come to the conclusion that I had no right to comply with the request of the Latins of Bethlehem without a special firman from the Sultan; and, consequently, must desist. I sent him word for answer, that it was contrary to my principle to violate the laws of the land; and that if he could show me a counter firman, of later date than that I had shown him, I would desist; otherwise I should certainly proceed. The secret of the pasha's sudden change of mind was soon explained, by the fact that some priests had just been in audience with him, and had doubtless presented an argument that uniformly secures the Q. E. D. in oriental halls of justice. The priests soon returned to Bethlehem, and triumphantly reported that the pasha had empowered them to have the recusant ringleaders imprisoned. Many, of course, became disheartened and drew back; but still a good many persevered amid all opposition: and I accordingly hired a room deeming it best to pay a moderate rent, in order the better to secure possession-and commenced a school with sixty-one scholars. The patriarch fulminated furiously, and forthwith anathematized the owners of the house; but, finding his curses unavailing, changed his tone, and promised to give them a higher rent than I was giving, and would then make them a present of it, and also establish a good school. But his promises and his threats were alike unavailing; for the three brothers who owned the room seemed determined no longer to submit to such tyrannical domination as that which had been exercised over them by "his grace." The patriarch then sent them word that the house should be pulled down; but, though trembling for the consequences, they are still firm in their resistance.

Last Wednesday was a trying time for the poor trembling Bethlehemites, on account of a great demonstration made by the Latin authorities. About mid-day a large number of armed horsemen, headed by the pasha and by the French consul (the avowed patron of the Roman Catholic church), suddenly made their appearance in town; but it was soon ascertained that the object of the pasha's visit was, apparently, merely to assist in the ceremony of replacing the silver star, which the Latins accuse the Greeks of having stolen some time ago, in a scuffe for "holy places!"

What the Latins paid for the lavish waste of gunpowder and the pasha's apparent countenance of their fraternity, "his grace," I trow, would not like to tell. A still more imposing procession was gotten up on Christmas eve. Indeed, this month has been signalized by religious demonstrations, Papal, Protestant, and Moslem; that, however, made on occasion of the arrival of two pilgrims from Mecca, if not the most magnifical, was at least by far the most enthusiastic. How ridiculously absurd and inconsistent with the spiritual nature of the Christian religion are these pompous pageants, no one can form a correct idea without witnessing them. But what was the disgust I felt at the martial display attending the entree of "his grace," compared with my grief at finding the whole Lord's day, and especially the hour of "his grace's" departure from the convent, so abominably desecrated by scenes of tumultuous revelry, and the incessant roar of firearms at the door of the church of the Prince of peace! "His grace" tried very much to intimidate or entangle me, by sending messenger after messenger to know what answer I would make to the decision of the pasha; but the only answer I made was, that if he wished to know he must call on me in person, and I would inform him. He had declared his intention of extinguishing all the lights in the church, and causing the priests, robed in black crape, to go through the awful ceremony of anathematizing the recreant members and their houses. Nor was his threat entirely unavailing this time, for I had the opportunity of addressing but few on that day, either in the school-room or in the street; and some few even refused to receive the Word of God as a present. There is also a diminished attendance of scholars, though I am pleased to find two or three grown females, not heretofore scholars, now receiving instruction. The uncertainty of being able to maintain the school under strong and long-continued opposition, induced me to open a dispensary in the town; and I doubt not that it will afford a very desirable means of gaining access to many persons otherwise inaccessible. Two or three dozen persons thus receive medical aid almost every day, for Bethlehem is very sickly at present.

My eldest son has gone to take charge of the dispensary, and is much pleased with the prospect of usefulness - dispensing to them, also, the Word of Life, as opportunity offers.

Miss Mary Williams, late of Artos, but at one time a resident of Cincinnati, (with whom I believe you are acquainted,) conducts the school (with a little occasional aid from my children and dragoman)-charging nothing for her personal services; so that the expences of the Bethlehem station are but trifling compared with the good that may reasonably be expected to result. And yet, knowing as I do so well what artful tricks a wily priesthood ("working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness") will put in requisition when other means fail, I would not induce the expectation of realizing any great immediate good. But still, under the most discouraging aspect of the matter, the voice of Providence has been too loud and cheering to justify me in disregarding its demands, be the ultimate result what it may. The adhesion of some of the malcontents (of the Greek rite) is known already to have been purchased by a restoration of their lands, which the convent had seized and appropriated to itself some time ago. Others have been cajoled into a persuasion of the bliss of having their children, as well as themselves, remain in ignorance and idolatry. But should Sarphazea, a celebrated sheikh of the neighboring tribe of Ta'amirahs, send his children to the school, as he has expressed his intention of doing, it will inspire the people with new confidence and courage.

