Fuller, to introduce the Select Vestry system in use in the United States, was negatived. A petition to the Crown and Imperial Parliament against the "disestablishment and disendowment" of the Church in Ireland was unanimously agreed upon; and also a resolution of sympathy with the Bishops and Clergy of that land under their present trial. The Indian Missions in the diocese at Lake Superior and Garden River, Manitoulin Island and elsewhere, were reported to be fairly prosperous. Many Indians had been converted, thirty-eight having been recently confirmed. at Manitoulin and a larger number at Garden River: two of the converts were employed as Missionaries.

The Synod of HURON met on June 16, at London. An Address was unanimously voted to the Queen and Parliament in behalf of the Irish Church-like the one at Toronto. In view of the withdrawal of assistance from S. P. G. a Sustentation Fund for the clergy of the diocese was resolved on, and $6,455 subscribed on the spot.

In the Synod of ONTARIO, held at Kingston, on June 10, like action was taken with regard to the Irish Church, and an effort was set on foot for the establishment of a new "Diocese of Ottawa."

INDIA. For many years the Missionaries of the Church of England have been complaining of the unfaithfulness of the Bengali translation of the Bible published by the Bible Society. That Society has, however, gone on printing edition after edition of the same imperfect version; and though a "circular of inquiry," lately sent by it to the whole missionary body in Bengal, has elicited an almost unanimous condemnation of the work, it seems still resolved not to withdraw it. The Bible Society, according to the Indian Church Gazette, " is in this matter completely in the hands of the Baptists;" and accordingly we find it suggested that our Missionaries themselves resolve to supply the want: "Let them solicit the Bishop to appoint a translator, or a committee of translators, to commence the work at once. Surely with such scholars as the Church possesses in Banerjea, Gopall Chunder Mitter, O'Brien Smith, Welland, and half a dozen more names we could mention, there can be no difficulty in getting such a committee appointed. Let it be the privilege of the Church to give Bengal a faithful and unmutilated version of the Holy Scriptures, and thus free all future Missionaries from continual pain and disappointment in using the Bengali Bible.' We do not for one moment doubt that there are men among the Missionaries of the Church of England who are thoroughly fitted for the work of translators; and we have already an earnest of what they can do in the new version of the Psalter, translated by the Rev. Prof. Banerjea, and published at Bishop's College Press."

We observe with interest the following notice of the "Christians of ST. THOMAS " in the Western Star :- The consecration of a Syrian Bishop was performed on May 31st, at Cottayam, by the Syrian Bishops, Mar Athanasius, Mar Stephanos, and Mar Kurilos. The new prelate is nephew of the worthy Metropolitan, Mar Athanasius, and is as deservedly respected as his enlightened uncle. We trust to see the rites of this ancient Church maintained in their integrity by the new Bishop."

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.-Monthly Meeting, July 7: Archdeacon Sinclair in the chair.-It was moved by S. Gedge, Esq., and seconded by Rev. C. W. Page," That no grant exceeding 1007. be made by the Board, unless either it be proposed on the recommendation of the Standing Committee, or it be passed at one meeting of the Board and confirmed at the next meeting." This was lost by

21 against 18. E. A. FitzRoy, Esq., then gave notice that at the next general meeting, on Oct. 6, he should move," That this Society, feeling strongly the suffering and exceptional position of the Church in Natal, and the munificence of the legacy recently left the Society, hereby resolve that a grant of 2,000l., or such further sum as the Standing Committee may think possible to give, be made to the Dean of Maritzburg and the Church Committee of that diocese."

