TO THE EDITOR OF HELP AND FOOD:

My dear Brother,-Since our parting at B. two months ago, A. E. B. and I have been journeying together in fields altogether new to me, and, at different points, not lacking in interest. One feature has been especially cheering :Save in some places where circumstances, unconcern, or opposition, closed the doors against us, we had access to many, and invariably got the best possible attention. Under such circumstances it is a delightful task to sow the seed in "the morning" and in "the evening," for one is assured that He who has bidden us so to do will not leave it fruitless.

In the majority of places a lengthening of the stay daily increased the attendance and the interest, and it was in some occasions a trial to leave them. In a section of the country extending for many miles, we found a few godly men who had scarcely left a corner within reach of them without having preached the gospel to the people there. Nor were they men of leisure ; they were men of toil, caring lovingly for their families by their labor but lovers of men as well and constrained "by the love of Christ. How easy is one's service among such men! Yearning after the souls of the lost and conscious of their weakness in meeting the need they hail with gladness the help of fellow-workers and are but too happy to see others reap where they have sown. May God raise up such everywhere.

In certain places there were marks of another kind of work, one which mars that of the Spirit of God wherever it obtains. It consists largely of a combative kind of gospel which seems more inclined to expose evil than to weep over it and to make Christ precious to the souls of men. It savors of a craving after adherents rather than of a holy purpose to edify the people of God, and its inevitable and sad result is, to leave souls in a barren, dwarfed condition, without power for prayer or spiritual development.

To speak of individual cases might lead one to more length than one cares to go into here ; but it is where the refreshment is as you well know. One instance was an elderly gentleman. Upon nearing his residence we met him walking out.

Sir, he said, I once opposed much the things you preach, but it is another thing now. God has been showing me what I am in His sight, and it has been a dreadful pass I have gone through. In all my life, though a professing Christian, I never had an idea of being such a sinner as I now see myself to be. I therefore understand and value the grace you proclaim; but O tell me, is it truly possible that a man like me should be allowed to appropriate the wonderful riches declared in that grace?

What a mercy to have the Word of God! And what joy to minister it to such.

A most interesting feature of the journey has been the Roman Catholics. It is evident there is a movement going on among them. Their clergy is losing some of its power over them, and they are more easily persuaded to read the Scriptures, In one case it was a poor laborer who could not read, nor any of his family, but he had received a French Testament and found in his employer one who could read in that tongue and who loved the Scriptures. He got him to read some portions to him, and such became his interest in the book that he ever carried it with him. Now read to me, he would say, while opening his red handkerchief in which the Testament was carefully wrapped up ; and when some passage especially struck him he would beg to have it read again to him even to the third time so that he might be able to communicate it to his family. Often did it so operate in him as it was being read to him that he would sit in an adoring attitude :he was hearing the voice of God.

In another case a Testament had been given to an intelligent, sturdy farmer who was in some difficulty with his priest. After reading it a little he saw there was abundant material there with which to fight the priest and he began to read in earnest. Soon, however, the battle changed front, and his own soul became the object instead of the priest. He cried to God and found mercy.

Spending an afternoon among the French families who have been blessed as the result of this has increased the desire to labor among that teeming French population who seem to be opening to the Word of God.

May it please the Lord, if He tarry yet a little, to so give grace and peace to His beloved people as to leave more freedom to carry the light in the parts which need it.

Ever yours in Him, P. J. L.