Scottish Ladies' Association for Female Education in India. а HE twenty-seventh lent health, and is full of life Annual Meeting of and love. Besides superinthis Association, tending the Orphanage and was held on the day-schools, she is able to do 28th April. There was a good deal of Zenana work." large attendance. The Hon. "There are forty-two wards." Major Baillie occupied the "Mr Henderson and I held chair. an examination yesterday. We were pleased with the result." "Three are candidates for baptism." There are three day-schools attended by about 112 pupils. Mr Herdman is returning home, after nearly twenty years' service in India. The Rev. Maxwell Nicholson conducted the devotional services. The Chairman said,-My friends, among the inestimable blessings the gospel carries with it into heathen lands, one of the most beneficial is that of the elevation of woman. Instead of being the drudge or the toy of man, she becomes that for which she was originally created, a help meet for man. She is enabled rightly to perform her duties as daughter, sister, wife, and mother. She is enabled rightly to perform her duties to God and man. To elevate the character of the native females of India, is the grand object of this Association, and surely it is an object deserving of our best support. The Honorary Secretary then read the Report, of which we can give only an outline :CALCUTTA.- Miss Hebron has come home, on medical certificate, for a year. Miss Brittan, now superintendent, is doing admirably. Mr Herdman says, "She has excel MADRAS. The condition of affairs at this station has caused much anxiety this year, but it is hoped that the Institution will soon be restored to its former prosperous state. There are upwards of forty girls in the Orphanage; the number of day scholars has not been reported, but it is feared there has been a very considerable diminution. BOMBAY.-The Orphanage has been removed to Poona, with a view to diminish the expenses. There has been much sickness, and the number of orphans had been reduced considerably. But Mrs Ross says, on the 27th February,-" You will, I hope, see from this letter, that there is no risk of our Orphanage not filling up rapidly, and that we have reason to thank God VOL. VI.-No. 6. and take courage." There are several girls preparing for baptism. SEALKOTE.-Mrs Roberts, the superintendent, has gone, with her daughter, who is sick, to Lahore, and a successor has not yet been found. There has been much sickness among the children, and six have died. There are eighteen still; and marked progress has been made by all the pupils. CEYLON. The usual Report has not been received yet from this station; but all the operations have been carried on during the year satisfactorily. FUNDS.-The Financial condition of the Association could not be accurately stated; but a generous response was made by many friends to last year's appeal. At Calcutta £215 was raised; £80 at Madras; friends in Canada exerted themselves greatly; and several churches in Edinburgh gave handsome collections; & legacy of £200 from a lady, was received through Mr Monro of Campsie; and a considerable sum was realized by bazaars. And, on the whole, it may be expected that the Treasurer's statement will prove favourable and encouraging. ing wonderful progress. Native prejudices against imparting knowledge to women, are giving way on all sides. In Northern India, the instruction and elevation of their females, have been advocated lately by the noblest of the land. In Bombay, Parsees and Hindoos alike are helping forward the movement. In Calcutta, the Zenana Mission is being rapidly extended and developed. And in Madras, female education is becoming increasingly popular. Hence it may be inferred, that the Divine blessing rests upon this important work, and that its final triumph is drawing nigh. The Committee return thanks most gratefully for the assistance received from the various Auxiliary Associations, Ladies' Committees, Sabbath Schools, and friends in India, Canada, England, and at home. They express their obligations to Dr Macduff, of Glasgow. for the interesting little work, 66 Ripe for the Sickle," the proceeds of which are given to the Association; and to the Rev. Mr Colvin, late of Bombay, for his zealous labours to promote the cause. They also most earnestly entreat that more general support may be afforded them in carrying on CONCLUSION.