CHRISTIAN FRIENDS OUR picture gives you a view of a ceremony performed by some ignorant nominal Christians in the River Jordan. The ceremony is called the Jordan Baptism. The following account of it was given by our Missionary, Dr. Sandreczki, in the year 1853 "About seven in the morning I left Jerusalem with some European companions, to go to the Jordan with the caravan of the Greek pilgrims. The number of these pilgrims was immense. I endeavoured to engage some of them in conversation, but though they seemed pleased to hear a stranger speak to them in their own language, it was evident that they looked upon me with suspicion. When we halted in the evening I found two Greeks near our tent, preparing to lay themselves down for sleep on a rug that they had brought with them. I addressed them as neighbours, and asked them whether they believed that the water of the Jordan was able to wash away their sins. One of them gave no answer: the other said, 'We have been to Mar Saba, and the monks there told us we must go to the Jordan to be cleansed from our sins. We are ignorant people, and must believe what we are told to believe.' I told them that we Protestants knew but of one thing able to cleanse us from the guilt of sin, namely, the blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; that we taught men to believe in Christ's atoning sacrifice, and to turn away from all wickedness with a contrite and penitent heart; that this was the Gospel preached by the apostles; and that whoever preached any other Gospel was declared in holy Scripture to be accursed. The poor Greek again confessed his ignorance, and said that he had often seen priests doing the very things which they forbade other people to do; but that he was bound to obey them, as all his countrymen did, according to the religion of their fathers. "About one o'clock, after midnight, we got up, and the tents were struck. About three o'clock we heard the beating of kettle-drums, which was the signal for mounting our horses. We kept back as much as possible, to avoid the throng and crush. It was past daybreak when we reached the west bank of the Jordan. The bathing had already commenced. Men, women, and children were pressing forward to get into the river, where they dipped, or were dipped, three times. were without the shirt prepared for the occasion, which shirt is afterwards laid aside, to be again worn on the dying bed." None Who could have supposed that such a ceremony would ever have been performed by persons calling themselves, Christians; or that any, professing to regard the Bible as the word of God, would believe that bathing in a river would cleanse them from sin? It is among such persons that our Palestine Missionaries are labouring, endeavouring to make them acquainted with the pure Gospel, and to lead them to faith in Christ. That these labours have not been altogether without success will be seen from the following extracts from the journal of another Missionary, the Rev. J. Zeller May 1865-Having heard of the intention of the Bishop of Jerusalem to come to Caiffa by the Austrian steamer, on his way to Nazareth, I went there, May the 12th, to meet him. It was not without some difficulty that I procured a room for a night's lodging. After having bought some provisions in the market, I went to visit some people with whom I was acquainted. The sun had gone down, but no trace of the steamer appeared. I had, however, not long gone to rest, when the report of a gun announced the arrival of the ship. Soon afterwards I was in an Arabic boat on my way to the steamer, which was, on account of a brisk west wind, a good way off the land. From some distance I recognised in the moonlight the tall figure of the bishop on the deck; and the lion-like voice of Mustapha, the bishop's old janissary, was not easily to be mistaken. Early next morning the bishop left for Nazareth; but, soon after, we met a messenger from Mr. Huber, to inform us of the attack made by the Latins upon his workmen at the school. A few miles before reaching Nazareth we were met by a large number of Protestants, and the delight of seeing the bishop was written in every face. Next morning, the 4th Sunday after Easter, I preached on Rev. xviii. 4. After the service, the Protestants, also the Sheikh and the Elders of the Greek church, met in my house to greet the bishop. Monday and Tuesday were taken up by receiving the visits of the notables of the townMohammedans, Latins, and Greeks. Also the Turkish Governor called, and tried to excuse his partiality against the Protestants during the late attacks. The Greek bishop, who also called, was much more friendly than on a former occasion. On Wednesday the bishop went to Reneh. All the elders of the Greek community, and the Protestants, gathered together in the schoolroom. The Greeks seemed to be ashamed of their enmity, and ready for reconciliation, especially as the Sheikh of the Protestants had invited them to partake with us of the great dinner he had prepared for the occasion. On Thursday I accompanied the bishop to Shefamer. Several members of the congregation came half-way to meet us. The house where we lodged was soon filled