We hail, then, the blaze of light which illuminated the interior of the dome of St. Paul's yesterday, as the bright augury of an approaching change in the treatment of our Cathedrals. The experiment of an afternoon service in the nave of St. Paul's was tried for a few Sundays in the year of the Great Exhibition; but it was looked upon as a summer concomitant of that great spectacle, and was dropped even before the Great Exhibition closed its doors. This new experiment aims at a more permanent congregational use of the Cathedral. We sincerely hope that it will lead to a regular, permanent service, and particularly that the congregational character of the service will never be lost. Let the music be loud, full, and inspiring; no reliance on the petty efforts of fine tenors-very useful in their way, -no brilliant solos or perfect trios or quartettes to charm the initiated; let the sermons correspond, and speak to the heart, and bring home the plain truths of Christianity; let nothing esoteric or cliqueish spoil the effect, and the good Christian public be alone thought of.Times, November 29th, 1858.

VALLEY OF GARNOCK, AYRSHIRE. -At a late meeting of the Free-Church Commission, Mr. Steele, of Dalry, made a most interesting statement respecting the valley of Garnock.

THE place referred to contains a population of about 26,000; and it is for me to state something of the fruits of the evangelistic operations in that quarter. Just now, in the district I am connected with, the parish of Dalry, there are nineteen prayer-meetings in operation weekly, conducted mostly-I may say altogether -by men sprung up by God's grace, and conducted in such a way that I often felt my heart thrilled within me when listening to them engaged in prayer; and I very frequently feel that the Spirit of the Lord is in the midst of us.

The

smallest attendance at any of the meetings has been twenty-one adults, and the largest about ninety. This work has been going on since the close of our evangelistic labours last summer. Loud calls are made from other districts for meetings of the same kind; and I have

no doubt but God, in His gracious providence, will raise up men, as He is doing, to enable us to answer these calls.

... Usually the services are conducted in this way-A psalm is given out, prayer afterwards, and the Scriptures read. There is very little exhortation : the men themselves consider that the surest way to carry on the meetings to advantage is not to exhort. They read the Scriptures, and the whole parish is being deeply imbued with the knowledge of the word.

A SURVIVER OF THE "AUSTRIA." -A surviver of the steamer "Austria" gave at a prayer-meeting an account of his feelings during the burning of that vessel, and afterwards when he was floating on the sea. We transfer his narrative from the New-York "Commercial Advertiser." It is as follows:

MR. PHILIP BERRY, of New-Jersey, conducted the noon prayer-meeting at John-street church last Saturday. He opened the exercises by reading a hymn; then read Psalm xx., and offered prayer

especially remembering the friends of all who perished in the recent disaster of the steam-ship "Austria."

As was expected, Mr. Berry made a most affecting statement of his experience, from the moment the alarm was given that the vessel was on fire, to the time he was picked up. He said that in that dreadful hour it was terrifying to witness the manifestations of ingratitude to God, in the oaths and dreadful imprecations which pierced the air. He, with a few Christians, mustered on the quarterdeck, and there consulted upon the course to be pursued, in case they were compelled to face the ship to escape the torture of the flames. One woman declared that death was inevitable, and she was unprepared to meet her fate; and asked what she should do. She was advised to pray to God that the blood of Jesus, which was shed for sinners, might cleanse her from her sins: she said she could not pray he (Mr. B.) prayed for her and with her, and trusted she made her peace with God. As the flames spread rapidly, it became necessary for the little group on the poop to separate, some of them to meet no more until they should meet in heaven. His particular friend, who had accompanied him on the passage, exchanged promises with him, that, if one of them should be saved, he should inform the friends of the other, that he had yielded up his spirit reposing on the

arms of Jesus. They separated to meet not again until all the saved in Christ meet in heaven.

After leaving the ship, he swam for a long distance. During the time of this struggle, his ears were continually pierced with the screams and wailings of the perishing. After having been in the water for a considerable time, he descried a life-buoy in the distance, which several parties seemed to be endeavouring to reach. He swam with all his vigour to reach it he gained it, but soon became cold in every part of his body. He was all this while engaged in sweet communion with his God. He had such a view of God's love as he never had before. Never before did he remember those beautiful lines so vividly, and never before did he use them with better intent,

“Jesu, Lover of my soul,

Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high:
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
Till the storm of life be past;
Safe into the haven guide,

O receive my soul at last."

