tame affair, as far as the physical elements could make it. The
winter has been unusually cold and stormy. But the people have
welcomed her cordially, and she has been especially helpful to the
sick. Her administration of simple remedies has been blessed of
the Lord to work a number of cures, which, to the Indians, have
seemed miraculous and have given her a reputation as a healer, so
that they bring their sick to her from all directions. One morning
she found at her door a young woman sick with pneumonia, who had
been brought there on a hand sled by her mother and sister through
a fearful snow storm. Miss Collins expostulated with them for so
exposing the sick one. The mother answered: “We heard that unless
you see their body with your own eyes, and lay your hands upon
them, you cannot heal them.” This report, no doubt, arose from her
feeling the pulse of the sick.
A child, whose sister had died with convulsions and St. Vitus’
dance, and who was also thought to be dying in the same way, was
brought to her. The spasms were relieved at once, and in a few days
the root of the difficulty was discovered and she was cured.
Elias Gilbert, the new teacher who takes the place of Edwin
Phelps during his absence at Hampton, works in finely. He is very
enthusiastic over the progress the people have made under his
predecessor and the hearty interest they take in the school and in
church services. On the Sabbath there is a very interesting woman’s
meeting, numbering about thirty, mostly mothers.
Adams Wakanna is the new worker at Oak Lake, another point in this
field. This is newer ground, and the people are yet in careless
ignorance of the way of life. But our native helper is full of
zeal, for this very reason. He is working well.
Edwin Phelps, who has worked so long and so well in this field, is
now at Hampton, Va., taking Bible studies and serving as Indian
Chaplain there. Many of the pupils at Hampton are from his own
field at Standing Rock Agency. So he has a special interest in them
and a personal hold upon them. He cannot fail to do them good.
This Grand River field should at once have a thorough equipment
of buildings and missionary force. Four thousand dollars were
given two years ago by Mr. E. B. Monroe to build this Mission. But
everything waits for the fit man for a missionary.
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
* * * * *
A NEW HOME.
BY THE REV. C. T. WEITZEL.
The Santa Barbara Chinese Mission has taken a long step forward.
Until the beginning of this year, its rooms were hired. Now it
lives in rooms of its own on grounds of its own.
Some time before the annual visit of our faithful Superintendent,
the Rev. W. C. Pond, the further use of its old quarters had been
denied the mission. In this emergency the teacher of the school,
Mrs. E. M. Shattuck, opened her own house for its meetings until it
should appear what was wise to do next.
The problem had already been considered by Mr. Pond. With a faith,
an energy and a wise caution all alike admirable, he set about the
solution of it. Within forty-eight hours after the steamer landed
him, a desirable lot had been purchased and the contract for a
mission-house made. In a week’s time the building was sufficiently
advanced to be used by the young men for their Chinese New-year’s
reception. On the evening of Feb. 11th, it was formally dedicated.
I had charge of the service, and fully sympathized with Mr.
Pond’s earnest wish that it should be a decidedly religious and
solemn one. His letter for the occasion, and the addresses of
the evening, which were interpreted by the helper, Foo King, all
strongly emphasized the religious purpose and character of this
mission work. The building was set apart not only as a place of
instruction, but also as a place of worship; not only as a school,
but also as a sanctuary. May it become, indeed, a sacred place
to many of these our brethren by the manifestation of the Divine
Spirit in His enlightening and converting power!
As for the spiritual results among these young men, it is even
more difficult than in ordinary evangelistic effort to speak
definitely and positively. Yet no one, it seems to me, can look
into the many eager and open countenances to be seen every evening
in those mission rooms, without the conviction that somehow the
good seed is growing in those hearts. Nor can I note the cheerful
alacrity and the large generosity with which these young men have
contributed toward the cost of the new building without a feeling
that they have, on the whole, a worthy conception of its purpose.
And I certainly cannot contrast the debasing, poisonous atmosphere
of the ordinary resorts of their countrymen in Chinatown with the
healthy, uplifting atmosphere of this mission home, without the
thankful assurance that this is a refuge from temptation as well as
an inspiration to a better life for every one of these scholars.
That the Chinese Mission of Santa Barbara is doing good, there
is not a doubt in my mind. One of their number made a public
confession of his faith in Christ the past year, making four who
are now members of the Congregational church. Two or three more are
anxious to be baptized, but dare not yet take this step for fear
of the bitter opposition and the complete ostracism which they say
they must expect from their family connections here and in China if
they do.
