REV. WM. C. POND, SAN FRANCISCO.
I am trying to contrive how, while keeping within our limited means, to increase our force of Chinese helpers. I am sure that with reference to immediate results, these who know by experience the darkness of heathenism, who have themselves trodden the path out of that darkness into the light of Christ, are better fitted to lead others along the same path than we could possibly be, even though we had their language at our tongue’s end. But it is not easy to provide for these helpers the things needed for their best efficiency. They ought to be entirely supported by us, so as to give their whole time to study and to Christian work; and they need special teachers, since they cannot be taught in school-hours. First of all, they ought to study the Bible, and learn how to interpret it; but should add to this, constant attention to our language, and to the rudiments of geography, astronomy, and history. I have ventured thus far to appoint only five: Wong Sam and Chung Ying for schools in this city, Jee Gam for Oakland, Lee Haim for Sacramento, and Hong Sing for Petaluma. Besides these, there are many volunteer helpers who, in the schools, in the Association, in the Bible and prayer meetings, “instant in season and out of season,” bear their testimony, and do whatever work they can; for most of our Chinese Christians, I rejoice to say it, are witnesses and workers for their Lord.
Readers of the Missionary have heard from Jee Gam and Wong Sam several times heretofore. Hong Sing is the one last added to our list;—for five years a Christian, and during most of that time the leader among the pupils in our Bethany school, and my interpreter when I spoke to them. He understands English well; talks it quite easily and intelligibly; but when he comes to write it, like most of our brethren, he gets it twisted badly. The idioms of his native tongue are very unlike ours. He went to Petaluma, expecting, for the most part, to support himself as a house-servant, accepting, however, low wages in consideration of having time for missionary work; but he found that the house-work crowded the Lord’s work so hard that he seemed to be accomplishing little, and was almost discouraged. He wrote, a month ago, as follows: “I write a few words to let you know that I have a place and been working a few days; but not a steady work, because that man was sick; so I take his place till he get well. It is pretty hard to get a place. And I tell you about the school. It is very small. Evening I be present at 8 o’clock and explain to them. After school close I take fifteen minutes for Bible lesson. I try to explain to them as I can. I thought I come back to San Francisco, but I will wait a little longer, as much our people here [many of our people are here], but most all like gambling. I do not know what is the matter, they wont come. I heard somebody say, because they have been learning for awhile, and not understand the words what it meant; so they don’t come any more. I hope soon to have time to go out to ask come again. I am very sorry and expends [since you expend] so much for the school. It seems to be sow, having no reap [seed-sowing, but no harvest]. Yet ‘my sheep hear my voice.’ We must try to do the best way.” He concluded that the best way was to abandon everything else and give himself to mission work, asking only—since we could afford nothing more—that we pay the cost of his board; and it is on that basis he is working now.
From one of the letters of Lee Haim, from Sacramento, I give the following extract:“Now I will tell you the
TRIALS OF WONG THONG
by his father. He has been a member of our Association four weeks. Three weeks ago his father came into our Association rooms to find out who leads his son to be a member of our Association, I made reply to him, ‘It is I.’ Then he answered me unpleasantly, and said he do not know the regulations of our Christian Association; but only he knows, whoever believes in Christ Jesus, they don’t want to worship or serve their own fathers from generation to generation. That is very bad. And disobey the parents. Then I ask him: ‘Would you rather your son to serve you or take care of you in your lifetime, or rather to have your son’s worship when you died? I perceive that you would rather your son serve you personally. Nobody needs to be worshipped after death.’ Then he said he would not converse with me. Then I said, ‘Well, sir, please to hear me in these few words: Every one ought to be punished by God who did not put their trust in Him, and also transgressed the commandment of God by their tradition. For God has commanded: ‘Honor thy father and mother.’ And another thing; God commanded us not to worship any false gods. But our fathers, from generation to generation, did not do as God commanded. For that fact we are in great fear of God. So we are turned from the bad thing which we did before, and now are transformed by the renewing of the mind.’ Then he felt very bad at my words, and departed from me immediately. On Friday, after Wong Thong was dismissed from school and went back to his old home, then his father chased him with a hatchet, attempting to kill him, for his father disliked him to become a Christian. But Wong Thong’s heart never be fail, I think the Lord God Jesus Christ is near to protect those who will put their trust in Him.”
OUR SAN FRANCISCO ANNIVERSARY
was held last Sunday evening, February 16th. The Pacific has the following notice of it:
“At Bethany Church, last Sunday evening, the fifth anniversary of the Chinese Sunday-schools and Mission schools connected with that church was celebrated. It was an occasion of rare interest. Nearly one hundred Chinese were present, and forty-two took part in the exercises. These consisted of recitations of Scripture and other religious selections, short original addresses, several dialogues, and the singing of hymns in English and Chinese. A quartet of Chinese sung in English with a distinctness of utterance and harmony which some choirs composed of persons ‘to the manner born’ might profitably imitate. But the best and highest joy connected with the occasion lay in the confident hope that almost all these Chinese had passed from death unto life—from the selfish and slavish worship of demons to a loving loyalty to the true God.”
It illustrates the fact that, in spite of adverse prejudices and public sentiments, men brought face to face with a good work cannot refuse it the tribute of their appreciation and sympathy; that our new church has never been so full since its dedication as on that evening; and that, after two of the brief original addresses, the applause, though discountenanced, was irrepressible.