The Rev. Professor Paulus Cassel, D.D., died on December 23, at Berlin, where he was the Society's Missionary, and also Minister of the Society's Church -Christ Church-for many years. He was appointed to the position in 1868, and resigned in 1891, after 23 years of faithful, devoted, and successful work. He was a convert from Judaism, and brother to one of the rabbis in Berlin. He was a distinguished scholar in Hebrew, Talmudical, and other lore, and also an author; and his eloquence and popularity as a preacher and lecturer were renowned not merely in Berlin, but throughout Germany. God's blessing rested on his indefatigable labours on behalf of the Jews, a very large number of whom he was instrumental in bringing into the Church of Christ. His ardent love for his Jewish brethren also shewed itself in the valiant manner in which he espoused their cause during the anti-Semitic troubles in Germany. A memorial notice of this remarkable and distinguished Missionary is given on page 29.

Mr. Adolfe Goldenberg was the Society's Missionary at Algiers, where he died on December 13. He had been for some years faithfully labouring in the Liverpool and London Missions, and was selected for Algiers in September, 1889. He was then suffering from a weak chest, and it was hoped that the salubrious air of Algeria would fully restore him.

B

Although a temporary improvement in his health set in, it was not sustained, and after three years' faithful work with failing powers he passed away, and was buried in the beautiful English Cemetery at Algiers. We are greatly indebted to the British Consul at Algiers, Sir Lambert Playfair, to the English Chaplain, the Rev. L. Wynne Jones, and to other friends, for the extreme kindness which they shewed to Mr. Goldenberg during his illness, and to the widow and four orphan children.

Mrs. Gebhardt for several years occupied the post of Matron of the Society's Hospital in Jerusalem. About two years ago, owing to increasing weakness and the bad state of her husband's health, she resigned her position with the intention of residing in Europe, but on the way her husband died at Alexandria. Mrs. Gebhardt then returned to the Holy City, where so large a portion of her life had been spent. Being seized with an incurable disease, a room on the Hospital premises was given her, and there she remained until her death under the kind care of Dr. Wheeler and the English nurses. Mrs. Gebhardt was an earnest, devoted, and humble-minded Christian. She performed her arduous duties with great carefulness and conscientiousness, and exercised a very beneficial Christian influence on the patients and servants of the establishment.

**

This month's magazine may fittingly be called "The Abyssinian Number," for the long and vivid narrative of Mr. Argawi occupies a greater part of its pages, to the exclusion of other Missionary news. The description of what Mr. Argawi calls " this time of misery and tears," and "weary tribulation," will be read with sad and sorrowful interest. "Our woes and afflictions are indescribable," "we see nothing

Those who have not seen the Cyclorama of Ancient Egypt should lose no time in doing so, as it will probably be closed to the English public by the end of this month. It represents the children of Israel leaving Memphis on the day of the Exodus. This This beautiful and royal city, one of the oldest and most populous cities of ancient Egypt; the Palace of the Pharaohs, the Great Pyramid with the Second, Third, and other pyramids; the Great Sphinx, numerous temples, statues, villas, and tombs; the Nile, the desert, and other objects of interest, are realistically produced on one of the most beautiful circular paintings ever exhibited. The whole forms a marvellous object-lesson from which more may be learned of the wonderful "treasures in Egypt" in half-an-hour's visit than in years of study.

The Jewish Colonisation Association, which has for its sponsors such celebrities as Baron de Hirsch, Lord Rothschild, Sir Julian Goldsmid, Bart., M.P., has just presented its First Annual Report. It appears that 330,000 acres have been acquired in the Argentine Republic, of which land about 180,000 acres are actually occupied by the colonists, and have been partly ploughed. The number of families already established is about 1,000. It is generally understood that each family of colonists absorbs about 150 acres, which is sufficient for its work, and ample for the maintenance of about six to ten persons. We can heartily wish success to this and similar efforts to find a refuge for the unfortunate Jews who are being driven from house and home in Russia.

In a recent number we gave particulars of a movement on foot in the United States for interceding

with European States on behalf of the Jews. The Rev. J. Hanauer, of Jerusalem, thus alludes to it :"I find that amongst the Jews here there is awakening an ardent enthusiasm for the restoration of their people to this land, though they earnestly deprecate all movements such as that which took place recently in America to enlist the sympathies of

the President of the United States, and induce the United States Government to mediate with Russia, England, Turkey, &c., on their behalf. The general feeling seems to be that such measures are decidedly premature, and will tend not only to aggravate the condition of the Jews in Russia by exasperating the Czar's government, but are likely to arouse the suspicions and ill-feelings of the Mohammedans, who feel that their power is slipping from their grasp, and would be only too ready to make use of any pretext for oppressing the Jew. Years will pass before the United States Government succeeds in doing anything for us, and in the meantime the cry of Judæa for the Jews' will only exasperate the Turks, who have of late years suffered too much loss of territory through similar national cries, and are still smarting on account of the loss of Cyprus and Egypt.' Such has been the opinion which Ashkenazim Jews, with whom I have spoken on this subject, have unanimously expressed."

