Foreign vs. Home Missions.
A PAPER of Dublin places in striking juxtaposition the following paragraphs. When such ignorance exists at home as is described in the first paragraph, the idea of Lords and Bishops rejoicing over openings for missionary operations in distant parts, while overlooking the wants that lie at their own door, is little less than ludicrous. “At the Hendon Petty Sessions, some days ago, a girl named Maria Walker was produced as a witness for a prosecution on a charge of trespass. Mr. Blount, who appeared for the defendant, begged leave to cross-examine her, and did so to the following effect:—
“‘Have you ever heard of God?’ ‘Noa.’
“‘How old are you?’ ‘I do n’t noa.’
“‘Have you ever heard tell of Heaven or hell?’ ‘Noa.’
“‘Where will you go when you die?’ ‘I do n’t noa.’
“‘When you do wrong—thieve, lie, make mischief; whom do you offend?’ ‘I do n’t noa.’
“‘Have you a soul?’ ‘I do n’t noa.’” “At a meeting of the London Society for Promoting Christianity amongst the Jews, Lord Shaftesbury in the chair, the Lord Bishop of Sidney proposed, and the Rev. Maurice Nelligan seconded, the following resolution:
“‘That this gathering of the friends of Christian enlightenment is profoundly rejoiced to hear of the promised openings for missionary effort in the imperial cities of Vienna and Rome, and in Damascus.’”