king Radama II. has adopted their religion, and is bent upon having her son, the heir to the throne, brought up in it. It is also said that the French Government is making most important commercial treaties,in whichg reat advantages in relation to the working of the rich mines of the island have been secured to French subjects. It has every where and in all times been true that wherever the "Sons of God" come together for any good work or word, Satan (the adversary) is sure to appear among them, intent upon his appropriate business of opposing, hindering, preventing, destroying. FRENCH MISSION IN AFRICA. Immediately westward from Natal across the mountains, in South-eastern Africa,there is a prosperous and extensive Mission among the Bassutos, carried on by the Evangelical Missionary Society of Paris, at the head of which is the Rev. Dr. Grandpierre. Few Missions in the world have been more blest. It has ten stations, each of which is a radiating point of Christian influence. Some of the native congregations have 500 members; whilst the number of communicants is in some cases 100, 150, and even 325. Schools have been established, the New Testament translated, and other good books prepared. The land is elevated, the climate salubrious, the country now produces wheat, corn, and other grains, and the fruits of Europe in abundance. And all this among a tribe that were nigh being extirpated thirty years ago (when the Missionaries first went among them), by their vices, by the ferocity of wild beasts, and by the cruel tribes by which they were surrounded. THE YORUBA MISSION. The Church Missionary Record for Feb. gives a very full and interesting account of the Mission of that Society in the important Yoruba country. The energetic course of city of Abeokeuta and its vicinity, in the the English Government is beginning to have its proper effect upon the savage King of Dahomey at last,-Commodore Wilmot, in command of the West African Squadron, having been sent to look after his majesty. TURKEY AND SYRIA. The Missionaries in Turkey and Syria reof the Lord steadily advances, without bringport successes and trials. The good work ing to light many extraordinary facts. The same thing is true of the work among the Copts in Egypt. THE DAKOTAS. It is remarkable that the execution of 38 of the most active of the Dakotas in the late massacre in Minnesota, has been followed by what seems to be a most extraordinary work of God's Spirit among the 346 who are still in prison at Mankato. Of these 346 persons, between twenty and thirty are readers, who had been taught in the Mission-School; whilst of those who were executed there were only three who could read, and these halfbreeds who had not been at any Missionschool, so far as is known. NEWS OF THE CHURCHES. There is no want of news from the several portions of the Protestant World this month. We will give as much of it as we can. ENGLAND. The Christian public in England is much Occupied with finding relief for the Lancashire sufferers. The reception of our American ship, the George Griswold, and the cargo which she bore, at Liverpool, was an occasion of rejoicing and happy manifestation of international good-will. The opinion is beginning to be entertained that the acmé of distress had been reached and even passed. Bishop Colenso's Book is calling forth a multitude of replies, one of the best of which is from the pen of the Bishop of Rochester. The aged Isaac Taylor has written a good one. In the meanwhile the poor, rash, heretical Bishop might almo t compare himself to the man in the midst of the twelve signs of the Zodiac on the frontispiece of our old almanacs, for he is literally pointed at from all quarters. The Rev. J. Macnaught, after having tried the fallacies of Infidelity, is desirous of retracing his steps back into the Church. The Archbishop of Canterbury is announ ced as the preacher of the Church Missionary Society's Annual Sermon in May next. It is a good appointment. SCOTLAND. No less than 150 students of all Protestant denominations are attending, the present session, the lectures of Rev. Dr. Wylie, Professor of the Protestant Institute, Edinburgh.