PROPOSED WEEK OF

PRAYER IN 1861. OUR missionary brethren at Lodiana invited Christians throughout the world to begin this year with united supplication for the enlarged outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The cordial response to their appeal is fresh in the memory of us all. The earth was girdled with prayer. The sun for seven days never set on groups or congregations of praying believers. Many striking answers to these prayers are known to have been received. Eternity alone will reveal all the blessings which were vouchsafed.

The recent Missionary Conference at Liverpool directed their attention to the subject, and expressed their earnest hope that "the whole Church of God throughout the entire world" would set apart a week for special prayer at the beginning of next year; and the promoters of the Conference have communicated their desire that the Evangelical Alliance would prepare and issue an invitation to this effect. A similar wish has been expressed by the Lodiana missionaries. The Committee of the Alliance cannot hesitate for a moment to undertake the duty to which they are thus called, and they do it the more readily, since it is so entirely in accordance with their antecedent practice.

It is proposed that the eight days, from Sunday, January 6th, to Sunday, January 13th, inclusive, 1861, should be observed as a season of special supplication. This would leave the first few days of the year free for other engagements, to which, in many cases, especially on the Continent, they have long been devoted; and the commencement on the Lord'sday would afford pastors and teachers an opportunity of urging the privilege of united prayer.

With a view to give something of precision and agreement to our worship, the following subjects are suggested for thought, prayer, and exhortation, day by day :

Sunday, Jan. 6.-The promise of the Holy Spirit.

Monday, 7.-An especial blessing

on all the services of the week, and the promotion of brotherly kindness among all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.

Tuesday, 8.-The attainment of a higher standard of holiness by the children of God.

Wednesday, 9.-A large increase of true conversions, especially in the families of believers.

Thursday, 10.-The free circulation of the Word of God, and a blessing upon Christian literature.

Friday, 11.-A large outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all bishops, pastors, and elders of the Churches; upon all seminaries of Christian learning, and upon every Protestant missionary among Jews or Gentiles; upon the converts of his station, and upon his field of labour.

Saturday, 12.-The speedy overthrow of all false religions, and the full accomplishment of the prayer, "Thy kingdom come."

Sunday, 13.-Thanksgiving for past revival; and the enforcement of the solemn responsibility resting on every Christian to spend and be spent in making known the name of the Lord Jesus at home and abroad. -Evangelical Christendom.

SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL IN TURKEY.

PERHAPS in no part of this field of labour are there more indications of promise than at Kharpoot district. A church of ten members was organized in the autumn of 1856, when the work was hardly begun in this city, much less in the region beyond. Now there are thirty-six members of the church, some of them resident in adjacent villages, and six more in the city and villages, of whom there is great hope; and not only are religious services maintained in the city on each successive Sunday, but also to eleven other congregations the Word is preached in the towns and villages under the care of this missionary station.

The missionaries and native agents start from this centre on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, and go on their rounds to the outlying vil

lages, spreading good tidings and speaking words of kindness to all.

A theological seminary has been established at Kharpoot, and there are more than twenty students preparing to become native pastors and assistants. They labour while they study.

It is a very significant fact that during the years 1858-9, 1,054 copies of the Scriptures were sold in this field alone; and during the first four months of the present year 300 more were added to the number. 760 persons have commenced learning to read during the last two years.

"Last Monday we ordained a native pastor over this little church— the first ordination of a Protestant pastor in this part of Turkey. The youngman, B. Mardiros, to whom the care of this little flock is committed, bids fair, in the opinion of all who know him, to turn out a valuable shepherd. It is especially pleasant thus to see the work of God in force upon this people, which but a few years since were in total darkness. A large audience of from 800 to 900 witnessed this ordination - some from roofs of adjacent houses, for the church could not contain such an audience-who had for the first time witnessed a Protestant ordination. The services were of a deeply-interesting character; and we trust that the influence of this day will work well for the cause of Christ."

A. WALKER.

I. W. WINChester. Evangelical Christendom, Aug. 1860.

DOINGS IN THE ESTA

BLISHED CHURCH.

A CENTURY ago, preaching in the open air was denounced as an outrage on the proprieties of religion, especially by the clergy and dignitaries of the Established Church. Wesley himself, at a period a little earlier than that, thought it would be almost a sin to save a soul outside the consecrated walls of a church; and when the church doors were closed against him, and Providence compelled him to preach in the open air, the clergy were amongst his

