PAM. /'-I I 1 , nccasioufll Cotter. No, 8. From hik Leitch. ; . (:■ fvr the Noo, Yenr.^ ‘‘ • ‘'Tliafye may know what is that Motv!, a'iiij aaceiitable. and ))erfect, will of God.”^KiM!’.'\ii'. ■t'.' ■' N(,t, service in itself is siuall.. Mo’ie ^ real though earth it till : l>ut vh.'.t is 'futall which seeks irs own, r, . And (jreat wiiich seeks God’s will.” ^ Jaffna, Ce^iuii, Jaauar]) 10th, ISOJ. D E.VR FuiEND.ii,' — We send to you from Ceylon’s Isle loving Christian greetings. Ymu Avill be glad to hear that the past year has been one of encouragement, and that, there has., been much ble.ssing on many departments of the work here. In. thi& Province over two hundred persons have joined the different Mission Chuijclres during the past twelve months, on profession of faith in Christ, and a large number of others are on the list of inquirers, and are receiving regular instruction in Christian truth; 0 MISSION SCHOOLS. There are in the Mission Schools of the Province 14,868 children, of whom 6,405 are in Mission Sunday Schools. THE JAFFNA COLLEGE. The work of the Jaffna College continues steadily to advance. There are now 160 Students in the College proper and 391 in the High School which is a preparatory School to the College. Of the pupils in the College 122 are preparing for matriculation, 32 for the F.A. degree and 6 for the B.A. degree. In this College all the professors and teachers are Christians, the Scripture lessons are taught daily in every class, the students are all required to be boarders within the institution, and are thus separated from heathen influences mid brought under strong Christian influences. They are required to refrain from wearing the idolatrous marks, to attend the regular Sabbath services and the weekly prayer-meetings, to be present daily at morning and evening prayers, and to study the prescribed Scripture lessons. One w'ish rvhich we have long cherished has now been realized, in that a special Evangelist has just been appointed to work among the .students of the College. He is one of the ablest and most earnest young native pastors of the Province. As there are, within the Mission premises, {i.e., in the College, High 3 School, and two day schools) 800 students, he will have, in working among these, a great opportunity, and we e,arnestly hope and pray that he may have the presence and help of the Holy Spirit in this Avork, and may prove a great spiritual power among these young people. The Jaffna College has, during the past year, received a Charter from the Ceylon Government. The Trustees of the College having, under this Charter, become an in- corporated body, the funds of the institution are thus legally safeguarded. THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF THE COLLEGE. The Christian young men of the College Y.M.C.A. have been very active in their work among the non-Christian students of the College, and also in connection with the Sunday Schools which are under their care. They also continue, as a part of their Mission Avork, to support a day school on the island of Eluv'ative. WORK OF FORMER STUDENTS. Many of the former students of the College are noAV doing good Christian work, not only in Ceylon, but also in India, Burmah, the Straits Settlement, and elsewhere ; and one, Mr. S. C. Kanagaratnam, b.a., Avho Avas for some time a student of the Jaffna College, is now in Great Britain, doing earnest work 4 in connection v,ntL the Anti-Opium move- nient, addressing laige meetings in conjunc- tion with Kev. A. \Y. Prantch, who mhs one of the Missionaries unjustly imprisoned in Bombay for exposing ''ilicial fraud in connection with opium dens. Many friends in Great Britain have given donations to aid the Jaffna College, and now a former student returns to Great Britain to aid the lovers of Kighteousness in their eflbrts to Oppose this great evil, the opium ti afhc, THE GENERAL MEDICAL MISSION. This Medical work is under; the care of the Kev. T. B. Scott, M.A., and Mrs. Scott, M.D. Since opening - thep work they have treated 2,510 patients in'ihe Dispen- sary, 64 in the Hospital and 50 private patients. They have as native assistants two doctoro, one interpreter, one clei’k, one orderly, one male and one female evangelist and one nurse. Their woik is much aiipreciated by the people, as may be seen from the fact that they