INTELLIGENCE FROM THE MISSIONS.

FRANCE.

LETTER OF REV. J. W. PARKER.

The readers of the Magazine are apprized of Mr. Parker's visit the past year to France and Germany, and of some of the interesting facts and incidents which came under his ob

of them among the deeply interested hearers of our young French br. Fla

mant.

These meetings at Douai are holden at the house of br. Willard, and are sometimes exceedingly interesting. With the instruction of the young men, an ex

and with the correspondence and care of all the other stations, his time is crowded with work.

servation in his intercourse with our missionary brethren in those countries, as pub-position on Sabbath morning for them, lished in several numbers of our last volume. In the present number, we are enabled to give a consecutive and fuller narrative of the scenes he witnessed in France; and although some portions of it may have been presented in another form, the whole embodies too much interest to allow abbreviation.

Douai-Mission labors and results.

It is known that Douai has been for more than twelve years the residence of the American superintendent of the mission in the north of France. It is a quiet old town, with a population of about 20,000, including about 3,000 soldiers. It is situated in the midst of a most beautiful and fertile undulating plain, not far from 35 leagues south-east of Calais, and on the great northern line of railway between Paris and Belgium. From four to six leagues distant are the churches of Bertry and Orchies. All the above named places are in the department of the North.

Piety ripening under affliction.

She

God by his providence has tested and developed the piety of some of the disciples at Douai. Last winter there were many fatal cases of cholera within a short distance of br. Willard's residence. Among those attacked was the wife of one of the brethren who were engaged in study. The symptoms were of the worst type; there was little reason to hope for her recovery. She was most ardently attached to her husband, and strongly desirous of helping him in the work to which he was to devote himself among his Catholic countrymen. The disease made frightful progress, and assumed the most alarming form. was calm, perfectly resigned; aye, even exulting, in view of all that was before There is a small church at Douai, to her. Her heavenly calmness and resigwhich Mr. Willard, and the young bre-nation not only conquered the fear of thren who are studying with him, preach on the Sabbath. At the present time, there are three or four under his care, who are expected to enter soon into the field as preachers of the gospel. They are young men of much excellence of within nine months she would look character, and possess the confidence on the form of her husband, taken from and affection of their older brethren. Some of these young men go out to the villages in the vicinity and preach Christ to the peasantry, much to their gratification. God has blessed these labors. At a communion at Douai, when these labors were suspended, I saw a number out bore his lifeless body to his house.

death, but disease and death itself. She rose up as if by miracle. Her friends attribute her recovery to the Christian hope which she cherished. Dear sister! little did she think at that time, that

her in a moment by drowning. He had gone to walk and bathe one evening, early in August. She was spreading the table with their simple repast, ready for his return. About the time he should have returned, those with whom he went

The blow was taken like a bolt from hea- Jesus whom he preached, and many would believe on Him.

ven. Sosudden, so terrible, she staggered and fell beneath it; but soon recovered, and manifested such abounding Christian resignation as to excite the wonder and admiration of all.

At St. Quentin, a few leagues from Cambray, there are several disciples, but no one who is stationed there as a Dear sister! she colporteur. This, I think, would be one would be a bright example to many of the most eligible situations for an able whose privileges far exceed those which and intelligent preacher. she has enjoyed. Br. Lucas' death spread a pall of sadness over the little company of disciples for several weeks.

The French Peasantry.