most violent opponents. Now, what a gracious change we see! Not only many of the clergy, but even some bishops preach in the open air, and noblemen and their ladies do not feel ashamed to mix with the crowd on such occasions. On Saturday evening, August 4, the Bishop of London preached in the open air to between 1,500 and 1,600 working men and children in one of the most uncivilized portions of the outskirts of the metropolis. The place selected for this mission service lies between Shepherd's-bush and the Great Western Railway, on the east of Wormwood Scrubs. The people who live around and about it are chiefly engaged in the making of bricks and pottery ware, while it is dotted here and there with gipsy tents and the temporary habitations of persons who are unable to obtain better shelter elsewhere. The bishop selected for his text the 16th chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, 8th verse"The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." The latter part of the bishop's address was particularly solemn. Darkness had come on, the moon had risen, and all around the gipsies' tents were lighted up. Not a sound was heard but the bishop's voice, and now and then a train on the adjacent railway. A deep impression appeared to be made on the many, unused to such services, by the solemnity and peculiarity of the scene. At the close of the service the Doxology was sung, and the bishop pronounced the benediction. The vast assemblage then dispersed. On Wednesday evening following, the Bishop of London addressed a congregation, composed of a similar class of persons, in the courtyard of his episcopal palace at Fulham. His lordship held this service in the hope that some persons might be induced to come and hear the Gospel there who would not enter into any place of worship, his printed announcement intimating that all those were specially invited to attend who, from various causes, seldom come to the parish church, but may yet be desirous to hear the

Gospel preached. Notwithstanding the threatening aspect of the weather, between 300 and 400 persons assembled-most of them working people, in their working clothes.-On Monday evening, August 13, the bishop commenced a series of special services for the working classes at St. John's District Church, Walhamgreen.

Nor is this all the good bishop's wife partakes of his spirit, and in her own sphere emulates his examplevisiting the sick in hospitals, &c., and devoutly praying by their bedside for their salvation. We know a Christian lady, the wife of one of our own ministers in London, who not long ago went to visit a patient in the Cancer Hospital at Brompton ; and while discharging the duties of religion there, she learned from the matron that, on the day before, the bishop's wife had been visiting in the same place, and praying with the afflicted inmates. Oh, how this delights one's heart! Up, then, ye Methodists, and labour, or the Church of England-once so far behind you will excel you in works of faith and labours of love.

We are glad to learn that the Bishop of Ripon objects to professionals singing in churches. He has just addressed a letter of remonstrance to an incumbent in whose parish the announcement had been made that a professional singer had been engaged to sing on the reopening of his church. He exculpates the clergyman from blame in the matter, but writes strongly against the practice. This is the way to burn out Puseyism and formalism from the Church of England. Oh, ye Methodists, what think ye of this? Contrast this with a practice that we hear of in some quarters. Methodism and professional singing; Methodism and theatres; Methodism and dancing; Methodism and gay parties meeting to spend the evening in fun, or in frivolous conversation, to the exclusion of religion and prayer, are associations so discordant and inconsistent, that one's soul is grieved to think of them. Ministers of Christ, we entreat you, set your faces against

these practices. Keep the worl out of the Church. The Spirit of the Lord is grieved, and no wonder there is leanness of soul.

SIX UNSEEMLY THINGS. 1. It is unseemly for a man to employ more time in smoking tobacco than in reading the Bible.

2. It is unseemly for a woman to be so expansive in crinoline as to occupy the room of two persons in a seat, and so contracted in benevolence as to give only copper to the collection.

3. It is unseemly for a person to spend money at a watering-place, or on a railway trip, and neglect to pay the shopkeeper's bill.

4. It is unseemly for individuals to waste hours in playing at chess, and excuse themselves, for want of time, from visiting the sick, or engaging in some other labour of love.

5. It is unseemly for a woman, who says that her heart is purified by faith, to be untidy in her dress, and to have a dirty house. Cleanliness should be connected with godliness.

6. It is unseemly for a man, who professes the religion of the lowly Jesus, to walk with an outstretched neck, a lofty air, and a proud bearing, among his fellow-creatures.

If there be any virtue-if there be any praise-avoid these unseemly things, and follow the things that are lovely and of good report.

P. J. WRIGHT.

AFFLICTION.

WELCOME that axe, though sharp its edge may be,

That lops the ailing branch, and spares the tree.

TO A SUFFERING AND DEPRESSED FRIEND, Accompanied with a Spray of Roses. LET God be thy refuge,

Whate'er be thy lot;

The world may change round thee, But He changes not.

There's a flower in the meadow,

There's a fruit on the tree,
And a bright beam of sunshine
Still waiting for thee.

OUR CHINESE MISSION. Missionary Chronicle of the Methodist New Connexion. No. 1, 8vo.

24 pp.

THIS is our first record of strictly missionary labour in China. It is to be followed by others of a similar character; and as these are likely to exceed the limits of our ordinary QUARTERLY NOTICE, it is proposed to publish them separately, and in a continuous series, so as, in the end, to make up a volume. the expense of these publications, they will be sold at one penny each.

To cover

Our beloved brethren, Messrs. Innocent and Hall, have soon commenced their evangelical labours. True, indeed, they know but little as yet of the Chinese language, but they are diligently applying themselves to its acquisition; and in the meantime, eagerly embracing every opportunity of doing good, distributing Bibles and religious tracts, and opening a friendly intercourse with the native population. So early as May 17th, within two months after their arrival, the brethren set out on an evangelistic tour, in company with the Rev. W. H. Lambeth,

a

most exemplary missionary of the American Episcopal Methodist Church, intending to visit the splendid city of Soo-chou and various other populous towns. Everywhere, except in Soo-chou itself, where the approach of the rebel army prevented, they had free access to the people in their temples and other places of public resort. Mr. Lambeth preached to listening crowds, generally several times each day, and our missionaries freely distributed Bibles and religious tracts. In every place the good men were, of course, objects of attraction and curiosity, and the novelty of their appearance in European costume now and then called forth an expression of ridicule or contempt; but generally they were treated with courtesy and respect, and occasionally a few approving remarks were

uttered, showing that the benevolent object of their mission was understood, and in some degree appreciated by the people. Prevented by the approach of the rebels, the missionaries could not realize all their wishes, and, therefore, they returned to Shanghai on the 27th, having been engaged in this pious excursion about nine days.

