Auxiliary to the American Missionary Association.
President: Rev. J. K. McLean, D.D. Vice-Presidents: Rev. A. L. Stone, D.D., Robert B. Forman, Rev. T. K. Noble, Hon. F. F. Low, Rev. I. E. Dwinell, D.D., Hon. Samuel Cross, Rev. S. H. Willey, D.D., Jacob S. Taber, Esq.
Directors: Rev. George Mooar, D.D., Hon. E. D. Sawyer, Rev. E. P. Baker, James M. Haven. Esq., Rev. Joseph Rowell, Rev. John Kimball, A. L. Van Blarcon, Esq., George Harris, Esq., and the Secretary ex officio.
Secretary: Rev. W. C. Pond. Treasurer: E. Palache, Esq.
ANNIVERSARIES.
BY REV. W. C. POND.
Since my last communication was forwarded, the four Mission Schools in San Francisco have held their anniversary at Bethany Church, a crowded audience being held attentive and interested till nearly 10 o’clock. An address delivered on that occasion by Jee Gam was forwarded in advance of delivery, and published in the last Missionary. Last evening, Sunday, May 22d, the anniversary of the Sacramento Mission was held at the First Congregational Church in that city. The Record-Union, the leading paper at our capital, devotes nearly a whole column to a notice of it, including a verbatim report of the address by our helper Lem Chung. I am sure that I cannot put our columns in the Missionary to better use this month than by reproducing that address entire.
ADDRESS BY LEM CHUNG.
Dear Friends: I am a Chinese. Why I not be a heathen? A few years ago I didn’t know anything about the Bible. I didn’t know about Christ. I had not heard of the true and living God; but I heard of this land, where so many of my countrymen came and I come too, and here I found Christian people who loved Christ, and for His sake love me and show me the way of life. When I first hear of the Bible I didn’t think I like it. I said: If no other books, I don’t care for this one; I don’t want such a book as this. I thought I didn’t need any more gods, for I said I have all kinds in the temple, and I could see them if I go there, but the God I hear of in America I cannot see! When I learn in the Bible what it says about the heathen gods that are made of silver and gold, the works of men’s hands—how they have mouth and cannot speak, eyes cannot see, ears and cannot hear, noses cannot smell, and hands but handle not—I learn also the God of the Bible made all things and sees us all the time, every thing is ruled by His hands. We must fear him, for He is powerful and glorious, but the idols is unwise. I am obliged to leave the idols and come to worship the true God, and trying to observe His law and commandments the Bible shows me how sinful I am, and if Christ had not come to the world to save me I am sure get lost.