Leavening effects.

People attend services.

Read the
Bible.

Secret

I need not now appeal to the statistics of the number of churches established in towns and villages in South India, and the numbers belonging to the many congregations. This information is always available. I wish to indicate with brevity a few of the many results of preaching which will not appear in any Statistical Tables.

There is an ever increasing number, who, though they have expressed no desire of becoming Christians, are trying to lead a better, a purer life, in consequence of our preaching. I know many who heartily acknowledge the excellence of the "Christian Way"; and who say to their co-religionists and fellow caste people, "Come let us see if we cannot make our lives good and pure, and equal to all that is required by the Christian faith." Again, there are many with whom we are acquainted, who have become familiar with our teaching, who claim us and Native Christians as their best friends; they seek our counsel, and come to us for advice and comfort when they would not go to their own religious teachers. The leaven of Christian love and truth is working in them, and we believe the whole lump will in time be leavened.

We find in many places groups of people who regularly attend the services we hold, and to whom we are able to speak as to a general congregation of Christians and not as to the heathen. They appeal to us and say, "You know we believe in Jesus; but if we profess our faith by baptism and leave our parents, wives and children, what will become of them ?" We cannot but sympathize with them whilst we urge them to cleave to the Lord.

I may point to bands of young men who have gained an extensive knowledge of the Bible, who will often put aside their work for an hour or two, and meet together to read and pray. They tell us and their neighbours that they derive strength and light and life from the exercise, that they feel it good for them to draw near to God.

There are men and women who, like Nicodemus, come to Jesus disciples. by night, hear His word in secret and love Him; but fear of their caste associates prevents them from openly confessing Christ.

Illustrative

In one town in my District a work of unusual interest has been instance. going on for the past ten years amongst caste people. It commenced by a young man who had never seen a Christian teacher reading the Bible and explaining it, as far as he could, to his neighbours. He died before my first visit to the town. There was then a company of some twenty persons in the habit of meeting together to read and pray. Ten of these have since been

baptized; three others have died unbaptized but trusting in Jesus. No money has been expended in teaching them, beyond my own travelling expenses to and from the town. The most striking feature of this work is the knowledge of the Bible these persons have gained. It is a delight to me, and often a cause of wonder, to see the practical use they make of the truths they have received.

For example, one woman who was bitterly opposed by her husband, was telling me of her joy in Christ, when I asked her what she did when her husband was angry with her and cruel to her. She replied, "I try to be a better wife than ever, to be patient and loving, to cook his food well, and watch for every opportunity of helping him. I strive to show him that I am better for believing in Jesus." In many other ways she showed that her faith was a living power; and that she believed in a Saviour who was ever present with her. She was the means of turning her husband's heart to Jesus before he died; and has since been baptized with her daughter; and her life continues to be most exemplary.

When I look round upon my own field (and others are doubtless similar) and see so many, I cannot say secret believers, for their faith is manifest, but believers who have not professed their faith by baptism, I should be unfaithful to the Master did I complain that the preaching of His Gospel has failed to win. men to Him.

We place a high estimate upon such results as these, especially as we find that the Christian Church is being recruited from the ranks of these enquirers year by year. From amongst such people as we have now spoken of come many who are our joy and crown of rejoicing in the Lord.

But I confess I do not understand what is meant by those who Hinduism affirm that Hinduism is tottering and ready to fall. I do not be- not tottering. lieve it. The fort of Hinduism is still very strong. Places of pilgrimage are resorted to by tens of thousands every year; religious festivals are still crowded; the idols have not been cast away; the temples are not forsaken; the priests are busy and powerful. If the fathers of the rising generation are more liberal than were their fathers, the mothers, with comparatively few exceptions, are full of idolatry and superstition.

to be done.

The field is every where ready for ploughing and sowing; here Much work and there the growth is promising; some parts of the field are white unto the harvest; we are now reaping precious fruit. But there remain yet vast portions to be brought under cultivation; there is much need for patient, earnest, faithful toil. We must not grow weary of ploughing and sowing and harrowing, and watching the tender grain. We may do much injury by hurry and too eager a desire for an immediate harvest; we shall not fail to do much good by enduring faith and patience, and hard persevering toil. We will preach and teach, and pray and wait till we see the salvation of God, and the ingathering of the multitudes into the Church of Christ.

