Soon after the burning of my house in Walla Walla, Agent Eells hastened thither and took his mother to his home. Early the following autumn I joined dear ones at Skokomish. A new departure was named. In pursuance thereof, with the interpreter, a devout Indian, I conducted divine service at the Indian village. It was continued with gratifying results.
In July, 1874, a church composed of whites and Indians was organized. I was chosen pastor. About that time my younger son, Rev. Myron Eells, arrived at Skokomish, with the intention of making a brief stop. To me my early Indian charge, the Spokanes, together with the sparse white settlements in the vicinity, were attractive. I resigned the charge at Skokomish. It was committed to Rev. M. Eells. The seed of the word cast among Spokane Indians did not spring up quickly. It had slow growth, but a rich harvest has been gathered. But I may not enlarge. From my experience and observation the so-called peace policy, when fairly tested, is a success. Connected therewith the ideas and work of the A. M. A. are specially applicable to efforts for the elevation of the Indian. In my judgment the vexed Indian problem may thereby be solved—solved to the mutual profit of our Government and the Indian.
THE CHINESE.
LETTER FROM OAKLAND, CAL.
BY REV. GEO. MOOAR, D.D.
There is little more for me to do in noting down my observation of the work of A. M. A. among the Chinese here than to indorse the statements made by the Rev. Dr. McLean in the April number of this magazine. As far as the school work for the Chinese in the English language is concerned, the honor of beginning it belongs, I think, to Mrs. Elizabeth L. Lynde, now deceased, a member of the First Congregational Church in this city at the time. Her heart, which was singularly alert in behalf of the neglected and unfortunate, set her in the year 1867 to teaching two or three Chinese at her house. These were servants in families. Meantime the boy employed in my own house—since favorably known as our chief helper in missionary work, Jee Gam—was spelling out, by the aid of my little girls and their mother, the mysteries of our English language, and little by little learning the great mystery of godliness. Interest deepened in the two or three who were thus drawn together. So, Mrs. Lynde's little class was transferred to our chapel, and soon became a prominent and hopeful department of our Sunday-school. It was a rare pleasure given me to receive, in 1870, the first three Chinamen known as admitted to membership by confession of faith in an English-speaking church in this land.
For several years I had the opportunity of direct participation in this new missionary movement, often taking my place as teacher of the new alphabet and guide to the pronunciation of many unphonetic words. At first there was novelty about it and it was comparatively easy to obtain even the numerous teachers which this work requires. But as the novelty wore off it became more difficult to find and keep volunteers in sufficient numbers. Besides, a demand arose for more than the hour of the Sunday-school service. The eagerness to learn and the increasing acquisition of some called for a more constant and continuous drill. So has come about the system of schools carried on, under the American Missionary Association's appropriations and our California gifts, by the "California Chinese Mission."