AN ANNIVERSARY AT SACRAMENTO.
REV. W. C. POND, SAN FRANCISCO.
We have sustained a mission school among the Chinese at Sacramento for nearly ten years; but our first public anniversary was held at the Congregational church there, on Sunday, January 11th. The following account of it was furnished for The Pacific by the pastor, Rev. Dr. Dwinell:
“The attendance was good, and the exercises thrilling with Christian interest to one who can see in such facts the beginning of a great tidal wave of grace that is yet to flow over the Chinese empire; and, what is more, a good collection was taken, showing the interest to be genuine. The exercises consisted of recitations of classified Scripture, an original address, an original dialogue, and singing—all by the Chinese—and brief introductory and closing exercises by others. The mission is in a very prosperous condition, and shows the fruits of the earnest, faithful teaching of those who have had charge of the school, and especially of the present principal, Mrs. Carrington.”
After several of the exercises a muffled applause was audible, such as on any other day and in any other place would have been irrepressible. Especially was this the case after the following
ADDRESS BY LEM CHUNG.
“Ladies and gentlemen: I am very glad to see you all here this evening. I thank you very much for your kindness, teaching us about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, because our people are in very darkness indeed, worshiping idols. I would like to tell you of something I did when I was a little boy at home. My parents were very careful to attend to worshiping idols, but on the first day of the year they must worship more than any other day of the year. At this time I used to carry a basket with some sacrifice in it, follow after my father from place to place where the different gods were for worshiping. I believe on them very much. I thought the idols can help us a great deal. So when I was at school one day, I wrote a piece of paper, it represent a sage, and I put it inside of my desk. I then bought some nuts and wine and offered to him, and bowed my head to him, and ask him to help me about my lessons, that I might recite them well, and I said, ‘If you do not help me to recite my lessons well, when I return I tear you off and burn you up.’ When the time come I could not recite very well, so then I burn it. I had been at school about three years. My father sent me to the high school professor. Explaining the book of Confucius at that time, I often go with the priest to help them play the music for worshiping the evil spirits. After little while the priest came to my father, see if he can let me go learn to be a priest. My father was willing to let me go, but when my mother knew it she said, ‘I cannot spare my son to be a priest, worshiping too much for the evil spirit, but I rather to send him to California, getting his living.’
“Nearly five years have passed since I leaved my native land and came to this country, where I found all the things strange and different from what I had ever seen before. I found there was much for me to learn. A friend of mine invited me to Sunday-school, and I went with him. When I returned to the Chinatown I ask some person what kind of people are they who teach us there? They said, American people; but I could not know how it was that they should be willing to come and teach us without pay. They told me that they were very good people who come to teach you, and talk about Jesus Christ, and show us the right way. I kept on going till I can read the Bible. Great many things very different from other books. My heart was touch of Christ. I could not understand all; but not many days after the same friend invited me to go with him to the evening mission school. So I went with him to the school. After the lessons were over, the Chinese helper explained the Bible and talk to us, telling us it was useless to serve idols; they cannot help us; they cannot take care of themselves. But we must come to God of heaven, who made all things, heaven and earth. We must ask Him to help us, and pray to Him to give us all things what we need. We ought to praise Him. So when I heard him say this I saw and felt all I had done before was of no use, and was very wicked. Then I make up my mind to leave off worshiping idols, and begin to worship the true and living God. So I went back where I was employed. When I kneeled down to pray I opened my window, because I thought God cannot hear me if I leave it closed. After a few days the Chinese helper request me to join the Association of Christian Chinese, which I did, and read the Bible day by day, learning more about Christ. Oh, friends, I was very happy when I was converted! when I come to Jesus and worship the true God; leave the darkness and follow the light, and try to lead others of my countrymen to learn of Jesus, and know Him who died for us and save us from sin.
“When my father heard I follow Christ he sent me a letter. He said: ‘What are you doing out there? Are you going to believe Jesus, and leave all your countrymen, and your ancestors, and idols, and Confucius unserved?’ And he said: ‘No other way better than Confucius; so many of your countrymen do not believe Christ. You must leave off and come back to our own way. Believe the way that most of our people believe.’ But Christ tell us, ‘He that loveth father or mother more than Me not worthy of Me.’ I cannot leave off the way of Christ for the way of darkness; but I can try to bring them to Jesus. I hope you all, brethren, who come to Christ, will help hold up the light of the Gospel to shine on them which are in the dark and bow down to idols, and that many of my countrymen shall go back to China to tell the glad news to thousands there who have never heard of Christ; and if we cannot reward you, God will reward you every one.”
I have not been willing to correct any of the little mistakes of grammar, but give the address in exact copy from the original. It was uttered in a clear voice, with a distinct and quite correct pronunciation, and with such simple earnestness that every eye was fixed upon him, and every heart seemed touched. Lem Chung has been our helper in Sacramento for about eight months, is growing mentally and spiritually, and gives promise of a very useful future.