have received, from fees and from sales of medicines, etc., the sum of El, 800. By means of this medical work not only the patients, .who attend the Dispensary or are treated in the Hospital, but also many of their friends and relatives, who accompany or A isit them, hear the Gospel message from the lips of the doctors and evangelists, and, , 5 through the sympathy and kind treatment given them, they have presented to them an object lesson of the very spirit of Him who came not to be ministered unto but to minister. In addition to the work in the Dispensary and Hospital the doctors are often called to treat ijrivate patients in their homes ; and while Mrs. Dr. Scott may be seen, in the early morning, going in one direction in her light American carriage drawn by native runners, Dr. Scott may be seen on his bicj'cle spinning along in another direction, over the level macadaiftised roads of this province, which are in many places shaded by coconut and palmyrah palms, mahogany, tamarind, jak and other beautiful trees. Some months ago a little baby boy came to gladden their home, and the native people all about are delighted at his arrival, and call him *' the little doctor.” Both Dr. and Mrs. Dr. Scott have acquired a good working knowledge of the Tamil o o o language, and they are not only good doctors, having much success in their cases, but they are good Missionaries, and take an active part in helping on the educational and evangelistic work in their district. MISS L. H. GRIEVE, M.D. The work of Dr. and Mrs. Dr. Scott has grown to such an extent that, on the arrival of Miss Dr. Grieve in the Island, the last of 6 November, tbe}’’ Avere glad to welcome her, and to invite her to help them in their work. She is now with them at Manippay, devoting a portion of her time to the stud)?^ of the Tamil lansrnrge and the remainder of her time to 1 ' dical work. ADDRESS OF WELCOME. The following is aji address of Avelcome read to Miss Dr. Grieve, and translations of the hymns of Avelcome sung on the occasion : — A translation of tico Tamil songs sung at tJic liece]/tion of Miss Dr. L. H. Grieve at ChavaJcach- cJicri, on December 7th, 1894- Chor^ts. — Let us rejoice and bfl happy at being permitted b 3 * God to see Mi.ss Dr. Grieve Avho is here today. 1. She has left lier parents, relations .and friends and is come to Jafina, after crossing large oceans. — Chorus. 2. 0 our good and able lady doctor, may the Lord Jesus Avho is in lieaven bless you abundantly. — Chorus. J. In answer to our earnest prayers to God. you have come for curing diseases common to the Avomen of this land.. — Chorus. 4- We Avill ever love you as our dear sister. We have had the pleasure of seeing your face. We heartily Avelcomeyou. — CTiorns. 5. Thousands Avere the AA'omen Avho perished for Avant of proper medical aid. The time has come for the relief of such. Why should they be sorry any more 't— Chorus. 6. It is reasonable that Ave daily remember in prayer our benefactor and kind-hearted doctor. — Chonis. Second Song of Welcome. 1. Dear Jesus come and gi-ant Thy blessing upon ]\Iiss Doctor Grieve, out of Tliy great love. 2. Bless the mother who is separated from her loving daughter. ;•) Preserve, 0 Lord, this excellent lady in per- fect happiness all her day.s. 4. Grant her skill to cure diseases and give also a compassionate heart. 5. Give her health to be doing good in this country until she becomes gray-haired. 6. Let the Medical Mission prosper and the Misses Leitch be happy at its prosperity. Address of Welcome to Miss Dr. Grieve. Mis-s L. H. Grieve, m.d. Dear Madam, — We the people of the “far oil Ceylon’s Isle” hid you welcome. We bid you a joyful hearty welcome. M^'e have been long expecting your arrival, and we have been long needing your help. Immense relief has been afforded to our people by the coming in of the European doctor with his advanced knowledge of medicine, together with his many wonderful instruments for oiier- atious. However, the females of the land who suffer most under the curse pronounced upon the erring Eve. have not participated much in those blessings, because they weie dispensed by the hand of the male doctor. In the East where se- clusion is considered an honor and bashfulness a grace to the female sex, it is no wonder that a young woman often prefers death to the treat- ment