After getting possession of the lifebuoy, he turned, and went in search of his friend. All was quiet, save the murmuring of the ocean: those wailings and groanings which but a short time previously resounded through the air had been silenced, and many victims were engulfed in that same element through which he was struggling. He hesitated as to whether he should struggle longer: it seemed to be of little use to prolong life, simply to endure more pain in dying at last. Every limb was cold, the blood felt as if circulation had ceased, and the bliss of dying was great. He was raised to the top of a wave, and from that eminence he saw a sail in the distance; and, almost simultaneously with this glimpse of the possibility of being saved, his body became warm in every part, the blood coursed through his system with renewed vigour he made for the sail, and was preserved to bear his testimony of God's infinite mercy, long-suffering, and lovingkindness. When he found himself among the saved, he could not explain how he felt; and, even while addressing that meeting, he almost sighed that he had been prevented the experience of those joys which opened before him in the awful moment when he expected to die.

SWEDEN. A young lady, the daughter of a venerable and godly Minister, whose sudden death occurred a few weeks

after the date of the letter of which the following is an extract, narrates two very interesting cases of conversion :"The Christian life develops itself gloriously in many places here. The Lord's word goes forward with power, and overcomes the strongest opposition. A young nobleman, heir to many large estates, brought up in an ungodly home, where, from his childhood, he had heard true Christianity reviled as the most idiotical thing in the world, has, in spring, come to know that killing and life-giving sting without which no true return is possible. He long resisted, and sought in every way, by wild dissipation, to stifle the awakened conscience; but the Lord Jesus was too strong for him, and got the upper hand. It was a great victory of grace. Now he has entirely withdrawn himself from his former light-minded companions. Instead thereof, he is often to be seen in the humblest peasant-houses, where the word of God is read and explained. The private use of the word has also been dearer to him than any other thing. The fierce oaths, which aforetime lay continually upon his lips, have given place to the quiet praise of God. Undoubtedly he has to expect much opposition from within and without. The new life is, indeed, only in its first stadium with him. But we hold fast by the promise, that He who has begun a good work will perfect it against His glorious day of revelation. Although we know that every human soul is equally precious in God's eyes, we cannot forbear to reckon it a double gain for God's kingdom when any of this world's mighty ones turns to Him. When Christ gets to be Master of a great property, He draws to Himself many of the servants.

"Within the congregation here, an event has recently occurred which has delighted us greatly. A man, who seems to me an exact copy of Poor Tom,' such as he was before the Lord's Spirit began to deal with him, has recently come to a serious awakening. He has, from his youngest years, lived in the greatest spiritual and temporal misery, and been given over to all possible vices. All human efforts to bring him to a better way have been fruitless. One night, in the beginning of summer, this poor youth lay asleep in a barn, when he was awakened by the slow knocking on the wall of the insect which is here called 'Death's Clock.' He listened affrighted, and could not get rid of the thought, 'It is the Lord Jesus knocking for the last time at thy heart,' The Lord's Spirit opened

his eyes: he saw himself to be a lost and condemned sinner, yea, the chief of sinners. But, God be praised! after some time, he also got grace to look to Jesus as a surpassingly rich Saviour, whose blood cleanseth from all sins; and with a free and open confession he now praises the unmerited grace that is in Christ. Such expressions of the Lord's continual shepherd-faithfulness are indeed encouMay they teach us to believe without seeing! But we are, alas ! so inclined to reverse this order. How greatly do we need, again and again, to come before the Lord with the disciples' prayer, Lord, increase our faith!"""

raging.

The venerable and beloved father of this writer was, in company with his daughter, travelling to visit a friend, and enjoying on the deck of a steamboat the beautiful scenery of one of the Swedish lakes at an early hour of a summer morning, when suddenly, by some accident, he fell into the water, and was drowned. lle was one of the most faithful Ministers of the Swedish Church; and, withal, a man in such repute for learning and genius, that when he himself became a living Christian, the country was almost as greatly surprised as it has been stunned by his sudden death. It may be interesting, as a specimen of the spirit of living religion in Sweden, to add the following sentences from a letter written by the daughter some weeks after this sad event :

"I was following my father on the journey, and stood at his side at the time of separation. It was a painful moment. It was more than a weak human heart could, of its own power, endure; but Jesus was even then near, according to His gracious promise, never to leave or forget us. His strong name became the rod and staff which comforted me, the 'ointment poured out,' which alleviated nature's wound. It is blissful to be able, from one's own experience, to praise His name as a 'refuge in time of need,' or a 'strong tower,' which can be overthrown by no winds or waves......

