“THE CONGREGATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN CHINESE.”
Its Origin and Organization.
REV. WM. C. POND, SAN FRANCISCO.
Soon after our work among the Chinese began to yield results in souls apparently converted, I felt the necessity of banding the converts together for mutual fellowship, for instruction, and for test-work; for it seemed unwise, considering the difficulties under which we must labor in determining the genuineness of the conversions, to bring them at once to baptism and the church. Yet they must not be left quite outside the fold, and I proposed to them the organization of The Chinese Christian Class, into which any Chinese might come who, in the judgment of those already members of the class, had begun to believe in Christ. This class was to have frequent meetings for prayer and for instruction in the Bible; its members were to maintain a fraternal watchfulness over each other, and were to be baptized only when, through a probation of at least six months, they had proved to be steadfast and true.
This class at first comprised only such Chinese as had been led to Christ through the work of the Third Congregational Church in this city, of which I was then the pastor. Afterwards it was found desirable to receive to membership the Chinese connected with other congregations, and to enlarge somewhat the scope or design of the class. It was therefore reorganized under its present name, but with the same principles and conditions of membership. Some of the benefits, in the way of mutual aid and protection, which the heathen Chinese seek to secure through their “Six Companies,” our Christian Chinese, who have renounced all connection with the “Six Companies,” gain through this Association. Its rooms are their places of resort; a sort of home. They have made a little beginning towards a library of Chinese works, mainly religious, written by the missionaries. The regulations of this Association, prepared by the Chinese, without assistance or suggestion, so far as I know, from any American, have been translated for me into English, and will be printed in full in our Annual Report. I quote here the 2d, 3d, 6th, and 8th Articles:
“2d. Any one who desires to become a member of this Association must forsake idolatry and all bad habits, and prove himself to be a follower of Christ. He must bring references from one or more members. His name must be brought before the Society a week before he can be admitted, and he is received upon a vote of two-thirds of the members. He must himself sign his name, and pay the sum of two dollars as entrance fee, and twenty-five cents every three months, this money being used to defray the expenses of the Association. He is expected to do all he can to bring in new members, and to lead his countrymen to Christ.”
“3d. The members are expected to take part in the meetings for worship, giving counsel and encouragement to one another. If any member does wrong, he is to be kindly entreated and led back to the right.”
“6th. If any member continue in the violation of the regulations of the Association, after three successive remonstrances, he must be expelled from the Association. If he afterwards repent and desire to come back, he is admitted without an entrance fee; his admittance depending upon the sincerity of his repentance, as judged by the members of the Association.”
“8th. If any member desire to go back to China, he must give notice to the Association one month beforehand. He must not go until he has paid all his debts here. If he is really obliged to go before he can pay his debts, he must find some one who will be security for him.”
There are now four Branch Associations, two in San Francisco, one in Oakland, and one in Sacramento. Each branch supports itself and is governed by its own officers. There are three—President, Vice-President, and Secretary who also acts as Treasurer. The statistics of these “Branches” are as follows: Oakland, 36 members, one expelled, five gone to China, 11 baptized; total contributions, $472.20, of which $117.25 was for Bible and missionary work in California and China. Sacramento, 14 members; contributions, $103.80. San Francisco, 82 members, four expelled, two gone to China, 10 baptized; contributions, $351.00, of which $178.00 were for Bible and missionary work. Bethany (San Francisco), 9 members, 3 baptized; contributions $244.50, of which $71.00 were for Bible and missionary purposes. There are besides these, 23 members belonging to the Central Association, who on account of their places of residence are not yet identified with any “Branch,” so that the total membership is 164. Of these 33 were received the past year. The total amount contributed for all purposes was $1,181.50.
Besides this company of 164, there are 30 or more Chinese who have been converted, as we hope, at Santa Barbara, San Leandro, Stockton and elsewhere, in connection with our schools; and besides the contributions above reported, there has been raised at Petaluma, Stockton and elsewhere, certainly not less than $100. When we consider the poverty of these young men, the smallness of their wages, the drafts made upon them for parents and others dependent upon them in China, then this $1,300 which they have contributed during the past year for the nurture of their own Christian life, or for the salvation of others, grows to its true proportions—in our view, a token of real Christian heroism.
I quote the closing sentences of the statement written for me by the Secretary of the Association: “No death has occurred during the past year. Our Heavenly Father has greatly prospered us, for which we return Him hearty thanks. We are grateful that He has put into our hearts a desire to have our parents and countrymen in China brought to a knowledge of the Christian religion. We are endeavoring to open a Chapel in Chuck Hum, China, and if we only had means, could open as many as we desire. Most all the letters that are sent to China members of the Association contain something about the Christian religion, and urging the people at home to discard idols and believe in the Saviour.”
OUR LAST MONTH’S WORK,
as I reviewed it in the monthly reports, saddened me, and brought over me the first big wave of discouragement which I have felt since I entered on this service. The enrolment and the attendance were both much less than I expected, and some of our smaller schools seemed ready to die. I quote from one of these reports as an example: “You will see that the average is very low, and I am afraid it will be still lower. The boys seem to have lost their interest in the school, and I am afraid that I am losing mine. It is very discouraging to me, after doing a hard day’s work (for I am working very hard just now), to walk three-fourths of a mile and then have but one or two come to the school. Thank God there are one or two faithful ones.” * * * “Now, Mr. Pond, I have laid the case before you, and I ask your prayers in behalf of this little school struggling to keep alive, and for the teacher also, that he may not weary in well-doing, but that God will help him bear this cross and try to save, at least, one soul.” To receive letter after letter like that, while it draws out one’s love and prayer for the writer, sets one also to asking, “Where is the Lord,” and what will become of our work at this rate? But before the reports were all in, news came that six, at least, during the month, had forsaken their idols and appeared to have become disciples of Christ, and we “thanked God and took courage.” Brethren, pray for us.