-The Free Church Presbytery of Edinburgh addressed, at its late session, an overture to the General Assembly, to the effect, That some effectual plan be adopted, in connexion with the Colleges, whereby the Theological students may be trained to deliver sermons without reading.The cele and the French officers at Rome on NewYear's (to which we have already referred); and because of the Emperor's speech on the opening of the Chambers. They now infer that the Pope is henceforth safe in the possession of his temporal dominion—at least as long as Louis Napoleon lives. Perhaps so; but who can tell how long that may be? brated Dr. Caird, one of her Majesty's chaplains for Scotland, has been appointed Professor of Divinity in the University of Glasgow, in the room of Dr. Hill, resigned, and has entered upon the duties of his professorship.- -At the Annual Meeting of the National Bible Society (of Scotland) in Edinburgh, on the 20th January last, the Duke of Argyle, who presided, delivered an admi- The Central Council of the Ref. Churches rable address, in the course of which "he ad- of France has taken in hand the laudable verted to the recent meeting of the Episco- work of creating a fund for the assistance of pal Church in the Southern States of Ame-aged and infirm pastors. A good beginning rica, and pointed out the evils which must has been made by a Mr. Dassier, a wealthy result from their attempt to associate Slavery rail-road director, who has by his will left with Bible principles, and from their denun- 100,000 francs for the foundation of this fund. ciation of the abolition sentiment as infidel in its character. The mischief which such a declaration must have, he believed, would be far greater than any which would arise from the application of the rules of arithmetic to the Pentateuch, though Dr. Colenso were to publish a similar book every year of his life, and though he were to live to the age of Methuselah." IRELAND. One of the best charitable associations in Ireland is the Ulster Society for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind. It has been established 25 years, has spent £12,000 on suitable buildings, and received a total income of £55,000, entirely from voluntary contributions. Its Institution (at Belfast) has at present 119 pupils, of whom 102 are deaf and dumb, and 17 are blind. The Annual Report of the Bible and Colportage Society, recently published, shows a most singular progress. The value of the sales has risen to £217 a month, and the number of periodicals from 14,605 in 1859 to 344,038 in 1862. It has 146 agencies in Ulster, and some 30 colporteurs. The Society has also an agency in Dublin, and it is intended to occupy the South and West of the island. FRANCE. The " SWITZERLAND. vances in Geneva, and in all La Suisse Roreligious quickening" steadily admande, we have reason to believe. The Week of Prayer was well observed in the city of Calvin. Public lectures on religious subjects are much appreciated this winter. Prayer-meetings are numerous.The progress is not striking, but steady. The French edition of Dr. Merle d'Aubigné's two volumes on the Life and Labors of Calvln is through the press. GERMANY. The most remarkable movement in Germany is that which has for its object the liberation of the Protestant Churches from the control and even domination of the State and the Consistories, and the giving to the individual churches more of self-government and self-reliance. JAMAICA. From the reports of the English Baptist Missionaries and those of the American Missionary Association, we are satisfied that the work of grace in 1861-'62 was a genuine one, though not free from evils resulting from human infirmities and mistakes. There are some 80 Baptist Churches in that island, with about 25,000 members. OUR OWN COUNTRY. There is much suffering among the operatives in Normandy. The Pope has sent 10,000 francs ($2,000) from his private purse. And well he might, for "Peter's Pence" from that same district last year amounted to 150,000 francs! There has been a great want of work among the "cotton operatives" in Alsace also, but not so much suffering as in Normandy, for the peo-ings of the Spirit upon our Churches, of ple of Alsace are mainly Protestants. The Week of Prayer was well observed in Paris; the meetings were well attended; and the services fervent and edifying. We cannot close this brief notice of the work of God in the Protestant world without saying, How much reason we have to be thankful for the many precious outpour which we are permitted to hear! Oh, that we might be permitted to hear of revivals of religion in all directions throughout our land. What a solace and support it would be in the midst of our present sorrows and The Roman Hierarchy in France are in a double ecstacy just now: Because of the Pope's allocution to the Duke de Montebello concern in this deplorable civil war! MISCELLANEOUS. WHAT PASTOR WILL DO LIKEWISE?