To all this Hong Sing replied: “Question is now, friends, which way we ought to honor father and mother, in life time or in death time, with a kind word or with wrath answer your mother. Mind your mother is honor or disobey is honor. Suppose when you come to California your father and mother give you good advice—must not gamble, not smoke opium, not go among the bad men, not be indolent but industrious. You just see how many has been gambling, how many smoke opium and do such evil things. Is this obey parent, honor, admire? I think not at all. This is disobey, dishonor, ingratitude. When I was in China I often see and hear of many men has beat mother with a stick and not like to support her living, but permit her starve and not let her have good food. But when she die then you put ten pound pork and chicken and many things set on the table, ask her to eat. In life time when she can eat and drink, never buy five cents worth meat. When die, no eat, no drink. So you will kill a calf, set on a table to ask her to eat and drink. It is vanity. Our Confucius has said, ‘If any man were good conduct and endeavor to walk on the wisdom way and good virtue that show to obey and honor father and mother. Therefore, every man know he is a good man and understand that he must have had good parents, and he never said to honor our parents by worshipping them when they die.’” Other points were made which cannot be reproduced. Under ordinary circumstances I discourage all debating with the heathen. I advise our helpers to keep close to their own work, which is to preach the gospel.
BUREAU OF WOMAN’S WORK.
Miss D. E. Emerson, Secretary.
NOTES ON MEETINGS OF STATE SOCIETIES.
The Woman’s Home Missionary Society, connected with the State Association of Michigan, held its session during the meetings of that body. The ladies present were addressed by Mrs. Norton, of Dakota, and Miss Rose M. Kinney, of Georgia. Brief remarks were made by Messrs Clark, Cobb, Gilbert and Pike. Mrs. Leroy Warren was re-elected president, and measures were adopted providing for co-operation with the benevolent societies of the Congregational churches working in this country. It is probable that efforts will be made by the ladies to bring the claims of these societies before the people of Michigan in the early autumn.
The ladies of Iowa will continue to support their missionary, Miss A. D. Gerrish, at New Orleans, La., and as they too have organized for better co-operation, it is confidently hoped that the response from the ladies will enable them to assume the support of a second missionary, at some other point. They have selected as a State Committee Mrs. S. H. Smith, of Davenport, and Mrs. J. H. Ellsworth, of McGregor.