Page:Siam and Laos, as seen by our American missionaries (1884).pdf/416

This page needs to be proofread.

to depart. He died as one who "knew in whom he believed," and said in parting from the missionary friend who visited him, "I must go first, but I will be waiting at the gate to welcome the rest of you when you come." This year Mr. McDonald rejoined his family in the United States, returning with them the year following. The state of Miss Grimstead's health compelled her return to America and the severance of her connection with the Board. The native churches received large accessions during the year, thirteen being added to the Bangkok church, twenty to the Petchaburee and ten to the church at Cheung Mai, making the total number of communicants in Siam one hundred and four, and in Laos nineteen. The king of Siam manifested his interest in the work of female education by the generous gift of a thousand dollars toward the building for this purpose the mission was erecting at Petchaburee. This sum was handsomely supplemented by twelve hundred and sixty dollars more, contributed by some of the higher princes and nobles.

Early in the year 1878 the Rev. J. M. McCanby arrived, and Miss Jennie Korsen—the last to take Miss Grimstead's place in the girls' boarding-school. The Rev. S. G. McFarland, D. D., withdrew this year from his connection with the mission, having been invited by His Majesty to take the presidency of the newly-