It was a new step in the history of our own work among the Chinese of this State, though in connection with other missions two or three churches composed exclusively of Chinese have existed for many years. It was taken after much prayer, and with a peaceful assurance that the Master himself led us that way. The matter was talked over with the brethren somewhat carefully on Sunday afternoon; and then after the anniversary exercises over, we remained at the Mission House till late at night, explaining to them the simple confession of Faith and Covenant of the Bethany Church, San Francisco, which they adopted as their own. My inquiries into the Christian experience of one and another gave me still greater joy than I had before in view of our Marysville work, and at the end of this meeting it was agreed to gather at the Mission House at 2:30 P.M. of Monday, and organize the church. This plan was carried out, several American Christians being present with us and adding their prayers and cordial God-speed; and I could easily find it in my heart to wish that every church organized in America had in it nine such happy, hearty, praying, working young men as this Bethany Church in Marysville has.
3. Oroville.—We had scarcely concluded the meeting above referred to, when it became time to take the train for Oroville, twenty-eight miles distant. I took our faithful helper, Lee Sam, with me, desiring him to spend two or three months at least in Oroville. Here I found a sad state of things. Sufficient care had not been taken in receiving members to our Association there, and I am afraid that few, if any, among them are true Christians. In a strife for the pre-eminence they had become bitter, one toward another, and I hoped, and still hope, that the good judgment, the gentle spirit, the Christian example and the faithful preaching of Lee Sam will, with the blessing of God, set things right again. The school in Oroville is blessed with a very faithful teacher, who is aided and guided by her father, Rev. A. Ostrom, pastor of the Congregational Church, himself formerly a missionary in China. Mr. Ostrom speaks Chinese, but not in the dialect of the districts from which our Chinese have come, and he cannot communicate with them, except through the English language. We ought to have had a good helper there six months ago, but I had not the man to spare, nor the funds to sustain him. Now I leave Marysville destitute, that Oroville may be supplied.
We spent Monday and Tuesday evenings till a very late hour seeking to secure mutual forgiveness and to bring peace. We succeeded so far as the weaker party was concerned; and the confession of fault and the request for forgiveness were made with tearful eyes. But as to the other, and hitherto the controlling faction, no relenting could be made to appear. They have since withdrawn and set up some sort of a house and a worship by themselves. But I believe that our prayers will be answered, and that out of all this will come shortly a far better work than has ever yet been done for the thousands of Chinese who centre at this town.
4. The mission-house at Santa Barbara was burned to the ground in the latter part of November. It was a rented building, and the most valuable part of the mission escaped the flames, so that the loss was not great. I record with much thankfulness the fact that the Congregational Church in Santa Barbara, notwithstanding that it had, just the week before, completed an offering of $327.50 for our Theological Seminary, and scarcely a month before had made a generous contribution to our Mission, at once took a collection amounting to $27.55 to repair the damages of this fire. The origin of the fire is hard to explain. Our helper regards it as no accident, but as having come from the hatred of heathen Chinese.
CHILDREN’S PAGE.
“TESSIE.”
BY A. WESTON W.
“Dunno, miss.”