they look for younger men to be associated with them, and to supply their places when they shall have entered into their rest. On this account it is of the utmost consequence to have some fresh labourers entering the field. In the course of the present year there will be sufficient funds to maintain an additional missionary. It is earnestly hoped that, when the national condition and the future of the Jews have begun to attract the attention of the world, more of our own men will be found willing to devote themselves to Jewish mission work. When we look at the position which our missionaries occupy in various countries, and at their field of manifold influence for good, we cannot but wonder that our ministers should all but unanimously prefer the most limited spheres at home.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

The income for the past year from all sources, not including £316 destined specially, has been £6150, and the expenditure has been £4445. The legacies included in this income are exceptionally large. The preceding year they amounted to £933, this year they amount to £1644, or £700 more. One large legacy of £7000 does not enter as part of the Committee's revenue, although the interest on it does. It was left by the late Miss M'Farlane of Comrie, on the condition that the capital should be invested, and the annual proceeds applied in support of the Jewish Mission. Her will provided that the missionary to be appointed should bear the name of John M'Farlane, and if there is difficulty in carrying out this direction, that the special mission to be maintained should bear the name of the "John M'Farlane Foundation on behalf of Jewish Missions," and this in remembrance of her brother, who took a deep interest in the spiritual welfare of Israel.

The Committee have been disappointed in not being able to commence this mission. As referred to in their report last year, they appealed for labourers to enter Russia. They were not without hope of a successful response to this appeal, but the critical and disturbed condition of the country, now resulting in a war of uncertain magnitude and duration, obliged them to postpone for the present taking any action in this direction. Looking, however, to the large amount of legacies received, the Committee resolved to set apart £1500 out of these to help in meeting the expenses which must be incurred as soon as the new mission is founded, either in Russia or elsewhere, and which they would not otherwise be very well able to meet without being hampered in carrying on their ordinary work at other stations. They regard it as very providential that they should thus be in a position to begin the new mission work which Miss M'Farlane's legacy is intended to institute without making any special appeal to the Church for funds, and they watch for the earliest opportunity when, in the providence of God, the way for it may be opened. The balance at the Committee's credit will thus be £3700, as against £3471 last year, and this will enable them to provide for the current expenses of the mission during nine months, until the next collection is made in December.

The principal branches of income for the last five years have been as

follows, showing an increase this year in all of these, with the exception of

donations:

In Hungary, "the sowing of the seed throughout the length and breadth of the land" is brought out in a most interesting manner in the journals of the colporteurs which are furnished by Mr. Koenig; and not only the sowing of the seed, but the inquiring state of mind in many Jews in that large country.

Mr. Koenig writes:

"The success of our operations from Pesth as a centre in reaching the vast Jewish population in the provinces of Hungary by our travelling agency is marked, increasing, and eminently hopeful. Our colporteurs' journals prove the zeal and ability with which they carry on their arduous work. From the extreme west of the country in Presburg and its vicinity, to the extreme east in Transylvania, reaching to the Wallachian boundary, they bring the message of salvation to Jew and Gentile. Much interesting information has been communicated to me during the past year on the state of the Jews; many most encouraging meetings with Jewish individuals and families have been reported, and thousands of copies of the Scriptures, Old and New Testament, and Christian literature published by us at Pesth, have been scattered among them. This continuous and earnest labour throughout these twelve months cannot remain without abiding fruit."

The difference between the Christian and the Jew, which in its great essentials is so vast, sometimes appears to narrow itself to the one great fact, Messiah yet to come, or Messiah come already; and it seems as if, by the Spirit of God, their vain hope for the future might soon be transformed into a belief of what has been fulfilled. "The family of Mr. G." says Mr. Riedel, "is one of the most esteemed, and with children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces, forms of itself quite a Jewish community. I was a welcome guest, though we had some stormy discussions. After work each evening we had conversation based on God's Word. The venerable head of the family differed as a rule from my interpretation; but the elder sons, who had resided both at Vienna and Pesth, were more enlightened, and frequently agreed with me, to the father's evident displeasure. One evening we came to the promise given by Jehovah to His people Israel, that of David's seed Christ was to come as Israel's Redeemer and Saviour. Great differences of opinion arose, the house was fairly divided; some took my part, while the rest repeated excitedly, 'Our Messiah is yet to come.' Yet, notwithstanding, they listened in silence to texts from the New Testament concerning the Messiah already come."

