Rev. Alexandre Dez, 48 Rue de Lille, Paris, France. *Mrs. M. C. Douglass, Kemendine Girls' School, Rangoon, Burma. Rev. David Downie and wife, Nellore, Madras Presidency, India. Rev. A Drake, Bethel Seminary, Stockholm, Sweden. Rev. D. H. Drake, Fresno, Cal. Miss H. N. Eastman, Griggsville, Ill. Rev. L. A. Eaton, Bangkok, Siam (through Italy). Rev. F. H. Eveleth and wife, Toungoo, Burma. Rev. J. G. Fetzer, Mittelstrasse 7 II Hamm-Hamburg, Germany. Miss Adele M. Fielde, 1607 Summer Street, Philadelphia, Penn. Rev. C. H. D. Fisher and wife, Tokio, Japan (via San Francisco). Rev. P. Frederickson, Mukimbungu, Congo, West Africa. Rev. William George and wife, Zeegong, Burma. Rev. A. K. Gurney, Gowahati, Assam, India. Mrs. A. K. Gurney, 4 Lincoln Street, New Bedford, Mass. Rev. H. W. Hale and wife, Shwaygyeen, Burma. † Mrs. H. W. Hancock (care Rev. W. L. Farnham), Flint, Mich. † Miss Laura L. Hardin, Bassein, Burma. Mrs. N. Harris, Hamilton, N.Y. + Miss Emily Harris, Lukungu, Congo, West Africa. Rev. Charles Harvey, Banza Mantika, Congo, West Africa. Rev. W. H′ S. Hascall and wife, Henthada, Burma. Miss Susie E. Haswell, Maulmain, Burma. † Miss S. J. Higby, Lockport, Ill. †Mrs. C. M. Hill, Hartford, Grand Bassa County, Liberia, West Africa. Lieut. T. H. Hoste, Leopoldville, Congo, West Africa Mrs. M. B. Ingalls, Thongzai, Burma. Rev. Charles E. Ingham and wife, Lukungu, Congo, West Africa. † Miss Emma Inveen, Ningpo, China (via San Francisco). Rev. Melvin Jameson, D.D., and wife, Bassein, Burma. Miss U. B. Johnson, Tavoy, Burma. Rev. E. H Jones and wife, Yokohama, Japan (via San Francisco). Rev. Kandura, Gowahati, Assam, India. +Miss Orrell Keeler (care B. L. Neff), Duncan's Falls, O. *Mrs. J. B. Kelley, Maulmain, Burma. Rev. E. W. Kelly, Maulmain, Burma. Miss Anna H. Kidder, Tokio, Japan (via San Fran Rev. C. D. King, Kohima, Assam, India. Mrs. C. D. King, New London, Huron County, O. *Mrs. L. A. Knowlton, 1601 Norris Street, Philadelphia, Penn. *Miss Elizabeth Lawrence, Blossom Hill, Princess Anne Co., Va. Rev. J. W. Lehmann, Baptist Theological School, Hamburg, Germany. Rev. V. Lepoids, Montbeliard, France. Rev. A. V. Liley, Banza Mantika, Congo, West Africa. Rev. E. C. Lord, D.D., and wife, Ningpo, China (via San Francisco). Rev. A. Loughridge and wife, Colorado Springs, Col. Rev. E. Lund, Calle Provenza 85, Barcelona, Spain. Rev. W. R. Manley and wife, Ongole, Madras Presidency, India. Rev. R. Maplesden and wife, Nursaravapetta, Madras Presidency, India. Rev. G. L. Mason and wife (care Dr. E. C. Lord), NingChina (via San Francisco). po, Rev. M. C. Mason and wife, Tura, Assam, India. *Miss E. F. McAllister, Kemendine Girls' School, Rangoon, Burma. Rev. W. K. McKibben and wife, Norwalk, O. Rev. John McKittrick, Lukungu, Congo, West Africa. † Miss Bertha Menke, Hanamaconda, Hyderabad, Deccan, India. † Miss L. E. Miller, Winterset, la. *Miss Ellen E. Mitchell, M.D., Maulmain, Burma. *Mrs. H. W. Mix, Toungoo, Burma. Rev. P. H. Moore and wife, Nowgong, Assam, India. Rev. F. E. Morgan and wife, Kurnool, Madras Presidency, India. Rev. Horatio Morrow and wife, Tavoy, Burma. Rev. A. A. Newhall and wife, Hanamaconda, Hyderabad, Rev. C. A. Nichols and wife, Bassein, Burma. † Miss S. A. Norwood, Swatow, China (via San Francisco). Rev. John Packer, D.D., and wife, Rangoon, Burma. † Miss F. E. Palmer, Toungoo, Burma. Rev. S. B. Partridge and wife, Swatow, China (via San Francisco). *Miss E. H. Payne, 2005 North College Avenue, Philadelphia, Penn. Rev. K. J. Petterson, Leopoldville, Congo, West Africa. Rev. E. G. Phillips and wife, Bristol, N.Y. Mr. F. D. Phinney, Baptist Mission Press, Rangoon, Burma. Rev. T. S. Picton, Palabala, Congo River, West Africa. Rev. T. P. Poate and wife, Yokohama, Japan (via San Francisco). Rev. W. I. Price and wife, 449 Hanover Street, Milwaukee, Wis. Rev. C. A. Ramseyer, St. Etienne, France. Rev. S. B. Rand and wife, Amherst, Mass. *Miss L. E. Rathbun, Weedsport, N.Y. Miss Emma Rauschenbusch, Ongole, Madras Presidency, India. Rev. H. H. Rhees and wife, Kobe, Japan (via San Francisco) Rev. Henry Richards, Banza Mantika, Congo River, Rev. S. W. Rivenburg and wife, Sibsagor, Assam, India. *Miss Clara A. Sands, Yokohama, Japan (via San Francisco). *Miss Martha Sheldon, Maulmain, Burma. Rev. E. E. Silliman, Ongole, Madras Presidency, India. Rev. E. A. Stevens, D.D., and wife, Rangoon, Burma. Miss M. E. Thompson, Swatow, China (via San Francisco). Rev. George N. Thomssen and wife, Vinukonda, Madras