HOME-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE. -1. SPITALFIELDS.-From the Journal of the Rev. J. J. Sargent, July 4th, 1862. -Visited twenty-six families, many in the lowest depths of poverty. Found one woman who had been, with her husband, in union with our Society at a neighbouring chapel. She wept as I spoke to her, and was much affected during prayer. She spoke of rejoining the people. Another woman had been a scholar, and for a short time a teacher, in one of the Sabbath-schools in Manchester. She was in extreme poverty. Her children were just about partaking of a dish of boiled biscuit-meal,-the refuse of the bakers' shops. Was well received by all; and a good interest was evidently excited for the open-air service in that street. Preached in the open air in Brick-lane at'night, and had a large and most attentive congregation. Sunday, 20th July.-Visited thirteen lodging-houses: found the usual poverty, filth, and crime. Gave tracts in this street to several abandoned men, busily engaged in gambling. Had to contend with a little opposition............In the afternoon I preached in Commercialstreet to a large and attentive congregation. Was repeatedly interrupted by an abusive Papist. In the evening I preached in Spitalfields, and was pleased to recognise some faces which I had seen in the open-air congregation.

Sunday, 27th July.-A very large congregation in the open air, who listened with sustained attention. My back was against a drinking-fountain; and it was rather interesting to remark the length of time it took some people to get a drink. I saw one man standing listening for a considerable time with the cup in his hand. A youth came up shouting cigar-lights for sale; but, catching my eye, slunk off. At the public-house opposite my stand, the window is generally open, and the family seated at it, ready for the service. At the close to-day a woman, seemingly considerably moved, came up, and stated that she had been deeply affected by the discourse, and begged me to visit her at her house to converse on spiritual subjects. She was dressed in deep mourning, and seemed respectable. Altogether the service was most encouraging. August 1st.-Visited nineteen families. Of these, sixteen were visited in the afternoon in one of the most irreligious, though not most profligate, streets in the neighbourhood. In one I had to climb up dark stairs, by means of a rope, and, on arriving at the top of the

house, had to knock, over-head, at the trap-door, which, being lifted up, admitted me into the room. These places are so filthy, and the day being warm, I was compelled to leave much sooner than I had intended. Not one of these sixteen families regularly attend any place of worship. They are living in poverty filth, and sin. After tea visited a woman who spoke to me at the close of the open-air service last Sabbath. She is anxious about her soul, and will join class at once.

Sunday, 3d August.-In the congrega tion in the street to-day was a man of whom I had lost sight for some time. On my first visit in London, a year ago, I found him in a low lodging-house. Though he had been trained in a Wesleyan Sundayschool, and had been once a member of Society, he had wandered far from God, and had become involved in atheistical speculations. This man rushed by me in the street one Sabbath morning,—his long hair streaming in the wind, his eyes blood-shot,-and shouted in derision as he passed, "Behold the Lamb of God!" and I saw him no more till to-day. recognised him in the congregation listening most attentively. At the close, I hastened to speak to him. To my great surprise and encouragement, he informed me that he had abandoned his infidel notions, having found himself wrong. I spoke to him kindly, and invited him to the chapel. He promised to come, and I had the great pleasure of seeing him there at night. [N.B.— This man has since joined Mr. Sargent's class.]

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Thursday, 14th.-Was enabled to give relief in a deserving case to-day. It is very necessary to be provided with a little money for such purposes, and for Home-Mission expenses, such as printing plans, purchasing tracts, (for 2,000 of which I paid to-day,) &c.

During the quarter many services have been held in the open air.

2. BOW, &C. (TWELFTH LONDON CIRCUIT.) -A new Circuit-"Twelfth London ". was commenced immediately after the Conference of 1861. A year ago, at "the head of the Circuit"-Bowthere was not a Leader, a Steward, a Trustee, nor a fragment of organized Wesleyan Methodism of any kind,—not a brick of a school, or chapel, or any building belonging to the Wesleyans; no minister's house, no furniture, &c. Everything had to be begun at the beginning. There are, however, more than 50,000 British people within a milecircle of the commencement of Bow

