wherever he could get at them. He

held a short service each evening, a Bible class on Sundays in the afterof suce noon, and a service in the evening. He gave away to the men of the regiment 3,000 religious publications, comprising 400 "Penny Gospels" of the British and Foreign Bible Society; 544 copies of the "British Workman;" 1,850 tracts of the Religious Tract Society; 154 Soldier's Almanacks, besides many copies of "The Cottager," "British Messenger," &c. The opinion of the regiment and also of the towns-people of this effort of the missionary was of the most favourable kind. He received the greatest respect from all the men, and his parting from them he will never forget. Many left Montrose with the missionary and proceeded in the same train to their homes in Dundee, or stations on the Scottish North Eastern Railway. Upon seeing him at the station, they said to each other, Why, here's our mon!" and "Here's the Scripture reader!? and Here's our school master, going along with us!" "We shan't get another little bookie from you again !Good-bye!" "Hope you will meet us here again!" "Shake hands with us." Those that did not speak nodded and said fare well; the same thing continued at every station, on, to the terminus at Dundee,

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e, as they left at each station for their homes. No one can think of the number of men, thus visited at the different stations, whither the missionaries were sent for their plea sant but active holiday, without feelings of the deepest satisfaction, and without sharing in the hope that the fruit of their labours will be found

after

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In the course of the year country

fairs and races are also v fairs and races are also visited by the

are

agents of the Mission. At some of the Statute Fairs, where hundreds of the roughest men and women assembled, tracts have been distributed, open-air services conducted, and, as opportunity served, the missionary has entered into religious conversation with attendants at the fair. During the races at Epsom, when the town is crowded by ruffians of the worst description, and when the Downs are covered with tramps and gipsies, scattered abroad like sheep without a shepherd, the missionaries are found pursuing their work, bearing their testimony for Christ. During the race week they distributed about 15,000 tracts, and 100 copies of the Gospels, very many of which were accompanied with suitable remarks. From such seed-sowing may a plenteous and glorious harvest ere long appear!ius qua

Occasionally the City Mission lends its agents to labour for a limited time in the summer in and around gentlemen's country seats. In this way, a missionary, who had been engaged in a very unhealthy district of Westminster for many years, was sent to Northumberland. While regaining health for himself he found plenty to do among the farm labourers, fishermen, and cottagers of the locality in which he lodged. In connexion with his efforts he was not left without some tokens of encouragement. Many a poor man, on rising from his knees after prayer, had shaken him by the hand, saying with tears, "No one ever comes to talk to us about our souls, and read and pray like this.” Although one could wish most heartily that, in neighbourhoods where gentle

men not only of wealth but piety have their country seats, such a saying as this should not be possible, we cannot but rejoice that the words of a stranger from a distance, should have been blessed to the enlightenment and comfort of the well-nigh heathen population of many a rural district.

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There is another branch of labour in which the efforts of the missionduring the summer months have been made very useful; work among navvies constructing railways in country parishes. While the railway was being carried through Bexley, for example, a number of missionaries were sent down, singly, for a month each, to visit the men. As a rule, they were met by these hard-working men with respect and attention. The bricklayers and brickmakers were also visited, the latter often while at work, and from them, with only one exception, the first missionary sent down had a friendly hearing, while even this exception proved to be the most interesting case of usefulness that came under his notice. From being a swearing, blaspheming infidel, full of hatred, bursting out in fits of madness, the man became humble, teachable, kind, and craving for instruction. The second missionary succeeded in getting upwards of thirty of the men to a religious service; he circulated a large number of religious tracts among them, and a pleasant sight it was to see as many as fifty men in a group, at meal time, reading these silent messengers of mercy. Another missionary was sent down, to enter into the labours of his predecessors, and he reported that he never witnessed anything to equal the attention of these simple-minded, unsophisticated

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men while listening to the declaration of the Gospel. Several of them produced copies of the little books which Miss Marsh presented to the working men of England. To a fourth agent of the Mission upon making known to the men at once his object in coming to visit them the reply was, "We are a lot of rough uns." He replied, “I too am a plain man, and I will, if you will attend, talk plainly and faithfully to you," Well," they returned, “we will attend, and you shall be our parson. Religion is the only thing that will make a fellow happy Mr. Parson." It is very pleasant, to find that the labours of the missionaries were so highly prized, and that those who solicited their services were not backward in forwarding contributions towards the funds of the Society.

