is used to indicate the settlers on the soil when all the country south of here was owned by the Mexioan government. When the tract of territory was ceded to the United States government, the dwellers of the land became, by an act of Congress, citizens of the United States; hence, to indicate their nationality if not their language, they were called Mexicans. There seem to prevail in some quarters erroneous ideas of the Mexican people. They are on the whole a highly-civilized race, and make very useful citizens. They have their own traditions and race-peculiarities. They are not given to living apart, as American farmers do, but live in crowded villages, forming centres of population. These villages, or "plazas" as they are called, are very numerous in the southeastern counties of the state, and form fully one half of the entire population.

THEIR LANGUAGE

is Spanish, and is very musical as they speak it. An effort is being made by the government in the schools to have them learn to speak the English language; but they do not readily take to the idiom of the country, and hence receive little or no benefit from the public schools.

MEXICAN MISSIONS

were established by our church some years ago in southeastern Colorado, and to-day there are several

quite important Mexican churches. Mexican Presbyterianism in the state is largely represented in

the churches of Ciniceno, Conejos and Antonita, Conejos county, and in Huerfano and Las Animas counties by the churches of Huerfano Canon and Trinidad. The churches in Conejos county, where the mission was first established, are comparatively

Besides these churches of our Board in south eastern Colorado, there is just one school maintained by the Board. Miss Barlow is its efficient teacher, and her school is a model of success. There should be established at least one Presbyterian school in each of these counties.

This is a brief outline of what is being done by the church among the Spanish-speaking people of southeastern Colorado.

THE PROSPECTS

for the future are full of encouragement. The people are becoming more and more enlightened, and in that ratio are throwing in their influence with that type of Protestantism in which we glory. The Bible is in their hands and in their own language, and with the perusal of it comes the light of conviction. "The entrance of thy word giveth light." Mexican Presbyterianism in southeastern Colorado is very hopeful, and needs only more godly and faithful laborers to bring it up into line.

SPANISH WORK IN NEW MEXICO. REV. JOHN MENAUL, LAGUNA, N. M.

Over twenty years ago the ladies of the Presbyterian Church commenced their noble work of giving the gospel of Christ to the Spanish-speaking people of New Mexico. They have steadily prosecuted the work from its commencement, and have so en

larged it that at present the gospel is

preached and mission schools are established in all the more important towns and centres of Mexican and American enter

porting. Rev. E. McLean is the energetic missionary in that county, and is bringing the churches under his charge well up to the line of American Presbyterianism. In the other two counties, where the work is not quite as far advanced—the work in these counties having been undertaken much later -the Rev. J. B. Cameron is the missionary. The field is a very large one, and will eventually be divided. It is only five years since the first American church was established in this part of the state, and it has sent out one colony, which last year was organized into the Huerfano church. It will soon become the mother church of other two which will be organized into churches in the near future.

foundation for a high plane of Christian life and character by giving the children a Christian education in the mission schools. Their efforts are abundantly crowned with success in the conversion of many souls, although the real harvest of their labors is not yet entered upon.

Closely connected with this evangelical and educational work comes the enlightening and leavening power of the printingpress. By the press the word of God literally has "free course," and becomes accessible to the masses. It furnishes the silent messenger which finds its way into the hands of those who dare not enter where

the gospel is preached, and often is the means used by the Spirit of God to take the scales from the eyes of those long blinded by a religion of traditional superstitions.

The Presbytery of Santa Fé, a presbytery which is almost entirely taken up in the Spanish work, has zealously guarded all these interests, and has stood out on the fore-front of civilization in the whole armor of Christ, contending for a pure Christian orthodox religion and worship, in opposition to the degrading superstitions of a church long since a stranger to pure Christianity.

It soon became evident to the members of presbytery that very many of the Mexican people were willing and anxious to know the truth as it is in Christ, but were deterred from correspondence with Protestants and from attending Protestant meetings either through superstitious fear or fear of the priest. At the same time, the insatiable desire of the Mexican people for reading made plain the duty of reaching them with the gospel by means of tracts and other printed matter.