road, and the population is rapidly increasing; whole streets are constantly springing up, as if by magic. The neighbourhood of Bow is the most respectable in the East of London; and had the same number and class of English people been gathered together in any part of the whole world, except in the metropolis, a Wesleyan minister would have been stationed among them long ago. Until the Conference of 1861, Bow was nominally embraced in the Spitalfields Circuit; and there was no probability that, in the ordinary Circuit way, a minister would have been stationed at Bow before the year 1900, if then. The enlargement of the Home-Mission Fund, having placed resources at disposal for the sustentation of ministers in aggressive efforts, has led to the establishment of the new Circuit; and there does not appear to be any other way in which this much-needed step could have been taken. Bow lies close to Victoria Park,-a "lung of London," consisting of 290 acres of land, which were beautifully laid out a few years ago in gardens, ornamental lakes, play-grounds, &c. To enjoy these, hundreds of persons, who formerly worshipped in Wesleyan chapels, have, from time to time, removed into the neighbourhood of Bow; and, on the first Sabbath morning after entering their new abodes, they have sallied forth in quest of a chapel, where they might hear the truth of God from the lips of a Wesleyan minister; and have been astonished to discover that they were topographically excluded from such a privilege! Many of them, after going to various places of worship for a season, have ceased to attend religious ordinances: a temptation to which they have unwisely yielded. But the hymns they were accustomed to sing, and the fervour of the ministry they were accustomed to hear, developed tastes which made them disrelish the services of other denominations; and this fact involves a principle which must not be lost sight of when Wesleyans are determining their Home-Mission duties, as a branch of the Christian church. The minister who was appointed to reside at Bow a year ago states, that he is ever and anon hearing of families who, before coming to the locality, attended Wesleyan chapels, and sad histories of some of these people are coming to his knowledge,-very sad histories! Wesleyans would be struck with horror, if the backslidings could be all told that have resulted from the absence of a minister and chapel at

Bow during the last ten years. It is but just to say, that all "are not lost or wandered back." Ought we not to say this, with many thanks to those churches that have provided a refuge for OUR PEOPLE, when Wesleyanism provided them with neither shepherd nor pasture?

formerly an active Wesleyan, is now the "leading Deacon" of Congregational church. who was

a member in Circuit, until he came to reside in Bow, is now the principal supporter of the "interest" at another Congregational chapel; and others have become members, and they continue such, of different religious communions in the locality. The people who have, during the year, been gathered into the congregation at Bow have been, for the most part, connected with Methodism elsewhere; and some of them have greatly rejoiced to return to the religious home of their youth. The progress of the work has been much retarded during the year, because there was no large hall that could be rented for Divine service on the Lord's-day; and the minister's "hired house," where public worship has been conducted, was very soon crowded. The foundation-stone of a school-chapel was laid on Easter-Monday, and the edifice was opened in September, 1862. Since the opening, the cry has been heard on all sides, "The place is too strait for us." We must have a large chapel. The site, which is freehold, was generously paid for by Mr. Ralph Polglase, a friend who has manifested a great and growing interest in the formation and progress of Twelfth London. ward the erection, the Metropolitan Wesleyan Chapel-Building Fund has considerately, and as a special case, granted £300. It will be used exclusively as a school, as soon as means can be obtained to erect, in a leading thoroughfare, a chapel that will accommodate 1,000 or 1,200 persons.

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At the second place in the Twelfth London Circuit-Plaistow-Marsh-there is the very poorest of the new populations that have been suddenly gathered in the East of London; and in this neighbourhood the second minister has been appointed to reside. These people have been widely brought into public notice "Londoners over the Border." Until lately, the locality was very unhealthy, and the poverty and suffering consequent on disease were considerable, especially when affliction fell on the persons and families of the poorly-paid labourers at Victoria Docks. The residents do not live by vice, but by honest

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and hard toil; but, although vice is not a common source of livelihood among "Londoners over the Border," as in many parts of Wapping and St. Georgein-the-East, the causes of demoralization are many and powerful, and the social elements that neutralize these are very weak. Strong drink is a sore evil here, and desolates many of the homes of these people. As a class, they have not been, since childhood, in the habit of attending public worship. The popula tion is new, and none of the adults are natives. They have come from the east, the west, the north, and the south of England, and are freed from the restraints which villagers feel in their native villages, arising from their knowledge of each other, and from the residence and influence of an upper class, whose eye is known to rest on them. The need of a powerful evangelical element in this and similar populations, as a security to the nation, is very great. On the first Sunday in September, 1861, the ministers of the new Circuit began their labours by preaching here in the open air, and they continued to hold services under the blue sky until the cold winds compelled the congregations to seek shelter in a small rented room. In this little place, where not more than sixty persons could be comfortably accommodated, a hundred were frequently crammed, until the return of summer permitted the ministers to resume out-door services. The good Spirit has graciously applied the word, and deep awakenings of soul have been followed by sound conversions to God. William Eve, Esq., of Ockenden, laid the foundation-stone of a schoolchapel on a valuable freehold site, which he benevolently gave to the cause of God. Embracing in his liberality the whole design, he made the gift of land large enough to allow a first-class chapel to be erected at a future day, on the same frontage. The school-chapel was opened on Whit-Monday, and it is the first building dedicated to God that has reeeived aid from the Metropolitan Building Fund. The first year of this really me Circuit may be hereafter characterized as the year of hired rooms: the second will be the year of schoolchapels, without debt,-or schools that will be used as chapels until commodious chapels can be raised. When will the year of large chapels come? When will the new Circuit be not only self-sustainng, but render aid in forming other new Circuita? "The kingdom of heaven is ike to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which,

indeed, is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs."

