some charming volume from the same source. Many of these latter, as well as the less recent lives of eminent missionaries, however, are so large as to deter any except those with much leisure on their hands from attempting to read them. And it has seemed to us a task worth essaying to condense the main features and events of the lifetime and work of these heroes of the mission field into a few pages, with the hope that thereby the reader's mind may be informed and greater enthusiasm in missions awakened. A religious periodical, one of whose avowed purposes, as defined in the Editor's preface to the last volume, is to "chronicle God's doings both in the Church and the world," ought to give prominence in every number to one or other of the multitudinous phases of Christian missions. And we cannot but think that the constituency for which the Editor has to cater will approve of his intention to supply them during the year now commencing with a series of missionary sketches. Little more will be aspired to than to be the hand that holds the pen. The articles will be manufactured rather than original, and to the larger volumes of biography and auto-biography will belong the responsibility of the facts and incidents contained in them. No principle of selection will be adopted, but the sketches will be taken from the wide and rich field of mission biography. I. HENRY MARTYN. There is a fitness in commencing the series with this name, because he was one of the first heroes of modern missions, and laboured in a field that during the last hundred years has yielded some of the richest results to Christianity. One, too, of whom Sir J. Stephen wrote that "his is the one heroic name which adorns the annals of the Church of England from the days of Elizabeth to our own." And yet seldom has a life opened with less promise of the heroic than has that of the little Cornish schoolboy, of seven years of age, whom we find at the Truro Grammar School in 1788. His father had been a humble miner, but by dint of mental application had now become a merchant's clerk. A weakly child, with the family taint of consumption in his frame, ridiculed and tyrannised over because he shunned the sports and society of other boys, it is not a very bright picture that we get of the childhood of little Harry Martyn. Yet must this shrinking nature have had, latent within it, the heroic spirit that so remarkably showed itself in after life. For at the age of fifteen this weakly and not over-studious lad started out alone from his Cornish home to Oxford-no insignificant journey in those days-to compete for a scholarship. He failed,. "Since trifles make the sum of human things, But all may shun the guilt of giving pain." It has been found that many who could not conduct Guild meetings or take other active work, were yet interested and willing to identify themselves with the movement. It has also been thought well that Guild officials should themselves be closely attached to the main body. The fund necessary to furnish prizes for the competitions announced in the Juvenile, and to pay the small working expenses, should have a reliable source and not depend on casual subscriptions, liable, occasionally, to cripple the Guild by lamentable fallings off. To obtain these advantages the admission of honorary members is now proposed, and all readers are most earnestly invited to join the Guild in this capacity. Names, addresses, and first subscriptions of sixpence, or any larger sum, should be sent immediately to A. C. C., 38, Avondale-square, Old Kent-road, London, S.E., when a full copy of the rules will be sent. Lists of names received before the 10th of each month will appear in the issue of this Magazine for the following month, the first list being printed next month. It is intended to give in these pages notices of Guild meetings, accounts of places, &c., of interest to the Guild, for which space cannot be found in the Juvenile, and occasional short outlines of addresses suggested for conductors of Guild meetings. Circulars for superintendent ministers are enclosed in the Magazine parcels, but to other ministers are sent by post. EMINENT MISSIONARIES. INTRODUCTORY. THE literature of Missions is daily becoming more voluminous and valuable. Any attempt to acquire a knowledge of the present condition of the human race will find in it an important auxiliary. From this source are constantly coming fresh and important contributions to the almost new sciences of comparative religion, philology, and ethnology, while in more practical spheres it is rendering invaluable aid to trade and commerce. Yet again, for those of literary tastes and leisure, it is furnishing some of the most fascinating romances of voyage, travel, and exploration, and scarcely a month passes without the realm of biography being enriched with some charming volume from the same source. Many of these latter, as well as the less recent lives of eminent missionaries, however, are so large as to deter any except those with much leisure on their hands from attempting to read them. And it has seemed to us a task worth essaying to condense the main features and events of the lifetime and work of these heroes of the mission field into a few pages, with the hope that thereby the reader's mind may be informed and greater enthusiasm in missions awakened. A religious periodical, one of whose avowed purposes, as defined in the Editor's preface to the last volume, is to "chronicle God's doings both in the Church and the world," ought to give prominence in every number to one or other of the multitudinous phases of Christian missions. And we cannot but think that the constituency for which the Editor has to cater will approve of his intention to supply them during the year now commencing with a series of missionary sketches. Little more will be aspired to than to be the hand that holds the pen. The articles will be manufactured rather than original, and to the larger volumes of biography and auto-biography will belong the responsibility of the facts and incidents contained in them. No principle of selection will be adopted, but the sketches will be taken from the wide and rich field of mission biography. I. HENRY MARTYN. There is a fitness in commencing the series with this name, because he was one of the first heroes of modern missions, and laboured in a field that during the last hundred years has yielded some of the richest results to Christianity. One, too, of whom Sir J. Stephen wrote that "his is the one heroic name which adorns the annals of the Church of England from the days of Elizabeth to our own." And yet seldom has a life opened with less promise of the heroic than has that of the little Cornish schoolboy, of seven years of age, whom we find at the Truro Grammar School in 1788. His father had been a humble miner, but by dint of mental application had now become a merchant's clerk. A weakly child, with the family taint of consumption in his frame, ridiculed and tyrannised over because he shunned the sports and society of other boys, it is not a very bright picture that we get of the childhood of little Harry Martyn. Yet must this shrinking nature have had, latent within it, the heroic spirit that so remarkably showed itself in after life. For at the age of fifteen this weakly and not over-studious lad started out alone from his Cornish home to Oxford-no insignificant iourney in those days-to compete for a scholarship. He failed, Oxford though some of his examiners thought he ought to have succeeded. It was one of those failures that are better than success. was then more noted for debauchery than learning; and, perhaps, now discovering this for the first time, and fearing that he might have fallen a victim to the prevalent profligacy, the lad thankfully returned to his home and school. Two years later we find him at the sister University, not having developed even yet into a severe student. Oddly enough, a good deal of his time at Cambridge seems to have been spent in shooting birds and studying "Lord Chesterfield's Letters to his Son." So far no special aptitude for mathematics had been displayed. But beginning with the dreary process of committing the problems of Euclid to memory, he succeeded in becoming Senior Wrangler of his year. A painful incident shows how far he was from spiritual fitness for the work to which he was so soon to devote himself. a fit of passion, which seems to have been only too common ar experience at that time, he flung a knife at the head of a friend who had crossed him. He just missed his mark, but he was nearer being a murderer than missionary just then. In But the turning point was near. In 1794 his father's heart was gladdened with a letter, that told him his son headed all competitors in an examination. A week later Henry received a letter from home. His father was dead. It was a terrible blow to the young man, whose passionate temper had given the aged father frequent sorrow. The spirit of conviction had entered his heart. "Lord Chesterfield" was laid aside for the Bible. He wrote a form of prayer, in which professedly he sought pardon, but it was evident the conviction was not deep enough. The loftiest academica} honour now fell to his lot, but he wrote, "I obtained my highest wishes, but was surprised to find I had grasped a shadow." Wel} for him, two very blessed influences were at work: the one a sister, of most beautiful and affectionate spirit, but for whom, in all probability, the cause of Christ had never possessed the heroic missionary; the other, that devoted evangelical clergyman, Charles Simeon, a sort of Methodist within the Established Church, as Wesley was outside it, and a singularly mighty spiritual force in the University. Soon Martyn's letters and journal show that he has become a sincere Christian and a faithful witness for the Master. He had been away from the University on a visit to his home, and his journals show at this time a beautiful combination of culture and Christian life. "Since I have known God in a saving manner, painting, poetry, and music have had charms unknown to me before. I have received what I suppose is a taste for them, for religion has refined my mind and made it susceptible of impressions from the sublime and beautiful." Country scenes awakened within him the purest joy; every breeze, he said, seemed to breathe love into his heart. On his return to the University, a simple circumstance decides for him his great life-work. His friend Simeon is earnestly talking, as his wont was, of the good that might be done by a single life-the missionary Carey is the illustration he uses. Suddenly young Martyn's heart is fired with holy enthusiasm, which is further intensified by reading of Brainerd and his work among the North-west Indians. After a struggle, that in a nature such as his, delighting in refined and cultured society, and tenderly attached to home and friends, was one of extreme anguish, he resolved to abandon the splendid career now opening before him in connection with the University, and to lay himself as a sacrifice on the missionary altar. At first it seemed as though Providence would thwart him. The little property left him by his father was lost to him, and his devoted sister became dependent upon him. He became Mr. Simeon's curate, and also a public examiner at the University. Suddenly the difficulty was in part surmounted. A chaplaincy in connection with the East India Company was vacant. Mr. Simeon has influence with the directors; the post is secured for Martyn. At once preparations are commenced for departure. Tender ties have to be severed; one that we hear of now for the first time, but which is destined to bring much bitterness into his life. The old home is visited. Crowds flock to hear the fervent young preacher, and are deeply affected. Most precious seal of all to his ministry is his beloved sister. When the parting time comes the intensity of his anguish is so great, that at the inn where he stays on his journey from London to Portsmouth he faints and falls into convulsions. The voyage was destined to be one of peculiar vicissitudes. Two days after leaving Portsmouth the vessel is weather-bound at Falmouth, almost within sight of his home. Once more he sees "the person dearest to me upon earth." Once more the bitter pang of parting has to be gone through. The voyage resumed, we, to-day, can form only faint conceptions of its length and its difficulties. Portsmouth was left in July, 1805: his "eyes were gratified by the sight of India" on April 21, 1806. Next day anchor is cast in Madras Roads. His journal records his feelings as he came, for the first time, in contact with the heathen. Another weary voyage to Calcutta, and soon we find him settled at Aldeen, close by, in an old idol temple which has been fitted up for him, and where he tells us he feels something of superstitious dread at being in a place once inhabited, as it were, by devils, but yet feels disposed to be trium |