After a consideration of some applications in the last few years for aid towards churches, &c., in Colonial dioceses, which had been refused from lack of funds, it was now decided to grant for such purposes-to the Bishops of Montreal, Quebec, Huron, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland, 1507. each; Ontario and Wellington, 100l. each; Toronto, 607.; Grahamstown and Fredericton, 401. each; Colombo and Columbia, 207. each; Antigua, for re-erection of church destroyed, 507.; Guiana, 757.; Nassau, for churches, schools, &c. destroyed by the hurricane of October, 1866, 3007.; and to Rev. C. G. Curtis, for the church at the Sulina mouth of the Danube, 251. In reply to a recent application from the Bishop of Capetown, a grant of 1007. was made towards a church in Mr. Lightfoot's Mission. A grant of 1007. and theological books was made for the intended College at Lahore for training a native clergy for North-west India. There are already Hindu and Mohammedan converts qualified by Christian knowledge and cultivation of intellect to be prepared for the ministry. On the request of the Bishop of Barbados, 1207. was voted in aid of schools and chapels in St. Vincent's, Grenada, Tobago, and Trinidad. In each of these islands help is given by the respective Legislatures to education and religion, in supplement to the local contributions and offerings of the faithful; but much remains to be done, especially as, yearly, fresh numbers of coolies from India and China are being imported. It was announced that translations in Zulu of the New Testament and Prayer-book, by Dr. Callaway of Natal, were going to press; and that St. Matthew's Gospel had just appeared in Susu, translated by Mr. Duport of the Pongas. Among other grants was one of some French Prayer-Books to the British Chaplaincy at Vichy, where "several French people (from six to twelve and fifteen at a time) are to be seen watching our service with much interest, remaining throughout, kneeling, and otherwise conducting themselves very reverently."-The Rev. J. Lawrence, visitor of emigrants from Liverpool, forwarded his journal for the past three months. In May he went to New York in a ship carrying 1,000, and returned the same month. He gave a list of twenty-four vessels he had visited, having in all 12,011 emigrants on board.

SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL.-Monthly Meeting, July 17: the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol in the chair.-The Treasurer's statement of income and expenditure showed a decrease of about 1,000l. in subscriptions, &c., and a large decrease in the amount of legacies. The payments had been large, being 20,000l. beyond the receipts; thus showing the necessity of prompt remittances from the country, and the difficulties occasioned by balances being left in the hands of local treasurers. Various arrangements with relation to the Codrington trust received the sanction of the Board.-A special committee was (on the motion of the Rev. W. Blunt) appointed to inquire into the financial condition of the Society, and to recommend measures for increasing its resources. The following resolution also was passed:

"That, as it appears (1) that the Applications Sub-Committee have considered the expenditure for foreign parts for 1869 cannot be reduced below 69,0007.; (2) that, in accordance with the resolutions of June 20, 1867, the amount so available for 1870 will not exceed 55,000l.; and (3) that consequently the reduction for 1870 must be at least 127. per cent. on the grants to the various Missions,-it be an instruction to the Special Committee to consider, and to take measures for, the immediate establishment of a Deficiency Fund, to the amount of not less than 14,000l., in order to avoid the necessary alternative of a reduction below the minimum considered by the Applications Sub-Committee to be necessary in 1869 for the due efficiency of the Society's Missions abroad."

It was resolved, that the sums now in the hands of the Society's Treasurer for a new Bishop in Natal be paid over to the Bishop of Capetown, who will furnish the names of the trustees in whose names the fund is to be invested. The Hawaiian Mission was undertaken by the Society, on condition that of the grant of 6007. for 1869 one-half be allotted to the Bishop of Honolulu, for salary while resident in his diocese; and one-half for the clergy, being at least six; and that all sums raised in Europe for the Mission (exclusive of contributions for church-building) be paid into the Society's hands, as a special fund, of which not less than 100l. per annum shall be retained by the Society, and applied towards the permanent endowment of the Honolulu see.-Mr. Meymott called attention to the spiritual needs of the British in South America, and to the projected bishopric of the Falklands.-Grants were made, inter alia, of 401. for one year to the chaplaincy of St. Malo, and of 25l. for a like term to that for the Lower Danube.