by the hands of the male physician. This being the case, when announcement Avas made that lady doctors were coming to Jafl’na, our hearts leaped for joy, and when it was told that a training school for nurses in connection with 8 a female liosjiital was to be established, our joy knew no bounds. This will not only i>er[)etuate the ble.ssinys desired, but will multiply them ten- ffdd, reaching tlie 'ery corners of Cey’on and iSouth India. The i)eople living in North Ceylon and South India form one race, s])eak one lan- guage, and are .separated by slender boundary lines. Tliei’efore, dear I)i'. Grieve, we welcome you today not only as a doctor rendering relief in times of our distress, but as one wlio will help in training- .some of onr sisters to j)erpetuate tbe benign work yon have come to do to ns, and thus bless this land long and long after j'on are called, up for your Heavenly reward. This is the way the late Dr. S. F. Green was doing the.se many years, by the hands of the students whom he trained while yet living. Though dead he is still speaking. His .students, and tlie students of his students are to be found not only in several parks of Ceylon and South Indha, but as far East .as the Straits Settlements, Horneo, Sumatr.a, &c. May the Lord grant you and your co-workers long life and a good purpose to do the .same. We take this occasion of expressing publicly again onr great indebtedness to you, the Mi.sses Leitch, for alt your self-denying Labours lo build up the Jafl'n.a College, for the establishment of the General hledic.al Mission, .and for opening a Female Hospital. M.ay the Lord preserve _your precious lives, .and those of your e(pi the ho]»e that you m.ay be .able in due time to establish a branch hosjutal for women .at this station of Chavakachcheri also. It will not be in our power to make any recompense to you, Miss Dr. Grieve, or to you, 9 Misses Leitcli, or to tlie many loving patrons in England and America, lait that God who will say in the last clay, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these ye have done it nnto me,” will reward you abundantly. In Ijehalf of the "Women of Jaft'na, we beg to remain yours sincerely, (Signed by a large number of Native Christians.) THE LADY HAVELOCK HOSPITAL. The amount secured in cash toward the erection of this Woman’s Hospital in Colombo^ in which work we acted as honarary collec- tors, now amounts to R44,000. The foundation-stone has just been laid by His Excellencj’^ Sir Arthur Havelock, G.C.M.G., and it is expected that the work of erection will be completed tvithin the yeat'. This Hospital will be supported by Government, and will be a Government institution ; but it will be open to Christian influence, as the ladies of the Committee of the Lady Havelock Hospital, among whom are missionary ladies representing the different hlissionary Societies in Colombo, as well as other Christian ladies of the community, will be free to visit the Hospital and to read to and speak with the patients. hliss Dr. Leslie, to fill a gap, acted for some months as a temporary head to the Woman’s Medical Work under Governmenc in Colombo. She was A’ery much liked by the people of Colombo, and was asked to fill the post permanently. She has now resigned 10 her connection with Mission work, with a view to permanently entering Government service, and is now filling this post under Government in Colombo. She has been asked, by the Zenana Bible and Medical Mission, to refund to them the amount (over £650), which they had drawn from the “Ceylon Fund ” of that Society, and had expended upon her medical training, post graduate medical study, outfit passage, etc., etc. As Miss Dr. Leslie is possessed of private means, and as she is now in the receipt of a large Government salary, and is also allowed the privilege of private practice, she will be in a position to return this sum at an early date. THE WOMAN’S MEDICAL MISSION, JAFFNA. We are now in communication with several lady doctors who have work in the foreign field in view, and we hope soon to secure the appointment, by the Committee of the Zenana Bible and Medical Mission, of a suitable lady doctor as a medical mis- sionary, in place of Dr. Leslie, for the work in Jaffna. PURCHASE OF SITE. After very careful consideration and con- sultation with the Missionaries and