DEATH! DEATH!! DEATH!!!

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Canada, we were struck by that magnificent Metropolitan Methodist church, which was one of the expressive evidences that Morley Punshon had visited the Provinces. Many other places he has helped to build and consecrate to God's worship. The Wesleyan Church, and especially its great Missionary Society, have felt as under the shadow of a great sorrow. The Society, of which he was the senior Missionary, was in debt some £38,000, this must have been a heavy burden upon his heart, although he inherited much of the spirit expressed in President Jenkins's sentence, concerning the early Methodists who "Got into debt with great courage, and remained in debt with tranquility." It was a thoughtful and worthy act of the Lord Mayor to send a gift of £1,000 to the Mansion House, “In loving Memory of William Morley Punshon." It will be a suitable Memorial to this eloquent advocate of missions, to throw overboard the debts, and go forward in grander deeds of missionary enterprize. It was on the missionary platform (even more than in the pulpit) that Morley Punshon shone in all the splendour of his remarkable powers. Mr. Jenkins said of him, "The prophetic element in missionary work fascinated his imagination; the condition of the heathen absorbed his sympathy; and he had strong faith in the ultimate Empire of the Lord. There was no twilight in his day of life; until a few hours before his death he did not know that his end was near, and spoke of the rapture of living and of his not liking to feel that his work was done. Towards the last he said to his medical attendant, Am I going?' 'Yes,' was the reply. Thank God,' exclaimed Dr. Punshon; 'Jesus is to me a bright reality!' His last words were to Mrs. Punshon Love Jesus, and meet me in His presence.'

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Morley Punshon possessed not only the gift of a rare intellectual nature, but the graces, which are not always so happily blended, of a great heart. Compare his loving letter, written in January of this year, to C. H. Spurgeon, with the correspondence between Wesley and Toplady, and see how men of light and leading, nolding different creeds and living in separate churches, are to-day made one as never before.

The Rev. John White, of Belfast, has also ceased to labour and live. An eloquent pastor, with all the burning zeal of an evangelist, he was one of Ireland's most gifted and useful ministers of the gospel of Christ. The Belfast News Letter said of him :-" He possessed to an unusual extent those qualities which make a minister popular, and he had the gifts which make a minister useful. In him were found in happy combination the buoyancy of spirit, the ready wit, and the warm heart of the natives of Ireland, the clear perception and the sound judgment which are supposed to be

characteristic of the Scotch race, and much of the perseverance that is the trait of Englishmen."

Last year he received us most cordially. We shall not soon forget that manly form coming into the room of our hotel and saying, "Well, Mr. Matthews, I must thank you for your 'Chart and Compass; I get many magazines, but yours I read through at one sitting. You will occupy my pulpit to-morrow, and I hope, now that we know you, my church will give a annual collection to your Sailors' Society." If spared to return to Belfast, we shall not see him again. Our loss is his infinite gain. The ambassadors die, but the King lives. He can raise up others, but in doing so he will make us feel that to Him we must look. As our days may be few, let them be consecrated, for the night cometh, and death is at the door.

WORK IN FALMOUTH HARBOUR.

THE past severe winter added much to my already heavy mission duty at this port. Hundreds of seamen and fishermen who had narrowly escaped a watery grave have been landed here day after day. I have met numbers, either at our Quay, or Sailors' Home; some sick, others bruised or with broken limbs. Some have died soon after being landed. I have spent hours during the day, at lodging-houses or the Home, conversing and praying with both English and foreign shipwrecked or dying sailors, some of whom, I believe, in their last moments found peace through looking to Jesus.

Owing to heavy duty, and exposure to bad weather when visiting afloat, my health has once and again given way. It is no easy task to often spend from eight to fourteen hours a day in hard visiting and teaching. Sometimes in a forecastle with a number of sick seamen, or in a sick-ward where fever has been raging.

Much of divine blessing has attended our services in the past year, both afloat and ashore. Often at the close of Sabbath services we have had several inquirers, some of whom are now true believers. Our prayer, and Christian experience meetings have been soul-converting, and seasons of refreshing; often from twelve to sixteen persons have offered earnest prayer at a meeting.

Several during the year have been taken from our gatherings to be with Jesus. They died well. Several of the churches (one in particular) have added to their flocks several converted ones from our Bethel gatherings; in some cases two or three from one family. During the year I have received a goodly number of letters from masters or men who received spiritual benefit at our services, afloat or ashore. Parents, or brothers and sisters have written, thanking me for visits paid to dear departed ones who died at the Home here.

