We encamped inside the ruins over the Sunday, and partook of the Holy Communion in our tent, enjoying this privilege, and asking our Lord to strengthen us that we might more and more, in our lives as well as with our lips, proclaim that 'the Lord He is God, the Lord He is God.'

In the afternoon we visited the British Syrian Schools, presided over by Miss Williams, a very intelligent and pious lady, one who has learnt by experience to cast all her care' upon Him who careth for her.' There were about fifty children at the school. I catechised them, and they answered very well indeed, quite as well as English children, from Genesis, Exodus, and the Gospel of St. Matthew.

Among the children we saw the daughter of the Mayor of the place, and also a little black girl, who was a slave; a rather curious mixture, but all learning the way of life and perfect freedom.

Now we turned our faces towards Beyrout, going along the beautiful road which extends from Beyrout to Damascus. We pitched our tents at Mextey, and the next day passed over the Lebanon range, at a height of 5060 feet. The snow had not disappeared, and the scenery was very beautiful, quite surpassing anything I had hoped to see. On the way I had lingered behind my companions, and while musing upon the fine views before me, two camels came running past me. I immediately started my horse and galloped after them, much to the surprise and amuse

ment of our party, who seemed to think that I had either stolen these creatures, or else that I had purchased them to take home, in order that I might be enabled to visit my parishioners mounted on a camel. I think the idea might succeed. Certainly I am of the opinion that it would draw, at all events when first introduced.

The vegetation we noticed to be very good; and leaving a beautiful forest of dark pines to our left, we entered Beyrout, which is beautifully situated; and as the steamer left that evening, we started for Alexandria, after a sad farewell to Gabriel and our servants, to whom we had become much attached. From the steamer we saw the coast of Palestine very distinctly, and had a good view of Mount Carmel and Cæsarea, and bade farewell to the Holy Land at Jaffa, with a great desire to return again another day.

S

CHAPTER X.

CONCLUSION.

OME may
ask me whether I think there is
any probability of our Church of England
joining the Eastern Churches. To this I

would say, that I should be delighted if the Eastern Church would join us. But after careful investigation of the Eastern Churches in Egypt and Palestine, I must say that I see no hope, unless a reform takes place in these Churches. To my mind, they are in a miserable state of superstition and ignorance.

The only Church with which we might have communion is the Armenian, for in that Church a great reformation is taking place. I was somewhat surprised to hear the Bishop of Gibraltar say at the Congress at Leicester something to this effect, that we ought not to interfere with these Churches abroad, or try to teach them that they are in error; but that if any of their number went away from communion with any of these Churches, it was our duty to teach them. to go back to these (corrupt) Churches; and I was not

astonished to hear the Bishop say that he was so well received by all the Patriarchs of the Eastern Churches he had visited, because he had adopted this policy of non-intervention. Now, I believe in living in charity as far as possible with all men; but I consider this to be the greatest kindness we can do to our brethren, namely, to tell them of their errors, and that with no uncertain sound. I should advise all those who agree with the Bishop of Gibraltar to read the history of the mission to Travancore. Many attempts were made to reform the Syrian Church, and little good came of it. But when the missionaries were free to carry out their own plans untrammelled, instead of patching up an unsound system, God blessed their work. The Church Missionary Society built a new college, and a noble church was built. The liturgy of the Church of England was appreciated by not a few far and wide, and in a few years after this, says the author of Missionary Enterprise in the East, there was a goodly number of professing Protestants, gathered out from among both Syrians and heathen. At the end of eighteen years the numbers had increased to nearly 5000; and during the next twelve years this number was nearly doubled. Great has been the success of this mission, because the missionaries could pitch their tabernacle outside, and exhibit a pure example of the worship of the Most High. And they could freely rebuke error, and fully unfold the whole mystery of God without compromise. I