leading native gentlemen of the Province, a site has been chosen for the Woman’s Medical Mission at Erunvil, as that will be central for the 300,000 people of the Province, the majority 11 of whom are within a radius of 12 miles from this centre. It is about half-a-mile from Uduvil where the Udmdl Girl’s Board- ing School is located, and about two miles from Manippay where the General Medical Mission, which is under Dr. and Mrs. Dr. Scott, is located. It is also about two and a-half miles from the suburbs of Jaffna Town, which has a population of 40,000 people. The site purchased comprises 10 acres. The lot is a beautiful one, having 210 shade and fruit trees growing upon it. It has open cultivated fields on two sides. Pure air and quiet are thus insured. It has two deep wells of good water, the water in this vicinity being, it is said, the best in the Province. It is situated on the coach road which connects Jaffna Town and Kangasanturai, the two main ports of the Province. Sir Arthur Havelock, G.C.M.G., the Governor of Ceylon, has kindly consented to allow the Government Engineer of the Province to superintend the erection of the buildings. We also had the kind assistance of Mr, Taffs, the chief Government Public Works Department Architect, in preparing plans and drawings of the buildings. The Govern- ment Engineer also assisted us in preparing estimates and specifications. The work has been given to an experienced and able contractor, who was chosen from among the thirty or more applicants who 12 tendered for the work. The Avork of con-, struction is going on rapidly, and, according to the legal contract, all the buildings are to be completed and ready for occupancy by the 15th of December this year. The buildings to be erected, Avhich will bear: the name of the McLeod Hospital, and the Maud and Alice Horae, are as fol- loAvs: — (1) A Mission House for the residence of the Lady Doctors. (2) Nurse’s Quarters. (3) Medical Ward. (4) Surgical Ward. (5) Dispensary. (6) Lying-in-Ward. (7) Isola- tion Ward. (8) Preaching and Waiting Bungalow. (9) (.Tato-Iveepcr’s House. (10) Kitchens, Store rooms, etc., etc. THE INSTITUTION WELCOMED. We have been pleased to find that the whole community, Hindu as well as Christian, ver}^ warmly approves of the scheme for the establishing in their midst of a Woman's Medical Mission. Many influential Plindus have taken pains to come to us to express their very high appreciation of this effort, which they believe will prove an unspeakable boon to the women of the community. FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF CEYLON BY LUCILLE LESLIE, L.R.C.S. & P. Nuwara Elii/a, June IJph, 1801/. Dear Friends, — As I know that you are interested in the Woman’s Medical Mission here, I am Avriting a fcAv lines to inclose in Miss Leitch’s letter, to give you my im- pressions of the work. 13 We met Avith a very hearty reception on onr arrh'al in Jaftiia. As we lauded oti the quay, there were native gentlemen. waiting to welcome ns with flowers and limes. It is considered a token of good-will to present them to people, whom one wishes to respect, so Avo Avere glad to accept them. We next droA'e to our home, AA'hich is ten miles aAvay from the jetty. As Ave neared onr destination, Ave were startled hy hearing guns filled. This AA-a.s'to salute ns,-' and to announce our coming to' the friend?* AA-aiting for ns. IToav astonished Ave Averc Avhen Ave reached the house to find it beiiuti fully decorated with floAvers, and alxnic lavo hundred native ladies and gentlemen assem- bled to greet us. A Imnd of music played as. AA'e alighted, and preceded us to the large verandah Avhere seats Avere arranged. Children threw floAver petals on us, rose-Avater was sprinkled on ns, garlands placed around our necks, songs specially composed for the occa- sion sung, an address read and speeches made. This hefirty reception cheered us very much, and especially the bright faces. of; the Avomen, as they came to us afterwards and kissed us as their sisters. Noav every one Ave meet tells us how glad they are Ave have ifcoaaie, . and hoAvj greatly Ave are needed. No spouer had Ave unpacked our things, than patients Ifqg^n to come or send for ns. I did ask .the Lord A^eryi earnestly that I might cufe the very first one 14 — ;ind that it might be a double healing — body and soul. You -will be glad to know that the Lord who hears and answers prayer granted my request as I believe. The patient was a heathen woman, and she was dying Her native doctor said he could do nothing for her, and her friends at a distance had been sent for to, attend her funeral. The poor husband was in great distress, and in his despair sent for me. I feared I was too late, but asking Christ to show me Avhat to do, I brought her home, and my companion Missionary (Miss Clare Walker) nursed her. For many days she was in great danger, and while she was lying ill we spoke to her about Jesus. She seemed to understand, and one night, when we thought she would die, sbe told us she had no fears, she was sure Christ would receive her in heaven, and if He spared her she would henceforth be a Christian. God did spare her, and both she and her husband have publicly testified before their heathen friends their desire to follow Jesus. They are now both under instniction, and, we hear, attend the Christian meetings. We hope the}' will soon be received into the visible Church. I had a great many patients after this, so many that we were often busy night and day. Rich and poor alike came, and we helped them as far as we could. It is more difficult to reach the rich, but the hearts of some 15 of them have been softened, and many doors have been opened as a result of our work. At last we had to come away to a quiet place to learn the language, for so many patients came, some from long distances whom we could not turn away, that there was no time to sti;dy, — but we long to go back to them, able to tell them something of the unsearchable riches of Christ, in their own tongue. God has helped us already both in our work and in our study. Will you re- member us in your prayers as we do alj ourkind helpers. Believe me, Yours in the Master’s service, Lucille Leslie. JOURNAL LETTER BY MISS CLARE WALKER. Nuivara Eliya, June 19th, 1S94. Dear Friends, — Leaving England in com- [xiny with Miss Dr. Leslie on November 21, 1893, we arrived at Colombo on December 24th. Oh, it seemed so strange day after day on the steamer, to know we Avere drawing nearer and nearer to the long-thought-and talked-of Eastern land, where Ave believe and trust God has Avork for us to do among many suffering ones. Prayer Avas most decidedly ansAvered for me, especially in the matter of home-sickness ! Our loving God saved me from any overwhelming sense of it. and tbe Mes^jed promise of Matt. xix. 2.'^, which someone quoted in a letter received at Aden, seemed like a message of cheer from the Lord Himself. We were able to have several little meet- ings of sailors, steAA^ards, etc., on hoard. They used to enjoy the singing very much : one steward helped us by plajdng his violin, but not for long, as he said he wanted to sing so much, and could not use hands and voice at the same time ! We had one pleasant com- panion and helper all the way in the person' of a C.E.Z.M.S. lady going on to Calcutta. It Avas very hot Avhen Ave arrived at Colombo; Ave began to realize what a “ ti'opical sun” meant !' The Misses Leitch came out in a boat alongside our steamer. It Avas delightful to meet again and to make acquaintance witli Mr. Thurvasagayam, our “munshi,”and “San- thia,” the Misses Leitch’s dear Chiistian ser- vant. We thought: “Well, if all Jaffna. people have the same kind, bright faces as these tAvo, it Avill be a A'ery nice place to liA^e in!” As Ave landed on the shore of Ceylon, oh ! hoAv I prayed that every day spent there might indeed be for His glory aitd the good of others. I AAUsh 1 couhl describe properly the Avonderful inlerest ;ind strangeness of all we saAv in Colombo ; the palms and flowering trees, the croAvds of natiA^es in various dress and of different nationalities, the fancy little 17 “ luickeries ’’ drawn by patient bullocks, the comfortable, cool-looking bungalows of the foreign residents, the lake, the famous Cinnamon Gardens, etc., etc. It was so sad and strange to see real heathen for the first time, their foreheads marked with sacred ashes from the Hindu temples, and Buddhist priests in their yellow robes, always carrying a large fan. house was most kindly lent ns at Mount La\inia, a few miles out of Colombo, and there we spent a 2 deasant ten days; though I confess that first lessons in