"Feb. 13th, 1879.-After visiting several crews, I spent some time with sick and shipwrecked seamen at the Home. In one room I found two fine, intelligent fellows, the only two rescued from the American schooner 'Estelle.' I listened to the tale of suffering narrated by these two men, and then urged them to yield themselves up to the Lord, who had delivered them from the jaws of death. They received my counsel with gratitude, and promised to attend our Bethel service in the evening, if I would call for them. They did attend, and a blessed service it proved to them. I went to the Bethel intending to preach, but turned

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the service into a special prayer and praise meeting. A goodly number of pilots, seamen and others were present. The first who offered prayer was a young sailor, converted a few months since at Hong Kong, and who is now boldly confessing Christ on board his vessel. Many earnest prayers were offered, and several believers testified for Christ. Before this service closed, both the shipwrecked men I led from the Home professed faith in Jesus. Dear fellows, how they were filled with joy, as they stood up and openly declared Christ had saved them! During the time they remained at this port, they attended every religious service they could."

[During nearly thirty years of service in this port and harbour, our brother V. H. Bailey has seen many changes, and received many encouragements. In appreciation of his services several valuable testimonials have been given. We can only wish that his health may be restored for greater services in the future.-ED.]

FOURTEEN YEARS MISSIONARY WORK IN MALTA

HARBOUR.

THE field of labour in which it has been my privilege now for about fourteen years to be employed, is one which presents a wide scope for missionary operation. Vessels of different Nationalities touch at its port, some to discharge their cargoes, others for shelter in stormy weather; and a great many for coals, to enable them to proceed on their voyage. In the last case, they only stay a few hours; this is a great drawback to the missionary, he has frequently to push his way amidst a cloud of coal dust, and after all perhaps can do little more than speak a kindly word and give a tract, and so pass on lest he should hinder the work. During the past year I have visited a goodly number of these merchant ships; speaking to the sailors about their eternal welfare, sometimes holding meetings in the cabins and forecastles of the vessels discharging their cargoes. Christian sailors sometinie come into this port, far away from home, from those they love; they have inferior food, very little rest—the comforts that people on shore enjoy—they are deprived of the means of grace, so they come in fatigued, depressed in spirits, they need comfort, true sympathy; and the Bread of Life brought to them on board their own ships by some good Samaritan is often a great blessing. Many have come in here in this state, and have received strength and encouragement, and have sailed again with a renewed determination to sail all the way to the port of glory. Extracts from Journal :--January 18th.-Sold this evening at the Wesleyan Sailors' Home, forty-eight English Testaments and seven "Chart and Compass' Magazines to some of the Man-of-War sailors; many of whom had been great drunkards and swearers, but through frequenting the Home have become praying

men.

January 19th.-Among the many steamers visited to day I boarded one put in for repairs. It was a good time for sowing the seed of the Kingdom, for they had encountered fearful weather; and the men told me they were all up in the rigging, the deck being full of water, and they expected every moment the vessel would go down. I spoke to them of God's mercy in bringing them all safe to land; several of the crew were foreigners, to them I gave Portuguese and Greek tracts. The captain bought three copies of "Chart and Compass" for his own reading, and paid for three for his chief officer.

Sunday Evening, January 22nd-I boarded a large steamer from the East Indies, also put in for repairs. I told the chief officer, as it was the Sabbath and the men at leisure, with his permission I would hold a Bethel meeting. He was quite willing; the carpenter (a pious German) was delighted—said he would get

the cabin, but the captain not being on board, I preferred the engineer's mess, room, I spread my hymn-books on the table, and the chief officer, boatswain engineers, carpenter, sailors and firemen—a goodly company of fifteen gathered round, while I read and explained the Parable of the "Prodigal Son"; also spoke a short time from the text "Godliness is profitable for all things." The pious German's face beamed with joy. When the meeting was concluded, I showed them the Bibles, and "Chart and Compass" I had for sale. One of the engineers bought six copies "Chart and Compass "—someone else also bought six. Another engineer purchased an English Bible. The carpenter likewise

bought three "Chart and Compass" for his own reading, and purchased a Bible, and another "Chart and Compass" to give to one of his ship-mates. In all I sold twenty-three "Chart and Compass" Magazines. I gave them all some of Mrs. Best's letters for their sea reading and left the vessel delighted with my reception and success.

February 27th.-Among Greeks-Kindness received. Visited several English steamers, and then got on board a Greek. The chief officer came directly and shook hands with me, being an old friend; he introduced me to the captain whom I found was the son of an old Greek captain who used to call at Malta; he was heartily pleased I had known his father. The chief officer took me down into his cabin and offered me several kinds of liquor to drink, but I told him, I was a Teetotaler and instead of drinking with him I would like to sell him the word of God, and I opened out my packet of Scriptures. He said, he did not want any himself, for he had still the Testament he bought of me fifteen months before, but he would see if anyone else wanted some; he sent for the cook, and told him if he would like to have a Testament, he would pay for it, the poor fellow gladly accepted it, for he had no money. I was greatly struck with this officers kindness, he apparently could not do enough to show how highly he appreciated my visit. To the rest of the crew I gave several Greek tracts.

