for a few months assisting the present pastor, on "A Christian Church the Shrine of Sacred Associations." As Dr. Stevens showed what a Christian building in a heathen city really means, we thought we caught one of the secrets of the doctor's successful career. As an illustration of what he meant, brother Freiday referred to the presence in the new building of a marble tablet to the memory of dear Mrs. Binney, erected by her Sunday-school class of Eurasian ladies; and the beautiful stained glass memorial windows, erected to the memory of their father by the sons of our dear old deacon Mack. The prayer of dedication was then offered by the pastor, who, after the congregation had sung the dedication hymn, No. 616, Baptist Hymnal, dedicated the new baptistery by baptizing two of the most promising young men that he has baptized in Burma. Thus closed Sunday's services. We had looked forward to them for a long time, and they had not disappointed us. The prayers offered publicly during the preceding week, and the stated hours for united prayer on the Saturday, had brought their blessing. We were thankful and glad.

On Monday at 7 P.M. we had a social gathering. Excellent addresses were delivered by Mr. Bernard, chief commissioner of British Burma, Rev. Mr. Long, Methodist missionary, and by Mr. Roberts of our own denomination.

At the close of Monday evening's service, the following financial statement, which perhaps will be interesting to some of our friends at home, was read. The total expenditure of the building fund, exclusive of the cost of the new site (twenty thousand rupees), the value of the new seats (which were presented by friends in Philadelphia), and the money that was paid for the lamps and pulpit furniture, say one thousand rupees (which was raised by the Ladies' Aid Society of the church), has been Rs. 27,613-10-1. To meet this, we have received from all sources, including the money contributed at the opening services (2,503 rupees), Rs. 27,925-12. In addition to this, it is expected that about 4,000 rupees is still due the contractor. The erection of the building was let by "rates," that is, the contractor is to receive so much per foot for the various works. As the work has not yet been measured, we cannot tell the exact cost. The above statement therefore is only guesswork. While, perhaps, we shall have to carry a litle debt, it is confidently expected that it will not give us any serious trouble. It was felt that we ought not to put up a building that would need to be replaced in a few years.

The Building is of brick, cruciform, with an apse for the baptistery and robing-room at the back, and a small entrance tower, surmounted with a graceful steeple, at the north-west corner. As it

the very heart of the city), we are sure never to be closed in with buildings, while the street-cars running along its side make it as public and easy of access as any church need be. The ceiling is an open one right to the rafters, thus giving us plenty of air, the blessing our old church was so deficient in. Over the baptistery is a large arch opening into the robing-room. Painted on the wall over the arch mouldings are the words, "One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism." The window right back of the pulpit platform, but in the wall of the vestry, is a beautiful imitation stained-glass window, called the " Children's Window." The story of this window will perhaps be told in "The Little Helpers." Altogether we think we have a very nice church home. We have been without one so long that it makes us appreciate it. That God may bless this new house, as he so often blessed the old one, by making it the feeding place and birthplace of many precious souls, is my sincere

prayer.

The Karen Mission. Rev. E. B. Cross, D.D.

TOUNGOO, Nov. 5, 1885.

The Burma Baptist Convention met in Toungoo this year, and held its meetings in the Paku Karen chapel. There were thirty-eight missionaries, male and female, present. I believe it was the best meeting this convention has ever had since it was organized. We had to knock out one end of our chapel, and make a temporary platform outside, to accommodate the meeting. This may be one argument in favor of a rough, cheap chapel. If it had been built only the size of the chapel as it is, we could not have received more than half of the people who came. The meetings were interesting, and the spirit good. We have the same infirmity among us that we have in convention meetings at home; for there are some who see objections to every thing, and like to express them. But there was no discord; and in brotherly love we waded through our business, made deep and difficult by the necessary use of at least three distinct languages. The confusion on this account makes the same amount of business more than three times greater than it really is. All must understand and discuss in their own languages, and there is rarely a man who understands well more than two of the three.

The Chairman. - One thing was a great matter of gladness to me. Dr. Stevens was chairman of the meeting, and stood on his feet for four or five hours at his post every day, and used his English and Burman all the time when he did not stand to hear others talk; and yet, at the close of what should have been terribly fatiguing, he

HENTHADA, Nov. 11, 1885. Back Again. Since my last writing we have found our way back again to our old field, thus leaving Arracan again with no missionary for the time being. It is inconvenient to try to live in two places at once, but we know of no other way to manage, under the circumstances. We only hope this roving sort of life will not disqualify us to settle down for the most efficient kind of work somewhere, when re-enforcements arrive.

