MALAGASY CONGREGATIONS. 361 



lias come to not a few, not in word only, but in power. And 

 when we see tlie graces of Christian character developing, 

 and evil diminishing; when we see honesty and truthful- 

 ness, and liberality and purity, taking the place of the opposite 

 characteristics ; when we see larger sums devoted every year 

 to religious objects, and men and women offering themselves 

 for Christian service, we cannot doubt that the good Spirit of 

 God is working, even if it be in ways somewhat different to 

 what we had expected. 



The native congregations in Madagascar are closely asso- 

 ciated together in districts, which in some communions might 

 be called " dioceses," in others " circuits," and in others " pres- 

 byteries." In fact, the government and order of the Malagasy 

 churches may be considered as a combination of Episcopacy, 

 Independency, and Presbyterianism, with an infusion of 

 Methodism in its large use of lay agency or " local preachers." 

 It is a system which has grown up rather from the necessities 

 of the case than from any set purpose. Nine of these districts 

 radiate from the capital, having their main strength at Antana- 

 narivo, as their common centre, in one of the old-established 

 mother- churches of the city, and seven others are grouped 

 round some of the most important towns in Imerina. Other 

 mission stations are found in the B(^tsileo country, the 

 southern province, having their headquarters at Fianarantsoa, 

 its chief town ; while two have recently been formed in some 

 of the outlying heathen tribes, one amongst the Sih^naka 

 people, north-eastern central, and another at Mojanga, on the 

 north-west coast, from which it is hoped that an entrance 

 may be effected for the gospel among the wild Sakalava race. 

 All these districts have an English missionary presiding over 

 them ; some of them include as few as thirty congregations, 

 and others as many as eighty and upwards. These churches 

 meet together by their representatives at regular intervals ; 

 they make rules as to discipline and instruction and school 

 education, and exercise a very powerful and salutary influence 

 over each congregation included in the district. With such 

 a large field of work the position of the English missionary 

 becomes that of an overseer of many churches, and not that 

 of pastor of a single church ; he endeavours to guide and 