Presidency, India. Rev. T. Truvé, Gothenburg, Sweden. † Miss Louise E. Tschirch, Bassein, Burma. *Miss Isabel Watson, Bassein, Burma. *Miss J. E. Wayte, Nellore, Madras Presidency, India. *Miss Agnes Whitehead, Kemendine Girls' School, Rangoon, Burma. *Miss M. A. Whitman, Tokio, Japan (via San Francisco). Rev. A. Wiberg, Södermanlandsgatan 9, Stockholm, Sweden. *Miss Mary E. Williams, Kemendine Girls' School, Rangoon, Burma. *Mrs. Matilda Williams, Vonbrunnville, Grand Bassa County, Liberia, West Africa. Rev. R. R. Williams, D.D., and wife, Ramapatam, Madras Presidency, India. Rev. W. E. Witter and wife, Sibsagor, Assam, India. GENERAL ARTICLES. THE LONE GRAVE AT PALABALLA. SALLY ROCHESTER FORD. [The first Christian grave in the Congo country was that of Rev. James Telford, an English missionary, who was buried at Palaballa in 1878.] THE CONGO COUNTRY. MR. ANDREW CRUICKSHANK. I AM now about two hundred miles from the coast. In my last letter I described the geological structure of our route so far as Boma. The same quartz-like and sandstone hills continued, with an occasional intermingling of granite out-crops on either side of the river, until we arrived at Underhill. At that place the high table-lands really commenced. There was a lot of yellowish sandstone and limestone everywhere. No doubt you recollect, before Livingstone discovered the wonderful structure of Central Africa, Sir Roderick Murchison advanced a theory that the whole centre of the Dark Continent was an elevated plain, depressed in the centre, containing vast lakes, which were drained off by rivers like the Nile and Zambesi (the Congo was then unknown). This hypothesis Dr. Livingstone confirmed in every particular, and, approaching from the south, got, as it were, to the bottom of the basin. His subsequent discoveries from the east coast showed hills, or rather mountains, rising higher and higher, until about three hundred and fifty miles inland they terminated; and the Lake Nyassa proved more and more the truth of the tremendous elevated depression of the centre of Africa. Well, it is much the same on the west coast. How the hills rise on the east, of course, I cannot say; but on this side of the continent their formation is strange. From Underhill to Stanley Pool, about two hundred miles, the country does not again sink to sea-level, but remains from Underhill to Voonda (about fifty or sixty miles distance) at about an average elevation of eight hundred feet. Near Voonda we had to ascend a hill of about four hundred feet high. This hill was a ridge, stretching as far as the eye could see north and south, and was very steep, with deep ruts in it, no doubt, water-ways during the rainy season, but which looked in the distance like corrugated sides. When we surmounted this ridge, we gradually descended until we were some one thousand feet above sea-level; but this did not continue long. We gradually rose again, until at this station (Lukungu), which is about on a level with the table-land, we are fully twelve hundred feet eighty miles to Stanley Pool) I cannot learn that there is any rapid ascent, though there it may be thirteen hundred feet. There the highest point is reached (I am not speaking of the hills now, but the plains); and for eleven hundred miles, one vast plain stretches towards the east coast, until a mountain range breaks the uniformity. Stanley Falls are met with. But these hills interfere but little with the theory. They soon cease, and on the other side of them we come to Lake Tanganyika; and farther on, according to the most modern, and, I suppose, most accurate maps, the first descent; then, farther on, the second; and ultimately we reach sea-level once more. Thus both western and eastern coasts appear to be of the same formation. But there are other things of an equally interesting nature. I noticed a peculiar-looking fruit growing wild, which the natives told me was "good for chop,”—that is, good to eat ; but, as I did not see them eating it, I did not commence. It has a hard, prickly husk; the inside is of a deep red color. Some of them are about the size of my fist. I now find that by a slight chemical process tannic acid can be made from it. This acid is a specific when you suffer from the complication I had in my last fever: so it may prove very valuable out here. Another strange plant is, I believe, of a carnivorous nature: it is a sort of creeper, bearing a bright yellow flower, in fact, almost an orange hue. When closed, it is about the shape and