—A Letter from Rev. Wm. D. Rosseter.—A few weeks ago I published in the " Recorder and Herald" of Cincinnati, an appeal in behalf of the evangelism of Italy-urging pastors to read the article, or present its subject to their people, and secure for us their material aid. Quite a number of responses have come to hand for which may the blessing of God rest richly upon the donors. But there was one among these responses, that is so striking and remarkable--so much out of the ordinary rule of such responses--that I desire to spread it before the pastors of our various churches, who read THE CHRISTIAN WORLD, hoping it may stimulate them to like effort, and to like results. Of course, I conceal the name and place, lest the good pastor should be grieved at the publicity given to his act, and that of his church. The response was thus: "Brother Rosseter :-Enclosed please find twelve dollars for the Italian cause, which "you represent. It is a contribution from the little church of, Ohio, to which I "minister part of my time. They are a feeble church, organized a year ago, consisting "of twenty-three members. The contribution is a fraction over fifty cents a head. I read 66 your article in the "Herald," and spoke of it from the pulpit, and recommended them "to make their contribution for Italy. ****** Yours, &c." Now, if every pastor of the evangelical churches of our land would imitate this noble example, not only would we be able to sustain the fifty Missionaries our Board expressed its desire to do this year, at its last Annual Meeting, but double that number might easily be commissioned. Beloved Fathers and Brethren of the Ministry, will you not help on this good work? Now is the time--the door is opened--Italians are ready for the truth—will you not stimulate your people to aid it, and at once? WM. D. ROSSETER, Dis. Sec. A. & F. C. Union. Respectfully, 713 98 2 58 3 00 3 00 1 00 30 09 1.00 25 00 Receipts ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN AND FOREIGN CHRISTIAN UNION, FROM THE 1ST OF FEBRUARY TO THE 1ST OF MARCH, 1863. VERMONT. New Britain. South Cong. Ch., by Rev. C. L. Goodill.. 38 69 6 00 4.50 5125 McCreight, $1 each; Snyder, Prot. Epis. Ch., Messrs. Coles, 43 20 6 00 21 15 1st Cong. Ch., Mrs. Clark, $3; 13 32 1st Cong. Sab. School... 7 35 Ir. Black..... r. Griffiths.. 48 00 U. Presb. Ch., in part, Mr. 1.00 Cincinnati. Rev. R P. Aydeldotte, D. D., Central Presb. Sab. School for Columbus. Trin. P. E. Ch., W. G. Ohio Blind Asylum. 2d Instalment of J. L. Jones... 7 50 2 21 THE recent decease of the REV. DR. BAIRD-so long and so widely known in connection with the American & Foreign Christian Union, whose organ he so largely was-will strike many a mind interested in the Redeemer's work with deep regret. His vast stores of religious intelligence, and his simple but effective appeals for the millions of Europe, will long be missed; nor until Providence raises up another instrument of marked and striking adaptation for the work, can his vacant place be filled. The Rev. Robert Baird, D. D., was born in 1798, on a farm near Brownsville, Fayette Co., in a secluded district of Western Pennsylvania. His paternal grandfather had emigrated to that State from Scotland; while upon the mother's side his ancestors were English and Welsh. He often alluded playfully to his mixed descent, as rendering him a good type of this characteristic American peculiarity. His parents were in quite moderate circumstances, and opportunities of education-no where abundant at that time in our country-were exceedingly limited in that remote and new region in which he grew up. Some early indications, however, of unusual talent attracted the attention of his pastor, and led him to advise that the youth should be educated. His parents cordially adopted the suggestion, and such arrangements as their slender means afforded were at once devisedparticularly by the earnest zeal of his mother-for the enterprise.. Accordingly, in his sixteenth year he was sent to a Latin school in the village of Union, nine miles distant from his home. To the self-denying labors of that mother for her son's support during his course of study, not only was he himself largely indebted, but many a great and precious interest of the country and of the world shares this day the benefit, and the obligation. His advantages of early preparation having been but slender, his course of study in college became profitable only through the most res |