[pg 318]
THE CHINESE.
REVIEW OF THE YEAR.
BY REV. WM. C. POND, D.D.
Our fiscal year ended August 31st. To a stranger looking on as I close its accounts, there might be nothing visible but an array of figures "dry as dust." But if that on-looker could count the heart-beats, as I draw near to making up the balance, could watch the rising tide of feeling, could hear the out-burst of thanksgiving sounding through the chambers of the soul, and now and again breaking the silence of my study with the cry:—"What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits," he would realise that there was something in those figures not so very dry. All bills paid, and even a balance much larger than usual left to help out the too scant resources of the new year! I find myself saying again and again: "How can this be?" It looked so dark four months ago; it looks so bright to-day. God has answered prayer, has been true to his promise, has changed to blessing the stress that we were under by placing thus upon our work the seal of his own and his people's approbation.
Sixteen missions have been in operation during the year, all but three of them for the entire twelve months. Thirty-five workers have been employed, ten of whom have been Chinese brethren. The months of labor aggregate 354.
The total number who have been enrolled as pupils in our schools is 1,380. This is larger by 249 than the enrollment of the previous year, and by 336 than that of the year before. The average membership month by month was in the aggregate, 523; the average attendance, 319. These numbers are also in excess of the corresponding ones in several previous years. Among these members of our schools there are 211 that profess to have ceased from idolatry, and 150 who are believed to be true disciples of Christ. I cannot now state the exact number who have professed conversion during the year, but I believe it to be about forty. If so, the total number who have declared themselves to be Christians and have been accepted as such by our brethren, is more than 750.
The expenditures have been $11,019, of which more than 1,600 came from the Chinese themselves, while their offerings for mission work in China and expenses met in connection with Christian work in California would show a giving on their part of at least $2,500 during the year.
SOME OTHER TOKENS OF GOOD.—Our helper, Loo Quong, writes as follows from Los Angeles under date of Sept. 20th: "Now I have some good news to tell you this time. The first one is this, that five of our brethren will receive their baptism on Sunday in the First Congregational Church. I brought them all down to the church to be proved by the pastor and the deacons, and they all gave their good testimonies to the satisfaction [pg 319] of all. Dr. Hutchins [Rev. R.G. Hutchins, D.D., pastor] was so glad on hearing this good news again. There will now be eleven Chinese members among his white flock. He spoke very kind towards the Chinese and our school in their prayer-meeting, as he always did so in his preaching." Another item of good news is, that by an arrangement among the ladies of this church, a reduction in the teaching force which I have been compelled to make is to be made good by volunteer service, each lady giving one evening in each week. I earnestly hope that this good example may be followed in others of our churches.