of Mexico seemed to be the inevitable result of them. But where duty to God is concerned, the apparent result is often vastly different from the actual result. Could he have looked through the bars of his prison on the field of religious activity, of which that prison was destined to be the center-could his eye have pierced the veil of three-quarters of a century, he would have seen this wide territory covered with a goodly family of five Synods, twenty Presbyteries, and nearly six hundred churches; together with all the multiform kinds of moral, benevolent, and religious enterprises which they represent or sustain.

The history of the world does not often produce, in such a limited period, and from such a despised beginning, a more glorious result.

Yet this was not merely the work of one man, nor is it the mere development of any one line or form of effort. Many a worker wrought in that field-each in his own. sphere, at his own work, in his own way-known or unknown, scattered or united, organized or unorganized -but each and all for the Lord. And by the mysterious control of an Almighty hand, all things, whether good or evil, or the work of friend or foe, were ruled and overruled, and made to combine and co-operate to accomplish his gracious purpose.

The future may have great things in store for us, but it can teach us no better than the past has taught us, that great lesson that fidelity to God is not lostneither is it to be held as of little moment, though it be obscure and seemingly uninfluential. However trivial it may seem, each particular and individual movement must live till it obeys the laws of a divine attraction, and combines with a greater, which shall lead it on till it co-operate even with the greatest.

We may be as insignificant as the raindrop on the

mountain side; yet that drop must not perish till it blends with others, and compels the rivulet to spring into being. And the rivulets can find no rest, until they make to bound forth into life the growing river, wealthbearing and life-producing. Nor can the rivers return or cease, till they have mingled their mighty burdens on the bosom of the deep. And so the act of fidelity and the prayer of faith; the godly life and the preached word; prayer-meetings and Sunday-schools will join and conjoin, and operate and co-operate, increase and multiply, overleap all restraints, and in their ebb and flow bear down and continue to bear down all opposing forces. Out of the feeble will come the strong, and from the bosom of patience shall leap forth might; till the grace of God shall sweep over society like the tides of the ocean in their strength; till the knowledge of God shall fill and cover the earth; till the time shall come, when rejoicing angels shall declare," It is finished," "The kingdoms of this world have become the empire of our God."

Dr. T. R. Markham, and Rev. R. Q. Mallard delivered addresses admirably illustrating the aggressive movement of the Church, through the two arms of her service, the pastorship, and the pulpit; the one urging home the Gospel to the heart of the individual, in personal intercourse; the other, in the stated systematic presentation of truth to the masses.

The audience then rose and sung

"All hail the power of Jesus' name."

The benediction was then pronounced by Rev. W. Flinn.

IF

TEXAS..

you look at the map, you will see that the Gulf of Mexico is somewhat in the shape of a horse-shoe. Its opening is defended and adorned by the island of Cuba. Commencing at Cape Florida, we find that its capes and harbors are very numerous, and are sufficient for the vast commerce of this great inland sea, and the rich territories that border it. They are Tampa, Apalachee, Mobile, New Orleans, Atchafalaya, Calcasieu, Sabine, Galveston, Brazos River, Matagorda, Corpus Christi, Brazos Santiago, Tehuantepec, Campeachy, and Sisal.

At the toe of this great shoe lies the State of Texas, reaching for a distance of four hundred miles along the coast, and embracing in its entire boundaries two hundred and thirty-seven thousand square miles, or about one hundred and fifty millions of acres. It is four times as large as Virginia. The country along the coast is a level prairie; but as you pass to the interior, the surface gradually rises and becomes more uneven; and still further inland, it becomes hilly and mountainous. After crossing an extensive belt of timber, and reaching more than a hundred miles from the coast, you find the high rolling prairies, composed of the richest soil in the world, covered with musquit-grass, and having along the streams and valleys sufficient timber for all needful purposes.

Texas is what is called an alluvial country, and bears strong evidence of having been once under water. Very

little rock is found, except in the northern part. It possesses every variety of climate and surface, and there is nothing which can contribute to the comfort and wants of man which will not grow here. Oranges and sugar-cane flourish in the south; cotton in the middle regions; wheat in the north; and potatoes, corn and vegetables flourish everywhere; while countless numbers of cattle, horses, sheep, and hogs can be reared in any part of the State. In fact, there is no country on the continent better suited to become the abode of millions of contented and happy people. It is a world in itself, where nature teems with all kind of riches, and holds out all kind of attractions to people of other States to come and find homes for themselves and their children. Our only wonder is, that so boundless a country has remained so long without being filled up with civilized people.

INDIANS IN TEXAS.

The Indians, from their mode of living, and the continual wars among their different tribes, were but thinly scattered over the immense country lying between the Rio Grande and Red River. The Lipans and the Carankaws lived along the lower Rio Grande and the Colorado and Brazos. They subsisted mainly upon fish. The next tribe, going east, was the Cenis, inhabiting Buffalo Bayou, the San Jacinto Valley, and the Trinity River. On the banks of the Trinity their villages were large and numerous. Their habitations were like bee-hives, and some of them were forty feet high. As they devoted much time to raising corn, they were comparatively wealthy. They traded with the Spaniards of New Mexico, from whom they procured horses, money, spurs, and clothing. The next tribe east were the Nassoriis, living between the Cenis and the Sabine River. These

four tribes, two centuries ago, formed the original inhabitants of Texas. The landing of the colony of La Salle was to them a new and wonderful event. The sight of ships and the sound of fire-arms were to them subjects of awe and astonishment. Living in the simplicity of nature, they were free from most of the diseases and vices of European nations. They were worshipers of the sun, and full of the superstitions common to other North American Indians. They had their rain-makers, their game-finders, and their witches. Living in a mild climate, and among prairies covered with buffalo and game of all kinds, and near streams and bays abounding in fish, they obtained their living with but little effort. They were contented and as free as people ever can become who know nothing of the usages of civilized life.

Early and vigorous efforts were made by Catholic missionaries to convert them to Christianity. Establishments were formed called presidios or missions. Buildings were erected round a square, and consisted of a church, storehouses, dwellings for priests, officers, and soldiers. Huts were erected at a short distance for the converted Indians. The ruins of many of these old presidios remain to this day. But the Indians are now all gone, and none are found except on the northern and western frontiers of the State. One race has disappeared, and a new one is fast filling its place. The weak have yielded to the strong-the savage to the civilized; and before many years roll round, the only record of once powerful Indian tribes will be the beautiful names which still cling to some of our rivers and our mountains.

THE FRENCH IN TEXAS.

The first Europeans who visited Texas were led here by La Salle, who landed near the entrance of Mata