embarrassed about the means, without which neither can be done. The ingathering of funds is a very vital matter, and "making both ends meet," as the expression is, is an anxious problem. At the present time, especially, eager eyes are watching the financial thermometer. The "Urgent Appeal" lately put forth has met with some response, but not sufficient to allay all fears with regard to the state of the balance sheet on March 31 next. Once more we earnestly commend the needs of the General Fund to the liberal sympathies of the Society's numerous, well-tried, and proved friends.

One such has recently written as follows :— "Would it not be advisable to follow the example of the "Bible Society Bible Society" in proposing in proposing that all Subscribers should increase their subscriptions to half as much again as they now give? I shall be very glad to do so at this "Urgent Appeal," and doubt not that many would do the same. To the Jew first. A thought from one of the least of God's children. Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.""

The "Palestine Exhibitions," which have been held. at Felixstowe, Stroud, Plymouth, Norwich, Croydon, Clifton, Tunbridge Wells, Cambridge, Bath, and Cheltenham, have been signal successes, and have probably aroused a more widely spread interest in the Society than has ever been felt at any period of its history. These undertakings involve a vast amount of preparation and real hard work, and the heartiest thanks of the Committee are given to all who have taken part in their organization. We already hear that it is in contemplation to hold similar exhibitions in the present year at Plymouth, Brixton, Birmingham, and other important Associations.

We humbly trust that the year which has just closed has been one of real blessing in the Mission Field. As in the spiritual life of an individual Christian, so in the spiritual life of a great Missionary corporation, there can be no standing still. There must be either progress or retrogression. The various reports published month by month in these pages, from the widely-scattered centres of Mission life and activity, give good ground for believing that the Word preached to Jews has not been in vain. When successes and encouragements are placed in one side of the scales, and failures and disappointments in the other, the balance is unmistakably in favour of the former, for which we thank God and take courage.

In the Holy Land, which is every year becoming a more important Mission Field, there are marked signs

of progress. The number of Jews brought within sound of the Gospel is larger, the distribution of the Bible-Old and New Testaments-is increasing, and the capacity of the Society's Missionary Institutions is being more and more taxed to the utmost. The opening of a New Mission School for Jewish Girls, on November 3rd last (see page 4), was an event giving much promise of increased usefulness. When our Jerusalem Mission Hospital (the arrangements for which are being pressed forward) has been built, the necessary and successful work of Medical Missions will receive a further impetus. This department has already been recently strengthened by the appointment of Mr. E. W. Gurney Masterman as an Assistant Medical Missionary.

The expectation with regard to the usefulness of the Mission Hall and Dispensary in Whitechapel has been fully realized, as the register of Jews attending during the year testifies. Owing to the prevalence of the cholera in Europe during the past summer and autumn, the number of immigrant refugee Jews from Russia has considerably diminished. But as their lot has not been ameliorated, there is every probability that the exodus from that country, though temporarily checked, will sooner or later reach larger dimensions than ever, and the Jewish population in England, Palestine, and America will be proportionately augmented.

The Persian Mission has been passing through a serious crisis. Mr. M. Norollah, banished from Ispahan, for a time only we hope, owing to the machinations of persons not well disposed to the Mission, has been carrying on the work from Teheran. The news from Abyssinia published this month on page 3 unfortunately shows that the Society's agents and converts in this distressed land, scattered and unprotected as they are, carry their lives in their hands, and that the work is being continued only with the utmost difficulty.

During the past year, which opened so gloomily by reason of the death of H.R.H. the Duke of Clarence, we have had to mourn the loss of many old and devoted friends. The Rev. James Cohen, Vicar of Heston, an old and valued member of the Committee, passed away on the eve of the new year, and he was but the first of many since gone to their rest within the year. Amongst them were Bishops Harold Browne and Crowther, Vice-Patrons of the Society; Admiral Rodd and the Rev. J. H. Moran,

for many years active members of Committee'; [the Rev. C. J. Goodhart, Vicar of Wetherden, and Honorary Secretary of the Society, who formerly held the Secretaryship, and who throughout a long, laborious, and faithful life was so closely linked with the Society; the Rev. E. Ludlow, an Honorary Life Governor; the Rev. T. Ellerby, Organizing Secretary for the Dominion of Canada; the Rev. Dr. Klee, and Mr. A. E. Ifland, devoted Missionaries of many years' standing; and other friends, too numerous, alas! to mention, but whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

THE LATEST TIDINGS FROM ABYSSINIA.