Owing to the absence of Mr. Marsh from Constantinople, I have not yet received a firman for Wady Farah; and Mr. Brown, the charge d'affaires, writes as if its procurement would be attended with a good deal of trouble and delay. There is quite a civil war now waging between the Sephardim and Askenazim, (the Spanish and Polish Jews,) growing out of an order lately given by the pasha, depriving the Sephardim.

who have heretofore monopolized the butchering business, of the liberty of any longer slaughtering sheep, goats, &c. The slaughtering of an animal for food is regarded by the Jews, as a matter of such momentous importance, that the installation of a butcher is no small affair among them, and the slightest deviation from the prescribed form and ceremony of butchering a la Talmud, is regarded as a mortal offence. Among other matters deemed of vital importance by the Sephardim, is the extraction of the wool from the spot at which the knife is thrust into the animal. But this the Mohammedans have lately decided is too cruel a practice to be tolerated any longer, and they have accordingly determined to suffer it to be done no more. So their dervishes created a great uproar, preaching a successful crusade against it, as contrary to the laws of the "faithful," and besought the pasha to deprive the Jews of all right of butchering, as the only means of keeping a clean conscience about the matter. Poor Sephardim! unable to incur the expence of buying chickens, deprived of the right of butchering animals, and forbidden by their remorseless rabbis to eat anything killed by others-even by their Polish brethren-they are truly "in evil case.' But the Askenazim (or at least the Polish portion of them) are blest with more elastic consciences than their Spanish brethren, and are willing to slaughter without first removing the wool aforesaid; hence the deadly strife between them, for compromising the honor of Israel in a matter of such unspeakable importance!

Will you not pray that the "light" which has again sprung up to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, may indeed shine into the hearts of these poor benighted Bethlehemites, and give them saving knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ?

| In great haste, yours, in faith, hope, and love, J. T. BARCLAY.

that our Eastern mission is in a prosperous condition, but needing funds. An African mission is in contemplation,

and a missionary prepared, and we think the proposition will meet with a warm reception from the Board and the public generally. The propriety of sustaining a mission in Oregon is also under advisement, and in all probability will prove a successful movement. An Indian mission also has been before us. These are great enterprises, and no one expects them to accomplish anything without means. We have prayed the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into the field. He has heard our prayers, and sent forth the laborers. Others are providentially rising up for the work, clearly indicating that the hand of God is in this great movement, crying, "Send me."

Shall they be sent? Shall we tell them, in the language of the last commission, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature?" Is it not the spontaneous voice of the brotherhood, that we shall? Certainly it is. The views and hearts of the brotherhood are becoming enlarged greatly expanded. Their horizon is widening every moon. A few years since it was with difficulty we could sustain preaching among the churches at home. But as a general thing, the matter has vastly changed. The call is made in different directions all over the land: "Send us a preacher; we can and will give him a good support." We can find places for any number, with a short notice, if they are only men well prepared for the work.

Extensive houses for worship are being established in all directions. A deep and unbounded interest is taken in the great cause of education. This is a most cheering indication. Education lies at the bottom of our great cause. Our position cannot be maintained without it. It is the only security both for our religious position

and the great civil institutions of our country. Our brotherhood feel this, and are making heavy investments for the accomplishment of this great object.

We do not deny that there are closefisted, narrow-hearted, and covetous men among us, whose souls never can be expanded, whose hearts are as hard as the sordid coin which they are giving their lives to hoard up. Such men have fallen into the hands of the enemy, who will drive them under the whip through this world, and send them to the next miserable, poor, blind, and naked. The expansive love of Christ cannot reach their souls. They look upon every benevolent enterprise as a system of begging, and every agent as a beggar; every preacher that alludes to them they consider an enemy, trying to get his hands into their pockets. Indeed, they have got but one idea, viz. to guard their pockets. With them, every scheme that pours into the pocket is good; every scheme that draws out of them is suspicious. But to this class we look for nothing for benevolent objects, as they are of no use to the living or dead, and their own children are glad to see them die, that they may get their money. We, therefore, shall waste no more ink in writing about them at present.

But to the brotherhood, who have so frequently and so nobly responded to the demands of the missionary cause, we appeal once more for a general contribution for this great object. Will not the churches generally make a contribution for this cause? State a week beforehand the object, and let the churches throughout the land make a simultaneous move, and see what gratitude will ascend to heaven in view of the liberality of the children of God. B. FRANKLIN.

show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto-whom no man hath seen nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen."

Thus reads a portion of a letter of one of the greatest of teachers, to one of his most affectionate pupils. All

things considered, I hesitate not to say that Paul of Tarsus, a graduate of the school of Gamaliel, was the most powerful and most persevering advocate of Christianity the world ever saw; conscientious, active, ever ready with a word of consolation, advice, admonition, exhortation, rebuke, &c.

