BY REV S. G. WRIGHT.
Twenty-seven children were boarded and clothed about eight months of the year, and fifteen attended very regularly as day scholars. The text books used were elementary speller, model reader, first, second and third readers, mental arithmetic. Several of the most advanced pupils are also familiar with the four ground principles of written arithmetic. Nearly all made good progress in their studies. There is no lack of ability in the Indian child to comprehend any branch of learning. The only obstacle in his way is that all his knowledge of books must be acquired through a strange language. The lessons must be explained all through the second and third years of his schooling in his own tongue; otherwise he gets no new ideas from his books, though he may read and spell and write ever so well. I explain the meaning of the words they spell, and translate the lessons read in the different readers. Much religious instruction is given in the school-room and in the morning and evening worship. I returned to this place a year ago, after being absent about two years, and was very happy to find the little company of earnest, devoted Christians whom we left still faithfully pursuing their work for God. I meet with them every week on Thursday afternoon for prayer. They are truly the salt of the earth, burning lights in this great darkness.
THE CHINESE.
REVIEW OF THE YEAR.
REV. WM. C. POND.
Our fiscal year closed Aug. 31. I will state in the briefest way the main facts as to our last year’s work. I group them under three heads: the field, the fruit, the finances.
I. The field. This is larger than ever before in the fact that we have one-fourth more Chinese in our country to-day than we had a year ago. And the work—though far from covering the field and far from being equal to the opportunity—has increased at a per cent. equal to more than twice that of the increase of Chinese population. Fifteen schools have been sustained, eleven of them throughout the entire year. Thirty-one workers are employed, eleven of them being Chinese. The total number of months of service is 356, exceeding that of last year by 70 and of any year preceding the last by 110, that is, by more than nine years. During the year no less than 2,567 Chinese were enrolled as pupils, an increase upon the previous year of 935, or more than 57 per cent. Let it not be understood that we had this number at any one time; but for longer or shorter periods in the course of the year, this number have come under the influence of our schools, and have heard something about a Saviour from sin. The average membership month by month was 728, and the average attendance 401. But the membership increased steadily through the year. In August it was 1,022, and the average attendance 459. This represents our opportunity, our special field.