who were her associates, they put a heavy iron ring round her neck and round each ankle. They also fastened these rings together by heavy iron chains from the neck to the ankles, and then bound her to four more Christians. Five others were also bound together, and there was a third party of sixteen also bound together. Every Sabbath day, for seven months, they placed these three parties before the people, that they might see how they were punished for keeping holy the Lord's day. At the end of the seven months they separated them, and sent them into different parts of the country. My wife, Rabodo, was among those they sent to the west. She was left in bonds, and died on the 4th of March, 1859. Yes, she died in her chains, her works follow her. They pursued me for four years and three months, seeking to put me to death. But the Lord watches over the afflicted, and will not give the enemy to rejoice over them. My children they have sold into slavery, and my property they have taken, so that I have now no house to dwell in or land to live upon." The writer of this letter is one of the most effective Native Pastors at the capital, but it is obvious that he and others of his fellow sufferers have no means of providing suitable places of worship; and surely they will not appeal for help to the Christians of Britain who enjoy liberty, peace, and abundance, and ask in vain! The Bishop of Mauritius in his journal gives the following testimony to the poverty of the Native Christians, and expresses his earnest hope that the liberality of British Christians will secure for them capacious and appropriate edifices in which they may assemble for divine worship. "The congregations have so long been in a state of extreme depression as to worldly circumstances, and so many of their members have so recently been delivered from persecution and imminent danger of death, that they are not able to do this of themselves, and it is to be hoped that there will be no difficulty on the part of friends and brethren at home in showing their practical sympathy with the survivors of such devoted servants of Christ, by giving gladly of their substance to help them." Mr. Ellis, in his earnest appeal for help in this important case, observes, "The Christians here will do all they can, although twenty-six years of spoliation and suffering have greatly reduced their means. But they are willing, and will, I have no doubt, as far as they are able, render effectual aid in promoting the evangelization of Madagascar." In his last letter, Mr. E. renews his appeal for funds to carry out this great work, which the Native Christians, from their deep poverty, are unable to accomplish; and we feel assured that these united testimonies must excite the spontaneous generosity of our friends throughout the country. INTERIOR OF SOUTH AFRICA. DEATH OF MRS. THOMAS. Ir is now about four and a half years since the Rev. Thos. Thomas and Mrs. Thomas, accompanied by three other young Missionaries and their wives, left England to proceed to Central South Africa. The Mission amongst the Matebele was actually commenced about the month of October 1859, and since that time Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have borne an active and zealous part in the work, which in its present elementary stage has involved no little difficulty and trial. It is with much concern we have to announce the death of Mrs. Thomas from the effect of fever, superinduced by a severe cold, together with that of her infant, leaving her husband and two little boys to lament their irreparable loss. Mrs. Thomas entered into the joy of her Lord on the 10th of June ult., having survived her infant only three days. In a letter referring to the death of his pious and devoted wife, Mr. Thomas observes: "As in health and strength, so also, when afflicted and about to bid an eternal farewell to this earthly scene, she was perfectly calm and fearless, and seemed to have no misgivings as to how it might be with her beyond death. "Indeed, from her prayers and her praises, as well as from her remarks to us during her short but very severe illness, we may