MISSIONARY INFORMATION. BUCHAREST. Peaceful Tidings from the Land of War. It is pleasant and encouraging to know that the work of the missionary in this place was not altogether suspended, during its occupation by the Russians; that the school still continued, and the missionary suffered no great personal ills from their presence. An English officer, who was at Bucharest in September, and who was inSilistria just before, and when the Russians abandoned the siege of that place, speaks in a letter to his parents of the great privilege it was to meet there with the Society's missionary. Several others with himself enjoyed the opportunities thus afforded for divine service, and were refreshed by Christian ordinances in a far-off country. The communications of this officer to his family are in the form of a journal, and the notices of persons and events are of necessity brief. We have been favoured with the following extract, relating to the Society's school for Jewish children :— "The school is in the Jewish quarter of the town, and well-attended, notwithstanding many circumstances to discourage. The present number of boys and girls is about equal-forty-six in all. The children are very quick, and have a remarkably intelligent look about them. They are principally the children of small shopkeepers and artizans. The chief difficulty is to make them punctual and regular in their attendance. day their excuse is, their mothers wanted them to go to market,' another to amuse the baby,' some have no shoes, and so on. [They are very · One much like English children in these respects, as every teacher of a Sunday school, and every dayschool teacher too well knows.] But with all this their advancement is wonderful. The attainment of one little boy, at the end of sixteen months was, that he could talk, read, and write, (the last most beautifully) in Hebrew, German, Wallachian, and French. On the Map of Europe, hanging on the wall, he instantly pointed to any city or river I asked for ; was advanced in arithmetic as far as the Rule of Three, and underwent a very tolerable examination of his knowledge of Scripture History. According to the time they had been in the school, the others were more or less acquainted with the same things; some readily reckoning up complex sums of money, according to the Austrian coinage, (where fractional parts have to be considered.) The French language is taught the boys only as a reward for attention and progress to their studies, and is therefore much coveted. "There is a schoolmaster and mistress, (man and wife, both Germans,) assisted by their daughter, who conduct the studies. Wallachian is taught by a native of Bucharest. The school is free, and kept up at an expense of about £94 a year by the London Society. When first started, it was the only place of instruction for the Jews, but now they have taken the hint and established three or four of their own; however, there is no open opposition, and the parents allow their children to attend, without any restriction as to the doctrine taught. Mr. Mayers (the missionary) tells them plainly that besides secular knowledge, he strives to impart religious and moral instruction. He gives them the New Testament, together with the I heard one boy Old, to read and learn by heart. repeat in Hebrew the ten commandments, and another little fellow repeat in German the Gospel History of John the Baptist. They are taught to believe the New Testament as the revealed word of God, and as the continuation of the ancient law and the prophets.' Thus is the word of truth sown in many a young heart, and, with faith in His promises, we may look forward to fruit in God's time. Already one young boy shows signs of life, and his father has told Mr. Mayers that if he wishes, he may be sent to England to be taught and to be baptized as a Christian." It We are rejoiced at this testimony from a Major in the engineers in our army. It is a matter of thankfulness to know that many a soldier, who has gone forth in the present war at the call of his country, is a true and earnest Christian, and manifests that true greatness and nobility of character, which consists in discharging every duty as a faithful servant and soldier of the Lord. was very pleasant, and we doubt not, profitable, to this Christian soldier, to meet with a brother in Christ in Bucharest, in the person of a Minister of his own Church, and still more interesting to find him a believing Israelite, who in the midst of the confusion and disturbance of every thing during the Russian occupation of the city which is the scene of his labours, still went on doing what he could to promote the highest, because they are the eternal, interests of his brethren according to the flesh. Whilst we are speaking of Christian soldiers, it may not be quite out of place to record here a deeply interesting and touching incident, which occurred on the 20th of September, during the battle of the Alma. We heard it stated by the highest anthority. During that fearful contest, one part of our soldiers, who had been dreadfully cut up, were ordered by the commander to refresh themselves for half an hour, before renewing their part in the terrible conflict. An officer of that regiment, sitting down, took out his pocket Bible. Two of his lieutenants were with him. He read to them the ninetieth Psalm, (Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations.) He again entered into the battle, was mortally wounded, and in thirteeen hours was no more! Perhaps in his last moments he was comforted by the words, "Lord, thou hast been our dwellingplace in all generations." Yes! In the calm scenes of peace and domestic duties, in the conflicts of nations upon the bloody battle-field, to the traveller in the desert, to the mariner upon the ocean, to the Gentile and to the Jew, the word of God is an inexhaustible treasure. Let us labour and pray that that blessed word may have free course and be glorified, and that the Saviour, who is its grand and glorious subject, may indeed soon be known as a Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of His people Israel." 66 Poetry. THE CLAIMS OF ISRAEL. WHAT pressing pleas combine to fire How loud the claims of Gratitude. Do truth's unerring records bring Lo! from their fall, we Gentiles date In Judah's line, 'mid Israel's race Lo! ere beneath the stroke of death, And when, triumphant from the grave, "Unfold," he said, "to every man, That awful scene of deadliest sin. |