with people; and it was most interesting to see how the bishop knew to lead the conversation from different general topics, in a pointed and striking manner, to the one thing needful. Late in the evening, and early in the morning, all the Protestants assembled with us for reading a portion of the holy Scriptures and prayer. In the evening we all returned to Nazareth. On Saturday the bishop rode to Yafa, another out-station of Nazareth, and paid a visit to our good old schoolmaster, Saleh. The Franciscans from Nazareth had done every possible thing to trouble the few Protestants there. They had established a school in opposition to ours; they had taken a piece of ground from Saleh's son-inlaw, a Protestant, to build their school upon it; and they instigated some wicked people, who had become Latins, to beat Saleh's wife and daughters. Under all these troubles, good Saleh is firm on his post : his beard got white, and his honest cheerful face a little more serious, but his serenity remains imperturbable, and his patience never fails him. During the following days the bishop and his daughters visited the boys' and girls' school at Nazareth, and several Protestant families. The interest taken by our guests in the Mission, their sympathy shown to every one, and the kindness with which they spoke to all, and inquired into their spiritual state and their temporal affairs, greatly animated our Mission, and brought new life and happiness into our congregation, suffering so often under the_depressing influence of persecution. It is so rare a case that Europeans speaking Arabic show a really heartfelt interest in the spiritual condition of the natives, and a desire to let them feel their love, that this visit of the Bishop will for a long time be remembered here. On Ascension-day I preached on Ephesians iv. 10, "He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things;" showing how the ascension of Christ is the bridge between heaven and earth. This day was the last the dear bishop spent with us. On Friday, the 26th of May, he went to Jenin, and from thence to Nablous. Some distance from Nablous we were met by Mr. Fallsheer, and a number of Protestants, and soon we were under the hospitable roof of Mr. Fallsheer. This large and convenient house belonged formerly to Ande Azam, the British agent, and was the first Í had entered on coming to Nablous in 1855. Much has been changed since then, but the work of the Lord is again carried on vigorously in this place. The bishop was, as usual, besieged by people, and, in spite of the fatigue of the journey, never tired to converse with all, and to arrange all the questions which had been reserved for a personal visit. On Sunday after Ascension-day we found the chapel in the bishop's schoolhouse thronged with Protestants from Nablous and the neighbouring villages: the women were seated in an adjoining room. I preached from the text John xiv. 19. In the afternoon Chalil el Kasis, from Nouseshbeen (formerly a Greek priest), preached on the text 1 Cor. v. 6—8. The sermon was delivered in the peculiar dialect of the peasants of Samaria, contained many very good thoughts, and was a proof of the earnestness and the thoroughly evangelical views of Chalil. This man had, for many years past, been in connexion with the Protestants in Nablous, but, being a Greek priest and a man of superior intelligence and influence, his conduct had become very odious to the Greek convents, for he made no secret of his religious convictions, and already, a year ago, had permitted once the Missionary in Nablous to preach in his church. At last a dispute arose between him and the Greek Bishop, who imprisoned and ill-treated him. Chalil now declared himself publicly a Protestant, and was therefore excommunicated by the Greek bishop, and the excommunication was extended upon all who would converse with Chalil, or had any thing to do with him. In spite of this, nearly the whole village followed his example; but afterwards the Greek bishop succeeded, by threats, promises, and money, to raise an opposition against Chalil. I was greatly interested in this man, who at once makes the impression of sincerity, and I resolved to visit him on my way back. Next morning I had to take leave of the bishop, who proceeded to Jerusalem, whilst I left in the evening for Nouseshbeen, the village of Chalil. Mr. Fallsheer accompanied me. We were travelling through the country anciently called Samaria. The pre sent inhabitants are very ferocious. The different villages are constantly at war with one another. Blood is often shed. Until lately no traveller could pass through these villages without being insulted, and no Missionary or native Christian could have thought of settling there for the purpose of preaching the Gospel. Now God has raised an instrument to execute his good pleasure in these places, which seemed hopelessly shut against Missionary work. The priest (Chalil) was Late very glad to see us, and most of the villagers were soon gathered round us. It was touching to hear how paternally and affectionately Chalil spoke to his people, and how wisely he knew to deal with the Mohammedans present. His courage