unhesitatingly conclude that she has had an abundant entrance into the kingdom of her Lord and Saviour." Mr. Thomas expresses his grateful sense of the kindness and attention he had received from his fellow-labourers, Mr. and Mrs. Sykes during the period of his heavy trial. BERBICE. DEATH OF MRS. RAIN. Br the last West India mail we received the painful intelligence of the death of the truly estimable wife of the Rev. Thomas Rain, of Brunswick, Berbice. So recently as October 1861, Mrs. Rain, in company with her husband, left England to proceed to Berbice, and it was in her heart to have spent years of devoted labour for the spiritual benefit of the female population of that colony; but in the all-wise but mysterious arrangements of Divine Providence, it has been ordered otherwise. After a brief but severe attack of illness, Mrs. Rain was called to her rest and reward on the 15th November. We deeply sympathize with her bereaved husband, and trust he may be graciously supported and consoled under this deeply afflictive dispensation. ARRIVAL OF MISSIONARIES. The Rev. Colin Campbell and Mrs. Campbell from Bangalore, and the Rev. J. J. Dennis, Mrs. Dennis and family, from Nagercoil, South Travancore, per "Earl of Hardwicke," December 16th. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. THE thanks of the Directors are respectfully presented to the following, viz. :— For Rev. S. Mateer, Pareychaley-To the Children of Providence Chapel Sabbath School, Uxbridge, For a Box of Clothing; To theJuvenile Society, Independent Chapel, Thirsk, For a Parcel of Clothing. For Mrs. Corbold, Madras-To the Young Ladies' Missionary Working Society, Park Chapel, Camden Town, per Miss Pringle, For a Case of Useful Articles, value £54. For the Madagascar Mission-To the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, For 24 Bibles with marginal references; To the Committee of the Religious Tract Society, For 24 Copies of Dr. Eadie's Edition of Cruden's Concordance. For Rev. J. Hughes, Griqua Town-To Friends at Colchester, per Miss Kent, For a valuable Case of Clothing and Useful Articles. For Mrs. Thompson, Cape Town-To the Kendall Association of the Female Education Society, For a Box of Clothing. For Mrs. R. B. Taylor, Cradock-To the Young Ladies of Miss Scammell's Establishment, Shrewsbury, For a Case of Clothing, value £36. For Rev. W. J. Gardner, Jamaica-To Friends at Mere, per Mrs. Erlebach, For a Box of Fancy Articles. For Mrs. Alloway, Jamaica-To Miss Cook, Shrewsbury, For a Box of Books; To the Juvenile Missionary Society, George Street Chapel, Croydon, For a Parcel of Clothing. For Rev. W. W. Gill, Mangaia-To Mrs. Esam, Regent's Park, For a Box of School Mate rials. To Mrs. Davies, Aberystwith, Mr. J. Lance, West Brixton, and to a Friend, for Evangelical and other Magazines, &c. MISSIONARY CONTRIBUTIONS. From November 18th, to December 17th, 1862, inclusive. Offord Road, Sun day Schools, per 0 10 0 026 300 Mrs. Combs 026 026 1 0 0 Ditto, for Polynesia 0 10 For the Madagascar A Friend, per Mrs. Mr. W. Blankley Mr. Pritchard Mr. Lee Mr. Simonds Mr. Greenland Mr. Robinson Mr. C. Blankley Mrs. Blankley.. 200 Miss Fenn. Rev. S. Blackmore... 1 0 0 Miss Foster Mrs. Porter. Small Sums 050 Park Chapel, Camden Town. Mr. Barker .......... G. F. C. 1 0 100 100 026 Collected by Miss Woollings, Mr. Ginger 02 6 0 1 1Mr. & Mrs. Bowen, 01 1 010 01 0 for Native Boy, 01 0 G. Hall, Madras... 4 Mrs. Payne Mrs. Pearce, lected Miss Stapler. Miss A. Nichol Col 000. Warton, Esq....... at Mission 800 Mrs. Warton Miss Warton 117 6 100 0 10 0 100 0 10 0 0 10 0 100 0 18 0 220 0 10 0 110 110 0 10 0 0 10 0 For Madagascar Memorial Churches. 0 1 1Mr. & Mrs. Tever- 0 1 0 Mr. Balsher 010 ......... Miss C. Smith. Mrs. Simmons. 500 Master Frank Payne 100 Vestry Box 0 0 6 Surrey Chapel Aux- Trinity Chapel, Brixton. 090 March, 1862 ....... 57 Rev. S. Eldridge, President Collected by Miss A. Owen. Ditto, Sept. 1862...... 4 8 9 D. Ginger, Esq., Treasurer. Sabbath Schools...... 630 Collection 656 For Memorial Caurches in D. Ginger, Esq....... Walthamstow. Juvenile Association, per Mrs. Evans 10 0 0 500 8 210 |