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The mission to the hop-pickers of Kent, commencing about the middle of August, is maintained every year with considerable spirit. Here the missionaries meet, not unfrequently, those in the country who have formed part of their home work; for many of the poor of London, especially the Irish, go down into the hop-country in quest of employment, and manage in this way to obtain a pleasant change from their own miserable homes in the crowded courts. The in the missionary who for two years was sent to Brenchley, in Kent, although he met with much that was difficult and trying at first, meeting, as he said, people of every religion, and of no religion, was not without some tokens of encouragement. After a little experience, when meeting with sullen, or ill-tempered persons, he used to help them pick a few hops, a plan which invariably succeeded in removing prejudice, and soon made them such

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friends that he could say anything he chose. He found this hop-garden visitation very favourable to pointed conversation with individual souls; without hindering a man in his work, and without fear of his going away, he could quietly present to his mind the truth as it is in Jesus. In this way he was enabled to speak to a great number of Romanists, who flock in droves to the hop-gardens during the season. In addition to this outof-door work, the missionary held cottage meetings which were very well attended. He says:- will

The cottage meetings held in different parts of the parish were all warm meetings, the rooms being always quite full, chiefly working men in smock frocks, some of whom walked three miles and upwards with lantern in their hands, in order to be present. Indeed, I never before met with such warm-hearted and earnest-minded people. Some of the poor people have since written to me very affectionate letters, hoping to see me next year. Accordingly the next year he went again and received a very cordial welcome from the majority of the hop-pickers, many of the poor Irish Romanists whom he had talked with the previous year, leaving their work and running to shake him by the hand. He found that the seed sown had in some insta ne instances sprung up, an and he was encouraged to spend the season with as much spirit and detérmination as he had done the last. to

The last department of this kind of work to which we can direct attention is, the mission work among haymakers in the country around the metropolis. A considerable amount of effort has been put forth by the agents of the City Mission among this class, sometimes

within the twelve miles' boundary of the Society, and sometimes a little beyond these boundaries. During several hay ay seasons missionaries have been sent to Harrow to do what spiritual good they could amongst the haymakers. These also are principally Irish, and most of them are Romanists. The missionary says:

I never attempted a controversy with them, but sought all I could to set the light before them, and also to make them feel that religion is a practical thing. I was enabled through the friends at Harrow to help home a poor woman amongst them, who was taken ill with her child. This made a great impression upon them. On the evening of the same day it was wet, and I went and asked them to let me have their barn for an evening service. Welcomes fell from nearly all of them as they were sitting round getting a meal. "Oh yes,' said one,

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come now, and we will be glad to listen to you ourselves, for you're a good fellow.' "Eh,' said another,

and if it's for two hours and a half we'll be plazed to listen.' Said a third, If going all the way to London and back again to-night would do you any good, I'd go for you with the greatest of pleasure." With this he fetched out a besom and swept the barn floor; others set round seats, and in a few minutes all were comfortable and seated. We had an interesting meeting, the people being very reverent and grateful.'

It may, perhaps, save any misconception, if, in conclusion, we state that, while the Committee of the City Mission respond in the manner we have shown to applications from the country for the loan of missionaries, the entire expense is borne by

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and therefore to make them little short of Roman Catholics. He has made a few converts of the young ladies of his congregation, who are members of the best families in the town. How far the leaven has spread in the lump, I have no means of accu- › rately knowing; but I have reason to believe that the common people are anxious to hear the simple Gospel. Some time ago the vicar had occasion, through ill health, to leave his work for a few months. In his absence the bishop unwittingly sent an Evangelical preacher to st supply his pulpit. He had not preached two Sundays when the vicar's friends rose in arms against him, represented the case to the bishop, and wished him to be removed. The chief charge that they brought against him was that he was toon much like a Dissenter-in simple words, he was too faithful a servant of Christ for their tastes. However, he continued for nearly two months, and caused a great stir in the entire neighbourhood. There was nothing startling in his preaching. It was such as our people enjoy Sabbath after Sabbath in our villages from our evangelists. But it was so thoroughly fresh to the people, who are only familiar with baptismal regeneration, the efficacy of the Holy Sacrament, and the power of the priest, that, simple as it was, it was received by them as new and startling. On the return of the vicar, matters soon assumed their usual appearance; and now the evil influence of Ritualism and Puseyism is, I fear, quietly yet surely penetrating the minds of the people. You will see at once how urgent is the need of such work as it is our hard yet blessed mission to perform. It is not to be expected that, in such circumstances, our progress should be rapid,

but we believe that we are working to good purpose. I could wish, and many of us are praying for it, that our chapel were occupied with eager listeners; but if any one should come to us from the Church, no effort would be left untried to recall him. The people, therefore are afraid to venture near us. If the way were clear, if no intimidation or bribery were employed, I firmly believe that our chapel would be well filled every Sunday. We feel our position much, but we are not discouraged so as to become idle in the vineyard. We do what work lies to our hand hopefully.

CLERICAL INFLUENCE.-During the twenty-six years I have laboured in these villages, I have never known anything like the present opposition from the clergy and their friends. They have wealth and great influence, which many of the people who are attached to our chapels chapels cannot withstand. Some farmers whose landlords were formerly indifferent to the religious tendencies of their tenants, are now exerting themselves to procure their attendance at church, and I am sorry to say, in some cases, their efforts have been successful. Dissenters in large towns. and cities can scarcely form an idea of the power which the clergy have in some of our agricultural districts. Never, I believe, were the operations of the Home Missionary Society so much needed as at the present.

CLERICAL INTOLERANCE.A kind and intelligent lady, who has been among us for eleven months (and who, I am sorry to say, is about to leave to reside on the Continent), has done much for the villages and for our congregations by holding classes in her