-Not a few this noble work. And they trials have been encountered during the year; but there has been also very much to excite thankfulness. The great cause in which the Association is engaged is mak beseech all to endeavour to realize the greatness of the object-nearly one hundred millions of our sisters to be rescued from ignorance, slavery, and the most debasing, soul-destroying superstition. tion. The Rev. J. Mitchell, of South Leith, moved the adoption of the Report. He said the position a nation occupied among other nations depended upon the position occupied by the women. In Europe the moral and social culture and advancement of the nations had always kept pace with the culture and advancement of the women of those nations. In India the position of women was a disgrace to our humanity. The effect of the influence of our beloved Sovereign's life had been felt in every dwelling in our land; it had raised our social purity and civilization: and it seemed right that the influence felt here should be extended to the females in that portion of Her Majesty's dominions also. The Rev. Mr Sprott, of Ceylon, seconded the resolu He thought they had great reason to be satisfied with the Report, which was most interesting, both as regards the object in view, and the manner of working. One fact he would notice was, that in this Association several Colonial Churches co-operated with the Home Church, thus keeping up the ties which connected them with the mother Church, Another fact with which he was much pleased was, that the Sunday-scholars had a part in the work, thus giving the young a personal interest in Missions-an object of the utmost importance. This Society enjoyed a great degree of favour among all who knew anything of India. It fed the hungry, clothed the naked, provided homes for orphans, and promoted the spiritual welfare of those for whom it provided in this life. The Rev. Mr M'Laren, of Mertoun, moved the next resolution, which was seconded by R. Cooke, Esq., Montrose. The Rev. Mr Dawson, from Bengal, proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was cordially awarded. Heber's missionary hymn was then sung; and Mr Colvin pronounced the benediction. HEN alone, guard your thoughts; Egyptian Women. T is impossible to dwell among these poor creatures, to watch their daily round of toil, their slovenly dress, the filth and discomfort of their homes, their frequent quarrels and vacant mirth; to see the wretched mismanagement of their little ones, and the degraded position they оссиру with regard to the other sex, without wishing to raise them from a condition so little better than that of the beasts of burden. But it is when they are in affliction, when sorrow and bereavement call forth feelings of a deeper naturethen it is that a Christian's heart is stirred with strong compassion. It happened that on the first night of our settling in Babel-Bahar (Gate of the River, a quarter of Cairo), "about midnight" there was a "great cry," for in a neighbouring house one was just dead. No one who has heard that sudden cry breaking the deep stillness of night can ever forget its thrilling effect. Then came the piteous wailing that seemed to speak of sorrow without hope the mother of the family was taken, and the children's shrieks and sobs, mingled with the plaintive cry of" Oh, Aneeseh! Aneeseh!" from the sisters or friends who vainly called on her who could no longer answer them,-who had no longer a name on earth! "Where is she?" was the terrible thought, too terrible to dwell on, yet impossible to chase away, that forced itself into the mind of the Christian stranger who lay sadly listening to these sounds of woe, and remembering the deep thankfulness that mingles with the anguish of those who know that their beloved ones are for ever with the Lord. All that could be answered to that awful question was in the words of inspiration, "He that knew not his Lord's will, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes." Next morning the mournful procession was seen leaving the door of a nearly opposite house, for in Egypt, as in all warm countries, funerals take place the day after decease, at latest. There was the bier covered with a shawl, and the head-dress of the poor woman fixed upon it, as is usual,-the hired mourning women mixed with the friends and family; nor was it possible to distinguish them in this class of life, all being clad in the same dark blue veils, and all wringing their hands with the same shrill wailing cry; but of this we were unhappily but too sure, that in all the sad group not one had any real comfort; not one could call on the Almighty in the name of Him who wept at the grave of M Gen. ix. 2.-" The fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon every beast of the earth." ANY of the customs these and innumerable other still prevailing in things remind us, that, alEastern countries, though not in the land of our continually remind birth, we are in a country the Missionary of incidents familiar to us through the related in the Scriptures. Bible. Every woman passing to and from the well with her pitcher on her head; every messenger, sent to run on an errand, taking off the loose cloth which hangs from his waist to his feet, and binding it round him as a girdle, in order that he may go the faster; the common expressions, addressed to us every day, "Peace be to you," 'My Father," Thy servant;" 66 Gen. ix. 5.-" Surely your blood of your lives will I rebeast will I require it " quire; at the hand of every The duties of my Mission station often required me to pass through large tracts of |