VISITS TO THREE MISSIONS.
BY REV. JEE GAM.
The missions visited were those at Marysville, Oroville, and Watsonville. At each place an anniversary was held, at which Dr. Pond wished me to make an address. But I felt that I had other duties to do besides this:
1. To see that those brethren who had not been baptized should come to baptism.
2. To urge those scholars who ought to join the Congregational Association of Christian Chinese to do so at once.
3. To strengthen and stimulate the brethren, not only to stand firm in their faith, but to press forward to save men through Christ.
4. To urge them to give generously to our work.
5. To preach on the street, that I might lead some one or more to Jesus.
At Marysville I lost no time in getting the names of those who had not been baptized, and who seemed ready for baptism; then the names of pupils who ought to join the association. Then I enlisted the co-operation of the baptized Christians. We just surrounded four of our brethren and urged them to give themselves publicly and wholly to Christ. They objected that they would like just to know more, but they had been under instruction between one and two years, and had confessed themselves believers six or more months ago by joining the association. We thought them well qualified to receive baptism. Finally they consented, and then we all shook hands and rejoiced. They were baptized by Dr. Pond the following Sunday evening, when after the anniversary we received the Lord's Supper and listened to Dr. Pond's sermon on our motto for the year, "Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost."
The method of winning the three pupils for the Association was the same only with the added efforts of all present.
The contribution was generous. At my first mention of this matter they all held up their pledge-cards, duly signed, and with the amounts they were able to give written upon them.
On Sunday afternoon we held a street meeting, which all the brethren who could attended, and all helped.
The next day (Monday) two Marysville brethren went with us to Oroville at their own expense. The weather was intensely hot, but this did not prevent a cordial welcome to us, both at the depot and at the Mission. And here we settled down to work just as we did at Marysville. The result was that three brethren were baptized and one scholar joined the association. The new brother is an educated young man, but was a great devotee of gambling, at which he has generally lost money. On my first visit to Oroville, two years ago, I admonished him to quit this bad habit and become a Christian. He frankly acknowledged the sin, but was reluctant to cease from it till he could win back what he had lost. So I could not persuade him. And when I reached Oroville this time I was made sad at hearing that he was still a gambler, though still a pupil in the school. He came to the Mission house that evening at about 10 o'clock, and, after hand-shaking, sat down in a corner of the room. Seeing in this a fine opportunity, I said to the brethren present, "Let us gather about Jee Loy and win him to Christ to-night." There were six of us, myself included. We asked him what objection he had to becoming a Christian. He mentioned many, but we disposed of them all, not, however, without talking for nearly two hours. During the brethren's turns to speak I prayed in my heart many times, invoking God's help on our words, and begging that his heart might be opened to the truth and to Christ.
But he still refused. I then said to him, "Will you go home and think the matter over very carefully and let us know to-morrow evening?" He said that he would. A prayer was offered and he went home. We were overjoyed when he came the next evening to tell us that he had decided for Christ and would join the association, which he did at once. We were all filled with thanksgiving.
Three other things made us glad: (1) The addition of three brethren to our Bethany Church in Oroville; (2) the steadfastness and boldness of our brethren as shown at the street preaching service; and (3) their generosity. For when I spoke to them about Senator George C. Perkins and his allowing them to occupy this building for twenty years without charging a cent of rent, or even our paying the taxes upon it, and suggested that they make him a life member of our California Chinese Mission, as quick as lightning "Yes," "Yes!" was heard all over the room. In a very short time the whole amount of $25 was subscribed; and they intend, with God's help, to make Mrs. Perkins a life member next year.
The anniversaries at Marysville and Oroville were the best we ever had in either place. The Lord's Supper, in each case, was observed at the mission after the anniversary service closed, and this was followed by Dr. Pond's discourse, so that the services did not end till about 11.30 o'clock.
At Oroville, even after this, a pleasant social was held, and we tried to bring another to Christ, but did not succeed; and finally, the night being so nearly gone, and the morning train for San Francisco starting at 4 o'clock, we did not go to bed at all, but strolled through Chinatown and enjoyed the cool night air after a hot, laborious day.
At Watsonville we had similar exercises, and the joy of extending our fellowship to Dr. Quon Hun, a highly educated Chinese physician, who had attended our school for several months, and who, after studying the Lord's Prayer all alone, was led into the light of Christ, and composed a beautiful Chinese poem upon it. He had charge of the tablets of one of the Tongs, and had also his own private shrine in his office. But he returned the tablets and destroyed his own idols. He is a man greatly respected, and will be able to do a great work for Christ, though doubtless he will encounter much odium and persecution.