ITALY.

THE FOREIGN FIELD.

P

The following letter from Rev. Mr. Hall shows that the Gospel and education are making rapid advances—and cannot fail of cheering the hearts of all who are interested in the prosperity of Christ's kingdom:

FLORENCE, JULY 20, 1863. DEAR DR. CAMPBELL,-The heat of summer in most parts of Italy, is a great obstacle to effort. Little more than the necessary duties of keeping up the work of evangelization can be undertaken.

controlled the action of the children. The meetings there are more numerously attended than they have been; the friends of the Gospel are more intimate and sympathetic, and the number of those who appear to be truly converted increases from day to day. They already speak of following the example of the brethren at Rio Marina, and seek aid to build a house of worship.

The building of the church at Rio goes on now without obstruction. event for the island; may the Lord comIt is a great plete the work for his glory, and for the advancement of his kingdom.

Mr.

Since writing you, I have sent out another Colporteur; he has been employed be- culation every possible absurdity against The fifty priests of Elba have put in cirfore as colporteur and Bible-reader, and those who have left the Roman Church, as will seek when opportunity offers, to give they decline a public discussion. religious instruction to such as will hear Marchand has thought it his duty to rehim. I trust that with the divine blessing, ply to their false statements in a little he will be very useful. tract; in which he has said little against the Roman system, but has sought rather to make clear the first principles of true Christianity.

Mr. Marchand, in a late letter from Rio Marina, speaks of the celebration of the Lord's Supper there. He states that, with happiness and profound gratitude, he administered the supper to forty-five persons; double the number of the communicants of last year. "Eight days before, they had been solemnly received as members of the church; and had publicly promised to live and to die in the faith of the Gospel. You would have been deeply moved to witness these joyful scenes; specially to see with what love and happiness all our dear members greeted each other after the service. Almost all wept with joy; not one member was absent." In a later letter he says:-"We have received six new members into the church, five men and one woman, who have sealed their promises by participating in the Lord's Supper. The number of communicants is now above fifty. Glory be to God, who has done these things for us."

The congregation at Portoferraio has, until recently, been composed chiefly of men; but now a good number of women have identified themselves with the audi

healthful and an encouraging progress, in In all respects, there appears to be a all the stations on the island; and from these small beginnings, we may, through the divine blessing, confidently hope to see the most gratifying results.

In my letters I have spoken of the persecution to which Christians are here exposed for leaving the Church of Rome. An Evangelist relates the following incident: One of our brethren has recently been dismissed by his employer, for the crime of being a Protestant; his numerous family were thus brought to absolute want. The only employment he could find secured him but three francs (60 cents) a week, which was not enough to pay the bread for his children. To crown his misery, the owner of the house in which he lived, turned the family into the street, only because they were Protestants. It seemed impossible at the moment to provide for this unhappy household. But a Christian woman, who had only enough for the necessities of living, came and besought them to go to her own apartment; saying that since the first

SCHOOLS IN UMBRIA.

disciples of the Lord had all their goods in common, she could share her house and In this province, besides the schools alwhatever she possessed with these needy ready existing, the Government has lately followers of Christ. Thus these acts of established 129 schools for boys, 73 for persecution are made the occasion of mani- girls, 13 evening schools, and 11 infant festing the virtues of the Christian charac- schools. In this district of Perugia are ter, and commending the Gospel to its ene- 134 schools; every commune in the district mies. has a school for boys, and only three are destitute of schools for girls.

SCHOOLS IN ITALY.

The district of Terni has 100 schools; in every commune is a school for boys, and in seven only are there wanting schools for

Though the reform in regard to public instruction in Naples, goes on slowly, because of the indifference of the lower classes to the education of their children, and the girls. The district of Spoleto has 105 intrigues of the clergy, yet it must be ac- schools; that of Foligus has a school in knowledged that the Government and the every commune but 12; while in Rieti, municipal authorities have evinced the which is more under the influence of priests, greatest zeal to remove the prejudices of are 124 communes without schools. Nearthe people against progress and learning, ly two-thirds of these schools have lay and lead them to accept the baptism of the teachers, and it is expected that all the ecnew order of things. clesiastics will soon be replaced by laymen.

Very truly yours, &c.,

E. E. HALL.

Seventy-four establishments for education and public instruction, have been founded This is an invasion of the Pope's late dosince the recognition of the new Govern- minions which will forever unfit them for ment eight infant schools, fourteen even- the rule of Pius IX, or any of his succesing schools, forty-seven primary schools, two sors. colleges or lyceums, one school of art, one normal school for males and one for females; all these have been opened in the single city of Naples in the space of two Our missionary, the Rev. R. Montyears, and all the establishments previously salvatge, is prosecuting his work with a existing have been reorganized.

The three institutes for girls, and the university, numbering twenty thousand students, are going on in the very best manner

since their reformation.

CARTHAGENA, S. A.

good degree of success.

