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matter and Dr. Candlish laid it before the Board. The reply, however, was that while the committee smpathized with Mr. Burns, yet there was no opening in their Indian field at that time. The Lord o f the harvest had a different field from India in His mind for Mr. Burns. Dr. James Hamilton o f London, who was the Convener o f the English Presbyterian Church Missionary Committee, wrote at this very time to Dr. James Buchanan who held a similar posi tion in the Free Church, as to whether he knew o f any minister or preacher in Scot land who might go to .China as the first missionary of the English Presbyterian Church. Without mentioning the matter to Mr. Burns, Dr. Buchanan wrote back sug gesting his name and the names o f one or two others as suitable men. Some weeks after Dr. Hamilton wrote Mr. Burns (tbe two knew each other very well) laying the matter, before him and desiring a speedy answer, which Mr. Burns felt he could not give and wrote accordingly. This brought back a more earnest letter than before, but still the way was not clear, though it was clearing. China began to be laid on Mr. Burns’ heart. Before giving a final reply he went down to Kilsyth that he might be pres’ent once more at the communion service in the beloved church where God had first poured out upon him His Holy Spirit. Sev eral more weeks went on and now he was sure that he was to go to China. He wrote the Committee to this effect. In the mean time the Committee had heard so much about the difficulties o f the work in China from a gentleman who had returned from there that some o f the members were pro posing to drop the matter. When Mr. Burns heard o f this proposition it stirred him all the more lest they should go back on what he now felt to be plainly the Lord’s will. S As the Synod was to meet at Sunderland he decided to go down there and meet with them. His father and mother were away from home on a visit, indeed only his eldest sister was at home, but this mat tered not at all to him. He packed his car petbag, kissed his sister good-bye, threw his
who was a Methodist He came down to one o f the meetings to see how matters stood, and to consult with Mr. Burns as to what should 'be done. On learning his object, Mr. Burns said, “ Let us pray,” and when they knelt down he said to the mayor, “You pray.” The mayor did so, beseech- ' ing God’s blessing on his servant, and left - Mr. Burns with ihe request that he would send him notice when he would next preach. Leaving the city o f Montreal, Mr. Burns travelled through a large part of Canada, visiting the smaller towns and settlements as he went, preaching in French, English or Gaelic, as the occasion demanded. He had many interesting experiences with French Roman Catholics, and won the good will o f many. Indeed, one o f them gave this testimony : “ He is the best priest we ever heàrd speaking.” Many o f these jour neys were made on foot through storm as well as through sunshine, and often with a good deal o f discomfort as well as of actual risk. When he returned to Scot land at the end o f about two years, his experiences were apparent in his worn appearance and in his voice which had lost a good deal o f its former resonance and power. LEAVES FOR CHINA. When Mr. Burns was at college he was - very much interested in the Foreign Mis sionary Association, as our readers will remember, and it will be recalled also that he had been invited by his own church to become a missionary to the Jews. He beliëved, however, that at that time God’s leadings were in other directions. On his return from Canada his mind was a g a in drawn to the foreign missionary field. Con ditions in the churches in Scotland were such that there did not seem to be the same openings for work that there had been a few years before. Soon after his arrival at home he was again asked by his church to go on a continental mission. He felt no leading in that direction, and in conversation with Dr. Candlish told him of his longings to go to the heathen with the Gospel. The two men prayed over the
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