemen from Townsend Street began to come here, and leave me them bills, and my mind was turned a bit to see the error of my ways, then I began to have a different feeling about the children. I felt so thankful like, that they had been kept from ever going the way I was going, and learning the things that would never lead them to heaven. Then you know, sir, I went over to the classes and the sermons, and I quitted going to confession, and the priest found me out, and he laid a trap to snare me and some others who acted as I did."

The priest managed in this way. He got the ear of the master, and persuaded him to agree that all the people he employed should live in certain houses, which should be under the care of the priest, who would see that all the children were duly sent to a Roman Catholic school.

The plan was carried into effect, and the master baker told all his men that they must either submit or leave his employ. "That day," continued poor George, "I came home to my wife, and we thought it over. We were very anxious for the future, but we knew we ought to obey God, and that it was his command that the blessed words should be taught dili

gently to the children, and so we determined to stand firm. And then I got the consequence, and that's why ye find me so poor to-day."

When George had finished his sad story, we pointed him to some of those comforting promises which tell of God's presence with his tried children, and how He helps them to bear their sorrows; and we knelt down, and took his heavy burden, and cast it upon the Lord, earnestly beseeching of Him to sustain his poor suffering servants. A little relief from present difficulty was offered and gratefully accepted, and we parted.

For some weeks George struggled on, seeking work, now getting employed for a few days, and then being tracked out by his persecutors, and dismissed. He was too high-minded to beg, and so his face grew pale, and his eyes bright, and his flesh wore away with poverty and suffering. One day, as I was walking along a street, I met him-famine and disease stamped upon his brow. He told me all he had gone through; how his health and strength had failed, and now he knew not what to do.

Through the influence of a lady, who from this time took a deep interest in him, a situation in a Protestant baker's establishment was procured; but it was too late. A lingering consumption had set in, and before long, poor George Connor became an inmate of an hospital; some employment having been procured for his wife, by which she was enabled to earn something for her children's support.

So far, George Connor's was a very common case-an earnest inquirer sorely persecuted. Alas! it is an every-day tale. None know this better than we who are engaged in the instruction of poor Roman Catholics. But when we extended the hand of charity to lift up this poor man from his miserable condition, we little thought how bright a gem he would form in the Saviour's crown of rejoicing; or how, even here, he would be permitted to reflect sweetly and brightly the image of Jesus.

In the quiet of the hospital, and under the quickening influence of the Spirit of God, the soul of George Connor became even as the garden of the Lord, in which grew all manner of pleasant fruits. The Bible was his only study. Its images became the ideas of his soul; its language the model of his expression. He enjoyed intimate and brotherly communion with Jesus; and his joyous countenance, and heavenly con versation, often reminded us of those beautiful lines of Cowper