Читать книгу: «The American Missionary. Volume 44, No. 06, June, 1890», страница 6

"Marcus Whitman, M.D.: Proofs of his Work in Saving Oregon to the United States, and in promoting the immigration of 1843;" "Justice to the Indian;" "Indian Traditions as to Religion;" "Hand of God in the History of the Pacific Coast;" "Papers on the Anthropology of the Indians of Washington," as published in the Smithsonian Report of 1886-7. Another such monograph he now has ready for the press—"God's Hand in the Missions to the Indians beyond the Rocky Mountains," a paper read at the recent fiftieth anniversary of the organizing of Dr. Whitman's church. And beyond all this literary work is the occasional supply of destitute white congregations round about, and service as a Trustee of the Pacific University in Oregon, and of the Whitman College, at Walla Walla, Washington. Surely in literary work, to the names of Jonathan Edwards among his Stockbridge Indians, and John Eliot among his Naticks, and S.R. Riggs among the Dakotas, and not a few others, maybe added this of Myron Eells among the S'kokomish.

THE CHINESE

JOTTINGS

BY REV. W.C. POND, D.D

If I were to attempt to place before the readers of the MISSIONARY, in such setting as would be needed for a comprehension of them, all the interesting minor facts and scenes that pass under my observation in our work, there would be no room on its pages for anything else. Let me give a few examples of these.

A young Chinaman is being examined with reference to baptism, and is asked why he decided to turn from the worship of idols. "God is true" is the reply, a very simple reason,—a trite one possibly; but there was something in the tone and emphasis of it which thrilled me. I saw the emptyness of heathen worship at a point from which I had never looked at it before. A God that is true, that can be absolutely trusted! Where will you find one in any heathen Pantheon? Conceive now a thoughtful, honest man passing from the timorous worship of such gods to the rest and comfort and courage which come from knowing and trusting Him who is true, and you will begin to realize what that simple answer meant.

"What are your people making such a noise for?" was asked of a Chinese brother at Ventura, during the Chinese New Year's Festival. "To scare away the evil spirits," was the reply. "And why don't you scare them away?" was the next question, for all was quiet at our little mission house, "Evil spirits stay away when Holy Spirit comes," was the reply. I am not confident that I recall the exact words, but I have certainly given the idea, and it meant emancipation for the man that uttered it, an entrance into the liberty wherewith Christ makes us free.

"When I get discouraged, as I often do," writes a teacher, "I think of the five who are studying the Testament, and of a remark one of them made to me, 'I love Jesus more all the time when I read about him.'" This brother took his religion with him to China, and brought it back unharmed.

One of the brethren worked in a hotel where to specially toilsome service was added a treatment far from kind. He said to his teacher that he remembered how much Jesus had to bear and so he "had patient." The wages received he spoke of as the "hardest money" he had earned since coming to California, and so he took part of it to buy a nice Bible. An American said scoffingly to him: "Are you one of the Christian Chinamen?" "Yes," he replied. "I love Jesus; I am not ashamed that I love Jesus."

One of our Santa Barbara brethren rents quite a tract of land, much of which he devotes to the culture of small fruits. On a visit to his place a year or two ago, friends saw strawberry plants heavily laden with luscious looking fruit so arranged in front of our brother's door as to spell out this sentence, "God loves the earth."

"It seems," said Jee Gam once, "as though I could recall his very words, and hear the tones of his voice as he prayed for the conversion of his countrymen." It was the closing prayer of a gospel service among the Chinese in Oakland. The brother who offered it was a Chinese merchant of that city. Two days afterwards he was shot in his own store by a Chinaman because he refused to submit to blackmail. A policeman hastened to the spot and saw him die, and testified in court that his last words were those of prayer to our true God; this testimony, though given probably by an ungodly man, being such as to draw tears from many who listened. Yet some say there are no real Christian Chinamen; that you can't convert a Chinaman; that they are throughout a race of hypocrites.

