ACTION OF THE ALLIANCE IN RUSSIA IN THE CAUSE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY,

Your Council are happy to report that very gratifying results continue to follow the prayers and efforts of the Alliance last year on behalf of perseented Protestants in the Baltic provinces of Russia.

Communications have been received

that the oppressive measures so justly complained of have been stopped; that orders have been given to allow Lutherans, who, from whatever cause, had become members of the Greek Church, to return freely to the Church to which they had formerly belonged. A high official, himself a member of the Greek Church, has estimated the number of those persons who, since the deputation of the Evangelical Alliance to the Emperor of Russia, have seceded from the Greek Church, and made open profession of the Protestant faith, to be in one province alone (Livonia) thirty thousand.

The following extract from a letter addressed to the Foreign Secretary, written by a Swiss gentleman, (one of the deputation last year,) who has recently visited Russia, and who has lent throughout much valuable service to this object, will be found deeply interesting: "Your Council will be thankful to hear, that the great effort which the European and American branches of the Evangelical Alliance made last year in behalf of the Baltic Protestants, has resulted in greater blessings than even the most hopeful could have anticipated. Not only is there at present full religious liberty enjoyed in those provinces, so that hundreds and thousands of persons who, by fraud or by force, had been induced to join the Greek Church, now return in increasing numbers to the Protestant communion; but the movement of the Evangelical Alliance has also had the effect of bringing about an earnest advocacy of religious liberty throughout the country by many of the St. Petersburg and Moscow journals, who were loudest in condemning the steps taken

by the Evangelical Alliance. Since the true and disinterested motives of the

Evangelical Alliance have been fully understood, your Society has occupied a high position in the minds of the enlightened Russians."

The Alliance did not raise its voice in vain,-did not bring united influ ence to bear in vain. Much, by God's blessing, has been accomplished, and multitudes have been made glad in being able to worship God without fear, according to the dictates of their own conscience. A suitable address of thanks has proceeded from the Council of the Alliance to his Imperial Majesty of Russia, for graciously listening to the appeal made to him in behalf of his subjects, and for the results which followed. But the work is not complete, and cannot be, whilst the same intolerant laws, applicable to members of the orthodox Greek Church remain, and may at any moment be enforced.

FRANCE: DISTRIBUTION OF THE SCRIPTURES AT THE EXHIBITION OF LYONS.-The recent Exposition of Lyons has been the occasion of spreading widely the Word of God in small portions, given, some from the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and others from the Crystal Palace Bible Stand, together with above two hundred thousand tracts. The kiosk prepared by the Protestants of Lyons in the park was succeeded, as soon as the damp season commenced, by a table in the interior. Daily one or more evangelists perambulated the galleries, giving freely to the public, and conversing with the exhibitors and their agents, while the sale was carried on at the table or kiosk. The Bible Society of France was represented by a small exhibition of its volumes, but had no agent.

It is impossible to calculate the results to the country from the carrying by individuals to their often distant homes these little books and large

as

picture-tracts and almanacks souvenirs of Expositions, with the remembrance of the solemn word or pleasant conversation which accompanied the sale or gift. All France is not represented by noisy demagogues and infidel journalists; and the error of taking these for the nation has often paralysed effort, and been the very handle of the enemy to crush the impulse to spread the Gospel. The distributors did not confine their efforts to the Exposition only, but followed out the work in all the branches eligible; small meetings, visits, prayer-meetings, sometimes initiating efforts hitherto unknown, and, wherever possible, joining in works of longstanding. During the past year the young men of the Christian Association, taking a hint from Nimes, tried to gather a few neglected boys on the Sunday in various populous districts. The young women followed, and made the experiment with girls; by perseverance they succeeded, and there are now eight of these "people's " Sunday-schools, (écoles populaires,) containing several hundred little ones, who are taught the rudiments of reading, etc., for the first hour; the second is devoted to the Bible and cheerfully-sung hymus.

