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OPENING OF NEW SCHOOL-ROOMS, CUTTACK. 115

Committee the application of last year for a first class School-master,* so that native lads, while learning English, may receive Bible instruction, which cannot be given in a Government school; and, with still more urgency, we pleaded for one or more to be sent out whose great work shall be to preach the gospel. O that I could stir up your pure minds to consider the vastness of the field, and the small number of the labourers. What are we among eight or nine millions of souls, "without hope, without Christ, without God?" I have often pleaded with you in former years on this point, and necessity is laid upon me to do it again. As Milton says, when God puts the trumpet into a man's hands, and tells him to blow, he must do it. So I feel that while I am in this tabernacle I must plead with you to send us more help. Will not the Committee-will not all the friends of the Mission-awake to their responsibilities in reference to Orissa? I know you love the Mission. I have no doubt that many of you remember it in your best moments when alone with God, and am confident that while you do this it can never sink. I know how cheerfully and liberally some of you (I say not this of all) contribute to its funds. I am not ignorant of the praiseworthy and noble exertions of hundreds of young friends, and it is a most blessed thing for them to begin life seeking to do good to others; but let us not forget that the permanence and stability of the work depend on a succession of holy and faithful men and women being sent from the fatherland; and able and earnest workers raised up in the field. The time has not come when the vigilant oversight of the English missionary can be dispensed with. The native ministers cannot say to the missionary, any more than the eye can say to the hand, "I have no need of thee; "and far be it from any of us to say to them, "We have no need of you; for there are those-O that the number were greatly mnltiplied—of whom we can thankfully say, they are our glory and joy. I have not said half what I intended, but this is long enough for one letter. The remainder, if God permit, shall be sent soon.

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JOHN BUCKLEY.

Opening of New School-Rooms, Cuttack.

It will gratify all who have helped us in this good work to know that the new building was opened on New Year's Day, and solemnly dedicated to the purpose for which erected the scriptural education of the young. The first service was in Oriya at 3 p.m., and was presided over by Mr. Miller. The English service was in the evening at six o'clock; the attendance was numerous and respectable. Both the services, I may add, were held in the centre room of the new building, which is admirably adapted for such gatherings. J. Buckley presided. Prayer was offered by Mr. Mulholland. After the chairman's address, Mr. Bond gave a brief account of the English Sabbath-school and its work. Mr. Bailey and Mr. Pike shared our joy on this memorable occasion, and expressed their warm appreciation of the noble liberality

*1t may be well to explain that Mr. Young, who is expected in a few days, is coming out as Head Master to the European school, and his coming is no expense to the Mission, while we hope that, in addition to his primary work, he will, in various ways, serve its interests. The application last year was for a first class English school for native youths.

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MISSIONARY OBSERVER.

of our esteemed friend, Dr. Stewart. The closing address was delivered by Dr. Stewart, in which he expressed his pleasure in seeing so many friends gathered together on so interesting and joyful an occasion; and referring to the kind expressions used in reference to himself, quoted (as he had done at the Oriya service) Psalm cxv. 1, as expressive of his own feelings-" Not unto us, O Lord; not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory.'

THE TREASURER'S STATEMENT,

which it devolved on the writer to make, was as remarkable as it was satisfactory. It was as follows: amount received, 16,392 rupees, or at 28., £1,639 48.; sums expended to date, 14,892 rupees, or £1,489 4s. So that the building, which was estimated to cost 10,000 rupees, has already cost nearly 15,000 rupees (£1,500). The balance in the treasurer's hands of 1,500 rupees (£150) will be required to finish the work, and probably a little more. It is peculiarly gratifying to me to add that our generous friend, whose noble offer stimulated us to "arise and build"—I mean the offer to give 5,000 rupees (£500) when it was estimated that the cost would be 10,000 rupees (£1,000)-has already given, within a trifle, twice the sum he promised, and I have no doubt that before the work be quite finished it will exceed twice the amount. This will be, I am sure, as gratifying to our friends to read as it is for me to write. I am confident that none of our friends at home will regret what they have done to help us in this good work, except it be that they did not do more. At any rate those who helped us the most will experience the purest and highest satisfaction. Reference was made at this delightful service to the kind help of R. Johnson, Esq., and other valued friends, nor did we forget to acknowledge the good service rendered by our respected Secretary in urging our friends month by month, through the pages of the Observer, to help in the good work. It was felt to be specially gratifying that so much help had been received from Sunday Schools at home. The total amount received from England up to date is Rupees 5,461. Five thousand, four hundred and sixty-one, and a little more is, I believe, on the way. Great praise, it should be added, is due to the architect, F. Bond, Esq. It is a noble, commodious, and really beautiful building.