The presbytery has attempted several times to occupy this fruitful field of evangelical work, its last effort being the "Free Spanish Tract Work."

The undertaking of the Spanish tract work was the outgrowth of the leadings of God's providence rather than any concerted plan either of presbytery or of any of its members. The work began in 1883 with a little card press and some government type furnished for school purposes. The teaching of an Indian day-school confined the teacher to his home with mornings and evenings to a great extent unoccupied. After doing what. he could for the Indian work, he turned his attention during these spare hours to the Spanish work. Very little was done the first year, but very soon the crying need for something like the Spanish tract work became so evident that outside help was asked from a few private friends. The responses were so prompt that God seemed to say, "Go on with the work; the tracts have their mission."

have thus opened this door of evangelical work for the Mexicans, a work which is steadily advancing toward the fulfilling of its mission of sowing broadcast among them the seed of God's eternal truth.

Up to date there have been printed and mailed to ministers and teachers in the Spanish field at home and abroad some 1,769,000 octavo pages of evangelical Spanish tracts selected from the best sermons, etc., and carefully translated into good Spanish. The demands of the Spanish work would require at least 2,000,000 pages of tracts yearly.

As in all new undertakings, there has necessarily been a comparatively large outlay in starting a printing office. While several things are yet needed, yet the office is at present capable of doing a good tract work. It consists of one large and one small jobber, paper-cutter, hand wire-stitcher, over eight hundred pounds of type, together with necessary office material.

The great incentive for the continuance and enlargement of the work, apart from God's evident favor, is its universal approval by all the workers using the tracts. There is not a single exception to the words of commendation and encouragement received from all parts of the field. God is blessing the work and those engaged in it.

The Presbytery of Santa Fé has made "The Free Spanish Tract Work" a part of its regular evangelical work, reviews the books and accounts at its annual meeting, and appoints a committee to look after its interests. It is also approved by the Synod of Colorado.

The writer will furnish reports or any particular information wanted, send tracts to those who will see that they are judiciously distributed, and receive and receipt for funds for the carrying on of the work.

As this enterprise is part of the work of the Home Board, and as the Woman's Executive Committee are especially interested in the Mexican mission work, any funds sent for the tract work through them will be promptly forwarded to their destination by the treasurer, Mrs. M. E. Boyd, 280 Broad

OXFORD, NEBRASKA.

REV. ROBERT WATT.

My strength will not allow me to hold the three churches after the close of the present engagement. This charge requires me to preach three times every Sabbath, driving about twenty miles through all kinds of weather. There is work enough on the field for two men, and they ought to be here now. Oxford is a place of importance; machine shops of the B. and M. R. R. will most likely be located here. The Methodists and Baptists have men here all the time; so ought we. Then Orleans and Harmony are enough for any one man. I will have to give these two places about the whole of my time now, as they both have commenced to build; and they think I ought to be on the ground constantly to see the work put through. So I do hope another man will be sent here right away, as these are all good points, and the church cannot afford to give them up. There are no more hopeful fields for churches in the West than these. In my way of looking at things, it would be better policy to maintain the churches we have planted in good locations than to spend effort and means in organizing frontier churches which will not be provided for. But I am always willing to do what is thought best.

MADISON, NEB.

REV. WM. E. KIMBALL.

The past quarter, ending July 1, has been a very busy one. In April I began the spring campaign in earnest. Reaching out in various directions, I have held religious services at four different points on Sabbath afternoons, besides keeping up both morning and evening services here every Sabbath. At Iowa Valley, twelve miles due west of Madison, there are a few Presbyterians and a very interesting class of people united together in holding services conducted by a United Brethren minister. As he intends to relinquish the field, it is desired that an effort be made to effect a Presbyterian organization. I have preached to them once a month. At Maple Grove, nine miles northwest from here, I have preached three times to a large and appreciative audience. At Plainview, five miles from here, I have preached several times. There is a good prospect of making the congregation that

meets there in a school-house a tributary to the Madison congregation, and thus strengthen the church. We organized a Sabbath-school there, to be conducted as a mission of this church.