IONA. The following letter (signed "M.") has appeared in the Daily Telegraph, together with a leading article on the subject:-

“SIR,—About a fortnight ago I visited Iona, the home of early Scottish Christianity, the place whence Columba and his fellow evangelists went forth to preach the Gospel to heathen Scotland. To Englishmen, as well as to Scotchmen and Irishmen, the island, I need scarcely say, is invested with the holiest associations; it is in the highest sense of the word sacred

ground; and I naturally expected to find the memorials of Columba's successors guarded with religious care. I found, instead, everything-the tombstones, the crosses, the nunnery, the chapel, and the cathedral-bearing the trace of neglect. All these relics of a holy past are fast going to ruin. So far as I could learn, no serious effort is made to guard them from injury; and a few years hence many noble relics will have been utterly destroyed. The Duke of Argyll, to whom the island belongs, draws from it, I am told, a rental of 300l. a year. The expenditure of a single year's rental would go far to repair past neglect, and would earn for the Duke the gratitude of every Englishman. Perhaps his Grace does not know the state of the island. Can you give him a hint ?"

ABYSSINIA.-The Revue des Deux Mondes says:—“The English had one object in entering Abyssinia; that object once attained by the shortest way, they withdrew without any regard as to what may come to pass after them. But is there not in this simple and methodical fashion of treating affairs a certain selfishness? ... The duty of humanity toward the unfortunate tribes, whose territory they invaded, has not been taken into consideration for one instant. After the departure of the English the fate of the Abyssinians, rid of a detestable tyrant, is as uncertain as ever. It may even be said that the conduct of Theodore, whose last days were not without a certain grandeur, might have been different had he been treated from the outset with more regard. True, it may be objected that an empire, or a centralized monarchy, does not suit these barbarians, and that in their low degree of civilization the feudal regime is best for them. There are in the country the elements of such a solution, but the Ethiopians need foreign support to prevent them from falling back into anarchy. Three princes, we have seen, are in a position to divide among them the spoils of the King of the kings of Ethiopia-Menelek, in the Shoa; Kassa, in the Tigré; and Gobazi in the central region of Amhara. Left to themselves, will they not contend against each other instead of coming to an understanding? The stranger only will profit by their divisions. It will not be England, nor indeed any other European nation, that will take their place. Two Mussulman populations-the Gallas to the south, the Turks to the north, covet these mountains. And history teaches us that the successes of the Mohammedans, wheresoever they have triumphed, have not been advantageous either to the natives of the conquered countries or to European interests. It would be a matter of regret if the definitive result of the English campaign in Abyssinia only promoted the progress of Mohammedanism in a country which has so long resisted it."

The Prince, seven years old, who has arrived in this country in the care of Captain Speedy-to whom the dying Queen committed him— is the only legitimate child of Theodore. The Church in Abyssinia is still without a bishop; but both Kassa and Gobazi have written to the Coptic Patriarch for a new Abuna.

THE

COLONIAL CHURCH CHRONICLE,

Missionary Journal,

AND

FOREIGN ECCLESIASTICAL REPORTER.

SEPTEMBER, 1868.

THE NATAL TROUBLES.

Ar the meeting held for the purpose at the S.P.G. House in London, on July 29, under the presidency of the Bishop of Capetown, the proposed Association in aid of the new Bishop for Natal, and for other Church work in South Africa, was definitively formed. It is to consist of all who desire to promote these objects, and who will send their names as Associates. It is intended that there shall be an annual meeting of the Association, preceded by a special service in some church in London.

In announcing the formation of this Association, it should be stated that it presents the opportunity, to those who wish to do so, of expressing in an appreciable form their regard for the Bishop of Capetown, and their gratitude for his services. It is to his resolution and perseverance that the whole Church is indebted for the vindication of the Catholic faith. And now that he is about to leave England and to return to his distant diocese, he desires to bequeath to his friends at home a work which they should undertake for him, and by the discharge of which they may not only relieve him of heavy anxieties, but set him free to devote his energies, with undivided care, to the extension of his great work as Metropolitan of the Church in South Africa.

The Association includes many leading Churchmen, both clergy and laymen, including several distinguished members of Convocation. C C

NO. CCLV.