THE OROVILLE MISSION.
BY REV. W.C. POND, D.D.
New Years Cake.
The cake of which we give a picture is more than a monument to the artistic cookery of which some of our brethren there are capable. It was made in a sort of Christian competition with the rude and senseless operations by which their idol-worshiping countrymen observed their great annual festival. And on Salvation Army principles, though not after their methods, it called the attention of multitudes both of Chinese and Americans to the Mission House and the Mission work and the Saviour for whom our brethren were eager to bear witness. They did not confine their attention to cake-making nor express their loyalty to Christ in that way alone, but made up a very respectable sum, which, as "New Year's Gifts to Jesus," they placed in our treasury.
The picture, as we are able to give it in our magazine, is not large enough to show all the points of interest about this cake. It represents, of course, a Chinese pagoda, but with the idols omitted. Possibly there is in it a little symbolism of ascent--the excelsior spirit which comes from new life in Christ. Beginning at the shell foundation, we see two cards which bear in Chinese an inscription literally translated[pg 196] thus: "Eyes see; hands must not touch." Above this were the more abrupt or pointed English words: "Hands off." Over the door at the head of the steps is a framed inscription: "Happy New Year, 1896." In what might be called the second story there is another inscription, which, being interpreted, reads: "Blessed News Chapel"--i.e., Gospel Chapel--while on the right post are characters which, literally translated, mean: "Blessed Land: good cultivating"--i.e., to good cultivation this happy land yields large returns. On the left-hand post the characters literally translated mean: "News Chapel: righteous pastor: forms intimate friends"--i.e., the righteous pastor of this Gospel Chapel makes warm friends.
On either side of the cake are Chinese New Year's lilies (narcissus) growing to perfection in saucers supplied with nothing except clean pebbles and pure water--these are said to symbolize purity and mercy. Above the lilies rise great clusters of artificial flowers, which also have some symbolical import; I am unable to say what.
This will be a good place to say a few words about this mission, which has now been in existence for more than twenty years. During all this period it has occupied, rent free, a small brick building belonging to our ex-Governor and United States Senator, Hon. George C. Perkins, who began his wonderfully successful career in this town of Oroville. He has not even required us to pay the taxes upon it, and when a rumor reached my ears that his agent had received an offer for the purchase of it, Mr. Perkins kindly assured me that we should have the first chance to buy it, and he would help us out by a generous donation. That's the sort of man he is.
There has always been a large Chinese population engaged mainly in mining, whose headquarters were at Oroville. When our mission was established the number was estimated at not less than twenty-five hundred. Chinatown was quite extensive and all its frail structures swarmed, like bee-hives, with inhabitants. There are no such throngs now, but there are still people enough to call forth the most and the best that we can do for them.
A large number of Chinese have here been turned from idol-worship to the love of Jesus. I have at hand no means of scanning the long roll--reaching up to many hundreds--of those who have for longer or shorter periods been brought here to know something of Christ. And the frequent change of teachers has rendered impossible any adequate statement of results. Among those whom I specially remember are three Yongs: One, Yong Jim, an unusually well-educated man who, after being a missionary helper in several of our fields, returned to China, and has done gospel-work there in connection with the American Board; another, Yong Kay, was a delegate from California[pg 197] to the great convention of the Y. P. S. C. E. in Boston, and made several addresses there, which were well received. He is now preaching the Word in that city. Yet another of the same family has been for several years a leader in Christian work among the Chinese in New York. The Christians in California and elsewhere belonging to this family have a little missionary work of their own among their relatives in China in addition to what they do through our Chinese Missionary Society. The work at Oroville is now in excellent hands. We have a good helper--intelligent, wise, steadfast--who almost wholly supports himself, drawing but five dollars per month from our treasury, and giving back a goodly portion of this. The teachers are faithful and earnest, and I rejoice to add that for several years our church in that town has recognized its responsibility for this work, has given it the right hand of fellowship, and has aided it with generous gifts.