By the

Not by Spirit's help.

It will not be our zeal, our tact, our wisdom, our love, that will alone accomplish what we desire and long for. might nor by power, but my Spirit saith the Lord. This we feel most profoundly; and in proportion as we go about our work with this consciousness, full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, we shall win souls to Christ and fulfil our commission.

Faith and

Hard to maintain in

REV. H. A. HUTCHINSON, L. M. S., Coimbatore, Madras, said zeal needed. that preaching is not the mere delivery of a message or the mere teaching of truths, however correct they may be. If so, a book, a tract, or even a machine might be invented to pour forth addresses; but this would not be equal to a living preacher who feels what he says and is filled with earnestness and zeal, and is desirous of communicating not only truths but faith, zeal, love, and a spirit of earnestness and devotion to God. This is one of the greatest disadvantages we suffer from in India. In England a man lives in a Christian community, and, preaching to a Christian congregation, is kept full of fervour; but when a young man comes out to India the fervour gradually diminishes. The most successful evangelists have been those who have made people feel that they themselves believed their own message. If I shew that I am stirred up others will be stirred up. We should have more conversions in schools also if we had teaching of this sort. Zeal ought to be maintained by living in constant communion with Christ; and where possible Missionaries should carry on their work in association with each other.

India.

English

methods not

suitable in India.

REV. T. P. HUGHES, C. M. S., Peshawar, thought that the opinions of Missionaries have changed much on this subject. At the close of the last century there was an evangelical revival, and men came out to carry on those methods which they had found successful in their own country. But in England irreligion has to be contended with, while here religion; there vice has to be contended with, but here religious opinion. When a Missionary came out he thought it was incumbent on him to become a street preacher, or else he would be wanting in zeal. But within the last ten years opinions have been somewhat modified. How can this work be done? Study the Lord's method and the Acts of the may do harm. Apostles, and we shall find that street preaching, as we understand it, was not the ordinary method. Unless a man has some very special qualifications for the task, he probably does more harm than good in attempting to preach in the streets. Archdeacon Corrie in saying "good bye" to a Missionary used to say, " May God preserve you from doing harm." More than a knowledge of Special the language is necessary to make an efficient bazar preacher, and qualifications this especially applies to villages. We are foreigners, and imagine needed. that wherever we go we are at liberty to attack the religion of the

Street preaching

Avoid discussion.

people. Bazar preachers should endeavour to place themselves in the position of their opponents and imagine what their feelings would be if persons stood on this platform and attacked the character of our Lord. Discussion should be avoided as much as possible. The world is not convinced by argument but by assertion. Argument had not a large place in the methods of our Lord and His Apostles. It is calculated to excite, and generally the impression is left that the Missionary has been defeated.

We are imperfectly acquainted with the systems we attack, and while we think we have gained the victory our opponents think

the reverse. If you have an efficient agent let the work be done, but no one should think it incumbent on him to do it. There are other ways of preaching the Gospel. The young Missionary instead of endeavouring to do bazar preaching should avoid it, and encourage the natives to visit him.

The

European

prestige.

Civilise.

MR. R. C. BOSE, M. E. C., Lucknow, stated that he had three remarks to make: (1) If India is to be converted it must Missionary's be by her own sons and daughters; but we must not forget that the European Missionary carries a prestige with him, and that when he comes down to the level of the people he exerts an influence which a Native Missionary never can. (2) The Missionary is a Missionary of civilization as well as of the cross. Lord Jesus Christ gave to the people not only the Gospel but something else, for He exercised miraculous powers; and the European Missionary is required to spread the blessings of civilization as well as the Gospel. He is not to come down to the style of living of the natives, but to raise them to his own style. (3) It Living with is desirable for the Native Missionary to live with the people, but in doing so he lives in a moral pest-house; and while he may be able to resist its injurious influences his wife may not.

