METHODIST EPISCOPAL MISSION. In and measures for the relief of the distress it causes. Buenos Ayres the three living ex-presidents of Argentina are at the head of a popular committee that has raised over a hundred thousand dollars as a relief fund, and more important than the national politics is the national struggle with pestilence. Under these calamities it would be a cause of satisfaction if we held our own. But we have done more than that. Souls have been converted, the membership increased, the day and Sunday-schools augmented, the raising of funds pushed forward, and the work extended on every side. This year is distinguished above all former years in the following particulars: the number baptized; the number admitted to membership; the first celebration of Children's Day; the expansion of the work about the old centers; the widest scope of pioneering and the most thorough work ever done on that line, compassing the entire continent, and planting a new center of work in its heart (Paraguay), and another in the extreme north (Venezuela), thus adding two nations that have never hitherto appeared in the lists of Gospel mission fields, as no religious body ever yet started work in Paraguay or Venezuela. 173 Guelfi, under whose direction the mission schools in Montevideo had been founded and developed from one to eight in number, with assistant teachers from one to eighteen, and from forty scholars in 1879 to six hundred in 1886. She was the first to die in the field of all the regularly employed workers of this mission. Precious first fruits! And she is peculiarly a first fruit of the mission,-born in Argentina; converted in Montevideo, among the earliest of the local workers there, she is the first to die of all the children of the mission who have become regular members of the staff of workers. Her life and her dying testimonies were like a special Gospel to the large numbers that came under her influence. Her death was regarded by our enemies as a deathblow to the schools, and they organized a crusade to crush them, giving us great anxiety by their influence among the assistant teachers and scholars. We lost some teachers and some scholars, but the year's work on the whole was the best ever known in those schools. This was made possible by the providential presence of Bro. Antonio Guelfi (brother of the deceased, pastor of our central charge in Montevideo, whither he had lately moved from Buenos Ayres) and his providential ability For such results under such circumstances we sing and willingness to take up his sister's work in addition hallelujah. Bishop Fowler's visit to the mission, the ordaining of four of the preachers raised up here, the liberal policy of the Missionary Society and of the American Bible Society toward South America, have been the means whereby God has wrought these results. 2. Uruguayan Regions. Not one of our workers has flinched under the extraordinary trials of the year in this part of the field. While the danger of impressment into the army was at its worst, our native preachers were always at their posts. Some notable victories have been. won. The Spanish temperance work has advanced as never before. The preaching and a day-school have been planted in a new town near Montevideo, where there is no resident Romish priest, and where we actually got possession of the Romish church to commence operations, and held it till the treachery of a man who had pretended to favor us betrayed us out of the possibility of holding it longer, but could not stop the work. thus curiously begun. The theological school, after being entirely broken up by the revolution, was resumed with three times as many students as before, and has gone forward with six hours a day work,-more than had been possible formerly. The important city of Durazno, where all former efforts to gain a footing had failed, at last welcomes Bro. Tallon as often as he can visit it. The school at Porongos (now called Trinidad, and made a department capital) was entirely closed during the revolution, but has come through the year with more success than ever, supporting the teacher without aid. In the Province of Rio Grande there has been steady progress in every respect. to his own. For all this he has received no pay but what the brethren there have been able to raise for him in these trying times. 3. Buenos Ayrian Regions. New work has been permanently established at the important inland city of Mercedes. Preparations have been made for establishing it at the provincial capital, La Plata. All the old work has steadily developed. In spirituality and Christian harmony there has been great gain over last year. Members have been added to all the charges. Some precious lives have been lost by the cholera, but the heroism displayed and the dying testimonies given have made a brilliant record for our cause in this struggle with pestilence. Bro. Ramon Blanco, head of the boys' school, has especially distinguished himself for facing and fighting the epidemic, his former experience as a city policeman giving him peculiar efficiency at this time. The authorities and the whole community of the wards where he labors have given him special proofs of appreciation. Another of the teachers of the boys' school, Bro. Chiarela, died of cholera taken amid labors for the relief of others. Our ranks have shown no signs of the panic that has developed in other quarters. Calm readiness to face death and to do all that could be done for the dying, the dead, the sick and the bereaved, marks our membership. They have had to do more than their share of all this, amid the poverty-stricken and panicstricken masses, and the heartless agents of the authorities. A house has been hired as an Evangelical Lazaretto, to rescue our own patients and others from the barbarities that are committed in cases that the authorities insist on hurrying out of the tenement houses to the