The evening brought us to La Fère, the place of M. Foulon's residence. Without the gates of the city were brethren Lepoids, Foulon, and Besin, waiting on the drawbridge for our arrival. These brethBr. Willard left Douai with me on the ren had all suffered for Christ's sake, and 23d of May, to attend a meeting for bap- were endeared to all by their fidelity and tism in the field occupied by M Foulon affection. The evening was spent with our as pastor, and M. Ledouble and others br. Foulon in conversation and prayer, as colporteurs. Our way was through and the morrow was anticipated with soone of the most beautiful countries on licitude and pleasure. which the eye of man ever rested; all Ride to Servais-Chateau of Henry IV. bearing the "marks and numbers" of feudal influence, in the extended unenThe morning of the 25th rose most closed fields of the seigneurs, and the beautiful upon us, and we started early dense villages, or old walled cities, crowd- from La Fère on foot to Servais, about ed with the cottages of the peasantry, four or five miles distant, where the who cultivated the surrounding fields. The happiness of the French peasantry, of which so much is said by travellers, is hardly entitled to the place which has been given to it. They are cheerful, unsusceptible, reckless, and improvident; exceedingly destitute of social virtues, and nearly ignorant of what we of Protestant New England call social home comforts among the laborers in the rural districts and agricultural neighborhoods in the Northern States. A pure Protestant Christianity would effect a change among them almost as great, in many places, as among the heathen.

meeting was to be holden that day. We passed through and near several villages; the people were, some of them, attending to their ordinary business, and some preparing for church. After walking several miles, we called at a cottage where a brother resided, who had recently embraced Christ; his wife had also become a disciple. When they learned I came from America, and was a friend of the mission, they expressed great satisfaction. There was in them both the most decided evidence of a deep and radical change. The wife was to have been baptized that day, but her illness prevented. We were now passing the scene of M. Foulon's labors. In As we passed through the old city of many of the cottages along the wayside Cambray, and entered the market-place had these evangelists preached Christ where Fenelon had often mingled with and Him crucified to the wondering and the crowd who came to the town to sell earnest Catholics. Many had listened, the proceeds of their labor, and as I and some believed, while a few had opstood at the door of the church in which posed and persecuted. It was in one of he used to preach, and saw the ignorant the cottages on this beautiful elevation of and irreligious multitude thronging those land, that one of our young brethren, streets, my heart was sad. Had we the who was acting as a colporting evangemen to spare from other fields, they list, was seized a few months before by would be heard here, preaching the same an officer of government, and dragged

Fenelon St. Quentin-La Fere.

with great violence from the house. As the listeners were deeply affected, and

under conviction for sin. Most of the candidates were past middle age, and had come out from the Catholic church amid great opposition. There was a solemn earnestness about them, which gave one great confidence in their declarations. The whole number were admitted for baptism, and the congregation dispersed, to reassemble at the place of its administration. It was in a quiet stream, which flowed at the foot of the garden of the chateau, that these disciples were to be buried with their Master, in the ordinance of His appointment. It was a brilliant day-every thing was in the beautiful attire of spring. The

of old, they seemed to rejoice that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ. We descended into the beautiful valley, and reached the house of M. Ledouble about 10 o'clock, where we found the brethren and sisters assembling in and about the chapel. They came from great distances, in some cases four or five leagues, and always on foot. The chapel is a small room in a house occupied by colporteur Ledouble, which is one of the cottages belonging to the old chateau or castle of Henry IV. It is a singular but not uninteresting coincidence, that our brethren are occupying the spot where this Huguenot prince, about 300 years since, used to assemble with the disciples of Jesus garden, the margin of the stream, shadof Nazareth, and encourage and defended by poplars, the high-way beyond, them. Nor is it less a matter of gratula- thronged with people, the cultivated tion than an occasion of gratitude to God, grounds of the castle in the rear, the anthat the present occupant and owner of cient abode of royalty, and the home of this interesting and valuable estate is the the best king France ever had, deepened friend of our brethren. While the peo- the feeling inspired by this most interple were coming in, my mind was occupied esting service. After singing and praywith the scenes which had recently been er, M. Lepoids began to speak to the witnessed here. It was here that Foulon people. As he proceeded, the occasion was seized, and from hence taken to and the circumstances moved his spirit prison in La Fère. Here many papists most strongly. He stood before more had learned the way of life, and here, than a thousand Catholics, who had been to-day, others were to join the company dismissed from a neighboring church at of disciples. In a short time I found an earlier hour than usual, that they myself among a number of our principal might witness and disturb this Protestant laborers in this field, and all were wel- service. He was in presence of the comed with the most affectionate greet- officers who had recently bound him and ing. led him away to prison. Few who were among the crowd had ever witnessed a At the time the services commenced, baptism, and many now listened to the there were 150 or 200 present. M. Fou- gospel for the first time. His whole soul lon preached. His sermon was a clear was deeply stirred, and he poured forth statement of the doctrine of baptism, and his words and tears with great pathos. an able argument for the manner in He spoke for the truth and his Master which the rite was about to be performed. with the directness and boldness of a man At the close of the service, those who who has no fear. He warned and exwished for baptism and admission to the horted the careless crowd with much afchurch were called forward. Fifteen fection and earnestness. The manifespersons separated themselves from the tations of opposition subsided. The congregation. Their examination was careless became attentive, and the noisy conducted by M. Lepoids, in presence quiet. When the first candidate was of the church, and before their friends led into the water, there seemed to pass and Catholic acquaintances. It was through the crowd a general sensation of most thorough and searching. Many of horror; they expected drowning as the

