THE CHINESE.
NOTES FROM THE FIELD.
By Rev. W. C. Pond.
1. The statistical reports for November are in some respects more encouraging than ever; thirteen schools in operation, having an aggregate enrolled membership of 700—a round number, but an exact one. Never before did our aggregate rise so high. The average attendance was 339. Ten of our pupils received baptism, and four or five others, as having begun the Christian life, were accepted as members of the “Association of Christian Chinese,” there to remain under further instruction for six months or more before they are baptized. Twenty-nine teachers were employed, of whom ten were Chinese helpers—uniting service in the field with special training for a larger Gospel-work. Some of these, I hope, may yet preach Christ in China, under the direction of our American Missionary Association.
2. The Marysville Chinese Mission celebrated its second anniversary on Sunday evening, December 11. The Presbyterian Church in that city—a spacious and beautiful edifice—was filled, and the audience was evidently greatly interested. At the close of a dialogue on the question why a Chinaman should become a Christian, and of the address in English by our helper, Lee Sam, the interest pressed beyond due bounds, and broke forth into applause. One memorable feature of the service was the baptism of six Chinese. From the statement of the teacher, Miss Mattie A. Flint, as presented at this meeting and since then published in The Pacific, I make the following extracts:
“The school has been maintained without interruption except on occasional holidays. In connection with it a Sunday-school has been sustained, meeting every Sabbath at 6 o’clock in the evening. The total number of Chinese enrolled as pupils in the Mission School is 98. All these have been, for a shorter or longer period, under our influence, and must have learned something about Jesus and his power to save from sin. The average membership, month by month, has been about 35. The largest average attendance in any one month was 23. The average attendance for the year, 17. * * * Ten of the pupils have joined the Association during the past year. From among the members of the Association five have been baptized and received in the Presbyterian Church, and six others are now recommended for baptism. We rejoice greatly in the fruit of our labors. I pray God for still richer harvests in time to come.
“One of those baptized and received to the church has returned to China. I venture to give the following extract from a letter which I received from him a few weeks since: ‘We meet on the steamer three Christian brothers beside me. I feel comfortable in the way my home. They about five hundred of my country men in the steamer. But they are all heathen; we are preacher for them. They are never heard the gospel of life, and some very glad to hear us, and some are not. How wonderful our Heavenly Father has make this world! We are cross the great ocean, we ought thank Him for His kindness for us and His love. When we get near Japan they are idolatrous people to ask for us to give money to sacrifice idols goddess. I say no; if I have money I would like to put on missionary fund. But they are scold and angry for us. But we are not afraid for them. Jesus Christ with us always.’”
The Bethany Church of Marysville.—A variety of considerations which could not be fully stated without trespassing too largely upon your space led us to believe that the time had come when our brethren in Marysville should be organized into a church of Christ. Rev. P. L. Carden, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, very cordially seconded the proposition, and proffered letters of dismission and recommendation to such of our Chinese brethren as had already been admitted to his church. The brethren themselves received the proposal with great joy.