After closing School in Sandoway last August, it was my privilege to make two visits to Ramree city before leaving Arracan. A month's stay of our Burman preacher in that city had evidently done much to bring matters to a head; but the most hopeful inquirers still lack moral courage to take a bold stand for Christ among their gainsaying countrymen. Indeed, we should scarcely have dared to accept them, knowing as little of them as we did, and having no preacher to leave with them. The interest among the Arracanese in Ramree is deepening, however; and, although they would prefer a missionary, I have no doubt the presence of a resident native preacher, could he be found, would result in the forming of a Burman church there in the near future. Two or three men seem to be available; but as the convention, which has supported our Burman preacher during the past year, seems to be following the parent society into debt, "retrenchment" may have to be the order of the day here as elsewhere.

Men and Means are still more needed to prosecute the work among the Chins. Although I baptized five in Ramree last September, and four were baptized to the south of Sandoway about the same time, still others are waiting for the ordinance at points in Arracan which could not be reached before our return. Moreover, the calls for preachers and teachers for the far north are still increasing. For instance, two Chin evangelists have just returned from Arracan through the Neng Pass, which brought them among the wilder

pel before, but who charged them to be sure and come again.

--

Upper Burma. Are not the indications of Providence definitely pointing us to the Chins of Upper Burma? As I am now writing, steamer after steamer, loaded with British troops, are going by to the front. Before this reaches you, Upper Burma will, in all probability, be annexed or made tributary to British India. In either case, it will be our bounden duty as American Baptists to go in and possess the land for which the sainted Judson eked out a living death for years. And yet where are our re-enforcements? The convention which met two weeks ago at Toungoo has already voted to call your attention to the demands of Upper Burma in general. May I add an additional word in behalf of the Chins, most of whom are in that empire? While some of us are qualified to enter immediately into work for some of the races of Burma Proper, provided we can be spared, be it remembered we have not even one Chin missionary in Burma, much less Chin missionaries to spare. O brethren! should not these pressing needs impel us to united action, in spite of the efforts of some whose avowed purpose is to " increase the debt"? Would to God our brethren in the home land knew how the call for "retrenchment" sounds in view of such needs as these! I assure you I now of no greater cross. Could you feel the burden as we all feel it at the front, I am sure nothing could deter you, not only from wiping out the debt, but from re-enforcing us all along the line of our arduous enterprise of taking Upper Burma for Christ.

ASSAM.

The Kachin Mission

Rev. W. H. Roberts.

RANGOON, Nov. 6, 1885. Our Prayers are being answered. On the 11th, if all the troops can reach Thayetmyo, an army of seventeen thousand well-armed British soldiers will cross the line, and proceed to humble the haughty and bloody peacock king. Should the king humble himself, he may be permitted to remain as nominal king; but should he resist, the country will be annexed. May this grand opening of Upper Burma and Western China, for which we have been praying so long, and which calls for more men and increased contributions, break the spell which some have sought to throw over the contributing Baptists of America! I think I shall tender my services as Ka-chin interpreter through his Excellency the Chief Commissioner. As I know most of the Tsaubwas on the mountains east of Bhamo,

as I can. Should the Government accept my offer, they will meet my expenses, and doubtless give me a much larger and better compound than I have

now.

Now is our Time to hold what we have, and to take more for Christ. Last evening brother Nichols assured me that my Karen brethren were prepared to return to the work at my call. Shall I have a helper the coming autumn? I do not know how long my health may hold out under the great strain through which I am called to pass, and to me it is very sad to recall the fact that I am the only one who knows the Ka-chin character and understands the language. As I have said before, I shall return as soon as it is safe, unless requested not to do so. I press the matter of sending a new man early next fall, before the river falls. If you do not send a man, I will be alone. Do all you can to find the right man for me; and if the money cannot be found to send him, we will share our claim with him, and live in Burman houses until we are remembered and helped. Find the man, and God and his people will furnish the means.

The Assamese Mission.

Rev. C. E. Burdette.

GOWAHATI, Nov. 14, 1885.

My First Impressions of the station might well be reserved for another letter. The beautiful grand mountains of Tura are exchanged for the broad sweep and wooded banks of the Brahmaputra, and its seclusion for the busy life of a populous city. But the frequent calls by Garos living in the station, or brought here by the news of our arrival, might make us forget that our field was changed. My classes in the normal school have been exchanged for a daily Bible class of two, and the Sunday service is in the to me still unintelligible Assamese.