Tamil were not very pleasant! It seemed so difficult at first. We used to go foi’ little walks in the cool of the evening, when Miss Leitch taught me my first Tamil text— John iii-16 — and some short sentences. One day we had a very pleasant little gathering of Jaffna young men, who came to welcome us. We were presented with a kind address of welcome. It was very encouraging to look at these fine, intelligent young men, (most of them in good positions as clerks etc. in Colombo,) and to hear Mis.s Leitch say that she remembered some of them as little, untaught village boys up in Jaffna. Several of them spoke in an interest- ing way about the Christian Avork they do in their spare time. One, in the course of his address, said to us, “ You are here in answer to thousands of prayers.” 18 Another day we paid a visit to the large ttovernment Leper Hospital, also to the General Hospital in Colombo. In early January we all came ‘ npcountry,* to the principal Hill Station of Ce3don. Vou come by train from Colombo to a place called Nanu Oya, and then drive up along a beautiful winding road to Nuwara Eliya. Here we are 6,200 ft. above sea le\el. It i.s a delightfully cool climate. We stayed in Xuwara Eliya for some weeks, very thankful for the opportunity of studying the language in coolness and quiet. Then we went to Jaffna. It w'as most exciting arriving there and seeing our future home and .«phere of work. There is no raihvay up to Jaffna ; wo had to go by the little steamer that goes round the Island at stated times. We w ere met on the quay — Jaffna Town — by several native Chiistian.s a!id w'elcomed very warmly. Then we dro^ e to Tillipallai, almost 9 miles I think. As we approached the Mission House, we heard firew'orks being let off: these were a part of our w^elcome I I wish I could draw a picture of the scene. They had erected a kind of arch, and we w'alked up to the Mission House from the gate under festoons of dowers and surrounded by a number of the dear native Christians. We were sprin- kled with rose-water, and each given a garland of flowers j Dr. Leslie and 1 put ours ou 19 ivtid felt veiy conspicuous with our Howciy necklaces! After being introduced to several native Pastors and others, we were all seated on the verandah, and Mrs. Strong, wife of a native doctor, read us a very interesting addi-ess of welcome ; two young men sang a Tamil lyric, specially composed for the occasion, then Ave all spoke a little, and after various other speeches the meeting liroke up. We Avere glad to rest and unpack. In a very fcAv days patients began to come to be treated by Miss Dr. Leslie. One of our first cases Avas a Avoman bitten by a poisonous snake. The need of Medical Avork especially for the Avomen is most apparent. The foolish and superstitious practices are sIoav to disap- pear, and it is certain that death is very often accelerated and sometimes actually caused by Avrong treatment. With God’s blessing Ave hope to train, in the Hospital, suitable young Avomen as nurses. Even if they could only be taught the simplest rules of health in regard to cleanliness, ventilation, feeding, etc,, they Avould be able to do a great deal of good Avheii settled in their difterent villages. One >)f the chief proctors in Jaffna said to me that he felt almost the most important part of the Medical Mission would be the Nur.sing School. 20 It makes one’s heart ache especially to think of the unnecessary suffering poor women undergo (hning confinement, owing to the rough and utterly unskilled treatment of the native mid wives. One day Dr. Leslie and I were sent for to a case not far from the Mission House. In close attendance on the patient was a truly dreadful-looking old woman, who we were told was the midwife. She really reminded me of those pictures of witches one used to see in one’s child- hood in fairy -story books ! She looked so fierce and unapproachable, that I felt a little nervous at first, in case she should try to prevent our helping the patient in the way the Doctor saw necessary ; however, she was ejuite good and took her place quietly among the crowd of interested relations. I will not take up more time now in descrilung the Medical work at Tillipallai. Our few weeks there made us feel how imperatively necessary it Avas for us both to give several months exclusively to the