A sad and heavy trial was the death of Sister Cecilia | public lazaretto or to the grave. The treatment of some such cases has been blood-curdling. All of our cases have thus far had Christian care; by God's good will the majority have recovered, though enough have died to make the fight with cholera awfully serious business. Our temperance work in Buenos Ayres has progressed as never before, not only in English but, what is far more important, in Spanish. The inveterate prejudice against total abstinence, and the hostility to the attitude of our church on this question are giving way, and great good is being done in this direction. its worst havoc. Beginning at Rosario, it soon put our little band of workers to the test. Bro. Viney and his wife gave themselves to the care of the sick and dying, till Mrs. Viney fell sick and died in a house where she was busy trying to save others. Two deaths occurred in Bro. Prichard's house. The orphanage has taken in children left destitute by the epidemic, no sickness having occurred among its inmates. The schools were closed by the authorities, but all the other operations go on, with Bros. Viney and Gerber at their posts. In the very midst of the epidemic some probationers have been admitted in full, all promising young people. Mrs. Viney's death has been widely lamented. She was a native Argentine, of the Quichua race. She and her husband were both converted among the first fruits of our Spanish work in Rosario, and both have proven shining examples of the new creature in Christ. But her case was more remarkable than his, as she lacked the English upbringing that was in his favor. She was a wonder to many. Her Christian testimony, her performance of duty, and her highly developed character made her the peer of women who had had advantages infinitely above hers, and her heroic death has crowned her life. The whole Quichua race is yet to be uplifted in like manner, when we can push our work all over North Argentina, Bolivia and Peru, where they number millions. A new self-supporting work has been organized, north of Bro. Gerber's circuit,-part of the old Rosario and Parana circuit,-called the San Carlos Circuit. It was nearly ripe for this on the departure of Bro. J. R. Wood from that work, and has now advanced to the decisive steps insuring a reproduction there of the cheering success of Bro. Gerber's work which costs the mission nothing. A local preacher of Rosario Circuit, Bro. Robert Weihmuller, takes charge of the new work, to live on what the people will raise for his support. Thus does God give increase for our plowing and planting. In Mendoza the ravages of the cholera have been appalling. Our little band of converts there stood firm. Bro. Cingiali, in charge of the work, rushed at once into the struggle of caring for the sick. He soon fell a victim to the plague and a martyr to his eagerness to save his fellowmen. He died amid the tears of his family and the brethren. His last words was a request to hear sung one of our Spanish hymns, that corresponds to the English hymn "I'm but a stranger here, Heaven is my home." God has raised up a successor for Cingiali,-Carlos Borzani, an experienced convert from our older centers, now living at Mendoza. He is distinguishing himself at the front of the battle with the cholera, attending multitudes of patients. I have appointed him in charge of the work and he is keeping up services and defending the faith against attacks of its enemies that are not suppressed even by the pestilence. If his life is spared through these trials he will be a new hero for our vanguard. The brilliant heroism of our workers shines with the more splendor by contrast with the pusillanimity of our enemies in the presence of the cholera. A monastery in Mendoza closed up and the monks fled for safety, with the first panic, instead of taking hold to help care for their poor stricken dupes. The school of Theology in Assumption, which should have given its students and the public an object lesson in Christian valor, standing as a breakwater in the tide of alarm and misery that came upon that city, was quietly transferred to a town in the interior, professors, students, and all, under the pretext that the authorities of the capital had ordered. all schools closed, and as they could not close they moved. Examples of noble abnegation have been shown by physicians and private parties, but the Romish church has been conspicuous for its absence in the struggles with the epidemic,-save that the sisters of charity have done good service in a few places. Our people, as by spontaneous impulse, have moved to the front at all places. 5. Paraguay. Great changes have occurred here since last report. Our pioneering of former years has given place to permanent occupancy. Bro. Villanueva has moved with his family to Assumption, the capi tal, and has a circuit of five appointments opened up. A colporteur is helping him with the house-to-house work. A day-school has been founded by his daughter, Juana Villanueva, one of Miss Guelfi's pupils and assistThe conversion of souls and their inspiration with zeal for others has begun in earnest. Thus is the oldest and most famous stronghold of Jesuitism on this continent at last assaulted. ants. The enemies of our faith cannot forgive us the audacity of this move. Hostility of the most inveterate forms has opposed our new work in Paraguay at every step, and will continue to oppose it. But in the midst of that hostility the power of God is seen drawing hearts to us and to Him. A subscription to buy us a site for a church was started in the teeth of lively opposition and proved a success, securing a lot 60 by 130 feet, as a gift to the mission. This is the most important event that has occurred in the 350 years of the history of Spanish Catholic domination in Paraguay. The Guarani race is here reached for the first time by our permanent