Notes from Rome. BY REV. N. H. SHAW. CHANGE OF EVANGELIST. ON Friday evening, 24th ult., the members of the church in Via Urbana met for the dispatch of church business, and to take leave of Sig. Romualdo Bertola, who was leaving Rome after labouring here for two and a half years. The writer of this note presided, and explained the reasons for the departure of Sig. Bertola, and expressed his sincere sorrow for its apparent necessity. He also testified to the Christian character, frankness, and general praiseworthiness of his friend, to the affection he felt for him, and the unbroken harmony with which they had lived and laboured together. Sig. Bertola then delivered an affectionate address, and was followed by several of the brethren, who spoke of their gratitude for his past labours, and expressed their warm wishes for his future. The church then passed a resolution of thanks to Sig. Bertola for his past ministrations, invoking upon him the blessing of God. Sig. Bertola preached on the following Sunday morning for the last time from John xiv. 27-Peace I leave with you," etc. We He has been succeeded, at least for the present, and with the hope that the arrangement may become permanent, by Sig. Vincenzo Ravi, who is a very able brother. He is a minister of experience, of education, of oratorical power, and of an earnest and devout spirit. He preached the first time on Wednesday evening, November 5th, and struck an excellent key note, the text being: "We preach Christ crucified.' We may have more to say of him by and bye. Meanwhile, we remark simply that hope is just now in the ascendant with us. have the prospect of an able ministry, our English and French classes have begun with sufficient encouragement, Mrs. Shaw's Women's meeting has a very cheering aspect, and there is reason to hope that under present arrangements the Sunday School will do better than in the past. Knowing that we are in Italy, where all kinds of discouragements are apt at any moment to spring upon us, like a band of brigands whose presence was unsuspected, we dare not exult, but we will hope and pray, and while we feel the need of the prayers of our brethren in England, we may with thankfulness own that just now our prospects are cheering-more cheering than they have ever been. News and Notes. REINFORCEMENT OF THE MISSION STAFF.-At a numerously attended Committee meeting held at Burton-on-Trent, on Tuesday, the 21st of October, (the day of the Midland Conference) the Rev. A. H. Young, M.A., of Cuttack, was cordially accepted as a missionary. Mr. Young went to Cuttack two years ago as Principal of the English Protestant School. Since then he has given entire satisfaction to the School Committee, who would be glad to retain his services. He has, however, felt constrained to devote himself to mission work, and submitted his application in the first instance to the brethren at Cuttack. To consider it, a special meeting was held in the College, September 18th, 1884, when it was unanimously agreed: "That we heartily rejoice that God has disposed the heart of our brother to give himself to the work of the mission, which we regard as an answer to prayer, and that we very warmly recommend his application to the favourable attention of the Committee." In the above resolution all the brethren in Orissa heartily concur, and in private letters the highest testimony is borne to Mr. Young's character, ability, and zeal. One brother writes: "Mr. Young is a very estimable man-grave, serious, temperate (an abstainer), experienced, sound in the faith, fervent in spirit, and always abounding in the work of the Lord. Besides his work in the European School he has daily taken a class in the Mission English School. He has regularly taken his turn in English preaching, and three times a week has gone with the native preachers and students into the bazaar. He is thoroughly interested in the work, and is doing all that is in his power to promote it. Those who best know have the highest appreciation of his excellence. The disinterestedness of his application, too, (his salary as a missionary being considerably less) should not be overlooked, nor the remarkable adaptation of his constitution to this trying climate." We feel sure that the friends of the mission will heartily concur in the decision of the Committee, and will pray that God's richest blessing may attend our brother in his future course. We trust, too, that by supplying the means, they will enable the Committee still further to strengthen the small and enfeebled mission band.-Mr. John Young, now of Newcastle-on-Tyne, has been invited to take his brother's place in the school, and is to leave England for Cattack early in December. In MR. J. F. HILL.*-Long and interesting "Notes of a voyage to India" have been received from Mr. J. F. Hill, from Malta, Port Said, and Suez, but for these we are unable to find space in the Observer. the early part of the voyage he suffered occasionally from sea-sickness, but after a while he got his "sea head and sea legs." The captain, officers, and passengers were most agreeable, and the mission party numbered nearly twenty. Prayers were conducted every morning; a Bible class was held in the afternoon; and Divine service on Lord's-day morning and evening. One evening a Miss Poulton, the Secretary of a Woman's Mission in Syria, gave an interesting lecture. The captain took the chair, and a collection, which realized £3 5s., was made on behalf of the mission. Malta was visited and also Port Said. At the former place 500 tons of coal were taken on board-from 30 to 35 tons being consumed daily. The average run is about 260 miles every twenty-four hours. Port Said is described as "an awfully wicked town, and having found a brother trying to do a good work there, from Mr. Muller's, of Bristol, four of them went to a prayer meeting at his house. With one exception his was believed to be the only Christian house in the place. A night was spent in the Suez canal, near Ismalia, and a moonlight walk was taken on the shores of Africa. The nights were rather cold, but the days were like a warm English spring. LADIES' SOCIETIES AND WORKING PARTIES.