study of the language. It is so very difficult working through an interpreter, especially so in Medical work. So about the encl of March Ave came up to the Hills again and have been Avorking at Tamil ever since. I had the pleasure of staying in Colombo on my Avay to NuAvara Eliya for about 10 days. It AA'as just at the time of Revs. E. •21 H. Thwaites’ and M. Hall’s Mission, so I had the privilege of attending their meetings, also a very enthusiastic and interesting one conducted by Miss Annie Taylor, the well- known Tibetan Missionary, and her band of new Missionaries on their way to Tibet. Their steamer stayed in harbour 24 hours. It Avas a touching sight, all of them standing up together — English, Scotch, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, and the little Tibetan servant of Miss Taylor, — singiii" “ AnyAvhere with Jesus I will gladly go.” It is the time of the South-Avcst monsoon now, and there is continuous rain and very high wind. It is even too stormy for the coolies of this tea e.«tate to come up to the house for the little meetings which we began. Poor little coolie children ! they do look so wretchedly poor and uncared for. There is one little boy who has a most extraordinary appearance, part of his hair is cut and the rest in a dreadful condition, matted and tangled. It has never been touched — either washed or brushed — since his birth ! nor will it be till he reaches manhood, when he will have to make the sacred pilgrimage to the top of Adam’s Peak, There after various vows and ceremonies he will be allowed to shave. This is because he is devoted to a certain Hindu god. Yours truly, “Sister Clark.” CHAVAKACHCHERI DISTRICT, The Mission House at Cha\akachcheri, which Avas enlarged and rebuilt, Avith funds secured l>v us from kind friends at home, and under the kind super-vision of Eev. T. S. Smith. Avas completed at the end of June last, and from the 1st of Jul}- aa'o have lived in it, finding it exceedingly commodious and Aery aa'cII fitted as a centre of Avork for this district. Noav that the buildirrg is completed, Ave feel that the money Avhich has been expended on it has been Avell applied, as this Avill be a home for Missionar ies, aird a beehiA e of IMissionary activity for generations to come. Here the Y.P.8.C.E. meetings, the S.S. teachers’ rneetirrgs, the choir pr-actice, the mothers’ rneetiirgs, the ineprirer-'s class, and the childrerr’s meetings are held, and all day lorrg men, Avornetr anrl childreir come freeh' to .see us, and to speak of all they may have in their hearts. It is in a setrse a lt(nne to all the people of the district. iSeA'en per.sons of this district have joined the Church the past year on professioir of faith, (forrr in the district and three in the Churches connected Avith the Boar-ding Schools Avhere they ai-e pupils), arrd rrirrety-five per sons are irr incjrrirer’s classes and ar'c being r’egularly instructed irr Christiarr tr irth. We hope that a good many of these may be received into the Chrrrch iir the ncAv year. Several expressed a desire to be rcceiAcd into the Church the past 3 ’ear, but it seemed better to the Committee of the Native Church and to us also that they should yet be more fully taught and tested. The numbers of childreii attending onr Day Schools, and especially our Sunday Schools ha’\ e increased. The work of the Catechists, Bible-wcmen and teachers has been systemised and made more effective. The 2 )lan for Moonlight Evangelistic Meetings to be held regularly month by month in all the \ illages has been perfected, and at many meetings held, at which the pictures of Christ’s life were shown by aid of the Magic Lantern, large numbers of Hindus were brought under the sound of the Gospel. An acti\ e Voung People’s Society of Christian En- deax our has been formed among our Christian young people, and aggressive V.P.S.C.E. methods of Bible and missionarv study intro- duced, and the members of this Society con- duct each Sabbath IG village Sunday Schools, with a total attendance of 436 pupils. Twenty-five of the most promLing young people from this district are now studying in the College, High School, Training and Boarding Schools at the other Mission Stations, thus fitting themselves for lives of useful- ness in the future. We have been privileged through the kind help of friends at