April 12th.-On board a yacht I sold a French Bible to a French cook. He asked if it was a Protestant one. I told him, yes. He said, "But I am a Roman Catholic." I said, that does not matter; this Bible tells of the death and resurrection of Christ the same as your version does, "Then," he said, "I will have it." I also gave him some tracts, one was a sermon entitled: "This is the true grace of God." I called his attention to it, and said, "These are the words of the Apostle Peter, and you know he was inspired and therefore could not write anything wrong." He took all the books I gave him, and seemed very thankful. I trust the reading of them will show him the right way.

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April 29th.-As I stepped on board a large steam yacht where a few days before I had sold several copies of the "Chart and Compass," the captain met me and said, "I have been reading the autobiographical sketch of the Rev. Charles J. Jones, in the 'Chart and Compass' you sold me." I said, "Were you interested in it?" He said, "I should think I was, for he was the means of bringing me to a knowledge of the truth." I said, "Are you really brought from a state of nature to a state of grace?" "Yes," he said, "and it was through that man. I will tell you how it came about. He (Mr. Jones), had been very kind to my brother, and a correspondence had sprung up between them, I thought I would call upon him, and ask how my brother fared; I really wanted to see the man who had shown him such kindness. I was chief officer at that time, and a fearful sinner. I believed it was impossible to carry on the work of the ship without swearing. Mr. Jones received me very kindly, and told me what I wanted to know about my brother; he then began to talk to me about my own soul, and before I left, knelt down, and prayed with me. I did not feel

CRUELTIES ON BOARD AMERICAN SHIPS.

189 much at the time, but when I got to sea I began to think over my past life, and wondered that God had been so merciful to me; and while I was praying in my cabin, I was enabled to believe on Christ. Oh! the change. Before I was converted I was a dreadful swearer, but since the change I have never had a desire to do so." I told him my own conversion (also on board a yacht) and we rejoiced together. Before leaving he said "The other day when you were here, I gave you half-a-crown for the mission, but I have been uneasy ever since—I ought to have given you more, and since the owner has only given 5s., I will give you 10s. instead of the half-a-crown; so we exchanged money. I felt deeply thankful for this captain's sympathy; it is not every day I meet with such encouragement. The crew were from the Highlands of Scotland, and could speak and read Gallic; they were quite surprised I could supply them in Malta with tracts in their own language.

May 12th. Sold on board the "M," of Whitby, 25 copies of "Chart and Compass" (some back numbers) and 1 Volume. The captain was an old friend. Afterwards visited a Dutch vessel; gave to Norwegian sailor a Norwegian British Workman; he seemed delighted with it; the captain seeing this, called the sailor into his cabin and asked him if he would like to buy a Norwegian Bible, if so, he would pay for it; he consented. The chief officer purchased a Dutch Testament, and one of the crew also bought one. I asked the Norwegian sailor what he was going to do with his Bible, he replied, "Read it on board, and then take it home." The captain said he had known me for twelve years. R. STEPHENS.

[This most interesting record will be continued in a future number.-Ed.]

CRUELTIES ON BOARD AMERICAN SHIPS. THE Rev. Daniel Tracy is, we believe, an old sailor, and now their friend. He is working for the abolition of the Advance Note system. (See page 167.) But the American law which will not allow sailors to be paid off in Foreign ports, is ten thousand times worse. It demoralizes officers; is a snare to Consuls, and an infamous wrong to sailors. Have Americans no time to give for the sailor? These laws are an eternal disgrace to that great and free country. What are we to think of this good declaration, signed by 107 pious firms of New York, on July 10th, 1857

The undersigned shipowners and agents hereby engage and mutually pledge themselves that on and after the first day of July 1857, they will not pay advance wages to seamen. They also declare that they will add to the monthly pay of sailors, 10 per cent. to the men who return in the ships they go out in."

All the shipowners of all the ports of America were invited to join in this declaration, which has proved a deceptive farce. Pay sailors, 10 per cent. if they will only come back again! In every port of the world where seamen's wages are less than in the United States. Sailors are driven from American ships by their officers.

The captain of the "S" tells his men they had better leave, but, hoping to secure the two months extra pay, they declined. Orders were given to the mate to work them up, and drive them out of the ship. He accordingly hung planks over the ship's side, all but under water, and made the sailors stand on them and scrub the ship's copper with_sand, keeping them always on the sunny side of the ship. It was the month of June. The tropical sun poured upon the men's heads, while their feet were in the water, and glared upon their bodies from the copper they were polishing, giving them no small torment. One man ventured to go on deck and complain, but the smart mate thrashed him into submission. That night half of the crew deserted! "This quotation is from Capt. Adam's ably written book, on board the "Rocket." All American shipping people must know what is going

on!-ED.