Page:Glimpses of Bohemia by MacDonald (1882).pdf/57

 as a depôt for the sale of books, saving the rent presently paid for hired premises, and the remainder as an Alumneum under Mr. Kaspar’s charge for the Protestant young men attending the High Schools and Colleges in Prague, who are presently without Protestant teaching of any kind, and among whom Mr Kaspar is well qualified to work.

The Reformed Church has been aided in its efforts at church extension by the Gustavus Adolphus Society of Germany, the London Evangelical Continental Society, and a small Association for the Promotion of the Gospel in Bohemia formed in Edinburgh ten years ago. A committee in Geneva aid the Protestant Schools, and the United Presbyterian Church have recently followed the example of the Free Church and instituted bursaries for Bohemian students. The United Presbyterians have also made several handsome donations for Church Extension work. The London Society maintain several preaching stations, such as that referred to at p. 33. The American Board of Missions have had for several years effective workers at Prague and Brünn. They have gathered a small but earnest congregation in Prague, which has adopted the name of “The Free Reformed Church,” and recently obtained, after much difficulty, the recognition of the State to the extent of permission to exist. The Moravians at Herrnhut have likewise sent a mission to the land of their forefathers. The Edinburgh Association have assisted in providing preachers for the stations at Leitmeritz, Zebus, Nymburg, Podiebrad, and Kuttenberg. The history of the last station may be taken as a case which will at once show the obstacles in the immediate past, and the opportunities of the present.

In the year 1870, Dr. Moody Stuart, when visiting Kuttenberg, had his spirit roused by the story of the 4329 martyrs who, in the year 1421, perished in the silver mines, and recorded his resolution, by the Grace of God, “to strive before he died to see in Kuttenberg a church of living men once more on the face of the earth, above that great congregation sleeping in Jesus.” For three years no opening occurred; but in 1873 permission was obtained for Protestant services, and the Rev. Paul Nespor, a talented young preacher, commenced work in the town, his salary being provided by Rev. R. H. Muir of Dalmeny and