3.

PLAISTOW-MARSH AND VICTORIA Docks. From the Rev. George Startup. --August, 1862.-Some of the people in this neighbourhood have contributed very liberally toward the erection of the School-chapel in Plaistow-Marsh. One man made himself responsible for £10, another for £8, and another for £5. 58. Two families gave £5 each, another £2. 2s., another £1. 10s., and several £1. A poor dock-labourer, earning only 148. a week, gave 6d. a week for six months; two others, who had seldom attended any place of worship, 3d. a week; and a young girl gave all her weekly pocket-money, 3d., for the same time; whilst another girl, who left our school to go to service, sent, unasked, her first month's wages.

Last November I adopted a plan for missioning the entire neighbourhood, having organized our friends into companies, I appointed each company to a district. Their work was to visit from house to house, distribute tracts, and establish at least one cottage-service in each district. These services have been well attended by those who habitually went to no place of worship, and have resulted in the conversion of some to God. The most striking of these conversions have occurred in the worst part of the Marsh; three of the most abandoned persons in the neighbourhood, one of them a prizefighter, having been thoroughly reclaimed.

I was enabled to establish at the same time a Dock-Mission, being effectually aided in this by an intelligent and zealous labourer, himself a reclaimed prodigal. His success has been great, as will be seen by the following instances:-

Boarding an American ship, he offered the captain a tract, which he refused with an oath, but, at his daughter's request, afterwards received. He learnt from the sailors that the captain was a very violent man, and had been imprisoned for the manslaughter of one of his crew. On the following Sabbath ho was gladly welcomed by the captain, who informed him that the tract had been much blessed to him, and that he was now seeking the pardon of his sins. The next Sabbath he found peace with God, and, confessing his wickedness, determined by Divine aid to lead a new

life.

On Sunday, May 18th, forty-two ships were visited; and thirty-four Russian, sixty-five other foreign, and

two hundred English tracts distributed. Another Sunday two Spanish ships were visited, having a complement of fiftyfive hands. A tract was given to each of the men. They received them thankfully, and asked for Bibles. Being repulsed from a Spanish barque by the whole crew, the messenger merely laid fifteen tracts on the deck; but, calling the next Sabbath, he was eagerly welcomed by the men, and tracts were earnestly solicited. A similar refusal and ultimate success attended his efforts on a Spanish ship. At the same time, on an English brig, he fell in with a Yorkshire lad, formerly a scholar in a Wesleyan Sunday-school, but who had left his home for three years. He gave him some tracts, and encouraged him to persevere in godliness. He also met with an old man whose wife and daughter were members of the Wesleyan Society, but who was himself a hardened sinner. By God's blessing on repeated visits he was aroused to repentance, and enabled to believe unto salvation. On an English steamer two of the officers were encountered, who openly professed infidelity, stating at the same time that they had received a godly training. As the result of several interviews, they were led to abandon their infidelity, and return to the faith of the Gospel.

I have to acknowledge my obligation to the Religious Tract Society, to Mr. Drummond, and to Mr. Smithies, for their liberal gifts of tracts, and copies of the "British Messenger" and "British Workman." Aided by this liberality, we have distributed during the year 6,000 tracts in this Mission-district.

4. INCE AND HINDLEY, WIGAN.— Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Joseph Workman.-Calamitous as is the distress which has befallen the manufacturing districts, I am sure that it will be attended with a very beneficial influence on the mind of the working man toward all classes. I have seen the eye of the strong man fill with tears, as he experienced the benevolence of his fellowcountrymen, or even heard of it. The conduct of the poor in the midst of their great suffering has been so noble, that, I have no doubt, it will secure for them a continuance of that charity which has been already so liberally bestowed.

Through this distress we have a much readier access to some houses than we could otherwise have had; and I trust it will give us a lasting influence over the minds and hearts of the people. We are afraid lest the little charity we have

to bestow should induce some to play the hypocrite; but I am very happy to state that, before much of either money or clothing was placed at my disposal, the increase of our society, congregation, and schools was very satisfactory. Many, who two or three months ago were dark, reckless, and even brutal, have been transformed into meek and lowly fol lowers of Jesus. It is this which cheers a Missionary here to continue in his now most painful duties.

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EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF LYONS.I have often had occasion to speak of the Evangelical Church of Lyons, which forms a community distinct and independent of all others. Its sphere of labour is extensive, since it comprises the second city of the French Empire, with its adjacent suburbs. The last report of this church contains interesting facts, illustrating the recent attacks made upon it by the Romanist association of St. François de Sales. "Lutheranism," say these apologists of Rome, "is Pantheism!. Religious Radicalism conceals itself under the old name of National Calvinism. glicanism is upon the same road; the abyss of Rationalism awaits it. . . . The Evangelical Alliance' admits, as its only dogma, that every one must be left at full liberty to choose or form his own opinions." I quote these passages to show the bad faith, or the prodigious ignorance, of these adversaries of the Reformation.