"Over all this district an increasing desire for God's word is manifest. The Lord's Spirit is not idle. It is as if a fresh life-stream rushed in through the old stagnant waters. Many young persons offer themselves to work in the Lord's vineyard. Many young Ministers preach the Gospel with demonstration of the Spirit and of power."

The following are some of the last sentences which this aged Pastor wrote in his journal :

"If anyone asks me, 'Will you rather

die than live?' I answer, I know not: I have no other will than this, with Christ to live, with Christ to die. I know not what I shall choose, but refer it to Him who is my Lord. May He do what seems to Him good! He knows if He can longer use me here. He knows, also, when, for my own part, I am most ready.

"What is it to die? To put off the old clothing, and to clothe one's self with new; to flit out of an old, falling house, into that temple which is not made with hands; to be dismissed from a difficult service; to awake after a troubled dream; to come home after a long absence; to exchange the dwelling-place, but not the society.

"The wine of Gospel joy is bestowed on me in fuller measure than ever. Praised be the precious name of my Jesus!"

The following circumstances connected with his closing hours are very affecting: -When he went on board the steamer at the little town of Ionkoping, he was unusually happy and joyful in the Lord; and when a friend wished him a happy journey, he answered, "Yes, certainly the journey will be happy: Jesus is with us. When, at a late hour in the afternoon, he bade his daughter good-night, he asked her to read a psalm before they separated. She turned up one of David's psalms, which speaks of the Lord's help in storm and need. "How wonderful,' she remarked, "that I should turn up this psalm now, when all without and within us is so quiet and peaceful! The sea lies like a mirror, and we are so glad and happy in our God." The aged father answered, "Yes, my daughter, it is true; but, perhaps, the Lord sends us just this one word as an affectionate warning, that we may be upon our watch. We have now peace; but perhaps the storm is not far distant." A few hours after saying this, the daughter saw the father carried away by the waves of the deep, and lost. -News of the Churches.

NORTHERN MESOPOTAMIA.—Mr. Wheeler, of the American Board, mentions the fact of the opening of the Armenian church at Kharpoot for the reading of the Scriptures, and of its excellent effect among the people :

THE Priests, finding their efforts unavailing to keep the people from reading our books, promised a compromise, agreeing to let them do so, if they would cease visiting our chapel, and calling themselves Protestants. On the Sab

baths they are to have the free use of the Armenian church, and men of their own choice are to read to them the Scriptures in modern Armenian. We were much surprised and gratified by this proposal; and are still more so by the fact, that now, for four Sabbaths, the Priests have kept their word, and the Bible has been read from morning till night, to the crowds of people who have assembled to hear it.

Though the Priests themselves do not read, probably not one of the four in the villages can read intelligibly, yet they come and sit with the people, and listen. Two Sabbaths since, one of them came to the church, to exchange a piece of money, thereby interrupting the Biblereader, who promptly opened to Isaiah lvi. 9-12, and read the passage aloud. A more vivid and life-like picture of these professedly Christian "watchmen" could not be given, including even the item of fetching wine and filling themselves with strong drink; and the Priest was so well convinced of the fact, that, though thus publicly rebuked, he did not reply. When once the people are roused, the Priests dare not oppose them, lest they lose their accustomed supply of money. Last Sabbath they even allowed our Apostle" Bedros to read in the church, and make some remarks.

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Such a state of things, of course, cannot long continue: but even these few Sabbath-readings have done great good. Scores have heard the Bible for the first

time; and the Priests' mouths are effectually closed, so far as all future opposition to Bible-reading is concerned. "Surely," the people will say, "that which you have thus allowed us to do publicly, in the church, cannot be a sin; and we will continue to read God's Book."

There are now, in Haboosi, ten men, who have pledged themselves to continue in the church no longer than they are allowed the privilege of this public Sabbath-reading. Some of them are, as we hope, truly converted men. One good result has already been, to put an end to the hitherto universal and scandalous outward profanation of the Sabbath in that place.

