| Description | Dated 17 March. Muller appears too much influenced by exterior considerations and is not as spiritually strong as they could wish; 'he seemed to be paralysed by the thought to work alone in the Turkish states'; he has gone to Naples to see his brother. Volz and Knoth are on their way to London; agrees that episcopal ordination would be advantageous for them for work in Abyssinia; newspapers report the advent of six Roman Catholic missionaries in Abyssinia 'the appearance of whom may put fresh obstacles in the way of our Brethren'; comments on qualities of Volz and Knoth; their poor English may delay their ordination, but Gobat asserts that they pronounce Tigre well, which often Europeans are unable to do. Metzger's marriage to a black woman 'however valuable may be her personal character, may prove a serious impediment to his entering into a new line of engagement'; suggests Metzger and Gerber should go to work amongst German colonies in the western states of North America; should not cost CMS more in allowances than at present. Gunther is still unwell; Gobat is planning to leave at the end of May immediately after his marriage to Miss Zeller; three students are to be sent to South India to start a mission there. |