The  first  twenty  years  of  missionary  labor  there  was  almost  a  blank,  looking
at  it  from  a  human  stand-point.  Eighteen  years  ago  there  was  but  one  native
Christian  in  connection  with  the  mission  church  of  our  mission.  He  was  a
man  who  oftentimes  manifested  remarkable  faith,  still  he  was  an  Oriental,  and
traces  of  the  old  nature  still  remained,  which  led  him  him  frequently  to  do
things  which  could  not  be  commended.  The  last  service  performed  by  the
writer  before  leaving  the  country,  was  to  attend  the  funeral  of  that  man.  He
died  in  the  faith,  and  on  visiting  him  the  evening  before  his  death,  he  remarked
to  the  writer  :  "  I  suppose  I  must  go  first,  but  I  will  be  waiting  near  the  door
to  welcome  the  rest  of  you  when  you  come.''  For  many  years  one  convert  a
year  was  a  matter  of  rejoicing,  but  during  the  last  ecclesiastical  year  fifty-one
were  received  into  the  different  churches  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery
of  Siam.  Another  encouraging  feature  is  the  fact  that  the  native  Christians
are  willing  to  work,  and  contribute  liberally,  according  to  their  means,  for  the
spread  of  the  Gospel  amongst  their  countrymen.  Some  of  the  members  of
the  church  at  Bangkok  are  contributing  nearly  one-tenth  of  their  monthly  income
for  the  purpose  of  supporting  a  native  preacher  at  the  old  city  of  Ayuthia.  And
although  there  has  been  no  very  special  religious  interest,  no  very  copious
outpouring  of  the  Spirit,  still  the  Spirit  has  been  present,  and  the  Gospel  is
surely  making  its  way  into  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  we  trust  will  continue
to  do  so  until  the  M  great  mountain  "  of  Buddhism  be  removed,  and  Siam  be  a
Christian  nation.
the


PRESBYTERIAN    BOARD


IN


MEXICO.
