are read-perhaps one of our Lord's parables, or an account of some of the miracles which He wrought; then a short address is delivered, and all are urged to come to Jesus, and through Him receive pardon, and cleansing, and peace. This little service, which lasts generally about twenty minutes, is closed with prayer; but you shall hear further next month. "In upwards of 200 crowded together in this room. These large placards hung on the walls are texts of Scripture. Tamil, I suppose ?" Yes; the one on the left is that precious verse, "God so loved the world," &c.; that on the wall opposite is, "The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens,” Jer. x. 11; and that on the end wall is, "There is none other name under heaven given among men," &c. And now look at the patients, the women all seated together on one side, the men on the other, quite in oriental style, cross-legged on the floor, like so many tailors. Many of the women have sickly-looking babies in their arms; and there, at the very end of the hall, are the poor patients on cots you saw a little ago under the shade of the trees, or in the verandah. Near the front door you see four or five big, proud Brahmins, sitting, not as you would sit, but sitting cross-legged on a form. Sudras, Shanars, Pulliers, and Pariahs, are there; men, women, and children of all castes and creeds, rich and poor, young and old. Except, perhaps, in the waiting-rooms of Dr. Paterson's Medical Mission Hospital, at Madras, Dr. Elmslie's, in Cashmere, and Dr. Valentine's, in Beawr, I don't think that you could see such a sight-such a mixed congregation as this anywhere else in India; but here, you find men and women of all castes, gladly sitting side by side under the same roof, and, as you shall see presently, they cannot leave without once, at least, in their lives, listening to the sweet story of the Cross. Now we must begin work. A few verses of Scripture are read-perhaps one of our Lord's parables, or an account of some of the miracles which He wrought; then a short address is delivered, and all are urged to come to Jesus, and through Him receive pardon, and cleansing, and peace. This little service, which lasts generally about twenty minutes, is closed with prayer; but you shall hear further next month. AN INDIAN TEA PARTY. A CALL FOR CUPS AND SAUCERS. I DARESAY most of you know that Benares is a very large city on the banks of the Ganges, full of temples and idols, where all day long one may see the sights and hear the sounds of heathen worship. If you were to take a boat in the early morning, and sail down in front of the city, you would see the long wide stairs called "ghats," crowded with people, going and coming, to bathe; hundreds, sometimes thousands in the water, going through their superstitious forms; Brahmins sitting on little raised platforms to receive the homage and offerings of the worshippers, and to daub their foreheads with a little of the sacred mud. Every few yards there is a temple, and the people are summoned to worship by bells, horns, and drums, making often a very deafening noise. Missionaries have been long trying to teach the people here about Jesus Christ; and, though not many have believed in Him, yet some of them have done so, and are now loving and serving Him just like Christians at home. Last week we had our Annual Meetings of the Mirzapore and Benares missionaries and native Christians. We had sermons, both in English and Hindostanee, a prayer meeting, and a soirée or tea meeting to finish. There were two hundred and thirtyseven native Christians present, some having been invited from the other missions here, and a good many Europeans, making in all about three hundred. It was in the girls' school, which was well lighted up, the walls covered with pictures illustrating missionary subjects, and tastefully surrounded by garlands of leaves and flowers. When tea was over, the native pastor Pathras, read last year's report of the native missionary society. There were a good many nice speeches, all in Hindostanee-a European and native in turn. |