-We have the pleasure to acknowledge £16 from the "Archdeacon Lane (Leicester) Society to help Mission Work among Women." We are also glad to learn that a box of work, valued at £4 5s., has been sent by Miss Hill, to Cuttack, from the "Westbourne Park Young Women's Christian Association." These are steps in the right direction. In nearly every other denomi The Rev. J. G. Pike's name should have been added to the list of speakers at the Farewell meeting, reported in the Observer last month. NEWS ANd notes. 475 nation there are Zenana and other Ladies' Societies for promoting Mission work, and why should not the ladies of our denomination form themselves into Societies for similar purposes? In every large church, and in many small ones, it is possible to have a Society like the above. All need not move on exactly the same lines. In some cases it might be easier to obtain subscriptions; in others, to have working parties and sales of work; in others, boxes of work or materials might be sent to India for sale. Were such plans adopted, not only would our mission funds be augmented, but the churches and workers would be blessed in return. May we, therefore, urge our lady friends to take immediate action, and to utilize their winter evenings in giving practical expression of their gratitude to Christ, and of compassion for their benighted sisters in heathen lands? We know a church where for years, in the afternoon preceding the annual missionary meeting, there was a bazaar or sale of work, with tea and refreshment stall; and this was promoted chiefly by the earnest, untiring zeal of one lady. Cannot others do likewise? Lists, as to the kind of materials suitable for India, and other information, may be had on application to Mrs. Hill, 60, Wilson Street, Derby. THE LIBERAL OFFER OF LAST MONTH.-May we call attention to the liberal offer made in the Observer for last month, pages 438-9, in the hope that it may not be lost? One of our missionaries who feels the pressing need there is for men, says "I hope the offer of 'Anonymous' in this month's Observer will be met as it should. It is a step, only a step, in the right direction. I cannot understand why some one does not offer £100 or £200 a year, and urge others to do the same. I think perhaps we have been too much in the habit of praising as liberal those who were not liberal-that we have perhaps sacrificed truth and faithfulness on the altar of charity. The day must come when the churl shall no more be called bountiful.' Your note of what the other Society is doing is excellent, and I hope it may tell." THE MISSION LIBRARY.-Through the thoughtful kindness of the late Mr. Wilkins, of Derby, the Mission Library has been enriched by a complete set of the Society's Annual Reports. Along with these there are bound up Quarterly Papers-pamphlets-private letters from the missionaries hymns sung at ordination services--photographs, &c.; ⚫ the whole constituting quite a unique collection of information regarding the Mission. In the death of Mr. Wilkins the Society has lost a sincere friend-one who remembered its origin, knew personally all its missionaries, and who has ever taken the deepest interest in its affairs. The Mission Library is in great need of a complete set of Repositories or Magazines. The Secretary would be pleased to hear from any friend having a set for gift or disposal. Any other books upon mission subjects he would be glad to add to the library. INTELLIGENCE FROM PIPLEE.-The Rev. J. Vaughan writes::"Our four Bible-women are working well, and are extending the range of their visits. The Sunday school in bazaar is still continued. We had a capital hearing at the recent Durga festival, and believe quite an impression was made. Our new Book-room still witnesses for the Master. We have fourteen candidates for baptism in the Christian villages of Bilepadda and Asrayapore. The low-land there has been flooded repeatedly, and the rice crop is a failure; but we are going in for other produce. Rice is very dear at present, and the poor have hard times. The rains are now drawing to a close, and we joyfully look forward to Conference and cold-season itineracy. SACRAMENTAL COLLECTION FOR THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS OF MISSIONARIES.-We trust our friends will remember the collection for the above object on the first Lord's-day in January, and will make it as liberal as possible. WHY BAPTISM WAS DELAYED.-In one of the stations of the China Inland Mission an old woman had satisfied the missionaries, by her conduct and earnestness, that she was truly converted; but, for some unknown reason, she did not apply for baptism. At last one of the missionaries asked her why she delayed. Then she said, "You know Jesus said to His disciples, 'Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.' I am a poor old woman, nearly seventy, and almost blind. I cannot go into all the world, and preach the gospel. I am willing to tell my husband, and my son, and his wife when he marries; I am willing to tell my neighbours, and I could perhaps go to one or two villages; But I cannot go into all the world!" She was assured that the Lord would accept her services according to her ability, and was joyfully baptized. Would it not be well for some more highly favoured persons who call themselves Christians to apply to themselves the old Chinese woman's test of discipleship? ADDRESSES. We have been requested to announce that the Contributions Received on account of the General Baptist Missionary Society from Subscriptions and Donations in aid of the General Baptist Missionary Society will be thankfully received by W. B. BEMBRIDGE, Esq., Ripley, Derby, Treasurer; and by the Rev. W. HILL, Secretary, Mission House, 60, Wilson Street, Derby, from whom also Missionary Boxes, Collecting Books and Cards, may be obtained. |