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The same Society of St. François de Sales accuses the Church of Lyons of having adopted the doctrines of Wesley; and adds, that Methodism is much to be dreaded for its proselytising spirit, and that "it has already done much evil" in that diocese. This shows that the Christians of Lyons have obtained successes which alarm the Jesuits.-Correspondent of Evangelical Christendom.

PROTESTANTISM IN SICILY.-The island of Sicily is that part of Italy which has been hitherto least known. As long as the rule of the Bourbons lasted, it was conspicuous, not only among the provinces of Italy, but among all the countries of Europe, for the number of its convents and the gross and general ignorance of its inhabitants. Since the overthrow of the Bourbonic rule, the cause of education has made progress, and Protestantism seems to find there one of its most inviting Missionary fields. We find, in a religious journal of Germany, an interesting correspond

ence on the religious condition of Sicily, from which we extract some of the most important passages :

The ministration of the Waldensian pastor at Palermo, who settled there a year and a half ago, has been attended with great blessing. The German and Swiss Protestants, who, until then, had been entirely destitute of spiritual food, have rallied round him, and they have been joined by many candid souls among the natives of Sicily. The latter belong in Sicily, as well as in other parts of Italy, mostly to that class of society which takes the most active interest in the national movements. This is a phenomenon which deserves well to be appreciated, and which is easily explained by the alliance between the Papacy and anti-liberal political principles.

It is difficult to ascertain the exact religious belief of Garibaldi. He has too moral and noble a character to acquiesce in a cold sober Atheism or Rationalism. Those who know him maintain that he is very regular in saying his morning prayers. In reply to a letter from an evangelical Christian who called his attention to a pamphlet entitled "Dottrina Garibaldina," which was a parody of the Lord's Prayer, the Apostolic Creed, and the Ten Commandments, Garibaldi expressed his entire disapprobation of the irreligious style and contents of the pamphlet.

"The principle of religious toleration has as yet but little hold of the public mind in Sicily. The Catholic clergy of the island have been, on the whole, more favourable to the national movements than their brethren in other parts of Italy; but in ecclesiastical questions they have remained strictly orthodox. They are generally too ignorant, and, for a large part, too immoral, to give hope for the success of any reformatory movement among them. The prospects among the laity are somewhat better. The nucleus of a native Protestant population has been formed, although the converts generally have to stand a severe persecution on the part of the priests and their parents. Some of the converts have entered the army, where they bear a good witness to their faith; a few have even attained an officer's rank."-News of the Churches.

PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC LITERATURE OF GERMANY.-It is a remarkable fact that while the German Confederation counts about twenty-three millions of Catholics, and only about eighteen millions of Protestants, the literature of

the country is overwhelmingly under the control of Protestants. An immense majority of the new books published from year to year are by Protestant authors. The number of periodicals edited by Protestants is at least ten times as large as that published by Catholics. The Protestants have more universities than the Catholics, and even at the Catholic universities the most distinguished professors are Protestants. Nearly each of the learned societies known under the name of academies of science is under the predominant influence of Protestantism.-Ibid.

THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR AND MISSIONS IN PEKIN.-It is reported from China, says the "Bombay Catholic Examiner," that Mr. Bruce has deemed it necessary to send the American Mission aries and others of that kind out of the city of Pekin. Our readers must bear this fact in mind whilst they note how the "Times of India," and certain other organs with a Missionary taint upon them, discuss the affairs of China.

It is, no doubt, highly discreditable to have "a Missionary taint" about us, and we plead guilty to the weakness of looking upon Mr. Bruce's policy with none the more favour, that while Jesuit priests are allowed, unmolested, to propagate the silly fables of Romanism in Pekin, "American Missionaries and others of that kind" are prohibited by a British minister from entering its walls. We were not sure, however, that the fact was as stated, until our excellent contemporary had advertised us of its truth.

The fact is as stated. The embargo still exists.-Times of India.

AFRICA. PERSECUTION FOR CHRIST'S SAKE AMONG THE BAROLONG:

Bamangwato, 27th June, 1862. MY DEAR BROTHER,-In compliance with my promise to Moléme, I now send you a brief account of the persecu tions which the Christians among Montsioe's people have been called upon to endure.

It is now more than a year since Montsioe, the chief, assumed an attitude of open hostility towards his Christian subjects. Matters were hastened by the unusally large number of young people who, under religious impression, ceased to take an interest in those subjects which engage the attention of the young in a heathen town. When these inquirers were about to be enrolled in classes, and thus take up a position as "bathu ba lehuku," (people of the