against putting their yoke on their Gentile brethren, who never adopted the name of Nazarene. "The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch," and the name Nazarene remains to this day with converted Israel, as do likewise many Israelitish customs and peculiarities. The Nestorians abstain from pork. They make vows like Hannah of old, and present first fruits to the Lord, of their gardens, vineyards, and flocks, to feed the poor; bringing them first to the Churches for dedication. The Nestorians of the mountains in past times would have killed a man for travelling or labouring on the Sabbath. Many will not kindle a fire on that day to cook their food.

They have a sanctuary or holy place in their churches, which are indeed their cities of refuge for the man-slayer, but which require re-consecration if they have been entered by unhallowed feet. Countless details of this kind marked their ancient ancestry when the American missionaries first reached them, which are probably now not observed, as the full light of the Gospel has given to this generation clearer views of the work of Christ. They have always considered circumcision superseded by baptism, and their children are baptized on the eighth day, sometimes after, but never before it.

The remarkable feature in the history of this people is, that while they are our truest link with the days of the Apostles (of whom they say that Thomas, Thaddeus, and Bartholomew laboured among them), they were for a thousand years the Evangelists of Asia, and chiefly amidst persecution and reproach.

We are in possession of a photograph of the remarkable inscription on a stone tablet in China, which proves their mission there, and that they carried the Scriptures to the Chinese. It will be given, with further particulars of the American Missions among themselves, in our next number.

FOR LONDON BIBLE AND DOMESTIC FEMALE MISSIONS.

Money received between May 16th and June 15th, 1872,

Examined and certified by me, as duly entered in the books of the Mission, JAMES WADDELL (of J. WADDELL & CO.),

Fellow of the Institute of Accountants in London,

New Poultry Chambers, 7, Poultry, E.C.

Mr. and Mrs. J. Robison

Wright..

Miss Bruce

WORKING GIRLS' DORMITORIES.

An Aged Lady

A Visitor at Parker-
street Dormitory

MOON'S MISSION TO THE BLIND.

A Friend, Bromsgrove 0 10 0
An Aged Lady.
M. S.

500 050

£146 14 6

..

12 0 0 050

500

0 10 0

Received for the Missions and Bible-women Nurses, with thanks :-Parcels of clothing, old linen, &c., from E. Y.; "A Mother"; E. R.; Miss Matheson; A. E. R.; Anonymous; Mrs. Warner; Mrs. James, Morley's Hotel; Mrs. Parham. Books from Miss Bruce; "Mothers' Friend," from Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton; "British Workwoman," from Messrs. Spalding and Hodge; Hospital Tickets from C. Walton, Esq., J. Bellingsley, Esq., and Miss Wilson; and texts on linen for quilts by Mrs. Catt.

Contributions to the LONDON BIBLE AND DOMESTIC FEMALE MISSIONS can be received by the Honorary Secretary, Mrs. Ranyard, 13, Hunter-street, Brunswick-square, London, W.C., by the Hon. A. Kinnaird, M.P., addressed to the Bank of Messrs. Ransom and Co., No. 1, Pall-mall East; also by Messrs. Barclay, Bevan, and Co., 54, Lombard-street; and by Messrs. Nisbet and Co., Berners-street. Money Orders should be made payable at the Post-office in Burton-crescent, W.C.

"BUILT UPON THE ROCK."

IN MEMORIAM of our dear Bible-woman, Mrs. Nichols.

"MY DEAR MRS. R

BY A PIONEER.

We can

"We feel a sad blank in Bermondsey. scarcely realize the fact that our good Mrs. Nichols has left us ; but it is true. Her work here is done; and she is gone up to 'the Father's house on high.' On the thirteenth day of June we laid her remains in Bow Cemetery,-'In the sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection;' for I felt as I looked into that deep grave that the voice of the Lord could raise her up a glorious body.

“There was a large gathering of real mourners around that grave a great many of the mothers of her district, some with babies in their arms, and a large number of her fellow-workers; for she was much beloved, and will be greatly missed, as one said, on leaving the grave, 'It's when the trials come that we shall miss her most.'

66 Twelve years and a half she had been a Bible-woman in Bermondsey; and her experience was large, and her advice very valuable; for having passed through many trials and privations herself, and enjoying much of the presence of God in them, she knew how to speak a word to them that were weary, and to comfort those who were in any trouble. She had a strongly sympathetic nature, and a singularly unselfish spirit, combined with a cheerful disposition, and a heart full of the love of Christ. She consequently became a centre to all around her, for her Christian charity was beautifully consistent. She had built on the Rock of Ages, and her spiritual life was real.

"Her illness was short (only a fortnight), but very severe. The doctor had no hope of her recovery from the first, her complaint being congestion of the left lung. The suffering was violent, and the fever high; and for the first few days she complained that she could not hold the communion with God she longed for, her mind was so disturbed with the pain VOL. VIII.-No. 8.

Q

of her body; and Satan tried to harass her by suggesting doubts as to the reality of her faith; but she quaintly remarked, 'I said, Go away, Satan; for I am built upon the Rock.' Shortly after this the Lord lifted up the light of His countenance upon her; and in all her strong pain, and the trying exhaustion which followed, she was full of peace and joy, often saying, 'Precious Jesus! I must speak out, and praise Him! Glory be to Jesus!'

"She was very grateful to every one for kindness shown her. And when I told her of kind inquiries, and the direction given for Nurses F and H to attend her, and the help sent, she said, 'What have I done more than others to receive so much? Give my love and thanks, and say I will meet dear friends on the other side of the river, where the top-stone shall be brought with shoutings, "Grace, grace unto it!"""

"The Wednesday before she died, being the day of her meeting, when we had to tell the mothers there was no hope of her recovery, their grief was very great. There was nothing but silent weeping; and in telling her about them afterwards, she said, 'Oh, these mothers! they have cost me nights of anxiety, and floods of tears! There are some of whom I have a good hope; but many are still unsaved. The Lord may bless my death to them;' and she went over the names of many of those who had gone before, who would be meeting her in the home above. She told us there was a convoy of angels coming for her; that the Lord Jesus was collecting them; and they would soon be here.'

"A kind friend brought her a beautiful flower. She had it placed where she could always see it, and would point to it, and say, 'Flowers of Paradise!' She often suffered very much. Her breathing was so difficult, even after the violent pain had subsided, that it was very trying to see her; and she prayed for patience; and would look so earnestly in one's face, and say, 'Do you think it will be long?'

"On the night before her death she said, 'Dying is hard work; but there is an eternity of bliss at the end. I will wait His time, with my kind friends around me.

Oh, gracious