prospered. At present they have six stations there, with twenty missionary labourers; who are earrying on their work in the same spirit which animated those by whom it was begun.

Across the sea to the south and west of Greenland, on the mainland of America, lies the still more inhospitable country of Labrador. It is inhabited by wandering tribes of Esquimaux Indians; and to them also the Moravian Brethren determined on sending the Word of salvation. After some unsuccessful attempts, and, indeed, the loss of several lives, a Mission was established there in 1770. For the purpose of communicating with the missionaries stationed in Labrador, it has been found necessary, from the commencement, to have a vessel engaged entirely in the service of that Mission; and it is a sufficiently remarkable fact, illustrative surely of the protecting hand of God over His people, that of the nine ships which, one after the other, have been engaged in this service for more than a hundred years, not one has been prevented from performing its yearly voyage through those icy seas and along those rocky shores in safety. Not, indeed, without being many times near destruction; but always mercifully preserved. In the last Report it is stated: "All our friends who take an interest in Labrador will be pleased to know that the hundred and seventh voyage of the missionary ship "Harmony" has been safely accomplished. Not long after the commencement of the Greenland Mission, some Moravian Brethren (in 1734) went to preach the gospel among the roving Indian tribes of North America. Their labours, trials, and sufferings were most severe; but their work was blessed with considerable success. Many hundred converts were gained; who had, however, to bear the fire of persecution. On one occasion, ninety-six Indians, men, women, and children, composing their congregation, were treacherously made prisoners and killed in cold blood. On another occasion, a troop of hostile Indians surrounded the mission-dwelling, which they set fire to, and burnt alive or massacred all whom they found within. Such were some of their trials; but God gave them from time to time to see that their labours were not in vain.

It was shortly after the Mission to the North American Indians was commenced that the Moravian Brethren commenced another in a far different part of the world—the southern portion of the great continent of Africa, among the Hottentots and Kaffirs. In the year 1736 George Schmidt went among them; and for seven years laboured in the work. At the end of that time he was forced to return to Europe; but being unable to obtain from the Dutch Government, to whom that part of Africa then belonged, the necessary permission to continue his work, the mission was suspended for some fifty years, and until after his death. In 1792, the Dutch Government having at length given permission, three Brethren were sent out to the same place. They found the Mission settlement which Schmidt had founded in ruin and desolation; but they vigorously set to work to restore it, and to continue the labours which he had begun. The place had become a haunt of wild beasts, and was known as Bavian's Kloof, or the Baboon's Glen; but it became soon a garden of the Lord; and under the new name of Gnadendal, or the Vale of Grace, is still one of the Brethren's chief mission stations there. They have now altogether fifteen stations in South Africa, with more than sixty mission agents; and many of the poor Kaffirs and Hottentots of those regions have they been the means of turning to the Lord. The character generally given to those mission settlements, both by those who are, and those who are not friendly to missionary exertions, is that they are like gardens in the wilderness; the native people being as much changed in their habits and minds as the face of their country has been improved by industry and skill.

The missions which we have spoken of, to the West Indies, to Greenland, to Labrador, to the American Indians, and to the natives of Southern Africa, though the chief, are not the only missions of the Moravian Church. To the aborigines of Australia a mission was established nineteen years ago (1859); and another was commenced in Tibet, to the Mongol tribes, a little before (1854). There are two stations in each of

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these missions; and each may be regarded as a kind of outpost of the Christian Church in the wilds of heathenism. Indeed, it is the occupying of outposts such as these which has been the peculiar work and honour of the Moravian Brethren.

The late Mr. Wilberforce, in his well-known work on "Practical Christianity," speaks of the Moravian missionaries as A body of Christians who have, perhaps, excelled all mankind in solid and unequivocal proofs of the love of Christ, and of the most ardent, active, and patient zeal in His service. It is a zeal," he continues, “tempered with prudence, softened with meekness, soberly aiming at great ends by the gradual operation of welladapted means, supported by a courage which no danger can intimidate, and a quiet constancy which no hardship can exhaust." This witness is true; and we hope that the brief narrative herein given will obtain among our young readers some new and warm friends to the "Missions of the Moravian Brethren."

Lev. xiii. 45.
Nah. i. 1.
Luke xvi. 21.

2 Chr. xxviii. 9.

2 Sam. xii. 9.

Matt. viii. 32.

