with our mission. At the close of the service Mrs. Scantlebury gave a donation of 10s., and another kind friend promised to give the missionaries a Christmas pudding to take with them, which if they get a favourable voyage will be needed soon after their arrival in China.

On our last Sunday in dear old England, Br. Thorne preached twice at Eltham, and I had the honour of conducting the services at Clapham.

Monday, Nov. 2nd, was an evening of great spiritual blessing. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Scott invited a large number of friends to meet the missionaries at a social tea in Exeter Hall, and a public meeting followed, over which Mr. Scott presided, and seventeen ladies and gentlemen had something to say in the meeting. Tuesday morning, Nov. 3rd, the nine of us who are going out together, sat for our photograph in a group, which may be had on application to Mr. B. Broomhall, 2, Pyrland-road, Mildmay, London, N., cabinet size, Is. each. The afternoon of this day, we had the unspeakable privilege of spending in company with some friends in special prayer, and in receiving the Lord's Supper at Pyrlandroad, and great grace was upon us. In the evening we held our last meeting before sailing, at the Jubilee Chapel, East-road, N. Though last, not least, so far as we are concerned as a people, we believe the effects of that meeting will be seen in years to come. Mr. F. T. Gammon, who has taken a lively and practical interest in this mission, presided. Twelve or thirteen persons spoke, and we shall never forget this last meeting among our friends before leaving. May God bless them all for their prayers and sympathy. One regret has constantly filled our minds during these parting gatherings, viz., the absence through illness of our beloved treasurer. May our heavenly Father soon restore him to health again. We were glad to eat our last dinner, before starting, at his table, and to receive his parting blessing in prayer, but this pleasant time like many other pleasant things was all too short. The noble example of W. J. U. Woolcock, in sending money to purchase Chinese Bibles, has already born fruit in another child doing likewise. We leave Liverpool-street, this morning, by

the eleven o'clock train, and (D.V.) shall go on board the steamship "Pekin," at Tilbury Dock.

We know not what awaits us;

God kindly veils our eyes,

And o'er each step of our onward way,

He makes new scenes to rise;

And every joy He sends us comes
A sweet and glad surprise.

Where He may lead we'll follow,

Our trust in Him repose;

And every hour in perfect peace

We'll sing, He knows! He knows!

Any of our friends wishing to write us (and we hope there will be many), can address us, care of China Inland Mission, Shanghai, China.

Blackheath, S.E.

Nov. 4th, 1885.

T. G. VANSTONE.

[The Foreign Secretary has kindly supplied some particulars, but as his com munication traverses the same ground, and our space is so limited, we reluctantly omit it. Br. Woolcock tells us that, in harmony with the resolution of last Conference, they have made a special collection in that Circuit in connection with their Sunday Schools. Redcliffe Crescent produced £1 75., and Gladstone Street, 1 6s. The children manifested great interest in what

they heard about China. If each school followed this excellent example, what a large addition would be made to the Funds.]

FROM LONDON TO SHANGHAI.
ON BOARD THE STEAMSHIP "PEKIN."

Wednesday, Nov. 4th, 1885.-Left Blackheath, S.E., by 10 a.m. train, and joined our party of nine at Liverpool-street Station, by II a.m. train. Crowds of friends at station to see us off, who sang before starting some lively hymns. Mr. and Mrs. I. B. Vanstone, Mr. Broomhall, Mrs. Bourne, Miss Smith, Miss Lee, Miss Stapleton, Miss Thorne, and Ernest Valler came on board with us, and stayed about an hour. We had a sweet time in prayer together, and then came the parting which all the way through has been the worst part of the whole business. While we were standing and taking a last fond look at our friends on the tender, we cheered each other by singing “All hail the power of Jesus' name,” "Stand up, stand up for Jesus," etc. The day was dull and wet, but our spirits were bright in God.

We did not get dinner until 3 o'clock; I was hungry, and very much enjoyed the first meal on board ship. There are six of us in our cabin, viz., Robertson, Heal, Gill, Thorne, myself, and Mr. Stevenson, our captain, who has been in China twenty years, and is now returning again.

The remainder of the afternoon we spent in putting our luggage straight in the cabin. Wrote a letter or two during the evening to send ashore by the pilot early in the morning. Felt well and retired to bed at 10 p.m.