R. J. M. FLAD writes from Kornthal on 28th November

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"I have just received letters from our agents in Abyssinia by the post which was due last April. On the 10th of this month Messrs. Argawi, Negusie, Meherat, and Goschu Beleta arrived at Monkullo. Sanbatu and Hiob Negusie would have come with them, but from starving they were too weak to walk the distance. The others came to Monkullo because they had nothing to eat, and to consult about the future. Our messenger, Fanta David, and all the merchants who travelled with him, were killed at night by robbers, and the 800 dollars (about £133), the mules, the books, and the letters were taken by the robbers. On this account our poor agents had to give up their Schools and their projected Missionary journey, and were feeding during the rainy season upon grass, wild fruits, and herbs. A rich and friendly Abyssinian merchant lent them 20 dollars for their journey to Monkullo, and gave them a donkey to carry their food. Mr. Argawi asks the Committee's permission to come to Europe for consultation, and says the other three might go back provided with money for themselves and those behind. The bearer of the 500 dollars was not killed, but was dishonest and disappeared with the money. He was a relation of Fanta David, who had every confidence in him; and it seems Argawi had too. Before the sad catastrophe of Fanta David, two of the agents made a Missionary tour to Lasta, and Argawi with two others a Missionary tour to Metsha. One family was baptized in January last. The aged mother of Debtera Beroo died in peace,, sure of her salvation through Jesus Christ, and praising God that He had brought her from darkness to light. Aba Teesasu died also of starvation. Also Liena with his family. Debtera Alamy was devoured by wild beasts. Kendy Tanta with his family died from starvation, but he was

preaching Christ crucified as long as he could move about. Debtera Gebra Heiwot lost wife and children. He is at Debra Tabor with Sanbatu and Hiob Negusie and other starving proselytes.

"The Agents beg an increase of their salaries during the time of the famine. Food is excessively dear: a cow costs 80-90 dollars (formerly 3-4 dollars); an ox, 60 dollars (formerly 4-6 dollars); wheat was in old times one dollar, but now costs 24-30 dollars.

"The above information is from Argawi's letters. The Amharic letters I have not yet read. A full translation of them will be sent as soon as possible. Such a sad letter as this I have not written in all my life. I am quite overwhelmed with sadness on seeing the Mission breaking up like this. The question now isWhat is to be done? I do not see the Lord's will clearly. 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! To give up now will mean the destruction of the Society's Missionaries and all the proselytes."

The Rev. Dr. Ellis, of Warsaw, reports that the English Services on Sunday were resumed on the 9th October, he having returned to Warsaw on the 6th. The attendance averaged 38 each Sunday. "As children of Hebrew Christians and of Christians," says Dr. Ellis, "are growing around us, I began a course of catechizing for their benefit on Sunday afternoon 23rd, to be continued every Sunday immediately after the Sermon, except on Sacrament Sunday. Ten children attended on the 23rd, and twelve on the 30th. May the effort be blessed to them and to the grown-up people who were present! Eighteen enquirers, most of whom were prepared by Mr. Blumberg during my absence, applied for baptism. I instructed them carefully, and after due preparation, and finding that they professed sincere faith in Jesus as the true Messiah and Saviour, I baptized ten, the others requiring further instruction. I also baptized six children. I have been so fully occupied with this work, also with visiting proselytes and Christians, that I have found it quite impossible to resume my Sermons and Lectures for Jews at present."

The Odessa correspondent of the Daily News telegraphs:According to some statistics just published by the official Vjedmosti," of Radom, there were last year in the old kingdom of Russian Poland 1.134,268 Jews, or about 13.9 per cent. of the whole population. The Jewish element is, of course, more predominant in the towns than in the country districts, being no less than 50.6 per cent. In Warsaw the Jews form 33 per cent. of the citizens. The highest proportion of Jews is found in Lomsha, where it is 37.3 per cent., and the lowest in Kalisch, at 17.3 per cent. In the Governments of Grodno, Wilna, and Kovno it is 20 per cent. The same report adds that during the years 1886. 1888, 1890, and 1891, 268, 135 Jews from Poland, Finland, and Western Russia emigrated to America via Hamburg, Bremen, and other German ports. That this emigration is steadily increasing is shown by the progressive figures given for each of the four years mentioned. In 1886 the number of immigrants was 33,783; in 1888, 39,307; in 1890, 95,548; and in 1891. 109,515. It will be noticed that the two years 1887 and 1889 are omitted from these official statistics,

have moved, into these new premises.

"We should be very thankful if some kind friends would give us a good clock with a large bell for the central tower. All arrangements are made for one, and to have one would be a great boon. We should also be glad to have some wall pictures and texts for the school rooms and dormitories.

"But we need most of all that friends should come forward and provide for the fifty girls that we hope now to take. One friend has followed the Bishop's example by sending a donation towards the maintenance of another girl."

THE SYNAGOGUE AT WORMS.

THIS is one of the most ancient synagogues in Europe. It consists of two main parts, designed respectively for men and women. Of these, the first was erected A.D. 1034, on the site of a still more ancient edifice, at the cost of one Mar Jacob, for the repose of whose soul some prayers are still offered every Sabbath. This is recorded as follows, in an inscription to the right of the ark containing the scrolls of the Law

the man whose name is associated with the chapel, and so striking is the part he still plays in Jewish history, religion, and literature, that some further account of him may not be out of place.