2 Sam. xx. 15, 22.

1 Kings xix. 6.
Josh. xi. 1, 13.
2 Chr. xiii. 22.
Ps. cxix. 105.
2 Sam. vi. 16.

1 Sam. xix. 16.
Matt. xii. 2.

Acts ix. 25.
Matt. vi. 30.

1 Cor. ix. 24.

Matt. ii. 23.

THIS year's attendance at the annual meetings of our various religious societies, the interest displayed in their proceedings, and the contributions to their funds, all present unequivocal evidence of the unabated attachment of the supporters to the institutions in question. The reports, too, were on the whole satisfactory. If, in some cases, partial reverses had to be acknowledged, there were elsewhere abundant proofs of success; in fact the field now occupied is so wide, the workers engaged are so numerous, and their operations so varied, that any falling off in one quarter is sure to be compensated for by gain in another. The result is, that progress and advance in this great spiritual warfare is now seen to be uniform and regular, if only the observer's look be not narrowed to a particular point, but extended to the entire range of vision. It is thus with effort and enterprise, it is thus with funds; while some societies have shown diminished receipts, of others the receipts were larger than they had ever been, and the total amount contributed during the past year was much more than that in years before.

THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

THE Earl of Shaftesbury as President of the society, took his accustomed place in the chair at this meeting, which was as animated and successful as usual. The report, which was read by the Rev. C. Jackson, presented a survey of the society's operations throughout the world. The expenditure had ainounted to 10,4751. more than in any previous year. This increase was wholly due to the extensive and costly effort made in connection with the recent war in the East of Europe. The issues of the society for the year were as follows: From the depôt at home, 1,452,609; from depôts abroad, 1,490,988; total, 2,943,597 copies of Bibles, Testaments, and portions. The total issues of the society from its commencement now amount to 82,047,062 copies. The report referred to the presentation to the society by a kind friend of a portrait, painted by Millais, of their noble and much-loved President." The Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, in moving the adoption of the report, congratulated the friends of the society upon its material prosperity; then, adverting to the spiritual aspect of its operations, his lordship said that he had noticed with satisfaction of late years that the society was becoming one, not only for disseminating the Word of God, but for rallying together all who loved that Word. He then spoke of the spread of infidelity and superstition, which he said was increasing silently all around us. However, he said he thought that there was now a tendency to a division-to a breaking up of the camp of infidelity; and even within the last few months there had been a striking and wonderful protest from persons who had little sympathy with the cause of Christ against the morbid progress that the falselycalled science had been of late attempting to make. But there was the old foe, that he deemed even more dangerous at the present time, and making more desperate, because sinuous, advances he meant superstition. Mr. H. H. Fowler, of Wolverhampton, seconded the resolution, and urged the rejection of every system of education which excluded the Bible. The resolution was supported by the Rev. Dr. McEwan and carried. The Rev. E. Herber Evans, of Carnarvon, spoke, as a Welshman, with enthusiastic earnestness of the work of the society in the principality of Wales. He stated as a fact, and as a result of the circulation of the Bible in Wales, that the Home Secretary is now able to abolish half the county prisons in Wales because there are more prisons than prisoners. The speech of the Rev. George Palmer Davies, the society's agent for Germany, was one of peculiar interest. He called upon British Christians to help German Christians to rescue their country from the atheistic clutches of its socialists, from the less coarse but equally pernicious infidelity of its materialistic philosophers, and from the dark bondage of its Romish priests; and, said he, "you will have helped to re-conquer for Christ, not oneseventh the proportion of the population, but fully one-third of the intellectual and spiritual power of continental Europe." The Rev. F. F. Goe and Canon Fleming followed in speeches which were all that could be desired in tone, sentiment, and in eloquence. The last speaker was the noble Chairman, who, in a few graceful sentences, returned his acknowledgments for the vote of thanks which had been moved by the Bishop of Sydney.

THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.