in professing Christ and his patience under persecution was a great encouragement to me. in the night we retired to the threshing-floor, and, avoiding the beds and blankets offered to us, covered ourselves with straw, and slept in the open air, only a little disturbed by the storm and wind in the night. Early next morning I rose and departed for Galilee, the good priest walking before our horses with the vigour of Elijah, to show us the way over the mountain. I have great hope for the Mission in Nablous, for Mr. and Mrs. Fallsheer, with their steady and cheerful character, are the right people there, and Chalil, from Nouseshbeen, is a most valuable assistant. The schools of the bishop in Nablous, Rafidia, and Nouseshbeen, are flourishing, and Chalil is working as catechist in all the villages round. The work of this man must in time tell upon the Mohammedan population, and this case strikingly shows how important it is that such sparks of spiritual life should be preserved and fanned into a fire, if we have the conversion of the Mohammedans in view. The gathering together of sparks is the collecting of converts into a congregation, where the different members stir up, edify and assist one another, and may thus be raised from their depravity and their conversation according to the manner of their forefathers, to be a light in the darkness. Subscribers and Collectors of one Penny a week are entitled to a copy of this Paper free. the stations in North-west America the snow lies thick upon the ground four, five, or even six months of the year. You may travel hundreds miles without coming to a town or a village, and the few places marked up the map are often nothing more than a collection of three or four hous for some agent of the Hudson's-Bay Company, to which, for a few weeks the year, fifty, or a hundred, or two hundred Indians will come to sell the traders the furs of the wild animals which they catch in the forest a in the plains. To these Indians the Missionaries preach the Gospel, givi them what instruction they can when they visit the trading station teaching them to read their own language, and then giving them portion of the holy Scripture, by which they may make themselves, and any of the countrymen whom they may meet, further acquainted with the way of sa vation. As only a few Indians can be met at each station, our Missionari have frequently to travel from one station to another. Mr. Phair, who fir went out about two years ago, was engaged in one of these journeys, whe the interesting fact took place, of which he gives the following account. Arrival of Indians at White Dog. July 13, 1864-The party from Rat Portage reached the Mission house to-day, and, soon after their arrival, wished to have an interview with me. I sent for Baptiste, and had their deputation brought into my room, from whom I soon learnt for what intent they had come. "We are," said their representative, 66 a party of Indians from Rat Portage, most of us engaged servants of the Honourable Hudson's-Bay Company, who have asked and obtained permission from our master to come here and tell you that we have long thought of joining the praying people, and would like now to be baptized-ourselves, our wives, and our children—and become like them.” Having said this, I asked whether the party would be able to spend the coming Sabbath with us; to which he replied that they had only obtained leave of absence for a few days, and had brought provisions only for that time, so that to remain longer would be almost impossible. I then told him I could not decide yet what I should do for his party, but should arrange for seeing them as soon as possible, after which I would let them know what I could do. The man left, and I arranged with Mr. Spence to have them all brought up to the Mission house, where I could have each one brought into my room an examined personally. In a short tim they were all in readiness, so I wen to the door and shook hands with th twelve all round, then told them could only see one at a time, but would try and get through as quickly as pos sible. At ten o'clock A.M. the first man entered my room, where we were already waiting for him, and, after a slight pause, I asked him to begin and tell me his mind openly and unreservedly, hoping in this way to get at the motive which actuated him in applying for baptism. The man then began, and told, in his own roundabout way, a story which I should like to pen down did space permit: suffice it merely to say, that this poor man was able to give the most decided proof of his sincerity in offering himself as a candidate for baptism. His knowledge of God was small, but hopeful, and his willingness to be instructed pleasing; so much so, that at the close of our interview I had no hesitation in telling him I should be willing to admit him, according to his desire, into the visible church of Christ by baptism. adults were all examined in like manner, and all gave satisfactory proof of their meetness for the holy rite, except one, and in his case I seemed to have a doubt as to whether he was a suitable person: he was the only one I rejected. The other eleven men rejoiced when I The |