Of another place this colporteur writes, "The duration of Judaism as I have seen it here, is a question that may be solved any day by the grace of God. The general and gradual evangelising of the various nationalities around is a power felt by all, and not least by the Jews. I have met with Jews who have said, 'We are not Jews, we are Christians.'" On his return to the town first spoken of, he says, "A Hebrew teacher stole up to my stand; he took a Hebrew Bible and a New Testament, paid the price, and seemed to wish a covered and speedy retreat, looking anxiously around before walking quickly away. The Lord bless His Word for that young man! I lodged among Jews here, and had many an interesting and hopeful conversation. Once upon missions to the Jews and Gentiles, the old man, already mentioned, shook his head very doubtfully, while the younger members agreed, and gave such cordial assent that I felt obliged to repeat, that intellectual conviction was not saving faith. An old man, eighty-two years of age, bought an Old Testament picture-book, but finding a Christian hymn in it he asked what it had to do with Moses and the Old Testament." The colporteur read some passages from the New Testament to him and other Jews who had gathered round; and he went away rejoicing in his book, and saying, "And I like that hymn too, and will not tear it out of the book."

Travelling Jews from Poland coming with their merchandise have been objects of interest. "Interest and sympathy with these Polish Jews have brought me into close contact, that of affection and friendship, and they show great cordiality of feeling towards me. We meet together in the evening especially for conversation on divine things, and their deep knowledge of God's Word delights me. They listen with deference and interest to passages from the New Testament, but will not buy, for they say these books are not for us, they are from the missionaries.

Another colporteur reports the conversation with a Jew on the passage, "To us a child is born," which ended in a manner that would sift many professing Christians if put to the same test. "Sir," said he, "were I alone I would renounce the Jewish faith; it is not in accordance with my heart's belief, but I have a wife and three children." Another Jew bought a Bible, after ascertaining that it contained the New Testament, saying, "I have been saving up money for long to buy this, but could never find it."

In a coffee-room three gentlemen, all of them Jews, asked to inspect the books, and took some of them to their own table. One of them returned saying, "They tell me this is a missionary book; but it is no matter to me who the translator was, I feel sure it is God's Word, and therefore I shall purchase it." The second and the third took courage and said, "If you risk we shall risk too," and bought each a Bible; two other Jews joined the circle and bought two Pentateuchs.

A Jewish shopkeeper who had bought a Bible for himself afterwards bought two more for friends, and when thanked for it replied, "It is my duty and privilege to help to the utmost in disseminating God's Word." Another, after buying an Hungarian Bible, said, "Long ago I read a chapter in the New Testament; I well remember the place, it was the twelfth of Hebrews, and the second verse is spoken of by the prophet Isaiah in the fifty-third chapter. From that time forward I have been on the look-out for the New Testament, and to-day I rejoice to have found it." Afterwards meeting the colporteur in another town, he said, “Let

me have another Bible, for I have given my own to my brother-in-law. I want him to see that we have waited in vain for our Messiah."

An Hungarian peasant, seeing the colporteur's Bibles in the shop of a Jew, exclaimed, "Oh, what would I give if I had only money to buy a Bible!" The Jew, touched with his earnestness, asked, "And when do you expect to have money?" "After harvest, but I will bring you corn to any amount if you will give me money." The Jew generously paid down the price, and the peasant went home with his Bible rejoicing. In another town a Jew having asked for a Hebrew Bible, and there being none, was offered an Hungarian one, which he bought. On examination he found that it contained the New Testament, and remarked, "I shall certainly read it, for Christ, as the Christians call him, was a great prophet, and his writings deserve perusal."

Such incidents amply prove that there is at present a wide and interest: ing and most hopeful sowing of the seed of the everlasting Gospel among the many Jews in Hungary.

II. MISSION SCHOOLS.

As a consequence of their success, our Schools had to pass last year through not the least of the many trials to which they have been subjected in their eventful history; but all the more they have been upheld and prospered. It is singular how the Jews, with schools of every kind open to them, prefer our Missionary school, notwithstanding its faithful and most impressive teaching of the New Testament. cause of the preference certainly is the thorough teaching of the Old Testament history, which the parents learn with interest from their children; but the Christian hymns also seem to be often an attraction rather than an offence in the Jewish homes.