We have read this paper with profound interest. It is no ordinary production; it bears the impress of a mind cultivated, observant, poetic, and deeply pious. It is clear and elegant in style, vivid in description, and it breathes the soul of the true missionary in every sentence. Nothing that we have read from even Martyn, Brainerd, or Schwartz, Williams, Moffat, or Medhurst, excels this in refined sentiment, or missionary sympathy and devotion. No one can read this tract without feeling satisfied that Providence has selected for us the right men, nor without being deeply impressed with the awful condition of the heathen in China, and the preparedness of its vast population for the Gospel, so soon as the intestine rebellion shall be quelled, and the European quarrel be settled. The latter will, doubtless, soon be determined, for symptoms already appear that the allied forces, just now entering Shanghai, are more likely to be hailed as deliverers, than opposed as enemies. Should this take place, and peace be established on a satisfactory basis, European influence will henceforth be vastly augmented in China, as it has already been in Turkey and India, and thus the way be opened for the evangelization of that vast empire. God grant that it may be so!

While this tract is admirably adapted to fan the flame of missionary zeal, and stimulate to increased liberality, it has the additional value of supplying much interesting information on the social, political, and religious condition of China, and the

manners and customs of that re

markable people. We hope both this and the succeeding numbers of the Chronicle will have a circulation of many thousand copies, both within and beyond the pale of our own denomination.

We beg to call the attention of our friends to the excellent address

on

"Connexional Progress," delivered by the Rev. John Hudston, at Epworth. Its soul-stirring sentiments should be deeply pondered, and its practical suggestions be vigorously carried out. We plead for the same regard, also, in behalf of the admirable paper on "The Duty of Religious Cure for the Young," read at the late Conference, by the Rev. John Taylor, and published in our July number, by the special request of Conference. If the important practical measures urged in these two addresses be but zealously carried out, we shall not only be a united people, but emphatically a working people. Instead of languidly admiring our principles, we shall give them effect, by enlightening and blessing mankind. There is a vast amount of power to do good in the Connexion. It only needs employing in the spirit of earnest, enterprising labour, and fervent, believing prayer. Then God, even our own God, will bless us, and thousands of precious souls each year will be the fruit of our exertions.

EPWORTH MONUMENTAL

CHAPEL.

THE present is an age when the principle is universally acknowledged that it is right to pay honour to the memories of men who have done the State good service, who have fought our battles, who have struck from off the slave his fetters, who have made discoveries in science, visited strange lands, and navigated unknown seas; who have rendered themselves illustrious in the world of letters, and who, by their actions, talents, influence, and virtues, have proved themselves benefactors of our race. This principle of honouring the memories of the illustrious dead has evolved itself of late by sculpturing in marble or stone their

forms, or by founding hospitals, scholarships, and other benevolent institutions, to perpetuate their names. True it is that the genius of a Shakespeare, a Milton, the learning of a Bacon, the life-long efforts of a Wilberforce to emancipate the slave, the philanthropy of a Howard, the statesmanship of a Pitt, Fox, and Peel, the generalship of a Wellington, the prowess of a Havelock, and the devotion of a Florence Nightingale-true it is that these require no marble domes or sculptured monuments to perpetuate their fame. Their lives are their noblest monuments. Nevertheless, it is a laudable ambition in men when they thus desire to show forth their gratitude to those who have lived to purpose. The desire to do honour to the memory of one who endured scorn, slander, reproach, and expulsion, in obtaining for us a more liberal and scriptural form of Church government, has long been felt by many in our community. This wish at length found expression in the Conference of 1856, and ultimately resolved itself into action. It was then decided to raise a monumental chapel in Alexander Kilham's native town, where a chapel was greatly needed, and thus the Connexion would evince their gratitude to their chief founder, do honour to his memory, and effect great good to the people.

The Chapel Committee was authorized to raise subscriptions, obtain and approve of plans, and also, on the funds being raised, to proceed, along with the Epworth friends, in the erection of the chapel. It was recommended, also, that the chapel should be worthy of the occasion; that it should afford ample accommodation for the poor; and that the Epworth friends be required at least to raise £200 towards the object. An appeal was made to the Connexion, and some £600 or £700 were subscribed. Epworth raised £50 more than the sum required by Conference, and, in addition, engaged to take the responsibility of erecting a new school. These circumstances warranted the chapel committee to begin the erection. A most eligible site was obtained-the best in the town-and in the month of last November the foundation-stone was laid. The building was begun and completed under the superintendence of Mr. Sutton, the architects being Messrs. R. C. Sutton and H. Paull, of Nottingham.

A short description of the monu