MISSION WORK IN MAY.
REV. W. C. POND, SUPERINTENDENT.
The dry figures are as follows: Eighteen schools, forty-one teachers, the number of pupils enrolled, 1,043; the average attendance (lessened doubtless in San Francisco by the fact that just now our street lamps are not lighted, and our dark streets are not viewed by Chinese as conducive to their personal safety), 435. Total number enrolled during the nine months now past, of the present fiscal year, 2,470. Word came of at least five among the pupils who, during May, professed to have turned from the worship of idols, and to have become the followers of Christ. It seems to me that in several of the schools the interest in spiritual things is deepening, and that the prospect brightens for a continuous and large harvest.
“All quiet upon the Potomac.” This proverb, dating back to the troublous times of 1862, has often risen to my lips, as, week by week, or day by day, I have asked tidings from our North School in this city. In April it was established in permanent quarters, where we believe it will grow to a size, and will cheer us with a fruitfulness, second only to our central school. But in almost every locality where we plant a school we are obliged by passive resistance and patient endurance to “conquer a peace.” The struggle has been longer and harder than usual in our North School, but it seems to be over, and peace to be won. Our hoodlum neighbors tried what virtue there was in outcries and in stones rattling upon the roof and doors and blinds till they could have been picked up by the bushel, and in various tricks which it would be a waste of paper to describe, but have retired at last defeated from the field, and the work moves on undisturbed. We have reason to speak well of the protection extended us by the police, and to remember with hearty admiration the heroic lady teacher who was the principal sufferer and the champion in the fight.
A Protest from Oroville.—As the most strenuous efforts seem unlikely to secure the funds needed in order to continue our full work, we look about to see where the knife can be applied. I thought that a vacation would do as little harm at Oroville as anywhere, and I sent word to close the school from June till September. The following protest came back signed by sixteen of the pupils: “Dear pastor.—We heard from you that you told Miss M. Deuel to close this school at present. We are very sorry, because this school is doing very well. We would like to understand the words of truth, but we cannot do it without the teacher’s help. So we hope you will consent to open this school continually. Some of the boys just became Christians. If school to be closed seems we like the sheep without a shepherd; perhaps we going other ways and fall in the river of death. Or, this Oroville have many precious souls; if this school to be continue may be other people come to school and hear who are speak the gospel of Christ and come to him, that their souls may be save.” They go on to say that they know that the school cannot but be smaller in summer than in winter, and that they will try to sustain it without a Chinese helper, but they cannot bear to have it closed.
How could I be deaf to such an appeal? I wrote them to do their utmost to help me by their offerings and their prayers, and the school should be continued. I confess that I do not know how I am to maintain so large a work as ours now is, on resources so scanty; but when souls are asking after God I cannot shut away the only light that shines upon their path. I must trust God and trust God’s people, and move on.
Letters from Hong Sing.—Hong Sing has been a helper for four or five years. At present he is stationed at Santa Cruz, where special interest has existed for some time, and five of the pupils have been led to Christ. Two recent letters from this helper giving accounts of his discussions with the heathen about him have greatly interested me. They are too long to be inserted here, and I scarcely know how to condense them without spoiling the charm which comes from his queer attempts to get the English idioms. But I must make the endeavor to give one.
It describes in a pleasant way some of the petty annoyances to which the Christian brethren are subjected by their heathen countrymen; annoyances which, he says, make him think of Paul and the other apostles; “though our trials it is a very trifle thing, compared with theirs, nothing; yet I am dismayed because I get impatient with them. I pray that God may open the blind of their mind that they may see the Salvation of Christ.”
He then goes on to say: “They argue with me several times, but every time they get angry, then I stop. * * * They say: ‘You tell the people must not gamble, not smoke opium, not swear. These things are very suitable for us. But tell us not worship gods and our parents when they die, this hurt our heart. You just think your mother: how much pain when she bear you, and now you grow to be a man, so you forget and ungrateful. It seem to me you are not come from your mother but from the mountain bank, so that you will not honor father and mother. If you were my brother, I would kill you instantly.’”
To all this Hong Sing replied: “Question is now, friends, which way we ought to honor father and mother, in life time or in death time, with a kind word or with wrath answer your mother. Mind your mother is honor or disobey is honor. Suppose when you come to California your father and mother give you good advice—must not gamble, not smoke opium, not go among the bad men, not be indolent but industrious. You just see how many has been gambling, how many smoke opium and do such evil things. Is this obey parent, honor, admire? I think not at all. This is disobey, dishonor, ingratitude. When I was in China I often see and hear of many men has beat mother with a stick and not like to support her living, but permit her starve and not let her have good food. But when she die then you put ten pound pork and chicken and many things set on the table, ask her to eat. In life time when she can eat and drink, never buy five cents worth meat. When die, no eat, no drink. So you will kill a calf, set on a table to ask her to eat and drink. It is vanity. Our Confucius has said, ‘If any man were good conduct and endeavor to walk on the wisdom way and good virtue that show to obey and honor father and mother. Therefore, every man know he is a good man and understand that he must have had good parents, and he never said to honor our parents by worshipping them when they die.’” Other points were made which cannot be reproduced. Under ordinary circumstances I discourage all debating with the heathen. I advise our helpers to keep close to their own work, which is to preach the gospel.