The working-classes in Lyons, as well as in most other cities, have an intense, not to say deadly, hatred to the Romish priests. If Protestants do not come in now to save some, the case is hopeless. The late pilgrimages-far less important in quality and quantity of adepts than expected-have so rivetted the cause of Romanism to the cause of Legitimism, (and the only form of Christianity known by the masses is Romanism,) that the Christian who speaks of Jesus to his neighbour is often greeted with "You are up for the king! We will have no kings! Down with Henry V.!" "I care not for earthly kings; I am telling you of the Heavenly King of Glory." the same! Those who speak of Him

"All

are all for Henry V.!" I need not point out this as another handle in the grasp of the enemy to crush effort.

The Exposition encouraged many to distribute tracts in the streets, and a fresh impulse has been given to this branch of activity, to which no opposition is made by the police. An article or two in the advanced Republican journals complained of this, demanding equal liberty for political pamphlets, and turning an innocent tract into ridicule; but these same journals offered their columns gratuitously to the evangelists some time later, if they thought of holding any public meeting. They were as good as their word when the mayor and the prefect gave them free use of the large lecturing-hall in the Museum for a lecture on "people's schools." It was a new sight to see little ones, with their teachers and parents, and streams of working-men fill the hall to the number of fifteen hundred, in order to hear how every one who knew how to read should teach his illiterate neighbour, how every one who had the key of any useful knowledge was respon sible for circulating that knowledge, and how every Christian was called upon to tell of his Saviour to those who knew Him not. The Gospel was clearly put before the people, and the time-blackened vaults of the old convent hall echoed with, "One there is above all others," sung vigorously by three hundred little voices. Many men-and women too -uninterested in the matter went out muttering, "Jesuits!" But their places were immediately occupied by others, and themselves changed countenance when presented with a card of the schools and a printed sheet on leaving. The following Sunday showed a remarkable increase of scholars, and unbounded expressions of gratitude from many parents. It is a proof among many, that simple words flowing from a heart warmed by the love of God, undisguised by

the tune. Afterwards he would engage in prayer with remarkable power, and sometimes pleaded with God until a blessing appeared to descend upon all present. The impressions made by these meetings were deep, and were well-remembered for many years afterwards. So attached, indeed, was Mr. Greener to the house of God, that a friend asked him one day, "Whether he made it his home." He replied,

66

My earthly house is on the other side the Morlais,"-alluding to the place of his residence,-" but on this side I make preparation for my heavenly home." And not only was his conduct earnest and consistent in connection with the worship of God, but in his business pursuits the reality of the religion which he professed made itself apparent.

Mr. Greener was a "rail-inspector," and was employed on the first railway laid in England. This occupation frequently subjected his religious principles to severe tests; but all who were associated with him bear witness to his unswerving integrity.

His con

scientious observance of the Sabbath is worthy of notice. When sometimes requested by persons of influence to give attention on the Sabbath-day to work with which he was occupied during the week, his invariable answer was a firm, "No." All letters which he knew to be on business matters, when delivered at his house on Sunday, remained unopened until the following day. Such in short was his regard for the Sabbath that, on one occasion, rather than violate that holy day, he gave up a valuable situation, although he had no other in view.

This conscientiousness caused him to be unemployed for a considerable period.

The hospitality of Mr. Greener was of the most hearty and generous kind. In this, as well as in other plans of usefulness, he was frequently prompted and aided by his warm-hearted and noble-minded wife, now his sorrowing widow. His attachment to Meth

olism, though not bigoted, was cordial and avowed; and he always claimed the right of practically expressing his preference for it. This he exemplified by the fact that, when he was under the necessity of going miles to the Methodist means of grace, he did not neglect them; and when he went to live in a place where there was no Methodism, there he introduced it. He loved its ministers and supported its institutions, not only in times of peace but in those of trouble.