size of an egg; when open, it looks very like a tiger-lily. It spreads out into four separate petals, each bearing a quantity of bright crimson seeds on their inner surface; the whole, both petals and seeds, being covered by a thick, transparent, gummy substance. When the flower is open, of course, all this sticky surface is fully displayed; but woe betide the inquisitive insect which the red and yellow might attract! The gum would hold it like grim death until the four petals closed upon it, and remain closed until its victim is entirely consumed; then it re-opens for another victim. Such a curiosity would have pleased Professor I have also seen a good substitute for boxwood, but more about that when I have made a few experiments. You would be astonished at the luxuriance of the country, The rich valleys are glorious. Hemp and cotton grow wild, but the natives are so lazy that they will do nothing with such gifts. The hemp they treat in a peculiar manner after plucking, and smoke it (it has much the same effect' as opium); while the cotton just rots away. The cotton-plant has a yellow flower, at first sight not unlike a half-opened rosebud; this dies away, and is succeeded by the raw, woolly-like cotton. It looks very beautiful to see the podlike base, with its mass of white all hanging over it; a whole tree has the appearance of being covered with snow. We missionaries have a responsible work before us, having to teach the people how to use God's gifts aright. I cannot but think that a country bearing such valuable fruits must have a glorious future before it. The present generation of missionaries will, perhaps, see but little fruit of their labor. Ours is the work of faith, working in the midst of darkness and difficulty; ours is but the pioneer work, but that work must be done. When we have passed away, and others succeed us, when the seed sown shall commence to grow, I think what a land for Christ this will be! The Missionary Herald (London). THE silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. - Hag. ii. 8. WEANING THE CHURCHES. "cut-off." Corliss-engine attachment called a WILLIAM ASHMORE, D.D., SWATOW, CHINA. To carry in arms the new-born churches, seems matter of course. It follows the analogy of nature. Infants must be cared for. They do not, at the outset, require much, but they do require something. Besides, the churches in America can well afford to be nursing fathers and nursing mothers to the young children of Zion. All this is very well, only it must stop some time. The child does not take kindly to the weaning. But no matter. Parents cannot always be feeding it with a spoon. It must learn to handle the spoon for itself, and will never amount to any thing until it does. So it is with young churches in heathendom. To them it is agreeable to have the missionary keep right on as he has begun, meeting obligations, and shouldering the responsibilities, of church-hood. But they, too, must learn the art of self-feeding; of walking with their own feet, even if they do stumble a little, and get up with an occasional bump. We have all had to go through that. It is just as needful for ourselves as for them. Our schedule of appropriations does not grow with the growth of the church. We cannot expect it to, nor is it best that it should. That is an evangelizing system worth having that insures church extension without schedule Here we are nearly a thousand strong to-day. We have some twenty-five preaching-places, and about that number of competent preachers, though not all of that number are in mission employ. Half a dozen years ago such of them as were sent out to the stations were supported wholly by the Missionary Union. The various companies of disciples made their contributions, indeed; but they looked to the American churches to be fed with spiritual food. In the name of the American church, we provided freely. We sent out and supported preachers, who went loaded like the wagons that were sent by Joseph to the old patriarch Jacob. We told them, however, that by and by they must expect to do this work themselves. To this orthodox teaching they yielded an orthodox assent. They were like Hezekiah, - so that there was peace in their day, was all they could ask. They were willing to have the next generation bear any amount of burdens. So they were in no haste to begin, and the parents saw that they must shake them off. Chinese have a notion that earthquakes are caused by the ox that bears up the world shifting