Baptismal services.

consequence. When he was safely led | gospel to the poor ignorant Catholics. out, this feeling subsided, and they lis- He charged me to express his gratitude tened attentively and observed carefully. to the Executive Committee and the conOn more than one face the smile of con-tributors to the Union, for the interest tempt gave place to tears. The sighs they had taken in his brethren. "0," and sorrow of many were most cheering said he, with the deepest emotion, "if evidence that the great Head of the they had not sent these men among us, church was present and approved the I should have been lost forever—I should service. At its close the assembly quiet-never have known Christ." And he fell ly dispersed, and returned, hundreds of on my neck and kissed me, amid his them, with such thoughts and feelings as never were theirs before. A spirit of inquiry was awakened in many minds, which will issue in good to their souls.

Administration of the Supper.

tears of grateful joy, bidding me adieu again and again. The renovation of these men distinguishes them so clearly from their neighbors that all see the change. We spent the night again in the house of our dear br. Foulon.

The laborers and the field.

The scenes which I had witnessed this day gave me a deep impression of the value of the French Mission. The men who are laboring there have a strong hold on the minds of a great multitude of

In the afternoon M. Lepoids preached. The chapel was crowded; the windows and all around them full of attentive hearers. The communion of the Lord's Supper was celebrated after the sermon. The church partook of the elements standing; about fifty were present. This, to me, was a season of most intense people. The peasantry have confidence interest. We truly sat together in in them, and just so soon as they gain heavenly places. Deep and solemn knowledge enough to see that there is a feeling pervaded the whole congregation. The people seemed unwilling to leave a scene of such unusual interest. It was nearly 6 o'clock when all dispersed. This will be a memorable occasion in the little village of Servais.

M. Courty, the proprietor of the old royal domain, was among the most attentive hearers. For more than four hours did he stand before the Lord that day. He has shown himself the friend of our brethren, and treated br. Willard and myself with great courtesy on this occasion. He earnestly begged us to spend several days with him, after shewing us through his chateau. May he become heir to a heavenly mansion.

A convert's message.

On our way back to the city of La Fère, the brother at whose cottage we called in the morning came out, and grasping me by the hand, gave utterance to his feelings in the most affectionate and grateful mention of the benefit the disciples in America had conferred on his country in aiding them to publish the

way of salvation out of the papal church, and know what the way is, multitudes will embrace the Saviour. The field is white and waiting for the reaper's hand. The Lord is there, preparing the hearts of the people to hear and believe the truth. The stream of evangelical influence which has flowed on almost unnoticed and so quiet, is deep and broad. The last two years are showing the fruits of previous labor. There is much more done in the department of Aisne by the agency which we employ and sustain, than is accomplished in any other department by any other society, whose reports have awakened so much surprise and interest in this country.

Paris-Labors of Dr. Devan.

After a few days I visited Paris, and saw some of the colporteurs who were engaged in the work in that city with Dr. Devan. The principal work at that time was selling testaments, and conversation and meetings on the Sabbath. Br. Devan was urging forward the effort with his accustomed energy, and using