REV. G. C. DUTT, B. M. S., Khoolna, Bengal, stated as his opinion.

1. Every preacher should study Hinduism and Mohamedanism, not to attack but to use the fragments of religious truth in them as helps to preach the Gospel with great power and success. We have been commissioned by our Lord to preach the Gospel which is the "power of God unto salvation."

2.

The knowledge of native manners and customs, anecdotes, proverbs and the figures adapted to the native mind, are great helps to preaching the Gospel. Singing religious hymns with native musical instruments, and using popular native tunes, are great auxiliaries to the preaching of the Gospel. We sing the Life of Christ.

3. Christian melas should be started everywhere to propagate Christian knowledge. In cities like Calcutta, European Christians and Native Christians should be united together at least once a year to preach the Gospel to the heathen.

the people.

Use good points of

false reli

gions.

Native

thought.

Singing.

Christian

Melas.

systems.

REV. P. M. RUDRA, C. M. S., Burdwan, Bengal, said that Preach the Gospel ought to be presented in the way most suited to Christ, do not the people to whom it is preached. Mission agents employed attack other generally as Catechists and Preachers, do a great deal to prejudice the minds of their audience, by uncalled for and injudicious attacks on their faith. The consequence has been unfavourable to the preaching of Christianity. It should be the duty of Christian preachers to preach Christ, and the message of reconciliation He has brought to us, and abstain from ungenerous or uncalled for attacks, provoking ill-will and opposition.

It would be a decided advantage if instead of a tirade against the Hindu and Mahomedan systems, the Christian preacher

Lay hold of

common truths.

Singing.

could lay hold of some common truths or fragments of truth which these systems contain, and thus build his own doctrine upon them. The points of similarity between other systems and Christianity should be dwelt upon and improved to the advantage of our religion. There is much in Hinduism which a Christian preacher could use to present the Gospel acceptably and effectually to his Hindu audience. I mean the belief of the Hindu in incarnation, sacrifice and salvation by faith &c. I have in my Missionary tours in Bengal found this method of preaching both acceptable and convincing. And though I have had no instances of conversion, I am greatly encouraged, and hope God's blessing will rest upon it.

In preaching, singing suitable Christian hymns, in native airs, is a great attraction and ought to be greatly encouraged and improved. It produces a good impression on the audience and is powerful in winning the hearts of men.

Good temper În selecting men as preachers, we should take care not only to and character. send those out who have a sound theological knowledge, but we should lay great stress on their temper, manners and character. We know to our grief how many there are, who have been repelled from hearing and believing the Gospel owing to the want of these qualifications in the preacher.

Preaching of first impor

tance.

Reaches all classes.

The Missionary should always as a rule go out with his preachers, and not be satisfied simply with the report of his men. The neglect of this duty is a fruitful source of mischief done to the cause.

66

THE REV. M. PHILLIPS, L. M. S., Salem, Madras, hoped that the prominence given to preaching to the heathen indicates the importance attached to it by the Missionaries present. The great want of India to-day is preaching. Education is spreading, breaking down the Hindu faith, and we must preach the gospel to them at this crisis. Humanly speaking it may be true, as some say, that preaching in the vernacular is useless; but we look at it from a higher stand-point-even that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation." We are told that in preaching in bazaars we reach only the lower classes. This depends entirely on the character of the preacher. Love, humility and tact are needed, and if with these thorough preparation of discourses be united, the better classes will hear. In large cities too much prominence is given to one branch of Mission work— education. In Bombay, Calcutta and Madras evangelistic work is in the background-a great mistake. I do not disparage or condemn educational work, but strongly advocate the sending out many more preachers into the villages.

Young THE REV. W. HOOPER, C. M. S., Allahabad, while cordially Missionaries agreeing with what had fallen from Mr. Hughes as to the difficulty of being a thoroughly good preacher, and the need of preach. long and careful preparation for it, yet deprecated agreement

should

with what he had said as to the inadvisability of young mis