“8th. If any member desire to go back to China, he must give notice to the Association one month beforehand. He must not go until he has paid all his debts here. If he is really obliged to go before he can pay his debts, he must find some one who will be security for him.”
There are now four Branch Associations, two in San Francisco, one in Oakland, and one in Sacramento. Each branch supports itself and is governed by its own officers. There are three—President, Vice-President, and Secretary who also acts as Treasurer. The statistics of these “Branches” are as follows: Oakland, 36 members, one expelled, five gone to China, 11 baptized; total contributions, $472.20, of which $117.25 was for Bible and missionary work in California and China. Sacramento, 14 members; contributions, $103.80. San Francisco, 82 members, four expelled, two gone to China, 10 baptized; contributions, $351.00, of which $178.00 were for Bible and missionary work. Bethany (San Francisco), 9 members, 3 baptized; contributions $244.50, of which $71.00 were for Bible and missionary purposes. There are besides these, 23 members belonging to the Central Association, who on account of their places of residence are not yet identified with any “Branch,” so that the total membership is 164. Of these 33 were received the past year. The total amount contributed for all purposes was $1,181.50.
Besides this company of 164, there are 30 or more Chinese who have been converted, as we hope, at Santa Barbara, San Leandro, Stockton and elsewhere, in connection with our schools; and besides the contributions above reported, there has been raised at Petaluma, Stockton and elsewhere, certainly not less than $100. When we consider the poverty of these young men, the smallness of their wages, the drafts made upon them for parents and others dependent upon them in China, then this $1,300 which they have contributed during the past year for the nurture of their own Christian life, or for the salvation of others, grows to its true proportions—in our view, a token of real Christian heroism.
I quote the closing sentences of the statement written for me by the Secretary of the Association: “No death has occurred during the past year. Our Heavenly Father has greatly prospered us, for which we return Him hearty thanks. We are grateful that He has put into our hearts a desire to have our parents and countrymen in China brought to a knowledge of the Christian religion. We are endeavoring to open a Chapel in Chuck Hum, China, and if we only had means, could open as many as we desire. Most all the letters that are sent to China members of the Association contain something about the Christian religion, and urging the people at home to discard idols and believe in the Saviour.”
OUR LAST MONTH’S WORK,
as I reviewed it in the monthly reports, saddened me, and brought over me the first big wave of discouragement which I have felt since I entered on this service. The enrolment and the attendance were both much less than I expected, and some of our smaller schools seemed ready to die. I quote from one of these reports as an example: “You will see that the average is very low, and I am afraid it will be still lower. The boys seem to have lost their interest in the school, and I am afraid that I am losing mine. It is very discouraging to me, after doing a hard day’s work (for I am working very hard just now), to walk three-fourths of a mile and then have but one or two come to the school. Thank God there are one or two faithful ones.” * * * “Now, Mr. Pond, I have laid the case before you, and I ask your prayers in behalf of this little school struggling to keep alive, and for the teacher also, that he may not weary in well-doing, but that God will help him bear this cross and try to save, at least, one soul.” To receive letter after letter like that, while it draws out one’s love and prayer for the writer, sets one also to asking, “Where is the Lord,” and what will become of our work at this rate? But before the reports were all in, news came that six, at least, during the month, had forsaken their idols and appeared to have become disciples of Christ, and we “thanked God and took courage.” Brethren, pray for us.
RECEIPTS
FOR NOVEMBER, 1878.