BAPTISMS IN JERUSALEM.

HE Rev. H. H. Kelk reports :-" On Christmas Day I had the pleasure of receiving into the Church five Jews, who confessed Christ in baptism. Three of them are inmates of the House of Industry. The brother and sister of one were baptized some time since. They were all brought up in our Schools, and when the one who has now been baptized was about twelve years of age the mother came to fetch them away. The eldest declined to go with her, as he was already commencing other work. The girl found her way back after a few months, and brought with her her father's permission to be baptized. The youngest was away for a much longer time, but he has now been back amongst us for about three years. He has been two years in the House of Industry and is learning carpentry very well. But he has stoutly stood out against Christianity, until about two months since, when we all noticed a great change coming over himhe became much more serious and thoughtful. While we are always on the watch to help any one who needs | a helping hand, we do not attempt to force the Spirit's work, but leave Him to work in His own time and way. So the lad was left to fight the matter out in his own

soul until he sought for our guidance, but many special prayers were offered up for him. After some time of conflict he came to me about a month since to ask for baptism. Being quite satisfied with his confession of faith in the Lord Jesus, I agreed to baptize him, after some special instruction and preparation. His elder brother (Mr. Lucas Lupp) is now engaged as a Teacher in our Boys' School.

"Of the others, one has been some time an inquirer. He is a widower, with two sons, who have been for several years in our Boys' School. The elder boy has been for some time ready to be baptized, but he did not wish to force his father's consent, and so by quiet waiting he has at length been baptized with his

father.

"I have now baptized eighteen this year, of whom eleven are direct from Judaism, and all adults except one, the younger boy above named."

THE WHITECHAPEL MISSION HALL AND

DISPENSARY.

E have begun our winter's work in right

earnest in connection with the Goulston Street Mission Hall," reports the Rev. A, Bernstein. "Besides the meetings previously held, we have commenced a Sunday evening service. The first service was held on Sunday, Nov. 22, at which nine Jews were present, who listened attentively to the sermon. I spoke to them privately afterwards, and what was remarkable was that six of them were from Cracow, in Galicia. One I had known some years ago, in the time of the late Dr. Stern, as favourably inclined towards Christianity. During my conversation I elicited from him the fact that his experience and reflection had matured his convic

tion of the truth of the Gospel. He is now regularly

attending the Mission Hall during the hours devoted to the reading-room, for the purpose of being prepared for baptism, and as he is a well-informed man, I hope he will prove satisfactory."

The Mission Hall is open for Jews on the following days:-Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, as a Medical Mission and Dispensary, from 10.30 a.m.; Tuesdays and Fridays, as a Night School for Men, from 6.30 to 8.30 p.m.; Wednesdays, a Sewing Class for Women, from 3 to 4 p.m., a Meeting for Young Women, from 8 to 10.30 p.m.; Saturdays, a Service, with Address, at 5 p.m.; Sunday, a Service, with Address, at 7 p.m.

The Hall is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, as a Reading Room, from 4.30 p.m.

A Special Service in Hebrew (with a German Sermon) is held every Sunday, at 3.30 p.m., at the Episcopal Jews' Chapel, Palestine Place, Cambridge Heath.

We are now in a position to give a translation of four Amharic letters from Mr. M. Argawi, November 14 of last year. How touchingly eloquent which carry up the history of the Mission to is the simple narration of what Mr. Argawi calls this "time of misery and tears!"

We are sure that the hearts of all our readers will go out in loving, deepest sympathy with the Society's small heroic band of Missionaries struggling against fearful odds, bravely carrying on their Master's work, glorying in His Cross, bearing its shame, and fighting its battle, till they rest beneath its shade. Of one brave. Christian hero we are told that, though dying from long as he could move about." In what Mission and starvation," he was preaching Christ crucified as in what land has the power of the Gospel ever been more manifest than amongst the Falashas of

Abyssinia? Truly we know not.

We doubt not that our readers, on reading the following sorrowful letters, will share Mr. Flad's feeling, when he wrote, "I am quite overwhelmed with sadness on seeing the Mission breaking up like this... On the one hand a quantity of money lost, starvation prevailing, the country unsettled, and the roads unsafe, and everything hindering Mission work; and, on the other, the Falashas ready for the Gospel message."