work. Its type is very distinct from that of the Quichuas, more docile, more European, Both alike need the one thing needful. But the moral needs of Paraguay are perhaps without a parallel in history. Sixteen years ago the country emerged from a war that had METHODIST EPISCOPAL MISSION. exterminated the male population, all but a mere remnant, leaving a nation of women, governed by that remnant of men. The family disappeared. A new generation is now coming to maturity without knowledge of the family! Their moral condition is indescribable. Europeans drifting into the country sink, as a rule, to the level of the natives. The only hope for Paraguay is in the evangelization of the Guarani masses. The Romist priests are among the most corrupt and corrupting men in the land, yet the ignorant and superstitious people, accustomed to obey them implicitly for 350 years, regard them as the representatives of God on earth. They have moved all the land to hostility against us as enemies of the religion of Christ! They have the people busy praying and exercising their religious rites, that God and the saints may be moved to exclude us from the country. In one district the idea prevails that Satan in person has visited Paraguay, given public addresses, and secured for hell all that listened to him. In another district they have it that the Antichrist has invaded the country and they are praying and paying for masses and processions to keep him and his agents from visiting their district. In the capital itself, where European ideas prevail, the word circulates that the cholera was sent on the country because of our coming. We have been openly hostilized by the most pre-eminent talent and influence in the land, the first lawyer of the capital, the champion orator and writer of the national clergy, the Primate and his whole army of ecclesiastical dependents, and his retinue of kinsfolk among whom are men in influential positions in the State as well as the Church. A large majority of the influential women of the capital signed a document hostile to us, and the full weight of the social power that dominates the land was thrown against us. To get a footing in such a country, against such odds, at a time when a presidential election was absorbing attention and making public men anxious not to get entangled with new issues, is a moral wonder. But it is accomplished, and a hold on the public mind in that benighted land has been secured in a few months, greater than as many years have enabled us to secure in any other part of our field. 6. The Regions Beyond. Bolivia and Matto Grosso have not been visited during the year, but their ripeness for occupancy has been advanced by the operations in Paraguay. Influential merchants from every point on the rivers for a thousand miles above Assumption have been impressed with our work there. As a class the merchants are liberal, and some of them will welcome our progress inland as fast as we can push it forward. We have paved the way with books, in former years, to the very center of the continent. We must follow that way now with preachers and teachers. Bolivia communicates with Paraguay through its important city of Santa Cruz, at the foot of the Andes, the only large city in all Bolivia that we have not pioneered. It has never even been visited by an evan 175 gelical worker. Influential men from there have taken great interest in our work at Assumption. One of them, a lawyer, has said that that work must some day be introduced into Bolivia, but the time has not yet come for it, in his view. The poor man does not understand the signs of the times. Letters from Bolivia from the points visited in former years show it ready in many places for permanent work. But the Bolivia lawyer was thinking of the constitution of his country which prohibits the public exercise of any religion but the Romish, and of his hope, in common with that of an increasing class of men there, to have that barrier to liberty removed. 7. South America circumnavigated. Bros. Milne and Penzotti have just returned from a thirteen months' trip, in which they passed around the continent. This notable missionary journey was accomplished under the far-sighted policy of the American Bible Society. Its details belong to the reports of that society. But its results belong to our work, paving the ways for its extension in permanent form over all the continent. I wonder if Paul and Silas ever dreamed of such journeys as Milne and Penzotti made together? They gave special attention to the parts of the continent least explored hitherto,-the northern and northwestern regions,-meeting with wonderful success at some points and failure at others. Venezuela was found unexpectedly open and Ecuador hopelessly closed. The latter country is now the most completely sealed against. the Gospel in all South America, not only prohibiting our public worship as in Bolivia, but also excluding the Scriptures, which Bolivia does not, as we have repeatedly proven. It is the last stronghold of priestcraft to stand impregnable against our operations. I believe that if any men living could penetrate that stronghold, Milne and Penzotti are the men,-and they failed. Ecuador, closed and barred against the Gospel, is now the only one of South America's ten nations that excludes us, the only one that has not been wrought upon by the workers of this mission. 