Thursday, 5th, got up well at 6 a.m., and enjoyed two hours on deck, the morning being fine. Felt rather brave in waiting on Br. Thorne who was feeling uneasy. Sat down as I thought to enjoy a good breakfast, but what I appointed the sea disappointed; an irresistible feeling seized me and drove me on deck where I remained in great uneasiness the greater part of the day; at dinner time a vain attempt was made to supply the inner man. My deck chair, army blanket and Scotch plaid were a great comfort. Went to bed at 11 o'clock feeling very sad in body, but cheerful in spirits.

Friday 6th.-Awoke at 6 a.m feeling somewhat refreshed, but the ship was

rocking fearfully, and I dreaded getting out of bed, and when I did an indescribable feeling came over me again which caused one to fast until tea time, when a delightful time of ease followed. Early in the morning our party and a few other Christians gathered on deck, sang a few hymns and offered prayer. To bed at ten o'clock; slept well.

Saturday 7th.-Got up at 6 a.m bright and well, enjoyed a cup of coffee, spent two profitable hours in the study of God's Word on deck. At 10 a.m our party and a few others who joined us held a service on deck, consisting of singing, reading, and prayer. This we propose doing every morning (D.V.) At 11 am we sighted Cape Finisterre.

We had a rough time of it down the English Channel, and through a part of the Bay of Biscay; the former was the rougher of the two. To-day the weather has been very fine and the sea beautifully calm. We had a most blessed time in prayer in our cabin from four to five o'clock this afternoon. The Lord is working among the passengers; there are two seeking Christ. We have another meeting on deck this evening at 7.30. The meeting was good, but the enemy's agents were greatly enraged and tried to stop our service. We thank God for this, for we are sure it will tend to the furtherance of the Gospel. To bed at II o'clock. Sunday 8th.-Up at 6 a.m. Weather fine, warm, and clear, and the sea as calm as a fish pond. At 9 a.m land was seen. We attended Divine service at 10.45 a.m; Bishop Burden, of Hong Kong, preached from Acts ii. 41, 42. The service was short; the Bishop is a good speaker. We had a refreshing time in prayer and reading God's Word in our cabin from 12.30 to 1.30. The Bishop preaches again this evening at 8.15, and we hope to hold a service on deck some time during this afternoon or evening. We are not far from Cape St. Vincent, but have not seen it yet. We hope to reach Gibraltar to-morrow morning, when this will be posted. Mr. Hart's bag of fruit has served a good turn.

MISSIONARIES NEEDED FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA. THIS is a matter of pressing importance, as will be seen from the following extract of a letter recently received from the President of the South Australian Conference :

"There is a great disappointment here that no preachers were obtained at Conference for this Colony, and the feeling will be general all along our South Australian line as soon as it is so widely known. Never did any part of our Connexion need labourers more than we do, and seeing you have enough and to spare, it seems extremely hard to us that none will come from England to help us. I can scarcely help thinking that there is some unfounded but strong prejudice against us among the brethren at home. How we shall shape matters I do not know. Two stations were left without a pastor at our last Conference. Two others remained vacant till only a few weeks since. I am clinging to the hope that one or two will come from England this year, notwithstanding your Conference ended without any being secured for us."

Such urgency as this has seldom been presented, and I trust it will be laid upon the hearts of all our brethren to pray that the Lord will call forth the needed labourers into His harvest. Are there not two of our number under the constraining power of the Saviour's love, who will at once say, "Here am I, send me?" Please communicate at once with the writer 216, Burrage-road, Plumstead, London, S.E.

I. B. VANSTONE.

Mrs. Terrett, for young men preparing for the ministry..

Friends, through Mr. Craddock

Miss Shaw, for Edgehill Building Fund

£ s. d.

25 O O I 5 0 Ο ΙΟ

A WORD WITH OUR READERS ON CONNEXIONAL MATTERS.

OWING to the pressure on our space, our brief editorials on current events, Br. Kelley's notes, and a large number of "Book Notices," and several other articles, are crowded out this month, and our correspondents who have been good enough to send us Items of Intelligence must be content with the briefest sunimary.

A successful Chapel Anniversary was held at Stamford Street, Landport (Nov. 8th and 9th). Br. S. Allin, who also lectured Monday evening, and the Rev. J. P. Williams, were the preachers on the Sunday. Proceeds over £23.