A NUMEROUS audience gathered to celebrate the seventyninth anniversary of the Religious Tract Society, and showed a warm appreciation of the interest and importance which marked the entire proceedings. Sir Charles Reed was in the chair. Comparing evangelical work to a holy warfare, Sir Charles likened the society's depository in Paternoster Row to a grand arsenal, where weapons of offence and attack were forged for all Christian soldiers on mission fields at home or abroad. He also said that he could bear witness to the ready adaptation of its machinery to every fresh demand. Of this he adduced several instances. An outline of the report was then given by the Rev. Dr. S. Mauning. Tracts had been largely distributed abroad to make provision for the religious wants of the troops who were engaged in the Russo-Turkish war. A central depôt had been opened in the Place du Théâtre Français, so as to meet the wants of the multitudes likely to visit Paris for the Exhibition. The efforts of the society to promote Biblical education in Board schools and the society's home operations were also referred to. There had been issued during the year 500 new publications, of which 201 were tracts. The total circulation from the home depôt, including books, tracts, periodicals counted in numbers, cards and miscellaneous issues, reached 52,783,265, of which 24,640,395 were tracts. The issues from foreign depots were 10,000,000, making a total circulation of nearly 63,000,000, and of very nearly 1,783,000,000 since the formation of the society. The total amount received from sales, missionary receipts, and all other sources, was 148,5571. 118. 8d. The total expenditure in both trade and grant departments had been 146,2317. 188. 1d., leaving a balance in favour of the society of 2,3251. 138. 7d. The total amount received from subscriptions and other contributions, part payment for grants, dividends and legacies, was 28,0831. 148. 9d.; the whole of this sum being available for the missionary objects of the society. The missionary expenditure has amounted to 36,266l. 58. Id. The amount of grants thus exceeded the missionary receipts by 8,1821. 108. 4d.; which has been supplied from the trade funds. The report was adopted on the motion of Mr. John Macgregor (Rob Roy) seconded by the Rev. Theodore Monod (of Paris). M. Monod stated a number of interesting facts as to the preparation now beginning to be apparent in some influential French minds for the favourable reception of the Gospel. Addresses were then delivered by the Rev. Newman Hall, on "The Value of Tract Distribution;" the Rev. T. P. Hughes, on "The Tract Society in India"; and the Rev. Canon Fleming, on "The Relation of the Religious Tract Society to the Literature of the Day." Canon Fleming remarked that as a nation England was now standing in a most critical position. They had a grand past to look back upon, stretching nationally from Agincourt to Inkermann, religiously from the glorious Reformation down to the present hour, when more strongly than ever the great Reformation truths which Luther proclaimed were held dear. But what about the future? They would be only able to do their duty as they continued to seek to mould and to elevate and to ennoble the literature of the day. The loss of moral life in England would mean the loss of national life.

THE MISSIONARY SOCIETIES. *

THERE was the usual large attendance at the meeting of the Church Missionary Society in Exeter Hall. The Earl of Chichester, President of the society, occupied the chair. From the report, which was read by the Rev. H. Wright, it appeared that the total income of the society during the past year had exceeded 223,000l., of which amount the Rev. G. F. Fox, of Durham, has contributed 5,000l., more specially with a view to the efficient maintenance of Islington College. The total number of clergymen employed by the society is 385, of whom 182 are native clergy. The lay agents number 2,652, 57 only being English. The accounts from the various fields of labour were for the most part encouraging; the massacre of Messrs. Smith and O'Neill, at the Victoria Nyanza, forming, however, a sad page in this year's report. The committee stated that arrangements had been made for the departure the following week for Uganda of four selected brethren, by way of the Nile: and Mr. Mackay had received instructions to press forward

with another party from the East Coast. The noble chairman, in his introductory speech, made some weighty and telling remarks, in the course of which he pointed out that the character of the report was not unlike that of a believer's life; it showed discipline by many sorrows and trials, but triumph at last. The adoption of the report was moved by the Bishop of Sydney, Metropolitan of Australia, who referred to the general happy relations which existed between the late Bishop Selwyn and the society. In respect of their recent losses in Africa, he trusted that they would advance over the bodies of their martyred brethren to the possession of that continent. The resolution was seconded by the Rev. Canon Miller, who remarked that each anniversary of the society had had some special characteristic. That day Africa was foremost in their thoughts. On the East Coast slavery had come to an end. What had taken Granville Sharpe and his followers 100 years to accomplish had been effected on the East Coast of Africa in ten years. Major-General Sir W. Hill, who supported the resolution, showed that great results might attend small beginnings, telling how an American missionary and his wife, who followed the British forces under his command in Burmah, were the means of planting numerous churches throughout that country. The Rev. T. P. Hughes, missionary, from Peshawur, also supported the resolution. He riveted the meeting with an eloquent description of the work in the Punjaub, and among the wild chiefs on the frontiers of Afghanistan. He strongly urged that the missionaries of the society needed to be sustained by the threefold cord of sympathy, prayer, and support. The second resolution was moved in a vigorous speech by the Bishop of Saskatchewan (Dr. J. McLean). The Church Missionary Society had (he remarked) a great and special work to do; the finger of Providence was pointing out fresh fields of labour. In the course of an exceedingly interesting speech, the Bishop gave some graphic sketches of his work among the Indians in the barren and frozen regions of North-western America, exhorting his hearers to practise the simple faith and liberality which he had himself witnessed among the Blackfeet and Cree Indian tribes. Hearty sympathy accompanied his appeals. The interest, however, of the meeting culminated in the address of the Rev. W. T. Sattianâdan, from Madras (the first native clergyman from India who has pleaded the cause of his countrymen in England), who wore the native costume, consisting of purple trousers, long purple coat, and turban. The story of his own conversion and of his subsequent labours, his hearty, homely reference to the work of his wife, daughter of the late Rev. J. Devasagayan, also present at the meeting, stirred the enthusia-m of the listeners. As he ceased speaking, a donation of 1,000l. from a lady present in the meeting testified to the effectiveness of his appeal.

