From his home in St. Ignace in 1673 Marquette set out with Joliet to discover and explore the Mississippi. Here passed La Salle and the "Griffin," the first vessel that sailed the lakes above Niagara. Through this gateway of the Straits other generations of French explorers, missionaries, and traders journeyed, till at length in 1759 the battle of Quebec and the victory of the dying Wolfe settled it that Canada and the Great West were to be henceforth English and not French-Protestant and not Papal.

The labors of the first Protestant missionary in the same region, though less known to fame than Marquette's, are of not less interest to aus. In 1802, 3, and 4, Rev. David Bacon labored at Mackinac as mission

ary to the Ottawas and Ojibways. So it happened that Dr. Leonard Bacon was a native of Michigan-born at Detroit while his father and mother were on their way to their more permanent field at Mackinaw. Jeremiah Porter also did his first home missionary work in the Upper Peninsula, beginning at Sault de Ste. Marie in 1831. No other part of our State is so rich in historic associations as this, our newest home missionary field.

But our present problem in Michigan is too urgent to allow any room for the thought of the past. We have more than two hundred settlements and villages in Northern Michigan where the Gospel has never been preached. If ever any people were plainly called by Providence to a great duty, then are the Christian people of Michigan called just now to give themselves to the great work of preaching the Gospel in the destitute settlements and villages of Northern Michigan, and of planting and nurturing the churches of Christ. This is the grandest opportunity we

have ever had to show that we are really sincere in our professions of love to Christ and His cause.

THE Upper Peninsula is being settled up very fast. The next three years will surely witness the incoming of thousands seeking homes and fortunes. Every few days we hear of some new settlement. They come in colonies, many of them people of means, and often of culture. Many come, however, who have no idea of God, Sabbath, law, or common decency. Some have lived here from birth, and many from childhood. Until recently many have never heard a sermon preached or attended Sabbath-school. They regard every day alike. Many of these are of course young, and must be reached soon or never. They seem to be susceptible to kindness, and easily take hold of better things. The children-and there are multitudes-have no restraint whatever at their homes only to serve their parents. Parents and children alike must be taught. Our population, in fact, is a heterogeneous one, and taxes the ingenuity, patience, skill, love, and every other worthy quality of the pastor to the utmost. But these fields are just the ones where good, earnest, thorough, and substantial work is needed. missionary fields all met in one home mission field. learn the English language and American customs. the case. Saloons can be found miles from any where the thirsty lumberman can gorge himself with hell's liquid. Shall not the church of Christ be where it can answer the cravings of a starving soul? Shall God's money be wasted on trifles and extravagances, or hoarded in bonds, mortgages, and notes, while thousands for whom He sent His Son to die, die without His knowledge, because there is no one to tell them of the dear Lord?-Rev. F. E. Carter, in The Beacon.

Here are foreign All are anxious to Satan is fully up to other house, placed

WORDS FROM MICHIGAN WORKERS.

"COME and preach to us-if only once a month!" I am a Home Missionary and never expect to be anything else, and when such cries come to me, and I am unable to respond thereto, it makes my heart sad.

I AM preaching in three out-stations besides doing my regular work here, so that it requires seven sermons for two Sabbaths, alternating: one Sabbath driving twelve miles and preaching three sermons, the next, driving sixteen miles and preaching four sermons.

THIS field reminds me, religiously, of a pine forest, which the fire has run over, year after year, till little is left but the dead pines, worth nothing to the lumberman, and a hindrance to the farmer. Yet I trust, with faithful work, and the help of God's Spirit, some of these dead may be brought to a new life.

THERE is an increasing desire to grasp firmer hold upon the promises of God in matters of salvation. For example, one lady asks us all to unite in making her husband a special subject of prayer. All agree to the covenant, and the hour appointed is, "when we hear the whistle of the night train."

IN one of my calls I had a personal conversation with a young lady in regard to her religious experience, and she expressed great pleasure in being spoken to on that subject. She said I was the first person who had ever said one word to her about her soul. She believed she would have been a Christian years before only that she had to "work it all out alone."

WE are having a touch of "boycotting." An ex-saloon keeper is paying children ten cents each if they will stop attending our Sunday-school. This is done because the saloon-keepers despise me. They think and say that I am trying to break up their business. I feel honored. During our work of repairing the church I have been mason, carpenter, painter, teamster and general man of all work, and preacher on the Sabbath.

THE signs of a grand spiritual awakening are many. Our congregations are large and attentive and seem to hear the most heart-searching truths with an eagerness almost pathetic. We have received into church fellowship within three months twenty-one persons, all over thirty years of age, except one precious child of fourteen, who has come from the Sunday-school as an earnest and pledge, we hope and pray, of a glorious ingathering from the same field.

I ONLY wish you could know how these dear people appreciate their church, and how they work for it. The community begins to feel that the Congregational Church meets a religious need long felt, and that it is a permanent institution in the town. I am sure that every dollar we have received has been well spent, and I think the church will soon reach a position in which it will be self-supporting and will help support others.

WE have been greatly blessed in our work during the past three months, in an increasing interest on the part of our church members, in the study of God's Word. There has been a large demand for Bibles by both Christians and those who are not Christians. One man who was impressed by the truths of God's Word, bought eight Bibles to present to his children, and we understand that he holds a Bible reading every night with his family.

CHILDREN come to this Sunday-school barefoot, because their parents are not able to provide them with shoes. One good sister at this place who is able to get her little girl a pair of shoes encourages her to go barefoot, so that the other little girls who can not have shoes will not feel badly. This sister is the daughter of a minister, and is a grand woman. She has held up this Sunday-school and superintended it for years, even when she and her family were in extreme poverty.

AN outsider remarked to Deacon H- the other day, that " something had gotten into the Congregational Church here, it was taking hold of the place as never before." We trust that the Lord is with us, in answer to prayer. The public heart is warming towards us and we mean to do God's work faithfully among them. Our Sunday-school have furnished money to purchase a stove and pulpit for the baby church at an out-station, and have also voted to give the next four Sunday collections and some singing books to the same church. They are taught not only to say "thank you" for the helps they have received, but to be thankful and help others.

A MISSIONARY must be supported on this field if he succeeds. Rent is high and living is high, and the town is dead as far as manufacturing is concerned, but sin abounds, and whiskey. You are apt to have strong appeals for the "picket line." Don't forget these old fields. This week a sick man sent to have me come with the doctor. About three weeks previous I had told him plainly the gospel terms. He was a tough case, coarse, and profane, but the visit of this week found him all broken up. His own words were: "I know there is a reality in religion, I feel it." These little incidents all along the journey are what sustain us amid the various cares and trials we encounter.