The Deputy Commissioner is Mr. Campbell, an old acquaintance of the missionaries at GowalThe district para, and a man of good report. superintendent of police is a brother of the deputy commissioner at Tura. Mr. Campbell has already called on us, and we have had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Maxwell in her own bungalow. We were prepared to find her an excellent from our acquaintance with Capt. Maxwell at Tura, but were more than gratified with the ladylike, Christian cordiality with which she received us. We have made no further acquaintance in the station.

woman,

We were much disappointed to learn at Gowahati that Mr. and Mrs. King had passed up the river just one day before us, and that we had lost one opportunity of meeting our fellow-workers returning to Assam, not the least precious of the

advantages of a residence on the river-bank. Mrs. Gurney, with Miss Keeler and Miss Pursell, have arrived in Calcutta, and we are expecting a short visit from them on their way up the river. We know that the friends at home will not consider such detention wasted time. We find the bungalow in good order, and of much more comfortable style than we had expected; in fact, quite to

our taste.

INDIA.

The Telugu Mission. Rev. D. Downie.

NELLORE, Nov. 2, 1885. For the Debt. Wife and I wanted to join the fifty thousand Baptists at home, and send you a dollar each for ourselves and children here and for Annie and Minnie at Newton, to pay off the Union's debt. But it occurred to us last evening at communion, that our people might be glad to join us. So, after taking the usual collection, I presented the matter. Pastor Canakiah said, “ Put down ten rupees for my family." That took us so much by surprise, that we thought we must increase ours a little, which we did. Then another man said, "I'll give three rupees; " another two, one, etc. Then a few villagers said, "Our village will give two rupees; " another, two rupees, etc. Then the sixth and seventh class girls (who, by the way, provide their own clothes and curry, getting from us only rice and salt) said, "We'll give a rupee each;" and so on it went, till the total subscription reached Rs. 70-8-0. Besides the school children I do not think there were a hundred people present. For this sum I enclose a draft on Treasurer Coleman, and wish it were much larger. The money is not collected yet, but I can trust the people. It is small, but I think the people were happy in doing this little.

CHINA.

Rev. J. R. Goddard.

NINGPO, Nov. 6, 1885. The Chi-kiang and Kiangsu Baptist Association met this year at Shao-hing, where brother Mason is now stationed. It is about one hundred miles from Ningpo, just an easy ride of three or four hours on one of your express-trains; but it took us from Wednesday noon till late Friday evening to make the trip in a boat, in which the whole family lived and ate and slept, while we slowly followed the tide up the river, or waited on its muddy banks when the tide turned against us, or were drawn by buffaloes over steep mud embankments from the river into the canal. The Masons gave us a right cordial welcome, and we

were not sorry to exchange our cramped quarters for the comforts of a house.

The meetings began at ten o'clock Monday, Oct. 19. The chairman of last year, Rev. Coh Kyinseng, conducted devotional exercises, and appointed committees on "nominations," on "order of exercises," and on "place and preacher for next year." Then came the annual sermon from John xv. 16, subject, abounding and abiding fruit; after which the committee on nominations reported a ticket which was unanimously adopted. Brother Adams was chairman, and a native brother and myself were made clerks. Then followed the reading of the letters from the churches. Five missionaries and twenty-three delegates were present from nine churches; and four more churches reported by letter, but sent no delegates. The statistics were unfortunately imperfect, especially in the matter of contributions. I know that in some cases more money had been collected than was reported; but I can only give the figures as they were sent in: Baptized, 54; received by letter, 12; dismissed by letter, 5; dropped and excluded, 23; died, 19. Present number of members, 510. Collections for all purposes, $340.89.

The afternoon session on Monday and the sessions of Tuesday were occupied in listening to and discussing the following subjects: "Apprenticing Children of Christians to Heathen Masters;" "What doctrines should be most prominently presented in preaching to the heathen?" "The Duties of Christian Heads of Families, to those under their Care;" "Customs which Christians should guard against." The papers were carefully prepared and thoughtful, and the discussions seemed to me to show a marked advance on those of former years. Almost without exception, they were brief, pointed, and direct.

The closing session, Wednesday forenoon, was devoted to a free conference, and to prayer. The condition and needs of many of the churches and stations were presented, and fervent prayers offered for them. The season was truly enjoyable and profitable.

Ordination.

Tuesday evening a council met for the examination, with a view to ordination, of Isà Dyiang-sing, who has been a native preacher for some seventeen years, - a considerable portion of the time at Mr. Jenkins's station at Zông-pah. Mr. Isà is a man of only moderate abilities as a preacher; but he has done faithful work as a pastor, gathering and keeping together quite a little church at Zông-pah, and winning for himself a good reputation in the community as an upright, unselfish, kind-hearted man. The examination was satisfactory, and the ordination was appointed for Wednesday morning after the adjournment of the association; so at the close of the prayer-meeting on Wednesday, the ordination services began. All the parts had been assigned to the native brethren, and each one performed his duty with a dignity and propriety which was very gratifying to all who were present.