THE proceedings at the meeting of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel we have not space to refer to, but the report has many points of interest. The year's income we give on next page.

THE Wesleyan Missionary Society had a crowded meeting in Exeter Hall. Mr. William Mewburn, of Banbury, was the chairman. The Rev. Dr. Morley Punshon read the report. During the past year the expenditure had been no less than 13,000l. beyond the income. Dr. Punshon strongly emphasize d the fact that an addition to the revenue of at least 20,000l. was absolutely necessary in order to continue the work of the society on the present scale. In the rapid glance that was given at the various parts of the mission field, noteworthy points were that the number of church members showed an increase of 2,060, and of 10,000 on trial for membership; and that in South Africa, although trouble had been experienced in consequence of the war, no natives under the care of the Wesleyan missions had joined the rebellion. The following is a summary of the society's operations: central or principal stations called circuits, occupied by the society in various parts of the world, 632; chapels and other preaching places, 6,343; ministers and assistant-missionaries, including supernumeraries, 878; other paid agents, as catechists, interpreters, day-school teachers, etc., 5,905; unpaid agents, as Sabbath-school teachers, etc., 25,007; full and accredited church members, 143,546; on trial for church membership, 19,892; scholars, deducting for those who attend both the day and Sabbath schools, 216,673; printing establishments, 5. The Rev. Dr. Pope, President of the Couference, in moving the adoption of the report, expressed the conviction that the cultivation of the missionary spirit was bound up with the cultivation of a healthy Christian life. He urged the importance of raising the society's income to 200,0001. a-year. The Hon. and Rev. E, V. Bligh seconded the resolu

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tion, and observed that he entertained a feeling of deep sympathy with the object of the meeting, and was glad to take hold of the hand of fellowship held out to him. Mr. Robert Lomas, of Manchester, supported the resolution. He completely carried the meeting with him by bursts of wit and humour, by touches of fine imagination and pathos, and by a very vigorous and felicitously-expressed argument, to the effect that morality was the basis of all prosperity, so that the value of every acre of land depended upon the ethics which were over it. The Rev. Ernest Clapham gave a manly and able speech, deriving encouragement for missionary effort from allusions to historic parallels. Mr. S. D. Waddy, Q.C., M.P., made a strong appeal to the meeting to remember the statement of the report that retrenchment or increase of subscriptions was the alternative. After a quiet and brief speech from a veteran Barbadian missionary, the Rev. H. Hurd, the climax and culmination burst upon the audience in a speech of surprising ability, from the Rev. Sylvester Whitehead, of Canton. This gentleman is a comparatively young missionary, but is a speaker of no common order. In a calm and dignified manner, he mapped out the vastness, difficulty, and needs of the Chinese work, and as he rose with his theme, and surveyed the certain and glorious future, his audience responded with hearty enthusiasm.