We look back upon the successful labours of the late Dr. Stern, Mr. J. M. Flad, Mr. Rosenthal and others, and upon the work that has been carried on solely by native agents for years, and ask ourselves, Are the results now to be thrown away?— Are the sufferings, the martyrdoms of the past all in vain? Shall not the Missionaries see of the travail of

their souls? Shall the lamp of life, lighted forty years ago, when darkness covered the land and gross darkness the people, now be extinguished? Shall the heralds of the Gospel no longer bring good tidings and publish peace upon the mountains of Abyssinia? May God, in His mercy, overrule all to His own glory, and the safety of the Missionaries, proselytes and the Mission itself, and may it please Him to send us better tidings soon! After stormy, cloudy weather, the sun always shines again. Here is the patience and faith of the saints.

The accompanying Map of Abyssinia, which has been carefully prepared from the latest and most reliable sources, will, we trust, help our readers to understand the Missionary news published this month, and also the intelligence given in June and July, 1889; in July, 1890 (the account with illustrations, of the conference at Monkullo, in February of that year, between Mr. Flad and the native Missionary Agents); in February, March, and April, 1891; and in February, 1892. The above notices comprise all the Missionary information received from Abyssinia since 1885, when Mr. Argawi visited England. The four Mission Stations of the Society-Genda, Alafa, Gorgora, and Sakalt-are near Lake Dembea or Tzana, which may be regarded as the centre of Abyssinia as regards Missionary work. The route taken by Mr. Argawi and his three companions from Abu Hara to Monkullo last autumn, is marked and may give some idea of the long distances the Missionaries and Messengers have to travel from the interior of the country down to Massauah with tidings for Europe, or for the purpose of receiving monetary and other supplies. The journey usually takes from twenty to twenty-four days under favourable conditions, but it has occupied a much longer time in recent years owing to the very disturbed state of the country. When the Missionaries went down to the coast to meet Mr. Flad at Monkullo in February, 1890, they were forty days on the road, having left their homes in November (Intelligence, July, 1890, p. 101), and their return journey to the highlands of Abyssinia took four months to accomplish (Intelligence, February, 1891, p. 17). The route taken by Mr. Flad when he visited Abyssinia in 1873-4, when he took out with him four young Falasha converts, who had been. educated at St. Chrishona, Basle-namely Argawi, Samani, Agashe, and Sanbatu-is also marked. They proceeded first to Genda, on the north of the lake, and then went on to the camp of King John at Goolit, in the south. The Italian sphere of influence, by agreement with the Tigre chiefs, now extends to the river Mareb, comprising the provinces of Menza, Bogos, Hamasen, and Saho.

With regard to other Missions in Abyssinia, at

Keren there is a Roman Catholic Mission (Italian); Geleb, Asmara, Zazega, and Ariko are stations of the Swedish Missionary Society, with headquarters at Monkullo; and there are French Roman Catholic Mission stations at Massauah, Monkullo, and Asmara.

Letter from Mr. Argawi to Mr. Flad, dated Abu Hara, March 28th, 1892:

"A year has now passed-a year abounding in sufferings and tears-but God, in whom we trust, has in mercy helped us through all our troubles. We can truly say, 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.'

"If I had the wings of an eagle, I should fly to Kornthal and tell you by word of mouth all that has befallen us; but this not being the case, I must just use the pen and write down a few things. I told you in my last report that we had planned a long Missionary tour to Macha and Lasta; but these plans came to nothing at the time, for immediately after our return from our last Missionary journey, the whole country was in revolution, which prevented us leaving our huts at Debra Tabor, because of the unsafe state of things. The then ruler, Ras Saude, threw off his allegiance to the Emperor Menilek; proclaiming himself King, and devastated the whole country. Everywhere in the woods, villages and towns-we found dead people. On account of the great famine, people did not shrink from consuming the flesh of dead asses and hyenas. During all this time we had a great many opportunities of preaching repentance, especially among the many soldiers in the camp of the Ras. I went with the brethren to him, imploring him to permit us to go to Shoa to the Emperor, to give him your letter and the carpet you sent through Fanta David. On hearing this, the Ras became terribly angry and asked us: 'Where is your master and father?' 'In Germany,' we said, on which he commanded the carpet forthwith to be brought to him; and when this was done, he promised to send it to his master, but he kept it for himself. When we went to him the first time to ask permission to preach the Word of God in his camp, he spoke very kindly to us and wanted to know a great many things about European government, manners, arts, and so on. When, in connection with my replies, I spoke of God's Word, and said He would give wisdom to the Abyssinians and put an end to the great famine, if the people would return to Him and be converted, he praised these words and charged us to go to the camp and teach them to his ministers. But he would not permit us to go to the Emperor, because he was looked upon as a rebel.

"In June, 1891, the Emperor invited the Ras