Our churches are advancing well in the line of self-support; i.e., they are learning how to govern themselves, and to transact business. The church at the West Gate, Ningpo, has since February paid half the salary of its pastor. Next year, I think, they will raise three-fourths. They are very poor, and have not yet learned the blessedness of giving. But I think they are doing very well, and are willing to do all they can. The other churches under my care are very small, from ten to twenty members each, the poorest of the poor; but they all do something.

TOUNGOO. War is declared with Upper Burma. Minhla has fallen, which means the breaking of Burman power. All Upper Burma open to the gospel! We have been praying for this for years. The Burman power broken means Buddhism broken. Now is the day of our power. - REV. A. BUNKER, Nov. 19, 1885.

RANGOON. - As secretary of the Burma Baptist Missionary Convention, I was re

tion that was passed at the recent meeting of the convention in Toungoo.

"In view of the expectation that Upper Burma will speedily be brought under the control of the British government, thereby opening up the country to the spread of the gospel, be it resolved, that we as a convention, beg the Executive Committee of the American Baptist Missionary Union immediately to take measures for the bringing of the people under the influence of the gospel."- REV. L. J.

TOUNGOO, SHANS. - The work is moving forward slowly. I regret that our school must necessarily be small from lack of funds. However, I hope to spend consider able time in evangelistic work, so-called. I do not separate school work from evangelistic work in my own mind, but believe that we must use all means for the conversion of the heathen, and schools are among the most effective agents we have. I am very well, and busy with my work from day to day. MRS. H. W. MIx, Nov. 12, 1885.

CUMBUM.

We have commenced this season's itinerating, and trust we may have some joyful news to communicate before very long. But the present is an exceedingly dark time. Declension and sin abound on every hand among the professed Christians. We are laboring and praying incessantly, and at times with very heavy hearts, to save the Christians from the evils into which they are falling. And we are watching with painful anxiety for a revelation of the Holy Spirit's mighty power. Nothing but this can stem the tide. Let the brethren pray earnestly for these Telugu mission fields, over which there has been so much rejoicing in days past. - REV. W. B. BOGGS, Nov. 2, 1885.

HANAMACONDA. - In regard to my work among the women, I am happy to be able to report some progress, though not so much as I wish. We have found some more pupils. Several of the women who kept steadily at their lessons are now quite fair readers, and read through a little book containing the chief stories of the New Testament. I am especially glad that some women belonging to the higher castes (the goldsmith caste) have been found willing to be taught. I hope their example will encourage others to follow. is encouraging that not only those that are among our actual pupils come under the sound of the gospel, but a great many of their friends and neighbors drop in, and often listen very attentively to the word of God. - MISS BERTHA MENKE, Nov. 3, 1885.

It

vance of those in the country. I have lost my two least valued helpers this year, as well as two last year, because I could not pay them what they wished. I am sorry to say that three of the four left me for the sake of larger salaries elsewhere. You will see that the problem is not to be solved by cutting down the salaries of our native helpers. In some places, perhaps, the native Christians could give more, but the members of my church are already giving very liberally. The rule among them is to give one-tenth, and free-will offerings are also coming in. They already give more liberally than church-members in America. The preaching of the gospel is being carried on as usual by us. The interest in one quarter seems to be deepening, and we have been praying for some months for manifest fruitfulness there. I have one new man from Nellore, and I expect two more at the beginning of 1886.- REV. N. M. WATERBURY, Oct. 10, 1885.

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SWATOW.—On Tuesday of this week Mrs. Partridge and I returned from a very pleasant trip of twelve days. I visited seventeen towns and villages in which we have church-members, and saw much to encourage, with very little that was discouraging. On Sunday, the 18th, I baptized four women, and on the same day our ordained preacher baptized seven men and one woman at our station

seventy miles to the north-east. In all, thirtytwo persons have been baptized this month. Mr. Ashmore leaves to-day to be absent two Sundays, and on his return Mrs. Partridge and I hope to go out again. REV. S. B. PARTRIDGE, Oct. 30, 1885.

ALMOST A YEAR in China! What a short time it seems! And I am so very happy. My heart is filled with gratitude to God for his loving kindness and care over me. He has given me a pleasant home, a contented mind, and perfect health, so that never for one day have I been compelled on account of sickness to discontinue my study. Although this heathenism is terrible, I feel it a privilege to be here: a privilege that outweighs all sacrifice. MISS M. A. BUZZELL, Oct. 24, 1885.

-The question of self-support is not an easy one for us in Madras. The cost of living here is so much greater than it is in Nellore or Ramapatam, that a salary is

Our general prospects