JAPAN. The Hon. Townsend Harris, U.S. Consul-General at Japan, has just completed a new commercial treaty with that country, which secures to Americans, and, of course, to all Europeans, the free exercise of their religion, and the right to build churches; and, what cannot fail to prove of peculiar interest to Christendom, the practice of trampling on the cross is for ever abolished. In thus breaking down a barrier to Christianity, which the Japanese have rigidly maintained for the last two hundred and twenty-three years, the way is paved for Missionary enterprise. Has not the set time arrived for the churches to send the Gospel to the isles of the rising sun?—Dr. M'Gowan, Ningpo.

nations; it notices the state of profound peace which prevailed throughout India at the time the Conference was projected, and the terrible commotions which subsequently deluged the land with blood, trying the faith and courage of the Missionaries and of their converts ;-it mentions with gratitude the kind providence which averted from Southern India the scourge that was permitted to alight on the northwest and adjoining provinces, thus sparing the region in which there was the greatest number of Missionaries and of native churches; it draws from this peculiar exemption the lesson that God hears and answers prayer, that He has a tender regard to those who honour and fear Him, and that there is a stronger claim on the Christian church to sustain the Missions,

in consequence of the Divine care which has been manifested over them.

We shall find room for a few extracts, which we commend to the attentive perusal of our readers.

THAT the powers of darkness embodied in the Heathenism, lawlessness, and fanaticism of India, have been terribly annoyed of late by the combined light of civilization, education, and Christianity, which has shone upon them with increasing brightness, and that they have put forth a determined effort to extinguish that light, by the extermination of all in whom it is deposited, is, we think, undeniable, and was, we believe, the mainspring of the rebellion. The effort has failed, as all such efforts must fail, come whence they may. For it is decreed that this light shall shine more and more unto the perfect day.

Let us, then, cast a rapid glance at the success which, through God's blessing, has crowned the labours of His servants in the South Indian field.

In the Tinnevelly, Travancore, Tanjore, and Madura provinces, "the Lord hath made bare His arm in the sight of the nations, and this end of the earth hath seen the salvation of our God." Here He is saying to His church, "Lift up thine eyes and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee." Here are numerous congregations of men and women who have renounced idolatry and demonolatry, sitting at the feet of the Christian Missionary, to learn of Jesus and His salvation. Here are many infant churches with a goodly band of their own Pastors and Teachers. Here are many thousands of children who have been preserved from the polluting and souldestroying influences of idolatry, and who are now being trained in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Behold their newly-built churches, and chapels, and school-houses, and see how delightfully they contrast with the hoary shrines of false gods and hideous demons, and silently but surely indicate their approaching doom! Listen to the many thousands of infant voices early taught to lisp the Saviour's name! Look at the goodly number of adults who from time to time meet together to remember Him who shed His precious blood on the cross for the remission of their sins; and at the multitudes who congregate each Lord's day to hear the wondrous story of man's redemption! Count up their contributions to the cause of the Gospel, and see how, like the Macedonian Christians VOL. V.-FIFTH SERIES.

of primitive times, "their deep poverty has abounded unto the riches of their liberality!" Contrast the lives and actions of those professors who are established in the Christian doctrine, with those of the Heathen around them, and learn that "the righteous is more excellent than his neighbour!" Stand by their dying couch, and see how their faith in Christ imparts peace and confidence, and lights up the dark valley, in which their Heathen neighbours can see nothing but confused images of the dismal and the terrible!

That many of them have first put themselves under Christian instruction from very imperfect motives, and with very slight knowledge of what they were doing; and that many of them long continue very feeble and imperfect, even as nominal Christians only, is not denied; but then they are no longer worshippers of abominable idols, no longer under the dominion of a crafty and lying priesthood, no longer groping in the thick darkness of Heathenism, and no longer entirely ignorant of God and futurity, of Christ and His salvation.

Let us turn now to the Missions of the German brethren on the western coast, where we see many proofs that the hand of the Lord has been with His servants, and that many have believed their report. Here, in addition to congregations, and churches, and schools, similar to those we have already described, though on a smaller scale, we see the Gospel in its benevolent aspect towards the industrious labouring poor, -the brethren having taught many of them how to improve their temporal condition, while they are also teaching them to seek first the kingdom of God.

Leaving this field, which is already become a fruitful one, and where more than forty devoted brethren are labouring in the Gospel, and already rejoicing over the tokens of God's gracious approval of their toil, we may visit in succession the many stations of various Societies of Britain and America, scattered over the land. At each we may look upon an infant church and congregation; at most on boarding and day schools, both in the vernacular and in English; on a staff of Native Teachers, with here and there a seminary for their efficient training; cn printing-presses, with stores of books and tracts, and translations of the holy Scriptures, in the various languages; on churches, and chapels, and school-houses, and Mission-dwellings, and thus behold a complete system of appliances for carrying on the work of the Lord,

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