346 MALA GASY PRE A CHERS. 



tomed to show their appreciation of what is said in sermons 

 and other public addresses by a kind of choking sound pro- 

 duced by the tongue ; and when this is heard it is always a 

 sure sign that something has been said which has touched 

 their feelings or excited their admiration. Occasionally, this 

 is also heard during the prayers ; and when some of the more 

 gifted natives preach, men who are born orators, repeated 

 rounds of this clicking noise run through the building, having 

 a very curious effect to one only accustomed to our very 

 decorous and usually unmoved English congregations. 



While speaking of preaching, it may be here mentioned 

 that in the early history of the modern mission in Mada- 

 gascar we had something like what is described as seen in 

 the Church at Corinth in its earlier history, when " every 

 one had a psalm, a doctrine, a revelation, an interpretation " 

 (i Cor. xiv. 26). Much in the same way also, the public 

 services at that earlier period of our mission history (1862- 

 1870) were very informal in character, almost every church 

 member considering it his privilege to rise and give out a 

 hymn, offer a prayer, and make an exhortation, as he felt dis- 

 posed. For a considerable space of time our services were 

 often very lengthy : from early morning until far on into the 

 forenoon would the people remain together ; sometimes four 

 sermons (or what were meant for such) would be delivered ; 

 each with its accompanying hymn, prayer, and reading. 

 These were often very meagre substitutes for sermons, in our 

 idea of the word, but they were the best instruction that 

 could be got for many of the congregations at that stage of 

 the people's religious history. Very different is the preach- 

 ing now heard in almost all our larger churches ; and it is 

 far more difficult to induce our Malagasy friends to preach 

 than it used to be ; for they are beginning to learn how 

 little they really know, and they generally desire time for 

 careful preparation before venturing to address a congrega- 

 tion. 



In the early churches there seems to have been a practice 

 of giving to their members going to distant parts " letters of 

 commendation " to the congregations there, as a guarantee of 

 their character and standing (see 2 Cor. iii. 1 ; 3 John 9). 