We began this joyous service with Milton's paraphrase of Psalm 136, written when he was a lad of sixteen,-"Let us with a joyful mind "—and ended it with "Praise God from whom all blessings flow." The service of song added to the interest and attractiveness of our meeting; and Mr. Miller pronounced the closing benediction. New Year's Day, 1883, was a very memorable one to us at Cuttack.

My story is not finished, Matthew Henry used to say that the end of one mercy was the beginning of another, and that to a Christian man the end of one duty should be the beginning of another. The good old Book says, and we should stedfastly adhere to its teaching in what we do as well as what we believe," The liberal deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things shall he stand." It will interest my readers to know that the benevolent impulse that originated our New School building has not exhausted its energy, but is "devising" other "liberal things," one of which I may mention. You know that we

MISSIONARY PROGRESS IN INDIA.

117

have a European Orphanage here, and that it is already doing its charitable work, but

AN ORPHAN HOME

is much needed to accommodate the inmates, and to give permanence and stability to the Institution. This Home Dr. Stewart has determined to build at his own expense; and as he believes in the inspired injunction, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might," you may expect soon to hear that it is begun and vigorously prosecuted. The Orphanage is under the control of an undenominational committee; but the Home or building will not be under the management of the committee, as it is intended to erect it on a site which has been held by the Mission for forty or fifty years. We all heartily wish success to this new project. What Nathan said to David under a misapprehension we may safely say in such a case as this, "Do all that is in thine heart, for God is with thee." JOHN BUCKLEY.

Missionary Progress in India.

THE Fourth Decennial Statistical Tables of Protestant Missions in India, Burmah, and Ceylon have just been published in pamphlet form by Messrs. Thacker, Špink, & Co., of Calcutta. These tables were prepared, at the request of the Calcutta Missionary Conference, by the Revs. H. P. Parker, M.A., and J. E. Payne, and are the result of an amount of patient and painstaking labour which none but those who have attempted such work can appreciate. The work has been, on the whole, well done, and, where defects are observed, it will usually be found that the fault is with those furnishing the information rather than with the compilers.

The general result, as shown in these tables, is highly satisfactory. After making every reasonable deduction for errors, the unquestionable fact remains, that Christianity is making steady and rapid progress in India. Counting by decades, it is nearly impossible to be misled by exceptional movements in single districts, especially when so wide a field as India and Burmah is embraced in the statistics. The ratio of increase far exceeds that of the churches in England and America. It is especially noteworthy that the ratio of increase rises with each decade. Thus, in the decade 1851 to 1861, it was about 53 per cent.; from 1861 to 1871, about 61 per cent.; and from 1871 to 1881, it was 86 per cent. The relative increase of communicants is higher even than that of the nominal Christian community. In Ceylon, the decennial increase is about 70 per cent.; and in India, more than 100 per cent. The following figures will show the progress in India, Burmah, and Ceylon, with the aggregate for all three divisions.