* * * * *
BUREAU OF WOMAN’S WORK.
MISS D. E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.
* * * * *
_My dear friends_:
It is Monday morning, “bright and early.” I have taken my seat by
an open window, not so much to enjoy the beautiful outside view of
green fields and budding trees as the pleasure of a little talk
with you.
There are so many things that I want to tell you, I hardly know
which to select, but think I will first tell about
“The Mothers’ League.”
I had felt so deeply that more must be done in careful home
training by the mothers of these young girls I meet in Sunday-school
and sewing-school, if we would raise up true and pure maidens,
that I resolved to try to bring more of the mothers together, that
we might freely talk the matter over, hoping thus to bring them
into a fuller sympathy and helpfulness with my work and with each
other. I bought a package of twenty-five visiting cards, and wrote
upon each as follows: “The Mothers’ League will meet at Porter
Mission, E. Cedar street, at 3 o’clock, next Saturday evening. You
are cordially invited to be present.” Then I sent two of our little
Sunday-school girls to take them to the homes of those living near
each other.
Last Saturday sixteen of these mothers responded by their presence,
and we had a very impressive meeting. Mrs. H., of Tillotson
Institute, kindly went with me, and spoke pleasantly to them about
the very earliest influence of the mother upon her children. I gave
them a few incisive thoughts from God’s Word, one of which was
this: “As is the mother, so is her daughter.” The poor burdened
mothers, who do so desire to be faithful to their children, but
feel so helpless, listened earnestly and with eyes full of tears.
When the question was asked, how many of you would like to join
this Mothers’ League? every hand was raised. It seemed best then to
suggest only one point of agreement, viz., to pray daily for God’s
help in their duties as mothers, and for God’s blessing upon the
Mothers’ League.
When asked to suggest the best time when all could unite, one said:
“I shall think about it all the day long.” Another said: “I shall
pray for it every day at 12 o’clock.” The oldest mother present
said: “I think the best time is the first thing in the morning,
for we have to pray then, any way.” So it was agreed that with the
first waking moments the prayer “God bless the Mothers’ League,”
shall ascend from sixteen mothers’ hearts. Will He not bless?
I suggested that we meet again the first Saturday in April, but
they said: “That will be a long time to wait; can’t we have another
meeting in two weeks?” Consent was given. Then another said: “Can’t
we sometimes bring our girls with us?” Consent was given that on
the first Saturday in April they might bring their daughters.
I took with me from Tillotson Institute two of the “Young Daughters
of the King,” to help in singing, and in this way do something for
Jesus. The one who played the organ is the daughter of a minister,
who is now pastor of a Congregational Church in Texas, and who was
educated in the A. M. A. schools. So true it is that the circle of
influence is ever widening.
I find that I have nearly filled my paper, and must leave other
things until another time.
We have recently had a cheering visit from Rev. Dr. Beard,
Secretary of the American Missionary Association, and the one who
has the special charge of the Southern work. Texas is so far away
from the centre of things, that we are not often thus favored; so
that such visits are the more highly prized when they do come.
M. J. A.
* * * * *
We have had a great spiritual blessing. Only three of my
thirty-three Sunday-school boys are not Christians. Sometimes the
responsibility almost overpowers me. They have so little help at
home, but find so much to hinder and discourage. One bright, smart
boy of fifteen has within a few months come into my class, and has
accepted Jesus as his Saviour. For nine years he has been smoking,
following the example of his father and older brother. Since his
conversion he feels he cannot follow this habit, and he is making
brave efforts to overcome it. Young as he is, the habit has a very
strong hold upon him, and he finds it hard work. But God is helping
him, and I know he will succeed. He comes to me each night to
report his progress, and for a week has met me every night with a
glad smile and the words: “God has helped me, and I haven’t smoked
to-day.” One day he got so far as to light the cigarette a boy had
forced upon him, but he remembered the verse he had just learned—I
Corinthians x, 13—and he threw the cigarette away. There are many
equally interesting cases, where help and encouragement are so much
needed.
* * * * *
ONE OF OUR SCHOLARS.—He is in the Third Reader class, and is
learning the simplest questions in arithmetic. This is his first
year in school, and instead of being a little boy, as you might
suppose, he is thirty-five years old, and a “Baptist preacher.”
When he first came, he said: “I ain’t got no learning; what I
knows, I just picked up myself.”
One of the boys said: “I advised him to come, so that he can learn
to explain, and when he gets up to preach, folks won’t sniggle in
their sleeves.”
