differ in their experience of the truth, as they have had a varied history.  But one heart and one mind are found within them all.  It is the Bible which touches their feelings most deeply, which quickens their conscience, which inspires their richest joys.  Everywhere the tribes, once heathen and hard-hearted, now Christianized, care for the orphan, show kindness and courtesy to women, and watch over the aged and the sick.  Everywhere they lead a pure life, they cultivate and practise mutual kindness, they are brought under public law.  These things are not novelties in Christianity; but their daily recurrence in all our Missions is the best testimony we can offer to the reality of our work.  They are seen in all our Churches; they are written on every page of our reports.  The heathen natives of Travancore and of the Lagoon Islands, far distant from one another, get drunk with toddy:  their Christian fellow-countrymen of the same class in both places abstain from it.  Touched by the gospel, the negroes of Jamaica came in hundreds to be married:  the Bechuanas on the Vaal river have done the same.  Our new converts in the plains of Shantung try to evangelize their stalwart neighbours.  The same efforts of love are put forth by the new Christians among the hills of Fokien.  Our South Sea Converts observe the Sabbath better than Englishmen.  When accompanying the Queen down to the sea-coast, our Church members held Sabbath camp-meetings in the forests and jungles of Madagascar.

Would that the English churches realized more completely what they are!  Follow them in their daily life.  Look at them on the Sabbath-day.  There, where once all seasons were alike, they gather on the first day of the week in the house of prayer.  From China eastward, round to Lifu westward, in twenty-six languages, these Christian converts gather for holy worship.  In the broad streets of Peking; among the green hills of Amoy; amid the tall roofs of Antananarivo, and the well-watered gardens of Hankey; among the deep ferns of Raiatea and in the cotton-fields of Samoa; in Calcutta and Benares, within the shadows of the wealthy temples of Kali and Mahadeo; or where the creamy surf in curling waves throws up the garnet sands of Travancore,—­each Sabbath-day rises the hymn of praise, the earnest prayer; each month they break the bread and drink the cup in memory of Him whom, not having seen, they love; in whom, though now they see Him not, yet believing, they rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory; receiving the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls.

   “Knowest thou the value of a soul immortal? 
    Behold the midnight glory, worlds on worlds! 
    Amazing pomp!  Redouble the amaze. 
    Ten thousand add, and twice ten thousand more;
    Then weigh the whole.  One soul outweighs them all.”

VIII.—­THE SOUTH SEA MISSION.

[Illustration:  Map of Western Polynesia, New Caledonia, Loyalty Is. &c.]