His great

want is a public room for preaching, though this is partially supplied through the kindness and liberality of Mr. MatAt the close of the year 1861, the Italian thieu, our Consul, who has opened his government had established in the Neapol- own house for public worship. This, itan provinces, (not including the city of by Mr. Matthieu and other gentlemen Naples) 1,054 elementary schools for boys, there, was deemed advisable for the attended by 23,569 pupils; 778 schools for girls, numbering 18,912 pupils; 18 evening building might be saved to the Society. present, that the expense of renting a

schools for adults, embracing 911 persons.

"My two sons go out with me every day, provided with New Testaments and Tracts, which we distribute in shipping offices, private houses, hospitals and in jails.

At the close of the year 1862 the schools In his letter he says: for boys numbered 1,603, with 60,250 scholars; the schools for girls were 922 in number, attended by 30,567 pupils; the evening schools for adults numbered 234, attended by 9,804 persons--43,392 in 1861, "The people of St. Catalina have asked 100,621 in 1862. These statements indi- me several times for Bibles and Tracts, and cate the rapid progress of public instruc-I have sent a dozen to Senor Domingo tion, and present a promising future for Jances, residing in St. Catalina, fifteen Italy. miles from Carthagena-for distribution.

Senor Jances is a young convert of good, left Carthagena for Panama, the 2nd of education, and one of the two Carthagen- January last, and has written me many

ians who, four years ago, desired to go to the U. S. and connect themselves with some college to prepare themselves to be missionaries to the Spanish race.

times to know what decision the Board have resolved on respecting him. I have written him of the sickness and death of Dr. Baird, and that I supposed the Com"The other young man, Gabriel Reyes, mittee delayed acting in consequence."

THE HOME FIELD.

GERMAN MISSION IN NEWARK, N. J.- and that it will have the constant blessing A year ago last May we sent a mis- of Him, in whose name it was erected. sionary to Newark, N. J., to labor The mission was commenced in May, among the German population. As 1862, but on account of repairs in the church edifice, which the 6th Presbyterian the result of his labors a church has Church had so kindly placed to our use, it been gathered of ninety-three members, was but imperfectly carried on for more and through the liberality of the church- than six weeks, and suffered greatly during es there, particularly the 2d Presbyte-that time. The congregation now numbers rian Church, they have a convenient ninety-three members, only three of which church building which will accommo- belonged to another Christian church. The date 300 persons, which they expect to rest were Romanists or infidels. The most dedicate to the worship of God the 2d active Elder was not inside a church for Sabbath in September. We will give fifteen years, and had led a life without hope and without faith, utterly estranged the report of our missionary that our from God; now he and his family rejoice in readers may judge for themselves. the faith as it is in Jesus, our only hope in this life and the life to come. And in many similar cases has the Lord manifested himself to us in wondrous love. Oh, that our faltering lips and beating hearts might constantly show forth His praise. The congregation has connected itself with the Presbyterian Church and elected its Elders and Trustees.

During the past month the flock which I gathered here under your direction and the providence of God, has given a call to a minister—the same I spoke of in a former report. He has accepted the call, and intends commencing his labors by October

next.

May the Lord Jesus watch over it! I part from it with tears; it has become part and parcel of my life. Sweet as it is to work as a missionary, the parting has its It has been the burden of my praypang.

In the meantime we shall dedicate the handsome little church edifice, which has been erected for worship, and everything will be prepared for him to continue the good work. This mission was commenced under peculiar difficulties, among which were not the least, the utter religious desti-ers, and will, with others dear to me, contution of many Germans in that part of the tinue to be so; and your missionary is now city, together with the stronghold which ready to go to any new field of labor, to Popery had gained there, and the failure of which in the guidance of the Lord you may a former missionary enterprise. But thanks send him, in October next. be to God, who has here verified His cheering promise, that those who trust in Him shall never be confounded!

WE give an interesting letter from He has upone of our Bible-women in one of the held me here in many a weary struggle; He has blessed us beyond measure; and Western cities. And we would remind

there is no doubt but this new bulwark of our readers, that the labors of a single our Faith will redound to the glory of God, 'month may not exhibit great results,

still, as the writer says, "The aim is to mercy seat, and all felt it was good to be sow the seed by all waters," and we there. One woman said—

doubt not if followed by earnest prayer, "the end will show much fruit gathered into the garner of the great Husbandman." The writer says:

"She had always been a Catholic, but would be no more, as it had never done her

any good."