The above is replete with grand and sublime thoughts, which tend to elevate the soul things which can or may be enjoyed while sojourning on earth's gloomy regions. In prophetic ecstacy, Paul exhorts Timothy to look forward to the time when Christ the Lord shall again make his appearance, and then shall he show who is King of kings and Lord of lords, inhabiting light unapproachable. This was consoling to Timothy, and is so to every one who works out his soul's salvation with fear and trembling. We are not able, as human beings, to see this august Being who dwells in light, and live. But let us rejoice. By and by we shall behold the Father of light in all his glory. Who believes? And is not a Christian a child of God? Earth, with all its boasted wealth, cannot give such a promise—such a glorious hope of future realities. The sweet Psalmist of Israel sings, in his twenty-fourth Psalm "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and the King of glory shall come in. "Who," they ask, "is the King of glory?" "The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle," is the reply. "Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory." This is no earthly king, adorned in purple silk, glittering with diamonds. It is the Lord of hosts. It is he who created the hosts of heaven. Go and view the starry sky in a bright Winter night, and then

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you will realize that "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handywork." What is the glory of man, declared by his works, compared to the glory of God, declared by his works? It is no glory at all. And is the universe in contrast with the great God himself? Think of his august greatness, and you will exclaim with David, "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingersthe moon and the stars - what is man that thou art mindful of him, or the Son of man that thou visitest him?" Who can meditate on these things, and not be thankful to God for his loving kindness? Come now and let us, in imagination, wing from star to star, through immensity of space, and

"Observe what system into system runs,
What other planets circle other suns."

We are in search of the bounds of It creation, but cannot discover any. is vast as eternity--no beginning nor end. What have we on our return? Answer: That notwithstanding all this magnificence, God is mindful of man. Truly "God is love." "He so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Was ever love like this? Poor humanity heeds it not, but careless and indifferent, rushes on to eternal ruin of body, soul, and spirit. O that men were not thus blind! They will not hear. They are slow to obey the invitation, "Come unto me, all ye heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls."

J. W. S.

not in a vessel unathorized by the Immortal King—a vessel not insured by the God of heaven, and without Christ and his will for captain and compass! The above advice I do not give you without taking it to myself, which I have long since done by a careful examination of the Word of Truth. Having, in a former communication, given you some account of the facts and circumstances which led me from the ranks of Presbyterianism, in which I had been trained from infancy, to the dark abode of infidelity, and the channel through which I obtained faith in the inspiration of the Sacred Volume, I proceed, by your permission, to give a knowledge of the reasons why I have become what I am a Christian-by the favor of God.

But I am not insensible to the fact, that in our times of combatting elements, affected modesty and timidity in almost all parties owning the name of Christ, if a man says he is a Christian, he is looked upon as being presumptuous, uncharitable, and almost if not altogether heaven-daring, by those whose ears and feelings are so refined -not by Christianity, but by human tradition—that any other name than the name of Christ will tickle their ears, please their fancy, and gratify their feelings, to the dishonor of the name and mission of the Lord from

heaven notwithstanding. It may do

for the children of this world to be something like a Christian, to get into something like the church of God, and to have some person like the Lord Messiah for Saviour and Lawgiver; but it will not do for the man of God, nor will the likeness of the Christian religion take any soul from the awful abode of dark despair to the realm of bliss and immortality. Nothing but the church of Christ will prevail against the gates of hell. (Matt. xvi. 18; Acts iv. 12.)

Having become convinced, by a careful examination of the testimony surrounding the Book of God, that the Bible contained a revelation of the will of God to man, I took hold of it, unaided by any of the so called "elect, called and sent preachers"— for I had ceased going to hear their sermons, being entirely disgusted by their hypocritical pretensions to a direct divine call and mission (please excuse this sharpness)—and I there, in the Bible, found, after leaving the patriarchal or

der of things, the Jews' religion of divine authority, sketched by the finger of God, and contained in the Law and the Prophets. This order of things continued, being sanctioned by the God of the universe, until taken out of the way in the person of the Lord Jesus on the cross. I looked at the Jews' religion, emanating from the hand of God, as certainly holding claims on all the descendants of Abraham, paramount to all the systems in the world, even our modern systems of religion not excepted. Christianity is the only exception in all the earth.

The Jews could set up the following claims, among many others, in favor of their religion :

1. God spoke to their fathers, in whose persons their religion had been presented, established. and perpetuated.

2. Those persons to whom God spoke could and did work miracles in confirmation of their respective missions. 3. Their law was obtained from God, who was its author.

4. The Jewish nation were the chosen and protected people of God, from the days of Abraham to the death of Jesus. 5. God selected their priests, and pointed them out by positive law. 6. In the seed of Abraham was promised the Messiah and all spiritual blessings.

The above claims, in contrast with our modern systems of religion, are, to reflecting minds, even among the Gentiles, sufficient to silence for ever the "old mother of harlots," and all her progeny; for they are, before heaven and earth, without any divine authority whatever.

In coming to the New Testament, from which I learned Christianity, the facts, faith, commands, obedience, and promises of which made me a Christian, I found the plan of salvation through Christ clearly presented.

But I cannot speak as you do of God's dealings and working in forgiving sins; and let me here, in all kindness, ask you where, in all the New Testament, do you read of our heavenly Father's taking men through the torturing processes of which you speak, in order to make them Christians?-to say nothing of bringing them into a church which, in the days of Jesus and the apostles, had no existence whatever-"the Old Methodist Episcopal church."