8. Venezuela entered. Bros. Milne and Penzotti did their most important work in Venezuela, where nothing had ever been done before. They founded a permanent work in the capital, Caracas. The people that had been gathered by their labors sent me a formal petition to have Penzotti stationed there as their pastor,or, in case he could not be appointed, some one else capable of carrying on and extending the work. Want of funds has made this impossible thus far. This is a new Macedonia crying to us for help in this vast field. South American Rulers. The following are the Presidents of the nine Republics of South America: Argentina-Dr. M. Juan Celman; Bolivia-Don Gregorio Pacheco; Chili-Jose Manuel Balmaceda; Colombia-Dr. Don Rafael Nunez; Ecuador-Jose Maria Placido Caamano; Paraguay -General D. B. Caballero; Peru-General Andres Avelino Caceres; Uruguay-General Maximo Santos; Venezuela-General A. Guzman Blanco. The Emperor of Brazil is Dom Pedro II. The Governors of the three Colonies of Guiana are appointed by the Governments of Great Britain, The Netherlands, and France. General Work of Missions. Playing at Missions. BY REV. J. P. OTIS. "When we begin to give an average of four or five dollars per member to this work, and even then recognize that it can only be consummated by patient continuance in well-doing,' we may consider that we have commenced in earnest, and can then expect to see earth's redemption drawing nigh. At present the great heart of the Church is not aroused or in earnest in this work. We are playing at missions; and a thousand years of her present liberality will not suffice to measure up with the increase of population, or overtake the death-rate, or save the one thousand five hundred millions of the population of the world!" That was written hardly longer ago than yesterday, on the journey back to Bareilly, but it sounds like the voice that wailed out of Corinth one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight years ago-"I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren." If to be in earnest about the world's evangelization means to feel thus-not to mention the four or five dollars-then how many are in earnest to see even their own communities visited by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit? But with Christmas chimes yet ringing in our ears, can we say that such enthusiasm is overheated, or such a portraiture of the situation much, if at all, overdrawn? Shall we be told that the early church was not thus taxed and begged for the evangelization of the world? That cannot be maintained until we are called upon to do more than is recorded in Acts 4, 33-37. We had, according to the Year Book of 1886, 1,885,844 members and probationers, and five dollars per member would amount to $9,429,220. It will probably be some time before we shall have "commenced in earnest" according to that standard, which altogether dwarfs Dr. McCabe's call for a million "from collections only." This latter would call for an average of but little more than fifty-three cents per member-that is, from the member who is able in the sight of God to do that much more than he has ever yet done, or at least to come up to that amount, having as yet never done So. We may perhaps admit that whether we are in earnest or only "playing at missions" cannot be wholly determined by the amount of money contributed, yet it can hardly be denied that this indictment is true of the church, and of all of the churches viewed in the mass. That there are here and there souls fired, as was that of Dr. Butler when he stood in the valley of the Ganges and shouted back to the shores of America this Macedonian cry, with the "enthusiasm of humanity and of Christ," is true, but how many, of the nearly 1,900,000 have the world's redemption thus upon their hearts? How many of us in the ministry have, I will not say qualities of leadership in this great work, for as these were not given to all the Apostles neither are they to us, but how many have a holy enthusiasm for it? Such enthusiasm that we conscientiously and diligently carry out the provisions of the discipline relative to the support of missions? There are not less than fifty thousand laymen annually appointed on the mission committees of the Quarterly Conferences-how many of them, whether stimulated and led on by the "ex-officio chairman" or not, seek to know and do the work of that committee? How many of the 1,900,000-no doubt there are so many by this time-give any serious consideration to the vow taken by each member to contribute of his earthly substance, according to his ability, to the support of the various benevolent enterprises of the church? What we want is an enthusiasm for duty, enthusiasm of the solid not of the gaseous kind. The fact is the question, Are we playing at missions? raises a host of other questions, crying loudly in the ears of the church. Are you playing, or are you in earnest, all along the lines of Christian character, experience and work? Consecration and Missionary Activity. BY MRS. M. E. BING. The meeting had been a happy one. The spirit had borne witness to the truths that had been uttered. Facts had borne testimony to the need and efficiency of laborers already sent forth, while an earnest plea was made for all Christ's own to at once bear a part in this grand saving scheme. A sister pointed me to one who seemed refusing to listen to those who were soliciting helpers for the work. I said, "Are you not willing to add your name to the list of those who are undertaking to send the Gospel of this Jesus you love so well, to those who do not know there is such a Savior?" She said, "I do give to the heathen collection, and I do not know why I should pledge myself to this additional work." "Well," I said, "perhaps after you have thought and prayed more about it you will understand." We spent the night at the same house. In the morning before I left my room she came in to say that she had slept but little. "Four months ago," she said, "I promised Jesus to do anything he asked (and the Spirit in the night-time had shown her that the voice calling her to do this work was her Lord's); and I have refused. Put down my name at once for I am His." It is a solemn thing to enter into the holy place and take upon us the vow of entire consecration expecting the Holy Ghost to witness with our spirit that it is done; thus involving His presence always to witness that