At Munson, or Warner, the new name of the place, the next railroad station north of here, ten miles away, there has been a new start made by those who have recently moved into the community, in the direction of a church organization. I have been there twice and have preached with acceptance to the large congregations that assemble in Warner's new hall. In accordance with their earnest desires, I shall continue to preach there once in two weeks. The prospects are good for a church organization of twenty or twenty-five members in a few months.

Thus you will see that instead of having one regular preaching place in Madison county, I now have four established, with another to be added in a few months. With an organization effected at Warner's, on the railroad, two other preaching stations may be united with it, constituting an excellent field for a good man, and the other station united with this church, the field will produce, if I am not greatly mistaken, three more Presbyterian churches in a few years. I have written Brother Sexton, our superintendent, asking him to come and see what has been accomplished.

During the coming year, upon which I have just entered, I shall continue to preach on Sabbath afternoons at these various points, giving the preference and the greater attention to Warner's, as being the most important of all the stations aside from this.

There has been the usual degree of spiritual interest manifested by the congregation of this church during the quarter. The attendance upon religious services has been on the increase. The prayer-meetings and Sabbath-school have been maintained with considerable interest. We have added two excellent men to the eldership of this church, making five elders now ordained and installed.

A special effort is being made to make this church self-supporting for the coming year. What the result will be I cannot now predict, but if I can possibly crowd them up to it, you may be assured it will be done.

COLUMBIA, KENTUCKY.

REV. GEORGE J. REED.

At this end of the line it seems impossible for a pastor's family to make things come out right at the end of the year on $525. You may tell this all over the "church at home and abroad."

The words of Dr. Timothy Hill have seemed strikingly appropriate to me and my work here. He said, "For twenty years I have been coming and going at all seasons, day and night," etc. For more than twenty years "I have been coming and going" thus all over this country, in all seasons of the year and almost all states of weather. Within that time I have taken several extended trips,among them to both seaboards of our continent,— and in all that time and all this work God has wonderfully preserved my health and strength. When I think now of some parts of it I almost shudder. In January, 1886, Dr. Wishard and I suddenly closed a meeting in Edmonton, he going to take the train for home, and I mounted my horse in a snow-storm that grew to be one of the most terrific ever known in this country, though I reached home, twenty-five miles distant, before it reached its height. Forty-eight hours afterward the mercury was down to 28°. And yet in all this time-twenty-three years-I have never been unable by bodily indisposition to fill my engage

ments.

At the meeting of Presbytery in April I asked to be released from my charge. My purpose was to remove to some other community,-somewhere in the west or northwest,--and seek a new work. But Presbytery declined granting my request, as I had no call to any special field, and I have decided to abide for the present. The discouragements are not greater than are to be met in many other places. These are the removal of our young and energetic men to other regions, so that we gain but little strength; sometimes we lose more than we gain. Then there is the poverty of our people and the meagre pastoral support. But we send out good, stanch material for efficient work in almost all directions. I have now some hope that we may furnish a candidate for the ministry. We have now a mission teacher among the Indians-my own daughter; so that "the day of small things" is not to be despised.

At Presbytery I captured Brother Dawson, of Harrodsburg, as help in a meeting of a week's duration at Burksville, in Brother McMillan's ab

We have just lost two of our best helpers by removal from the city. On the other hand, we last Sabbath received into the church one of our leading merchants upon confession, also a farmer and wife, baptizing their three children, and received by letter the wife of an elder.

We are moving to build a manse. It is not yet assured. If we succeed, it must be by considerable outside aid and a heavy contribution from the pastor; but such a possession would greatly strengthen our work, as I now pay $225 rent.

Crookston has had a gradual growth without the usual western inflation; her business standing and traffic superior. But a light crop last year with low prices, and the new railroad to Red Lake Falls cutting off some eastern territory, has given this city the worst depression she has ever experienced. There are, however, substantial encouragements in the near future. Legislative permission was granted last winter to the city to vote bonds to aid to build railroads. They proposed to vote $50,000 to start work to connect with a line competing with the Manitoba. Mr. Hill, president of the Manitoba, says to the city, "Crookston is the natural point for the shops on our line to Duluth. Vote those bonds to the Brainerd and Northwestern, which is a part of our line now constructing to Duluth, and we will make Crookston the end of the division, bring in the Moorhead and Northern there, and will also give back to Crookston her bonds."

