Two more brief extracts from the letters of missionaries must conclude this view, already too long, of a movement which will be regarded by all as very encouraging. While the meetings were in progress, Mr. Hazen wrote (Decem ber 9), "These ordinations are interesting as being the first in which the native brethren have taken the principal part in the arrangements. The chairman and secretary were native pastors. The examinations were conducted by them, and they did the principal part of the speaking at the various meetings.

"The movement in the direction of self-support is going on favorably. Our native brethren are showing themselves fitted to attend to all their ordinary ecclesiastical matters. It would seem that it is only necessary for these churches to grow up to bear their own expenses, and we may go to the 'regions beyond."" Mr. Bissell wrote, December 27: "I confess I have received new ideas of the strength of our native Christians within the last few months. There is a power here which is being developed and organized for active effort, which I believe God is about to use for his glory. And though, in view of the delay, we are sometimes ready to cry out, 'Oh, Lord, how long!' yet we encourage ourselves by the promise, 'Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."

REV. NATHAN L. LORD, M. D.

DR. LORD, whose death was briefly announced in the Herald for March, was born at Norwich, Connecticut, on the 8th of December, 1821. His mother a professing Christian before her marriage, who at one time expected to go as a missionary, with her brother, Rev. William Potter, to the Cherokees — at once consecrated him to the missionary work. He, however, was not informed of this until he had resolved to give himself to the service, and sought her advice. The family removed to Fairview, Pennsylvania, in 1829, and to Ellsworth, Ohio, in 1837. There Nathan joined the "Presbyterian and Congregational Church," in January, 1843, having been hopefully converted in 1841. He was educated at the Western Reserve College, Hudson, Ohio, graduating in 1847, and then pursuing the theological course, in the Seminary, one year and seven months; and was subsequently employed as agent and financial secretary of the College.

On the 6th of March, 1849, he was licensed to preach at Hudson, by the Presbytery of Portage, and was married August 11, 1850, at Stowe, Vermont, to Miss Laura W. Delano, of that place. In September, 1852, he decided to give himself to the missionary work among the heathen, having been, as he supposed, "first led to think of the subject by his mother's prayers and conversation, when quite young;" was ordained at Hudson, Ohio, on the 12th of the next month (October), and sailed from Boston December 13th of the same year, for Ceylon, with his wife. They reached Jaffna June 9th, 1853, and after a few months were лationed at Oodoopitty. Here Mr. Lord's work was much interrupted by the cholera and small-pox. Indeed, for three successive years, all his reports dwelt much upon the ravages of these afflictive diseases. During these years he visited freely among the cholera patients, ministering as far as he was able to their

bodily and spiritual wants, and also dispensed medicines every morning, from his verandah, to those who would come to him for aid. After Dr. Green's departure for America, in 1857, the mission dispensary and medical department were placed in his charge.

In January, 1858, the family were obliged to go to Madras, on account of the serious illness of their only child. In April, Mr. Lord returned to Jaffna, (leaving his family in Madras,) in company with Messrs. Hitchcock and Quick, newly-arrived. The journey was long and tedious, attended with great exposure, and this, together with the trying heat of Madras, laid the foundation, as he always felt, of the affection of the brain a partial sun-stroke from which he afterwards suffered so greatly, and which gradually undermined a constitution unusually strong. On his return to Madras, the latter part of May, he was prostrated with what appeared to be brain-fever, and in August the family were sent to the Pulney Hills, where they remained until they were constrained to return to the United States. They sailed from Madras September 27, 1859, taking the overland route to England, and reached New York December 8th.

Mr. Lord suffered extremely at sea, but after reaching his native land his health slowly improved. From boyhood he had a taste for the study of medicine, and being now unfit for active service, with a view to greater usefulness should he return to India, he devoted his time, for the first year, as far as health would permit, to attending courses of medical lectures; first in Cleveland, Ohio, where he received the degree of M. D., and afterwards in Brooklyn and New York.

In the fall of 1862 he was appointed District Secretary of the Board for Ohio, Indiana, and Southern Illinois, and for some months labored zealously and successfully to increase an interest in the cause of missions. But his heart was in India, and when he was invited to return to the Madura Mission, as missionary-physician, he cheerfully relinquished his position of usefulness and competency, as well as other remunerative situations which had been offered him in this country, to return to the work to which he had consecrated his life.

He reëmbarked from Boston, July 1, 1863, with his wife and two children, apparently in sound health. The voyage was long and tedious; and he suffered, as he invariably did at sea, with an incessant and severe headache. They landed at Madras on the 7th of December, 1863,―having been out of sight of land 159 days. On this voyage he lost 53 pounds of flesh, and he never recovered from the effects of it; and the climate of India, with a succession of exhausting boils, soon reduced him to extreme nervous debility. Still, he was able to attend to the duties of his dispensary, and to visit the sick — though often advised by physicians and friends to return again to the United States.