home to sup 2 dy the funds for the erection, in different iiarts of this Province, of four new Cliurches aiul preaching places, for the repairing of two Churches, foi the purchase of land and the erection of eight teacher’s and catechist’s homes (these are in process of erection), and for the repair aiid refurnishing of a good number of village school bixildings. We have also, by the hel]> of home friends, been able to provide and pay over to the Kex'. T. 8. Smith the funds (£173) for the erection of a new building for the Industrial Dejxartment of the Tillipallai Training and Industrial School, and for the (xurchase of a steam engine for that school. A dear lady, Mrs. Alexander J. MacColl. over 80 yeai-s of age, contributed toward the above sum £100, which she herself had earned during the past two years by her own handiwork, (art painting), as a memorial to her late dear son, Hugh A. MacColl. We wish to exi)ress oui' very grateful thanks to all the kind friends in Great Britain and America who, when we weie in their midst, so generously responded to our appeals and contributed toward permanent scholarships in the .Jaffna College and in the Uduvil Gil ls’ Boarding School, and toward the establishing of the twf> Medical Missions, viz., the General Medical Mission and the Medical Mission for Women. And we also wish to thank all those who, since our return, have, by their gifts, enabled us to goon with the establishing 25 of the woik of the Medical Missions, and who have also contributed toward the support of Catechists, Bible-wornen and teachers, and the support of boys and girls in the Mission Boarding Schools, and toward the erection of Churches, preaching places, and homes for Catechists and village school teachers. “He which soweth bountifull}'^ shall reap also bountifully.” .... “ God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace aboiind toward you : that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. As it is wi'itten, he hath dispersed abroad ; he hath given to the poor ; his righteousness remainetli for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multipl}'' your seed somui, and inci'ease the fruits of your righteousness ; ” . “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” 2 Cor. ix. 6-10, 1.5. AID GIVEN BY OUR BROTHERS. The past year also, as for many years, our two dear bi'Others in the United States have I'endered much financial help to us in the work we are carrying on here. They have delivered many lectures in different parts of the United States, illustrated by lime-light views of scenery and people in Ceylon and India, and, as half of the net receipts of the voluntary collection taken at •2G the close of their meetings goes toward the funds of the Missionaiy Society of the Church in which they lecture, they have been able not only to help us in our tvork here, but also to render substantial financial help to various Missionary Societies. The Rev. T. S. Smith, Senior Missionary of the A. B. C. F. M. in Jaffna, who has the general supervision of the work of this district, with whom we have been able to co- operate in the most cordial manner, comes regularly to hold the Monthly Helper’s Meet- ings, and is also present to conduct the Com- munion Services. Under his direction and working with us we have a noble band of native Christian rvorkers, men andAvomen, i.e., 1 Pastor, 5 Catechists, 1-t Bible-Avomen and ■ 5.3 Teachers, who have worked with good courage during the past year in the Day and Sunday schools, and at the vai'ious meetings held, and we believe the promise will be fulfilled “My Word shall not return unto me void.” We are rvell and strong and very happy in our work among the people whom we love, and we look forward with hope to the Avork of this neAv year, the one Avish of our hearts being, “ to do the Avill of God Avhatevei- that may be.” Yours very truly, M.-VRY Sz MARCi.tRET W. LeITCH. 27 P.S. — We hope to semi to all contributors another Occasional Letter -within a few weeks, giving in it some further accounts of the work hero, and also an audited statement of accounts from January 1st, 1893, to January 1st, 1895. M. & M. W. L. '■.:o)u.lnui_'9 ll^ r,s .vr .i.juil -jV/ '>di \n I 3ni.« „• r,i Zhi^ " iiomojftjg hoii/jiin (IB n«!(5 |,„f; Vy. (/ <1 'If M A r /1 ‘ • ■# . • . ,, , ft W A J « • ' » ' • ?,. I •V'".