One

The great opening in this respect, taken along with the discouragement as regards the actual confession of Christ by the scholars in their maturer years, seems to be one of many tokens that help to interpret the Lord's present dealing with Israel. The New Testament description of Israel's recovery is that their rising again will correspond to their fall, and as their fall was national in their rejection of Christ, so their rising again will be national in their reception of Him whom they pierced; and their national conversion is described as so simultaneous and so striking as to prove life from the dead to the world. The present enlarging and uniting of Israel as a nation, and the present scattering of the seed of the Gospel amongst them, appear to be parts of one grand Divine plan for their salvation. Individual conversions are by no means so few in reality as in the persuasion of adversaries; but their comparative fewness, in the midst of otherwise fruitful effort on behalf of Israel, quite agrees with a hastening preparation for their national conversion.

After the annual examination, Mr. Allan writes:

"The very fact of our school's continued existence is to us a matter of sincere thankfulness; and the four days of examination were a time of pure gratification and satisfaction. Mr. Török, who is the legal sponsor of the school, was present every day, and personally conducted the examination in all branches. Each class was examined separately in our fine and airy hall, in the presence of a large

assemblage of parents and friends. The total number present at the examination was 390, of whom 261 were Jews, 81 Roman Catholics, and 48 Protestants."

The opening of the school after the vacation was of the most encouraging character, and Mr. Allan writes of it :

"We were all under the stimulus of uncertainty at the beginning of the school year, not knowing what effect the gale through which we had passed might have. Our enrolment began on a Friday, and our numbers were no way remarkable. On the Saturday, however, the pressure was so great that no time was left to ascertain whether the classes could receive the applicants. When we came to sum up and divide, we found that many more were entered for certain classes than could be accommodated; our concern then was what to do with them. The teachers would not hear of sending any away, and agreed rather to divide the overplus among them, although they might not be just up to the classes, and certainly would overcrowd. A hundred and over of such little things are too many for any one teacher. There were some features of the people and the school brought out on the occasion. Of course there were poor who had not the gulden for enrolment ready, and delayed; others, old scholars, were so certain that they would be admitted, that they did not concern themselves to come on the first days. Others again thought they had claim or right to be admitted, and could apply at any time. And then a vague general impression was abroad, that, being a mission school, the debt of obligation lay on us, the favour was shown by sending children. Children were excluded whom we would gladly have admitted and retained. On the other hand, I was not sorry at being able to correct some mistaken ideas. Even those classes filled where we were most conscious of weak. ness. We have not only been free from hostile criticism during the year, but have obtained the friendly regard of the authorities. Our premises have received the approval of the Sanitary Inspector; our classes the flattering notice of the School Inspector. Providence has been gracious to us in the matter of health, made prominent by the fact that a State school in our neighbourhood had to close some classes on account of epidemic sickness."

Of his access to the parents, he writes in these terms:

"Besides the direct and immediate influence of the religious teaching in the school, it opens up a way of entrance to the parents. It is regarded as my duty to inquire after children of the school, and any visit I have ever paid has been accepted as a friendly act, showing a welcome interest in the children, and I claim to be honest and sincere. I am brought into contact with sickness, and in the great majority of instances with poverty and other forms of distress. The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread has occurred lately, and many of the children were absent, calling for my attention. I found many of them were detained by the cleaning required, and very generally observed, on the occasion. As far as domestic occupation permitted, the circumstances afforded natural and proper subject of conversation. The children particularly are ready to understand and answer questions on the subject of the Passover. And the law of unleavened bread causes straitness to the poor."

His account of the moral and religious condition of Pesth shows how much the Gospel of grace and holiness is needed for the world :—

"These cases are illustrations of Pesth society :-1. The rate of mortality in this city is higher than in any other European city, just the double of Copenhagen, very nearly the double of London, and this high rate is caused by the great mortality among the poor and children. The rate among the better classes is not out of proportion to other places, consequently the rate among the poor is proportionately higher than the average. Vice is one cause, but I cannot but think that the underground dwellings, in a naturally low-lying situation, is also one. 2. Insanity and suicide, and of late, duelling, are frightfully common. The nation claim to be chivalrous, high-spirited, impatient of steady labour and of moderate