FALSE BRETHREN.
We have had new griefs of late. In days past, when reproach and opposition came mainly from those whose anti-Chinese rage was simply an expression of an anti-Christian spirit, it was comparatively easy to endure it. And even when those professing godliness have cringed before ungodly prejudices, and shut the door of the house of God upon the Chinese Sunday-school, and received, if at all, with left-handed welcomes to the church on earth Chinese who gave every token of having been accepted by Christ to the kingdom of Heaven, we remembered with comfort the “sure foundation” which has “this seal; the Lord knoweth them that are His.” In all these experiences, and even when the violence of lawless hoodlumism for the time almost emptied our school-rooms, and the intensity of anti-Chinese feeling on the part of Americans was provoking an equally intense anti-American feeling on the part of the Chinese, so that we found it difficult to bring them within reach of Gospel influences, we had this to console us, that our Chinese brethren themselves, almost without exception, seemed to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” It is true, some who were received to our Association of Christian Chinese were found, before the six or eight months of their probation had expired, not to be sincere, and were consequently never baptized; but of those who had been received to the church, I was accustomed to say that thus far not one, so far as we knew, had brought any reproach upon the name of Christ.
This was a glad surprise to me. I had read Paul’s letters to the churches of Corinth and of Galatia, and the messages of Jesus to the seven churches of Asia, and was well aware that the disappointments which attended apostolic missions occurred often enough to-day in heathen lands to make our missionaries there rejoice with trembling over those apparently born of God; but, till recently, no such disappointment had been visited upon us. There were occasional backslidings, a temporary recession of interest, which started fears and called us to earnest prayer; but, in general, I could say, that I knew of no group of American Christians in whose steadfastness and zeal a pastor could take more delight than we could in our Chinese brethren. And this is still true; perhaps more evidently true than before, in view of the course which they have pursued towards some “false brethren.”
About three months ago I visited Sacramento, in order to make new arrangements for the accommodation of our Mission there. The room which we had occupied free of rent for many years being no longer at our service, I was enabled to rent, at a comparatively low rate, a Mission house so well located, so roomy, and so well adapted to our peculiar work, that I came away gratefully realizing that the Master himself had gone before me, and believing that He was about to lead us into a larger and better work there than we had ever done before. The added expense, however, caused me to withdraw temporarily the paid helper, and to trust to the volunteer aid which our Chinese brethren promised to give. Among these volunteers, the one who seemed at once most able and most willing was Wong Wing. He spoke English well; seemed to be a natural leader; and while exhibiting some traits which made one stand somewhat in doubt, yet, on the whole, was trusted both by his Chinese brethren and their American friends. But he proved to be a Judas. He carried the bag and was a thief. Having possessed himself of several hundred dollars from the hard earnings of his brethren, he attempted to decamp, but has been brought back, and is now awaiting a trial which cannot but consign him to State’s Prison. The concern of our brethren, however, seems to be less for their own losses than for the dishonor brought upon the cause of Christ. “How shall we preach in the street any more,” they say, “unless we continue to let all men see that while we pity Wong Wing, we hate his evil deeds?” And they have spared neither pains nor expense in bringing him to justice, as, indeed, by the rules of their Association they were bound to do.
In San Francisco we have had one case even sadder than this, which has made our hearts ache through and through, and two or three cases which, without bringing overt reproach, yet involved excision from the church. And at the same time with all these griefs came dissensions among the brethren in Oakland, which spread widely, and for a while threatened great disaster. These, however, have been allayed, and, indeed, so overruled that the work, on the whole, has been helped rather than hindered through them.
I suppose it would be neither needful nor wise for me to go further into details, even if the space at my command admitted of it; but it seemed to be the dictate even of honesty, since, like Paul, I have ventured to “boast” over the character of our Chinese believers, that I should not conceal these humbling facts. Yet I still will “boast” that never did I witness in any church more prompt, wise and effective Christian discipline than these events have called forth in our Association of Christian Chinese; and God will, sooner or later, overrule it all for good.
BETHANY SCHOOL.
I append some clippings from the last monthly report of the school taught in the lecture-room of Bethany church, San Francisco. After speaking of the great pleasure she finds in the work in general, Miss Worley says: “The last month has been one of great anxiety to me. Some who had attended the school for a long time, and were still attending, had been trying to send others away. In some cases, by using threats, they had succeeded. Months ago I was requested by two scholars to expel one pupil for this offense, but I wanted to try him a little longer. But
‘One sickly sheep affects the flock
And poisons all the rest.’
In this instance only a few were thus affected. Some were too faithful to be moved by threats. At length the issue came in this way: This scholar became aware that one of the pupils was about to join the Association. He set his heathen relatives upon him, and they threatened to kill him. To keep him away from the school, they got possession, one day, of the key of the ‘Bethany Home’ and locked him in. He, finding the door locked, and no chance of its being opened till after the close of the school, went out the back way and climbed over the fence (a close board fence about twenty feet high, erected to protect the rear of the house from hoodlumism). He now thought he would get to school all right. He was mistaken, for, stationed in the corridor between the church and the lecture-room were these Chinese who had locked him in. As he passed them they struck him across his eye and hand. I found it necessary then to expel them; yet I feel that they cannot forget what they have learned, and I live in hope that bread cast upon the waters ‘will be found after many days.’
“I am glad to say that this good and faithful scholar (for such he is) who was hurt, gave his name at the next meeting as a candidate for membership in the Association. The only obstacle in the way of another scholar is the fear of his parents in China. He has not yet learned by heart that ‘he that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.’
“Since that night, and the expulsion of those persecutors, I seem to be constantly adding fresh names to my roll. Working scholars are leaving no stone unturned to increase our numbers. I feel thankful for such scholars. Friends kindly help me in the work, but what I most need is a Chinese helper. I trust that at no distant time I may have one. The scholars who are able are willing to explain, but they need all the little time they have for study. I find the most studious pupils make the sincere Christians.”
To which appeal for a Chinese helper the superintendent adds his own Amen. But we cannot have one without more means than now we have at our command.