MIDONGY

[s. 493] : A village in Madagascar, situated 70 miles N. W. of Fianarantsoa. Station of the occupied. Norwegian Mi ion Society (1894). During the next five years (1857 to 1862) the harvest began. During the last twenty years there has been a constant increase of both hearers MIEN-CHAU: A town in the Province of Szechwan, China, situated on the Fu-kiang, 62 miles N. E. by N. of Chengtu-fu. Population, 70,000. and converts. The changes which have been wrought through the efforts of the mi ionaries are truly wonderful. The transforming power of the Word of God has never been more manifest than in this field. There has been a marked development of stability in the character of the natives. Form erly they were dishonest and untruthful. There was a belief among them that the Great Spirit used deceitful means for the accomplishment of His plans or for maintaining His authority, and the people accordingly cultivated deceit. Ships were often pillaged and the crews murdered. But the Gospel has in many islands effected a complete revolution. Social ideas have been The family has been built up, and the ceremony of marriage is becoming more and more common. The practise of family-worship has done much to purify and crystallize social ideas, and a strong sentim.ent of his duty to guard the household and defend his family from the lust of even the chiefs is rising in the mind of the head changed. of the household. Better dwellings, greater personal cleanline and tidine have also followed the moral refbrmation. Intellectual progre is quite marked. The schools are well attended. Native teachers CMS Station of the (1894), with (1903) 6 mi ionaries, 2 with their wives; 2 women mi ionaries, 1 native worker, 1 place of worship, 1 dispensary, 1 day school, and 8 profe ed Christians. general reorganization after the Boxer outbreak is now under way. The Society spells A the name Mien-Cheo. 493