Rashi () is an abbreviation of Rabbi Solomon Itzchaki. He was born at Troyes, France, in 1040, and studied the Talmud at Mayence, Speyer, and Worms. In conformity with Rabbinic injunction, he married early, though, as he said himself, he "lacked

bread and ordinary clothing." But the wife did not trouble him much, for with. the exception of

The part for women was added in the year 1213; but the whole building sustained considerable damage during the civil commotions in 1615, and again in 1689, when it was used by the French as a stable, and was not restored to its legitimate use till after the peace of Ryswick in 1697. Like the exterior, so also the interior, especially the "Almemar," or the central dais, shows unmistakable marks of a high antiquity. There is also preserved in this synagogue a

throughout the whole of the Jewish dispersion. His Commentary on the Bible and the whole Talmud was a labour of Herculean dimensions, and was probably the means of preserving the knowledge of the latter, SO unintelligible, for the most part, is the idiom in which it is written, It is due to this fact that, to this day, he is held in the deepest reverence -by the Jews all over the world, and that his Commentaries are regarded as all but inspired. The first remark usually made by an orthodox Jew when puzzled by a Scripture text is, "Let us see what Rashi says.' He died and was buried at Troyes in 1105.

manuscript of the Pentateuch, said to have been written by Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg, during his imprisonment in the reign of Rudolf of Hapsburg, the founder of the Austrian dynasty.

Adjoining the west side of the synagogue is the famous Rashi chapel, of which a brief notice and illustrations were given on pages 20 and 22 in the Jewish Intelligence of 1890. But, so remarkable is

DURING the nine months ending September 30, Mr. A. Iliewitz saw 3,907 Jewish patients at the Dispensary, 1,370 at their homes, and 81 at his own lodgingsaltogether a total of 5,358. We extract the following details from his journals for this period:

"I am thankful to say that I meet with much gratitude among my Jewish patients: they shew themselves anxious to receive New Testaments and tracts, and many who are well acquainted with the truth delight in conversing about it. In every Jewish house I visit it is my aim to proclaim the truth as it is in Jesus, and to shew that He is the Lord our Righteousness, and that by the merits of His sacrifice alone can we be saved unto eternal life.

"I was called to a wealthy Jew whose family I found in a great state of anxiety owing to his alarming symptoms. After having given him necessary attention, I assured his wife and two sons that he was suffering from no organic disease; and after questioning them, I found that his extreme debility and exhaustion were owing to his strict fasting, twice a week; and I accordingly seriously urged them to induce him to give up injuring his body by conntinually fasting, and to make him take nourishing food, which would doubtless soon restore him to health. I begged them to pray that God would open his eyes to understand that fasting is of no avail, that our own righteousness cannot justify us before God; that it is but as filthy rags' in His sight. I told them to read the New Testament, and then they would see that we can be made righteous only by believing in Him who purchased our righteousness with His precious blood. His eldest son told me that he had read the New Testament, and his father had begun to read it, when his grandfather took it away from him and tore it to pieces. The sick man told me, too, how sorry he was at the time when his father did so. gave them another New Testament, which they accepted gratefully. I endeavoured to shew them how wonderfully the Old Testament Scriptures are fulfilled in the New, and drew their attention to several passages. The eldest son opened his Bible and read aloud part of the 23rd chapter of Jeremiah and the 53rd of Isaiah; they were much impressed by the fifth verse of the latter. We had a long conversation, and I believe God's blessing rested on His Word. The whole family listened and took part in

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the conversation so reverently that it seemed as if the peace of God had entered into their hearts and minds.

"I was called to a Jew whose two children were seriously ill. After I had prescribed for them and given all necessary directions, their mother said to me: 'We know how very ill our children are, but we put our trust in God and in your help.' I replied, 'You are right to do so. Put your trust in God and His Son, who is our Intercessor with Him, as David tells you: 'Kiss the Son lest He be angry' and 'Blessed are they that put their trust in Him.' The woman's husband, who is a bigoted Jew, replied: 'Yes, we know David's words, but he did not mean that Jesus Christ is the Son.' His wife answered him, 'How do you know that King David did not mean Jesus Christ? Enough that we are told in our Holy Scriptures to do so, let us indeed put our trust in the Son, as David tells us.' I asked the husband if he would like me to give him the Book that he might get to know the Son, for he who does not know the Son cannot know the Father. He was indignant at first at my saying this, but I endeavoured to shew him the love of God in sending His Son into the world to be a sacrifice for our sins, and that he who does not believe in the Son, cannot understand anything of the love of God the Father. I gave the man a New Testament, which he accepted. I visited his children daily for some time and with God's help they both recovered. I had a conversation with the parents on the Word of God each time, and the man spoke of what he was reading in the Gospel with a believing heart, though anxious that the Jews should not know that he believed the Lord Jesus to be the Son of God.

"I was called to a very sick Jew, whose wife, children, and brothers were all standing round him; they told me that they had had every other doctor in Safed, but the man was still no better, and now they had been advised to call me too. I told them I would do what was possible for the patient, and advised them to seek help from Him to Whom power is given on earth as in heaven. While I was speaking, another Jew entered. For some time he listened quietly to our conversation, but when he heard, 'Kiss the Son lest He be angry'-'Blessed are they that put their trust in Him'-he got very angry and began to quarrel with the family for having called me. He then shewed me the door, saying he would break my head if I did not go away. I left the house, the brothers of my patient following me and asking me to pardon and to excuse their friend's behaviour. They told me the man had not long since come from Russia, where the Jews had been so dreadfully ill-treated by Christians, and that he had