THERE was a large attendance at the anniversary, in Exeter Hall, of the London Missionary Society. Mr. Samuel Morley, M.P., filled the chair, and earnestly and impressively advocated the claims of missions, and recommended union among different denominations in supporting them. The Rev. Dr. Mullens read the report, which stated that besides the usual central agencies in China, there had been much aggressive work, especially among the stations scattered through India and China. The evangelistic department in both countries was never more active than at present. This description applied to most of the stations in other countries, and native agency was being every year more and more employed. In Madagascar more than a hundred trained pastors, evangelists, and schoolmasters, had gone out to strengthen the teaching of country districts, where there were now many model churches and schools, and the education work had increased fourfold. Interesting and encouraging accounts had been received from the new mission in Central Africa, which had met with great difficulties, but most of them had been overcome; so that the directors could say that a new day had dawned on Central Africa. As to funds, the directors said that, notwithstanding the stagnation of trade and the disturbed state of social and public life, the general receipts and contributions of the year had been the largest ever received for ordinary purposes. The Rev. J. C. Harrison moved the adoption of the report, and spoke of the pacific tendency.of the society. Its aim was to produce peace with God and peace with man. In common with all missionary societies, it took its stand on the supernatural. It did not originate in mere natural benevolence; it was not a scheme of mere philanthropy; it was just the conveying of a God-given remedy to those who were perishing. For this they had a divine commission, as had been seen and felt by the apostles in their day, and had been experienced by modern missionaries-the heroic Livingstone, for example. It was this which made them sure of ultimate success. The resolution was seconded by the Rev. S. J. Whitmee, from Samoa, in the South Seas, who gave some interesting accounts of the work there. He repeated a statement previously made by him, and which had created some interest in Liverpool-that every missionary sent to the Pacific Islands in the course of a few years creates a trade to the value of 10,000l. per annum. resolution expressive of approval of the extension of the society's work was moved by the Rev. C. Wilson, of Plymouth, and seconded by the Rev. J. Kilner (Secretary of the Wesleyau Missionary Society). The other speakers were the Rev. W. H. Wills, Mr. T. Devitt, and Mr. Wright.

A

EXETER HALL was filled at the meeting of the Baptist Missionary Society. The chairman was Mr. J. Gurney Barclay. The report, which was read by the Rev. C. Bailhache, gave a gene al estimate of the year's work in the various mission fields under cultivation by the society. On the whole, it was stated, the labours of the year had be n encour ging. The many native churches all showed a fair increase; the morality and spirituality of those churches would bear a fair comparison with the churches at home; and the development of the principle of self-support among them, though slow, was advancing satisfactorily. The society's total receipts showed a large increase on those of the previous year. The Rev. J. Kilner moved a resolution affirming that, With expanding missions in all our old fields, and the calls providentially mad

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to us to enter into new ones, particularly in Africa, it is both the duty and the privilege of the churches to devote themselves to their great work more thoroughly than ever before." The Rev. Dr. S. Manning, in seconding the resolution, addressed himself to the justification of the society in the course it is taking, in attempting the evangelisation of Africa by the line. of the Congo River. "Who," he asked, "will dare to say we have yet risen to any adequate sense of the claims of Christ upon us, and the claims of the perishing heathen? If angels before the Throne cry, Worthy is the Lamb to receive riches,' shall we murmur and repine when new appeals come day by day and year by year, bidding us consecrate our riches to Christ?" The other speakers were the Rev. James Owen, of Swansea; and the Rev. J. C. Page, of Darjeeling, India.

WE give the receipts of these five principal missionary societies for the past year and the year preceding:

SOCIETIES FOR HOME AND SPECIAL EVANGELISATION.

THE Church Pastoral Aid Society reported diminished means and contracted operations. The total available income of the year had fallen short of the expediture by 8,500l. The society now aided 682 incumbents in charge of an aggregate population which gave about 7,000 souls to each. The society's grants have led to the erection, opening, or keeping open of 337 churches and chapels; and in districts at present aided 335 rooms were used for Divine service. The population benefited amounted to upwards of five millions. The Earl of Shaftesbury, who presided, expressed his alarm at the present condition of the Church of England. His lordship said that he did not so much fear open and flagrant departures from the truth, as men "who in an insidious manner make a great profession of universal charity, and who tell us they want to bring down the religion of Christians to one harmonious whole, which they would do by getting rid of all its cardinal and distinctive principles."

At the meeting of the London City Mission, Lord Kinnaird presided. The annual report stated the number of the missionaries for the past year to be 452, being an increase of 10. The receipts showed a considerable increase, which was due to legacies. The number of visits was 2,890,824; the Scriptures distributed were 10,690; tracts circulated, 3,728,991. The indoor meetings held were 40,000, whilst the outdoor services held were 5,050. The number of drunkards reclaimed was 1,699, whilst the children sent to school were 3,589. The noble chairman remarked that three principles seemed to underlie all their work. They were, first, that evangelical truth had the only claim for recognition as being in full accordance with the Word of God; secondly, the duty of proclaiming it did not rest exclusively on ordained ministers, but that all men shared in the obligation to diffuse the Gospel; and thirdly, all members of the Church of Christ, of whatever denomination, should combine in the work of evangelising the world, so as to prove that the points on which they were agreed were more deep and lasting than those upon which they differed. The Bishop of Sodor and Man moved the adoption of the report. The meeting was subsequently addressed by the Rev. Dr. S. Manning, Dr. M'Auslane, the Rev. F. Goe, and the Rev. T. Champness.