Early in 1867, his wife's health becoming so impaired as to render her return to this country imperative, his own health also demanding a change, hurried preparations were made, and they sailed from Madras, by steamer, March 29, 1867; reached England May 3d, and New York June 26th. He suffered extremely during the whole of this voyage, and his friends were painfully impressed, on his arrival, with the great change in his appearance; but with the cold weather his strength increased, and hopes were entertained of his restoration. With the view of having some light occupation, and to refresh his knowledge of medicine, he went to New York for the winter, to attend lectures, visit

hospitals, etc. Though still feeble, he was steadily improving in health until the middle of December, when, in a severe snow-storm, he became exhausted in walking from the hospital, and was scarcely able to reach his home. He rallied after a few days, but physicians pronounced the case to be enlargement of the heart, with extreme nervous debility, yet did not give the impression that there was immediate danger. It was soon found that there was effusion of water in the chest; he suffered greatly during restless, wakeful nights; but "In those long, sleepless night-watches the Saviour revealed himself to him as never before." On Thursday, January 23d, Mrs. Lord was told by the physician, in answer to her inquiries, that he had scarcely expected him to live through the previous night. She writes: "This was a dreadful shock to me, as it was the first intimation I had received that his case was considered dangerous. On my returning to the room he looked at me inquiringly, and asked what the doctors said, if they thought he could not recover? I told him, plainly, that they feared he could scarcely live through the day. He received the intelligence very calmly, not seeming in the least agitated; but said, 'I have thought of this a great deal for the last few months. I didn't think I should be so willing to go.'... He was in too much distress to converse much, but felt that his Saviour was near; and his trust was in him. Calmly and peacefully resting on Jesus, he said, 'Why should I wish to stay?' I remarked, He has gone to prepare a place for you;' and he replied, with emphasis, 'He has prepared a place for me.' A friend asked him if he felt resigned to the will of God. 'O yes,' he said, 'more so than I ever expected to be. I never expected to have such peace.' His mind began to wander, and he talked about the river, and wanted a 'bandy' to take him over. Once he said, 'I am on the bridge now.

joy, peace, holiness forever

Behind, is pain, suffering, and sin; beyond, all is no sin.'...

"After about 10 o'clock the next morning he became unconscious, and at eight o'clock Friday evening, January 24th, without a struggle or groan, he ceased to breathe. He had crossed the river,' and was, I have no doubt, in the presence of the Saviour he had so long trusted."

LETTERS FROM THE MISSIONS.

Nestorian Mission - Persia.

SEIR (near Oroomiah). LETTER FROM MR. COCHRAN, November 15, 1867.

MR. COCHRAN, returned from his visit to the United States, writes again from his "Persian home," where he was "gratified to find all the members of the mission in good health." Miss Rice, whose health had been long impaired, seemed to have "nearly recovered her usual vigor." Encouraging statements are made in his let

ter, respecting the annual meeting of helpers and others; action in regard to self-support; reports from Shirwan (Russia), and from Tabreez; the discussion on winedrinking, as a great bane and curse; earnest devotional feeling, and religious interest.

Annual Meeting of Helpers. "The annual convocation of helpers and representatives of the churches, on the plains of Oroomiah and Sooldooz, occurred on the 29th, 30th, and 31st of last month. It was a meeting of exceeding interest. It

"There were charming episodes to these deliberations, in the reports of Deacon Yacob, a graduate of our seminary, who, after two and a half years' colportage in Russia, had returned to visit his home and friends, and of Deacon Eshoo, who has labored for some years, with much success, in the chief commercial city, Tabreez. Deacon Yacob reported the sale of 1,900 Bibles and Testaments in modern Russian, and many other religious books and tracts, besides many books in German and other languages. He also, with great modesty and candor, spoke of revival scenes, resulting in the hopeful conversion and ultimate baptism of several adherents to the Greek church. A great and good work is manifestly opening in many places in the Russian Empire. It may not generally be known that the Emperor especially en

was gratifying to me to mark the growth and increased usefulness of these gatherings. Ninety members were in attendance. Priest Yoosep, of Dizza Takha, the former moderator, preached the opening sermon. Just recovering from severe illness, the plaintive jeremiad of this aged and most worthy preacher over the prevailing sins and worldliness of the church, and his earnest enforcement of the great remedy - prayer, were received as if having almost prophetic force. The preacher alluded feelingly to the recent robbing and entire destruction, by Koordish fanaticism, of one of the oldest and best church edifices among the people. The church dated back more than one thousand years, and covered the remains, and buried treasures and relics, of bishops and martyrs. The vaults were sacrilegiously opened and rifled of their valuable contents. A greater out-courages the circulation of the Scriptures rage upon the religious sensibilities of the people could hardly have been committed, and it is hoped that, through efforts of the English Consul, salutary punishment will be inflicted on the offenders.

Self-support-Reports from Russia and Tabreez. "The duty of assuming more fully the support of the gospel, and of schools, among the entire people, was earnestly enjoined. During the discussion, the spirit of self-denial and benevolence seemed to rise to a high pitch, and pledges were made to endeavor to double the last

year's contributions. Several pledged a

tenth of their income to the Lord. The amount raised the last year, on the plain, exceeded $700, being an excess over the previous year of $300 or more.

in the spoken language; allowing free passports to colporters, and exacting no duties for the largest sales. He has himself paid the expense of translating and printing a large edition, and has caused it to be circulated in the army and among officials, free of expense.

"Deacon Eshoo, of Tabreez, reports a decided demand for the Scriptures and the preached gospel, among Armenians and the few Nestorians, and other nationalities residing in that metropolis of the land. His report impressed us with the need of a missionary for that locality. It is the great want of our field at present.

The Use of Wine. "The subject of wine-drinking the greatest bane and curse of the people in the wine-making districts was discussed with vigor, and, with one or two exceptions, in the spirit of a determined purpose to urge forward a reform. It was easy to see that, on the whole, there had been a decided growth of conviction that total abstinence is the only safe remedy for the evil. It was gratifying to hear no complaints of the use of stronger drinks, except among excommunicated members and those outside of our communion.

Letter from Mr. H. N. BARNUM, December porting these men in the field. Several