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Superintendent, says are most grateful for their new surroundings. Dr. McKean, of Siam, reports progress in the new leper asylum buildings there, adding that 67 lepers seem very happy, and a number are asking for baptism. Dr. Ma son, who has been associated with Dr. Mc Kean in the American Presbyterian Mission in Siam, will spend a few weeks in Amer ica, as part of his furlough.” [Lantern slides, showing photographs of the lepers and of the asylums erected for their benefit; programs, etc., illustrating Leper Mission Work, are furnished on re quest by the Secretary, Mr. W. M. Dan ner, 105 Raymond street, Cambridge, Mass.] The Gospel in Venezuela Rev. David E. Finstrom, a graduate of Mr. Horton’s Bible Institute in St. Paul, Minn., in the nineties, writing of his work in Venezuela, South America, says: Looking back over the history of this work since the year 1899, our hearts are filled with praise and thankseiving to God, the first convert being given us that year. Arrogant Rome has thundered her curses and waged criminal persecution against us during these years, faithful to her unchange able nature of cruelty and despotism; but withal, nearly forty converts, washed in the blood of the Lamb, surround us today as a powerful testimony to the gldrious Gos pel of Christ. Besides our local work at La Victoria, consisting of church work, Sunday school and a precious day school, we also carry on regular services in three of the adja cent communities, reaching over 300 people weekly by the preached Word. The most recent opening for permanent services is a neighboring village of some 1200 inhabi tants, which has been one of this republic’s most famous centers of idolatry and super- stitution; thousands of pilgrims having re sorted hither at the annual feast from all parts of the republic. Tradition has it that "Our Lady of Bethlehem” appeared here
over a hundred years ago in the form of a small coin. This coin has “grown” con tinually during this time, and has now as sumed the shape of a -small image; all by miraculous power exerted by our “Lady of Bethlehem.” This image is bathed in water by a priest at each annual festival, and the water carried away by “the faithful” as a medicine against every ill. A lot of dirt is also carried away by the pilgrims, dug from a pit inside the little sanctuary mark ing the spot of the grand event of the spurious tradition. This pit is also “mirac ulously” replenished with dirt from year to year, by the “Holy Mother.” (An old man of the place said to me about 14 years ago: “You are a stranger and may believe all this, but I might tell you that I have haul ed many a cart of dirt and dipped into that hole at night-----ha, ha!”) Poor deluded people! China could probably not afford greater examples of idolatry and superstition than those on record here in connection with this shrine, under the direct impulse of the Roman Catholic church. The lighthouse of La Victoria has been pouring out its light upon these dark scenes now for many years, much to the chagrin of the papal agents. For a month the services have been at tended by about two hundred persons every time; not less than two hundred and fifty persons being present to hear the lecture on “The Bible” last night. Wondrous are the Lord’s works, and it is clear that we have now reached a new stage in our mission ary work in these regions, where the peo ple are welcoming the Word, inviting us to come and teach in their towns where be fore, in obedience to mischievous priests, we were insulted and stoned very fre quently. Low Caste Converts The publicans and harlots still first. Of the two lowest castes in India, the C. M. S. Gazette reports, “These people are pressing into the church faster than the mission can provide teachers or open sta tions and schools for them.”
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