A very noble effort has been made at WESTON. At the Anniversary it was reported that the ordinary receipts for the year were £42 5s. 9d., and by a special effort, more than half of which was collected by the pastor, 110 15s. 6d. had been obtained. By another effort it is hoped that the entire debt will be removed. Br. W. J. Hocking preached on the Sunday, and also, with the Rev. F. A. Charles, R. A. Murray, and the pastor, addressed the public meeting under the presidency of Mr. C. H. Poole.

The Chapel Anniversary at SHEERNESS, Oct. 25th and 26th, was one of the best held for years. A Service of Song on Sunday afternoon was well attended and much enjoyed.

The memorial stone of a new schoolroom at GRIMSCOTT, in the Holsworthy Circuit, was laid on Thursday, October 8th, by Miss Morier. The chapel is also to be renovated, the whole is to cost about £165. The site for the schoolroom has been granted by Sir G. Stucley, at a nominal rent. A number of friends placed donations on the stones, and altogether about £50 has been raised. After the stone-laying Br. Spillett preached in the chapel, and the public meeting was held in the Board Schoolroom, by the kind permission of the Rev. J. W. Black, M.A., Vicar of Launcells.

Successful Missionary Services were held at DARTMOUTH, October 11th and 14th. Br. Penwarden preached on Sunday, and he, Br. Tremelling, and others spoke at the meeting. Collection several shillings in advance.

Six weeks' Special Services have been held at King Street, DEVONPORT, with

pleasing results, and there have been some conversions also at Haddington Road. At Oxford Street, Swansea, there has been a good attendance, both afternoon and evening, at the revival meetings which have been held, and several conversions. A few also at Tiverton. Some excellent meetings have been held at Sandown, conducted by Br. Culliford, and about twenty conversions.

A Bazaar at Newport (Mon.), in aid of the chapel funds, produced £50, and one at Tiverton £80, with many articles remaining unsold. Besides the reduction or removal of debt, the friends hope to alter and improve the chapel.

A Band of Hope and a Temperance Society have been organized at Lee. The first of a series of meetings in connection with the Temperance and Band of Hope Society, Torrington, was much crowded. An attractive programme was effectively carried out.

A letter has been received from Br. Craddock dated Adelaide, October 5th. He had been holding some meetings, and intended to go on to Melbourne in a week from that time.

We have received a most interesting account of the celebration at Bowden, South Australia, of Mrs. James Roberts' eightieth birthday. Mr. S. Coombe took the chair, Mr. Lake read a suitable address, and Mrs. Roberts, in reply, speak. ing for an hour and a half, gave a resumé of her life, including her conversion, her call to the ministry, and her missionary labours and successes.

At a meeting of the James Thorne Club, held at Waterloo Road Chapel Schoolroom, on Monday, October 26th, Mr. C. Hobbs in the chair, an illuminated address and a cheque for £35 was presented to the Rev. J. Gammon, late governor of the College. Mr. O. K. Hobbs, who presented the address, made some excellent remarks, and after Mr. Gammon had feelingly responded, and Mr. Luke had spoken, the meeting closed with votes of thanks to the chairman, the treasurer, and the secretaries.

Dr. Keen delivered his lecture on "Plush, Pluck, and Principle," at St. James's Church, Forest Hill, on November 4th, which was enthusiastically received by the audience, and warmly commended by the local press. Net profits, £10 10S.

Brief Notices of Books.

Sermons. By EUGENE BERSIER, of Paris. Translated from the French. Second Series. R. D. Dickinson.

PERSONS acquainted with the first series of Bersier's sermons, published some time since by Mr. Dickinson, will heartily welcome a second. M. Bersier's freshness of thought, fidelity to evangelical truth, forcible appeals to the conscience, and clear copious style, are especially noteworthy features.

Our Daughters: Their Lives Here and Hereafter. By Mrs. G. S. REANEY. Fifth Edition. Hodder and Stoughton. (ts. 6d.)

A NEW and cheaper edition of one of Mrs. Reaney's best books. The hindrances that prevent our "daughters" from becoming Christians are plainly and affectionately pointed out, and subjects as diverse as "constraining love," "the ministry of suffering," and "recreation," are treated in a wise, winning manner. Altogether, it is a capital girl's book.

Thoughts on Holiness. By MARK GUY PEARSE. Twenty-first Thousand. T. Woolmer.