Mr. P- has visited the jail for two years, and with others distributed tracts The mission work in this city has been and religious reading, but had no preaching full of interest, and kept us very busy till the last four Sabbaths; everything bethe past month, notwithstanding the in- ing in a right condition, we have been fortense heat. We have had neither vacation tunate in securing the services of different nor suspension in any of our arduous du- ministers, and we are happy to say with ties, but have enjoyed the blessing of God, seemingly good results. Also commenced in continued health and strength. Our a prayer-meeting in the women's departschools are doing as well as could be ex-ment, which with the singing has been very pected, with the usual drawbacks of hot acceptable, and we trust that permanent weather and absence of teachers. Scrip- good will be the result. Several cases are ture questions, cards and catechism, with very interesting, of which we may speak in singing, keep up the interest, and it is still the future. We regularly visit the city one of our happiest and pleasantest days to hospital, the new house of refuge, and all mingle with them. The permanent good wait our coming with anxiety, and seeming of the rising generation lies very near our interest. At the former, at our last visit, heart, and we love to be the feeble instru- one man said "he had begun to think there ment in any work in which the young are were no pious people in the city, as no one concerned. The happiness and good of any had been there since he had come in, to give community so much depends on good wives him a tract or speak to him about his soul." and judicious mothers, that we feel that too He rose up ir his bed, and with glistening much cannot be done for the little neglected eyes, eagerly took our tracts and papers, ones so numerous in our crowded cities. and wished us to come soon again. Our Neatness and order in any household are so aim is to sow the seed by all waters, not necessary to make home attractive, that we knowing which will prosper," this or that." feel it cannot too early be instilled into We feel our own inefficiency; yet still have their young and tender minds. Cleanliness a great desire to do something in God's and godliness make a home happy, and to vineyard, that will advance His cause and have this become an axiom, or self-evident kingdom, and to his name shall be all the trnth, we must be in season and out of sea- glory. son to instil these principles into their young and tender minds, and when instances come under our notice, (as they often do,) where counsel has been heeded, and knowledge regarded, it renews our hopes, and we take courage to persevere. Our female prayer-meeting for the mothers of the little girls, have been thinly attended, but always sufficient to claim the promise. At to his appeal. one meeting four were present, and the pre- As this month is generally a vacation, cious Spirit of God seemed to touch each and our Sunday-school having been disheart. Each voice in turn was raised to continued, I thought it advisable to give a the throne, most of them for the first time few weeks' recess to the scholars of my day audibly. It was so comforting to us to lay and evening school, in order to clean the aside the world, its cares and sorrows, and school-room, and to make some necessary bow at the foot of the cross, and before the alterations to accommodate a larger number

ITALIAN MISSION.-Our Italian missionary is prosecuting his work with good success. His report shows that earnest, faithful labors are not in vain. And we hope that some good Christian ladies who may read this will respond

of scholars. Before I closed my school I September I intend to re-open my day and gave to the young Italians a pic-nic at Fort evening school. Lee, on the 12th of August. Rev. Dr. Our Industrial school is in want of maPrime, and some kind Christian friends, terials on which to work. Will not some made me a donation of about $30, to cover of our good friends give us some remnants the expenses of the passage and refresh- of calico? or we would be exceedingly thankments. Nearly sixty children took part in ful if some of our good Christian ladies this excursion, where a large play-ground would give us some of their old clothing, offered them a good opportunity for recrea- that we might make up into dresses for our tion. They were neatly clad, and behaved little girls.

in such a manner that the teachers of our I acknowledge the receipt of six Bibles industrial and our Sunday-schools, (who and three Testaments in the Italian lanwere present,) were surprised to find the guage, from the New York Bible Society, children so thoroughly changed in their of which I have distributed four Bibles and manners and their entire behavior. The two Testaments.

children were exceedingly happy, and could not find words enough to express their gratitude for the festival.

There is no doubt that what is done for the improvement of the religious and moral character of the Italians, in this city, by our missionary labors, will bear its fruits eventually among the young and the old.

I have continued my visits among the Italian families as before, and have had discussions about Biblical truths with several whose hearts were more or less deeply impressed by the word of God.

In my last report I mentioned a skeptical lady, with whom I had several conversations. I gave her a Bible in the Italian language, which she promised to study, and she kept her word. I have since found her a lover of the Book which she did not know before.

Another BIBLE-WOMAN writes:

The forepart of this month was spent as usual, in visiting and distributing tracts. Many welcome me with smiles, but some fear and hate the influence of my labor, not on themselves, but others who are not so well established in the faith of the Mother Church.' One woman told me she did not wish to see me, and she hoped I should never be seen in their yard again, as she believed my only object was to lead away Catholics from the Church, and she said I knew as well as any one else that no one would be saved out of the one true, Catholic Church.' Six or eight families live in that yard; she said no one there wished to see me, as they were all good Catholics. I did not tell her I was there, that day, by the special request of a poor, sickly widow, who had asked me Another family, consisting of a man, wife for a Bible, and that I had just given her a and daughter, have become earnest enquir- Testament, which she joyfully received, givers after reading the word of God for seve- ing me the promise that she would read for ral months, and are very desirous to join herself. I suppose I ought not to be sursome Evangelical Church by baptism and prised, or in the least disheartened, that profession of their faith. some opposition has been aroused to my An Italian refugee from the South, where work. I think I have reason to expect he had lived many years, and as a Union greater hindrances to our schools this year man, lost all his property, visited me this than ever before. The Bishop and clergy month, and being entirely destitute, I gave see the danger to their Church from the Prohim his board and lodging for about three testant influence upon the children. The weeks, until he found a place. As he had devil will not give up his claim to these demade the word of God his study for five luded, ignorant ones, without a struggle, years, I presented him a Bible in the Italian and it may be fierce and long. language, and conversed daily with him In my visits I called on a Protestant Gerabout religious matters. He determined to man woman, whose husband is in the army, join a Protestant Church. On the 1st of but, for a reason that I cannot explain here,