The writer first became acquainted with Mr. Greener in the year 1857. At that time there was a small, old chapel at Merthyr-Tydvil, with a debt on it; now there is a large one, towards which his late friend contributed handsomely. A home-missionary was employed, and he was the largest subscriber to the funds of the mission. Since that date the Circuit has been divided, four ministers being now on the ground where there were only two.

Owing to his experience, character, laborious habits, and Christian liberality, it is not surprising that, in Merthyr and the neighbourhood, Mr. Greener possessed great influence. But this was used for the glory of God and the good of man. The estimate in which he stood in the Circuit can be best ascertained from a Resolution of the Quarterly-Meeting which was transmitted to the bereaved family. After referring to the public loss which had been sustained, the Resolution speaks of the departed in the following terms:-"We have lost an able preacher, a faithful leader, a generous friend, a loyal and an attached member. For many years Mr. Greener has been a tower of strength, and a centre of influence, in connection with the Merthyr Circuit." In the time of Connexional troubles he proved a friend indeed; in times of peace and prosperity his efforts for the cause of God were never relaxed. His name and deeds have run like a golden thread through the history of the

Circuit for upwards of thirty years. Probably there is not a chapel or a Society within its borders that has not received signal proofs of his largeheartedness. The respect and esteem in which he was held in the town and neighbourhood has been further evinced by the erection in the Merthyr chapel of a marble tablet, bearing a suitable inscription to his memory.

Mr. Greener had been blessed with a robust constitution and good health for the greater part of his life; but about nine months before his death his health began to fail. Symptoms of weakness manifested themselves, and his changed appearance alarmed his friends. His illness confined bim to his house for several months, and to his bed for some weeks. Although bis affliction was one of great severity, he bore it without murmuring, patiently submitting to the Divine will. In the prospect of death he was not dismayed, but exclaimed, "I have a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." "Praise the Lord, what a hope is ours!" To a relative, just before his departure, he said, "Christ is all!" On November 23rd, 1870, his hope of eternal life was realized; his sufferings terminated, his spirit was released, and he found his long-sought

rest.

Thomas Greener was a proof of the power of Divine grace; an ornament to the Church; and an example of good works to all around him. That example many observed, and not a few bore testimony to it. Some of the agents of the firms with which he transacted business declared, "That if ever they had met with a Christian, in the real and simple sense of that name, he was one." A local newspaper, which has no connection with Methodism, while it gave a lengthened account of our late friend, confirming all the points named in the foregoing sketch, concluded thus:-"We may summarize his character by stating that he was an honest, well-meaning man; a foe

to mere pretence and flattery; a sincere and earnest Christian; an affectionate husband and parent; a kind neighbour and a worthy citizen." EDWARD RUSSELL.

"OUR people die well," said Mr. Wesley on one occasion. We believe this is as true of "our people" now as it was at that time; and this conviction has again been forced upon us by the sudden, but happy death of HANNAH HART, the beloved wife of the Rev. Forster CROZIER, of Glasgow.

Mrs. Crozier was the daughter of Mr. John Robinson, a well-known leader and local preacher in the Shotley-Bridge Circuit. Her mother, like herself, died at an early age; and in consequence of this her father, though most solicitous about her spiritual welfare, had not the entire control of her early education; so that Hannah was placed in circumstances not the most favourable to the development of a religious character. In her fifteenth year, however, being at home from school, she heard a sermon by which her conscience was thoroughly aroused. She felt she was a sinner, and began to ask, “What must I do to be saved?" A few weeks afterwards she was brought into the enjoyment of a conscious interest in Christ, and was able to say,

"My God, I am Thine, What a comfort divine,

What a blessing to know that my Jesus is mine!"

From this time it was manifest that she had been a subject of the “renewing of the Holy Ghost:" the current of her life was changed, and was turned towards God. She had higher aims, purer motives, and holier principles: her outward demeanour plainly evinced that she had begun to live a new life. Her whole soul was surrendered to Christ. Formerly, she had been gay and frivolous, "God was not in all her thoughts." Now she was serious