That company owns a section of land on the north side of this city, at the intersection of their Winnipeg and St. Paul line with their Duluth and Pacific line. This last runs through Grand Forks and Devil's Lake, and will reach Helena this season. They are also building eastward from here, but their main effort this season is to get to Helena. While they cannot do any building at Crookston this season, the bonds will be voted this month, the railroad assured of co-operation, and the status of

this city so established by a written guarantee from the railroad company as to invite in capital and new people.

I had a visit yesterday from Adriance, of Red Lake Falls. That field suffered by long waiting for a laborer, and we thereby lost a point on Maple Lake which we wanted to connect with that. Adriance, however, is gathering up the work, and we now rejoice in having nearly all our fields well shepherded.

RICHFIELD, SEVIER CO., UTAH.

REV. NEWTON E. CLEMENSON.

There are many encouragements in connection with our work in Sevier Valley. Yet the discouragements are not wanting. Richfield is the most important town in the entire county. It is twice as large as any other town in the valley, and is the centre around which all the others cluster and upon which they are in a measure dependent. It is also the county seat. And yet, as you know, we have no chapel here, but are compelled to hold our services in a little room 15 by 16 feet in size. How much we need a chapel no one can know till they have seen our present arrangements or have had experience in the same line. A nice chapel would be a great incentive to attract the people to where God's word is preached, and it would be a great relief to your missionaries here. And Richfield is deserving of one, a good one. We have one of the best and most central city lots in all this beautiful little town, and why should we not have a neat, suitable and comfortable chapel on it? The Methodists have been here but two years, yet they have already a nice little chapel of about two thousand dollars cost. I would that the work of building might be begun while I am here to help!

The Mormons are, at this time, in great glee over the prospect they have of gaining statehood for Utah. Apostle Lorenzo Snow said here a few days since, in a public meeting, "Before the fiftieth Congress shall have finished its session, Utah will be a free and sovereign state." And delegates from each precinct of the territory are to-day in session in Salt Lake City, drafting a (6 Constitution for the State of Utah," which will be presented to the next Congress. Oh that this great free nation would for once arise and in clear, unambiguous language inform this deluded people that statehood to Utah is impossible while she is controlled by a "hierarchy" The Mormons say, "We have

more encouragements to seek statehood now than we have ever had in our past history." May the God of truth and righteousness, in his mercy, prevent such a dreadful catastrophe as statehood to Utah!

HYRUM, UTAH.

REV. PHILIP BOHBACK.

March 10 was a day of excitement at Hyrum. The first arrest of a polygamist was made here. About this time a polygamist came to my study. He said he had great confidence in me. He asked my advice as to what was best for him to do now, as the marshals have been searching his house for him. I advised him to put away his second wife, care for her, give her the right to marry another and obey the law. I sent him to Brother Gillespie for further consultation. On his return he went to the authorities at Logan, came home to Hyrum and put away his second wife, and is now at peace concerning that matter. Two or three weeks after this he came to see me. He said he wanted to return me his hearty thanks, in person, for the help I had thus rendered him. He used to be one of the ablest missionaries of the Mormon Church. He is a Dane. He comes to church sometimes. The Lord have mercy on him!

The 19th of June, 1887, is, in God's providence, the day fixed for organization at Hyrum City.

STEELE, KIDDER CO., D. T.

REV. W. T. GIBSON.

During the past three months I have been attending to the work as usual between Steele and Sterling, and preaching regularly at three other points outside these places where we have some members and where churches will be organized by us or others in the future if circumstances are favorable.

The people have been very much discouraged in this part of the territory about their crops, which have been severely injured both by drought and the gophers. They were afraid until lately that the crop was going to be an entire failure, as it was last year, but happily the rain came in time to save part of it. This will encourage the majority of the settlers to hold their claims and try their fortunes in Dakota for another year. If the weather is favorable during the remainder of the season, a good many of the farmers are likely to have about half a crop and some of them more,