"Last night there was a New Year's meeting, and they took up a 'Thank Offering' because God had been so good the past year, and they handed me ten dollars this morning for the native missionary society, and they pledged ten more. Pretty substantial way to show gratitude to God! Oh if our churches would come to the help of our American Missionary Association in so liberal a way, what might we not do for Christ this year!"
The Chinese.
THE WATSONVILLE MISSION.
BY REV. W. C. POND, D.D.
This work was begun about two years ago as an experiment, the teacher, Mrs. Martha Ellis, giving her services without expense to us for several months, till it became apparent that the field was one we ought to occupy. She is an earnest Christian and is putting her very life-blood into this service for Christ and the souls he died to save. With her has been associated from the first Mr. Joe Dun, a most faithful and efficient helper. He was converted in our Marysville Mission, and has been a steadfast Christian for many years. He accepts less than half pay in these times of straitness, and tries to eke out a support for himself and those dependent upon him by attention to business in a small and, I fear, far from lucrative way, but gives his heart to mission work. I feel guilty every time I make a remittance to Watsonville because the pittance we allow him is so small as compared with the work he does. But he and the zealous teacher have other rewards far richer than coin.
I reached the Mission House at about 2:30 p.m. Mrs. Ellis's afternoon class of children was just being dismissed. But it seems they had heard about me, and were glad to come to order again, and get acquainted with me and let me hear them sing. It was a sight I never looked upon before, and did not expect to see in California till we had come much nearer the millennium than I dare think we now are. Nine children stood in line before me—three of them Americans, three Chinese, and three Spanish or Mexican. The whole class numbers sixteen, the absent ones being five Spanish children and two Jewish ones. They sang for me, with great vigor and quite good harmony, "Jesus Loves Me," "Precious Jewels," and "At the Cross." Books were not needed. The words were packed away in their memory, where they will remain to bless—as we hope and pray—their whole lives.
After the children had gone, eleven Chinese brethren gathered about the table to study with me the Confession of Faith and Covenant of Bethany Church, San Francisco, with reference to being organized into the Bethany Church of Watsonville. About three hours I spent with them holding them to close study of that which they would profess and promise if they were united in Church relationship. They were of various ages and various grades of intelligence, but I felt that Christ had refused none of them, and I must not do so. Hum Quong was converted in Marysville five years before, but had not till now had opportunity—since he was sufficiently confirmed in his discipleship to do so—to offer himself for baptism. He had become well versed in Christian truth, and was able to interpret for me, and to assist his brethren, almost as well as Joe Dun himself. The others were, all of them, the fruit of our Watsonville work. One had been in California 25 years, but had attended mission-school nowhere except in Watsonville. He was a substantial looking man, a good miniature of a New England deacon of the old school but for his complexion and attire. I was rather pleased—having made such reflections silently—to hear him nominated by several voices and to see him unanimously elected their only deacon. His name is Ng Kite.