It may not be safe to say every month without exception, though that is the impression made upon me, but it is certainly safe to say almost every month brings some report to me of pupils beginning to believe in Jesus and professing their faith in him. This extract from a letter will serve as an example: "I have some very good news for you concerning my scholars. Two of them have promised to join the Association [i.e. of Christian Chinese] next week. One of them I have been praying for especially, for nearly a year.... There are three more who, I trust, are born of God, but are not yet brave enough to take a stand for him. One says his brother will kill him if he joins in Christ's name." And here is a word from another teacher: "Five of the brethren unite with the church at the coming communion. I do not feel that this is through my effort, as I have not known how to work individually. It is the Lord that 'giveth the increase.' Two of them have been ready to come into the church for a long time. The others show their conversion by face and manner as well as by testimony and prayer."

I fear that I have exhausted my space, though I am far from the end of possible "jottings." I will close with a few sentences from a letter received from a Chinese Christian living at a roadside tavern beyond Oroville. "Since I am determined to be a Christian, has very much surprised my elder brother. When he heard about I join the Association he make a great deal of trouble to me. Then I ask our brothers to pray for that matter, till one day I go and entreat him; also, tell him all about the gospel of Christ how good for us and redeem us from our sins. Then he said, 'Do not talk such things to me; we are Chinese; must keep our customs.' I say, 'I cannot keep anything wrong; idol worship is against God. Four thousand years ago our Chinese population have no idol to worship. Don't you search a thing before you keep it?' Then he answer: 'If good then you keep it,' and then I received baptism; then do no more persecution to me afterwards." This extract merely hints at facts which, if related, would show that for our Chinese Christians at least, the days that try men's souls are not yet past.

BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK

MISS D.E. EMERSON, SECRETARY

The thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Woman's Missionary Union of Alabama met with the Congregational Church in Marion, March 31. This Union has contributed during the year to the A.M.A. for Indian work, to the A.H.M.S. for Bohemian work, besides aiding a missionary in China, and one in South Africa. All the auxiliaries have also done good work in aiding the churches and the poor in their respective localities. The meeting was pleasant and profitable, and the Union starts upon another year with the prospect of adding greatly to its strength and efficiency.

The first Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Missionary Union, held at New Orleans, April 3, was also full of encouragement. The new interest awakened, simply by the gathering together to report the progress of the year, indicates how much can be accomplished. Not only will the missionary cause receive direct benefit, but there will be a reflex, healthful influence upon the churches thus represented.

The first Annual Meeting of the Woman's Missionary Union of the Central South Association, held in Nashville, Tennessee, April 5, was in all respects encouraging. One of the peculiar features of these Southern Unions is that the State Association is always likely to meet at a school centre, as in this case at Nashville, Tennessee, and the older students thus are enthused and stimulated to missionary purpose and activity, whether in the ordinary experiences of church life at home, or as special missionaries.

There was a good representation of auxiliaries, and encouraging word of new ones soon to be received. The interest in the meeting was intense, and the reports from the different societies showed a deep and heartfelt sympathy with the cause of missions. It was very interesting to note how anxiously some of those who represent a people burdened with poverty, planned for the work of the coming year, taking for their field—the world. Considering that this Union is only a year old, its growth seems remarkable.

The question is sometimes asked, whether the Mountain girls appreciate the opportunity of education that is now afforded them. We reply by giving extracts from the letter of a pupil obliged to leave school. The letter was written to a school-mate, and is but one of many instances of the kind.

"My Dearest Friend:—I would have written sooner, but I thought I might get a chance to go to school, and that is why I have delayed so long. It is impossible for me to go now, the boys are preparing 'for to make a crap,' and I can see how much they are needed at home. We have but one horse, and I cannot go alone. Oh! how glad I would be to see my teacher. I know I shall never be able to reward her for her kindness to me, but the Lord will reward her. I never have met the people who were so kind to me as those people. I still have a desire to get an education; sometimes I think I will not get to go to school any more, but where there is a will, there is a way, and I know I have a good will. My sisters all married before they were twenty. I am twenty-two now. I want an education more than I want to marry. My folks tell me I have enough education, but I think I know better than they. To be sure, I can read and write a little, but that don't satisfy me, I have a hope yet that I may still get higher, that is if the Lord is willing. We cannot do anything unless the Lord is willing and will help us. Give my love to all the girls. Please write and tell me about the school. Remember me in your prayers.

Your true friend, – –."