the load from one shoulder to the other. How can we shift the load from the American shoulder to the Chinese shoulder, without having this conservative people, who believe in the perpetuity of custom as we believe in the perpetuity of law, imagine there is going to be an ecclesiastical earthquake? The transfer cannot be abruptly made. Aside from unpreparedness on their part, they would think that somehow we had changed our feelings, and were turning our backs on them. Two methods have obtained favor "in these parts." Observe now, the earth is large, and I am not speaking of what goes on at the other end of it. 1. There is the heroic method, a sudden, vigorous forcing of the issue, much as a bonesetter puts a dislocated joint in the place where it ought to be, without regard to the patient's writhing. The churches can be duly notified, as by letter or epistle from us (the Missionary Union), that after a fixed date or after they have attained a certain number of members, the help of the home churches will be withdrawn, and they must support their own preachers. Now, in some cases that can be carried out, but in others it would leave small churches along with the lad Ishmael when he was about to perish for lack of water. Surely there must be "a well of water" somewhere near at hand. The deep poverty of some of these companies of disciples passes comprehension. I have in mind one or two of them which number about thirty disciples each, and yet I doubt if the whole of them together ever handle fifty dollars hard cash in a month. It is plain that such people cannot pay much of a salary, even to the most economical. Many a good brother at home would be ready to put his hand in his pocket, and make good the lack, in such excessive poverty. Nay, we would shoulder the responsibility ourselves, rather than see it fall so heavily on them. But how long would it have to be kept up? How long is it best to keep it up? These are the vital questions. Ten years hence they may be as poor as they are now. It will not do to support them indefinitely. This plan is tried here and there. The result is what we might expect. Some few churches succeed, and in their cases justify the method. Others bear up bravely for a for the wagon." The old Union ambulance comes along, and takes them again; and things move on as before. On the whole, we have to be a little cautious. Providence can manage the heroic method, but we cannot. Meanwhile, we have to learn a little wisdom from the speech of that eminent sheep-raiser, Jacob, to my lord Esau, and "not overdrive them," lest they die. 2. The graduated method. This is in general favor. It is more gentle in its operation, and meets a far greater number of cases: indeed, some think it is the only wise method. It is made efficient in various ways. In some cases, the churches are notified that they are to begin to pay one-third of the pastor's salary, and by and by one-half, and then two-thirds; and, finally, all the salary will be expected from them. In other cases, they are required to contribute a certain amount, according to their ability, without being conditioned by any fixed period. The advantages in such a plan are obvious; but it is not without perplexities in practical working. Church growth may not correspond to the periods named. An apportionment, if made by the missionary, might not suit the disciples; and, if made by the disciples, might not suit the missionaries. But the chief embarrassment exists in connection with the question, Who shall lead off? If we send the preachers to them, they merely helping according to their ability, the responsibility, in case of deficiency, falls, on us; and we have to make it up. And yet we have worked a great deal on this plan. We have tried to secure the good, and avoid the evil. Our experience may be briefly summarized. In the beginning of the mission the few members put their small contributions into the Union treasury, and their responsibility ceased. They put in a little, and drew what was needed, or rather what we found at that time indispensable. Of course we did not expect this to last very long. By and by, we effected an advance, a decided advance, on the system above named. We arranged to help them, instead of having them help us. The difference is great. In one case, we engaged the preacher for them, and had to furnish the guaranty; in the other case, they engaged the preacher, and we made simply a grant-in-aid to help them. In some measure the load went |