LORD SHAFTESBURY presided at the seventieth annual meeting of the London Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews. The society employed 140 agents, many of whom were ordained,

and others were lay and medical missionaries, school teachers, Scripture readers, and colporteurs. Among the speakers were the Bishop of Sydney, Bishop Ryan, the Rev. H. W. WebbPeploe, and the Rev. F. G. Kleinheim.

THE Bishop of Sydney presided at the annual meeting of the Colonial and Continental Church Society. The report stated that there had been a great increase of work upon the Continent. Efforts, however, were being made at the present time by the extreme ritualistic party to set aside order and discipline. Of the value of the society's colonial operations, increasing testimony had been received.

THE annual meeting of the Irish Church Missions to the Roman Catholics was presided over by Captain the Hon. Francis Maude, R.N. The report showed that within the last twentynine years the society had raised 709,4107. exclusively for Church work in Ireland. It had caused the erection-with funds specially raised for the purpose-of nineteen churches, nine parsonages, eight orphanages and thirty-three schoolhouses. At the present time it was maintaining forty-two Sunday-schools, attended by 2,114 children, and seventy-three week-day schools, in which 3,135 children were being taught. There are 316 persons employed by the society's missionary agency, comprising twenty-eight ordained clergymen, 184 trained agents, and 104 agents employed in Irish teaching, and teaching texts of Scripture.

THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURY filled the chair at the anniversary of the Scripture Readers' Society for Ireland. It appeared from the report read by Captain Kearney White that a large measure of blessing continues to attend the ministrations of their agents throughout the country. This is testified by the superintendents and by private letters from all parts of Ireland. The men are earnest and real in their work, going forth to their labours prayerfully, and in full dependence on the assistance with which the Lord has graciously promised to bless such attempts. New fields of labour are being continually opened, applications for Scripture-readers being received from many poor districts whence small or no contributions can be given. It was a source of regret to the Committee that they had been unable to comply with these demands in any way commensurate with the requirements.

THE twenty-fifth annual meeting of the Open Air Mission, was held under the presidency of Sir John Kennaway, M.P.. who commended the work as still being urgently needed, if the masses are to be evangelised. Mr. John Macgregor read a paper full of facts and figures relating to the history of the society for the past twenty-five years, during the whole of which time he has been the honorary secretary. Mr. John Kirk followed with last year's report. There are more than 100 stations sustained regularly in London. The large number of 637,460 tracts had been circulated. On the following Sunday, the cause of the Society was advocated from 185 of the metropolitan pulpits.

The

AT the meeting of the Church of England Sunday-school Institute, the Bishop of Bath and Wells in the chair, it was stated that the branch associations had increased to 202. total sale of publications amounted to nearly a million and a half. SIR CHARLES REED presided at the meeting of the Sundayschool Union. The report, after referring to the work of the society on the Continent (where it employs ten missionaries) and in the Colonies, went on to say that the year 1880 would usher in the centenary of Sunday-schools, the committee had decided upon celebrating the event by an international convention. The statistics from the metropolitan auxiliaries and local unions in connection with the society showed that there were above 4,200 schools, 103,600 teachers, and 951,000 scholars. Nearly 4,000 teachers had joined the churches in London and the country during the year, while 12,104 scholars had been added to the fellowship of churches from the schools connected with the union.

THE annual meeting of the Ragged-school Union and the annual distribution of prizes took place under the presidency of the Earl of Shaftesbury. The meeting was one of the most crowded and enthusiastic held during the month of May. The report stated that the attendance of Sunday scholars averaged 29,531. There were also day and night schools, "ragged churches," lending libraries, penny banks, working men's clubs, and mothers' meetings. There were nine shoeblack societies, employing 374 boys. Their joint earnings amounted to 12,2811. The distribution of prizes was made by the noble chairman, after which Lady Edith Ashley (daughter of Lord Shaftesbury) was presented, amid hearty cheering, with a portrait of her father, by "one who owes all his success in life to the kind instruction and encouragement received at a ragged school."