everywhere we do fulfil our vow. What a watch He keeps within us and above us! One evening in a village church where an audience composed largely of the young and thoughtless had convened at the ringing of the bell, a messenger with a METHODISM IN NORTH JAPAN. strong hold on the King, had spoken earnestly of the need of missionaries abroad and givers at home, evidently with but little answering sympathy among the hearers. A canvass by two ladies resulted in bringing up one name as pledged to work for Christ. The services closed, and as Mrs. came from the platform she asked, "Where is the lady whose name I have?" She was directed to a young girl of perhaps fourteen; when asked if the name was hers she exclaimed, "Oh, yes! and I want it taken off." "Are you sorry you have pledged yourself thus to help Jesus bring sinners to himself?" "Oh, yes! I want my name taken off." "You poor child," said Mrs, "I do not wonder you feel so. You must think you have committed a grave offense, as no one else has ventured to do a like thing. I will certainly erase it," and she did so at once to quiet the distressed child. Passing on toward the door she said, "Dear Lord, this is very sad! What does it mean? Not one of thy followers here to undertake this work for heathen souls that they may know Thee?" On the doorstep a voice said, "Some one wishes to speak to you," and she was joined by a young lady who said, "I want to give my name." "Shall we go back to the light?" she answered. "No, I can write it in the dark. Last Sabbath I promised the Lord that henceforth I would withhold from Him nothing, and already I have refused to help Him in His work of salvation." Just then another said, "Write my name, too." And there, with the stars as witnesses, two hearts were pledged to send the good tidings abroad; because the Holy Spirit demanded it as a part of the fulfillment of their consecration vow. How good it is to know that God, the Holy Ghost, is pushing forward this work through His sanctifying power upon human hearts. Methodism in North Japan. BY REV. C. W. GREEN. Within what has at different times been called the Hakodate, the Yezo and the North Hondo, the Hokkaido and North Hondo District, and now resumes its original name, we have at present seven churches with as many traveling preachers, several local preachers and exhorters, and a membership aggregating about two hundred and fifty. At Hakodate, much the strongest and most prosperous church within the district, and the most flourishing Protestant society north of Sendai, is to be found, and here too may be seen the most commodious church building in North Japan. From Otaru at the northern extremity to Morioka at the southern is a distance of upward of 350 miles, and our mission station at Hakodate may be taken as the center of the district. To make the circuit of this district, one must travel not less than 1,000 miles. 177 Of this distance about 750 miles are accomplished by sea; but the southern portion of the district necessitates 250 miles of inland travel, and that by no means of the most inviting kind. To go from Aomori to Morioka and thence back to Aomori via Hirosaki requires from seven to nine days. For the most part of the way the itinerant may choose from jinrikisha, pack-horse, or foot-power his means of locomotion. For a short distance he may indulge in a basha (stage-coach); but this is a rare privilege (?). However, be his conveyance what it may, he will do well to be satisfied with accomplishing about thirty miles per day; and to do this he may often have to start early and stop late. Of the ministry and laity, as constituting and representing our church within this district, much may truthfully be said in their praise, and very much more might be said than strict regard for truthfulness would warrant. I have sat charmed as I have watched the earnest manner and now and then caught the forcible words of these ministers of God, sent to preach the glad tidings of redeeming grace. Their stirring appeals and their bold denunciations of the evils so generally practiced have awakened mv admiration. Their zeal to present Christ and the claims of his Gospel, even where their efforts could not be popular, has enlisted my fullest sympathy. This has been the case especially as I have realized that they were standing alone, with none of their own people to whisper a sympathizing word, living and working in communities where their very profession repels those about them, and where they must face men with a Gospel the very acceptance of which lays its subject open to the suspicion, if not the contempt, of his countrymen. For the Christian religion, however much it may be admitted to have benefited this land, is not popular. Its fruits may have a market value, but the people who use them would disdain to manifest any interest in, much less give attention to the cultivating of, the tree that bears them. Our pastors and people are not yet where they can feel otherwise than isolatedconspicuously isolated-from the great mass of those among whom they move. And in this embarrassing condition they ought to have an interest in the prayers of Christians at home, who in becoming followers of Christ have many of them-increased rather than diminished their popularity. Such self-sacrifice and zeal as are found characterizing our people are not always according to knowledge, any more than could be claimed for Christians in other than heathen lands; but such as it is it exists, and, properly cultivated, may become an element of great power to further the Redeemer's kingdom. Nor is the liberality of our Japanese Christian undeserving of commendation. When it is remembered how little he has to give, and how much of that little he will contribute to further some church project, the larger gifts of abler men often seem small. A tenth or more of his small income will not unfrequently fail to measure the |