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Reckoning by provinces, we find, to our surprise we must confess, that the largest relative increase has been in Bombay; the pamphlet is in error in putting the Panjab at the head of the list. The rate of increase of the various provinces for the decade is as follows:

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180 per cent.
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The largest aggregate increase has been in Madras, where 299,742 Christians are reported, against 160,955 in 1871. The present number of Christians in the various provinces is as follows:

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The most surprising, and perhaps the most significant, increase has been in the department of women's work. Not only have four new ladies' societies entered the field since 1871, but there has been an amazing development of indigenous workers. In 1871 there were 947 "native Christian female agents" engaged in missionary work. In 1881 there were no less than 1,944. The number of European and Eurasian ladies reported in the tables is 541. Some of these were no doubt the wives of missionaries, but, when it is remembered that very many married ladies who do active Christian work were not reported at all, there can be no doubt that the successors of Lydia and Priscilla, and Phebe and Persis and the daughters of Philip, already outnumber the 586 men who, not many years ago, monopolised the use of the title "missionary." The progress of Zenana work has been astonishing. Ten years ago, Bengal had more Zenana pupils than all the rest of India put together. Now the North-West Provinces have the largest number of this class of pupils. The total number of female pupils has increased from 31,580 to 65,761.

Sunday-schools appear in these tables for the first time, and hence we cannot compare the present figures with those of any past date. It is evident, however, that there has been an enormous development of this department of missionary labour. No less than 83,321 pupils are taught in Sunday-schools, of whom one-fourth are non-Christian children. This is a little more than one-third the total number of pupils of both sexes enrolled in mission schools, from which it will be seen that there is still ample room for a very great expansion of this interesting work.

ARRIVAL OF MR. YOUNG AT CUTTACK.-NOTES. 119

These statistics, as a whole, are full of encouragement, and afford abundant food for most careful and earnest thought. A new power is rising in the East, and, before many years, some startling problems will be forcing themselves upon our attention. It is exceedingly probable that the ratio of increase of the Christians in India will rather rise than fall for the next ten decades. There are many persons now living who will see from ten to fifteen million Protestant Christians in India before they get their release from toil in this earthly vineyard. For what God has wrought, and for all His wonderful promises for the days to come, let unceasing praise arise from all our grateful hearts.-From "The Indian Witness," December 16th.

Arrival of Mr. Young at Cuttack.

WE are thankful to state that the Rev. A. H. Young, M.A., who has been invited by the Committee of the undenominational Protestant Boys' School, Cuttack, to take the superintendency of that institution, has arrived safely at his destination. In a private note he writes::Protestant Boys' School, Cuttack, Jan. 17, 1883.

My dear Mr. Hill,-As you can see I have got to my journey's end, and, I am happy to say, all safe and sound, and in good health. The boxes have also come all safe outwardly; I cannot yet write of their contents, and I have sent to Dr. Buckley the two boxes for him. The little things entrusted to my care I have spoken of, and will deliver them up soon.

We had a very pleasant voyage from Madras to Calcutta, doing it in three days. I arrived there in time to catch the coasting steamer on the following morning. The brothers Sykes met me at the ship, and conducted me to the house of the elder brother, where I spent the night. There I received several letters from the brethren here, full of kindness and Christian regards, and promising me a hearty welcome. The Sirdhana leaving Calcutta on Saturday morning, staying at Diamond Harbour over night, brought me all safe to False Point on Monday morning. Then I joined the steam launch for Cuttack in the afternoon. The tide being unfavourable, and having a barge with opium in tow, we did not reach here until last night-Tuesday evening. On my arrival I was met by Mr. Mulholland and Dr. Stewart; and in the course of the evening I saw the whole mission staff, including Mr. Bailey and Mr. and Mrs. Heberlet. I have this morning seen the school buildings, and they are decidedly an ornament to the place. They were opened on new year's day for Sunday-school work, and I think they are to opened for the ordinary work on the 20th or 22nd of this month.

Notes and Gleanings.

WATCHNIGHT AT CUTTACK.-We have often found it good to spend the last hour of the expiring year in the house of prayer, and to begin the new year with a united resolve to devote it entirely to the service of our blessed Saviour. The watchnight service was well attended, and was felt to be a solemn and profitable time. J. Buckley presided, and prayer was offered by Dr. Stewart, Mr. Bond, W. Miller, and J. G. Pike. Suitable portions of scripture were read, interpersed with a few remarks by the Chairman; when the clock struck twelve we sang the new year's hymn with as much fervour as on former occasions, "Come let us anew our journey pursue," &c.

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