* * * * *
FOR THE CHILDREN.
* * * * *
DOLLARS FOR SELF, AND CENTS FOR CHRIST.
“Yes, I always give for missions and everything else,” said Phil.
“I give something every Sunday; don’t you?”
“Why, no; I give five or ten cents when I think I can spare it,
when I have a good deal of money and don’t want it for anything,”
said Tom.
“I give whatever papa or mamma gives me for it,” said James.
“Sometimes it’s more, and sometimes it’s less.”
“Oh, I always give my own money!” said Phil. “I don’t think it’s
any giving at all unless you do that.”
“Yours is the best way, I’m sure,” said Tom, soberly. “They say
it’s the regular giving that counts.”
“And then, of course, what you give is just so much out of what
you’d like to spend on yourself.”
“Yes,” said Phil, feeling very self-denying and virtuous.
“I’m going to try your way,” said Tom. “And I’m going to keep an
account and see what it will amount to.”
The three boys were on their way home from Sunday-school, where
they had heard from a missionary some very interesting accounts
of the great work which is going on in Africa. He had succeeded
in deeply stirring the sympathies of his young hearers, so that
many of them went away with the solemn feeling that they should
in some sense be held answerable if they did not strive to hold
out a helping hand to those in such sore need. For the present it
was plain that missionary interest was to be centered in the “dark
continent,” and little societies were formed among Sunday-school
children, they believing it would be pleasanter to put their gifts
together than to offer them separately.
Several boys came to Phil’s house on the next afternoon to talk it
over, and Phil brought his account-book to put down their names
as the first members of their society, with a preamble in which
occurred many high-sounding words setting forth their resolves and
intentions.
“What’s this, Phil?” asked his uncle, picking up the book on the
same evening, after tea.
“Oh, that’s my account-book, uncle; I brought it down to take names
and draw up resolutions for our missionary society.”
“May I read it, or is it a secret organization?”
“Certainly, you may. I am simply, you know, trying to work up the
idea of liberal giving among the boys.”
“A most excellent idea,” said his uncle, concealing his amusement
at Phil’s rather pompous tone. “Let me see: Bananas, twenty-five
cents; soda water, ten cents; peanuts, twenty-five cents;
bat, thirty-five cents; candy, fifteen cents; base-ball cap,
seventy-five cents; Sunday-school, six cents——”
“Oh, stop, Uncle George; that isn’t in it! That’s when I was
visiting at Cousin Tom’s, and I promised mamma that I’d put down
every cent I spent.”
But Uncle George seemed not to hear, and went on:
“Peanuts, fifteen cents; bananas, twenty-five cents; getting shoe
mended, forty cents; soda water, ten cents; missionaries, five
cents; getting bat mended, fifteen cents; lemonade for the boys,
fifty cents; bananas, twenty-five cents; collection in church, two
cents.”
“_Please_ give me the book, uncle.”
“I’m glad you don’t forget your charitable duties, Phil,” said his
uncle, giving up the book with rather a mischievous smile.
Phil took it in some confusion. He had heretofore thought but
little more of his spendings than to remember his mother’s wish
that he should keep an account of the money with which she had kept
him so liberally supplied. Now, in looking over his hasty entries,
he was astonished.
“Well, well!” he exclaimed, as he added up one page: “two dollars
and ninety cents for eating and play, and seventeen cents for
giving, and I bragging to the boys what a good thing it is to give
regularly!”
He was a conscientious boy, and his heart smote him as he ran over
the long list, and thought with his newly-awakened feelings, of
the bread of life which that money might have carried to starving
souls. If his mother had aimed to teach him a lesson through his
account-book, she had not failed.
He got up at last and stood before the glass.
“Now, my young man,” said he, shaking his head very threateningly
at the boyish face he saw there, “you know very well that
a quarter for peanuts doesn’t look any larger to you than a
pin’s head, and that a quarter for giving looks as big as a
cart-wheel—but that’s got to stop, sir! This book isn’t going
to hold any more accounts of dollars for trash and cents for
Sunday-school.”—_The Christian Giver._
* * * * *
RECEIPTS FOR MARCH, 1887.
* * * * *
MAINE, $168.30.
Auburn. High St. Cong. Ch $25.00
Augusta. Sab. Sch. Class, Cong. Ch.; by Alice
Means, Treas., 3, Miss K. Carpenter’s Class,
3, _for Talladega C._ 6.00
Bangor. “A Friend,” _for Debt_ 5.00
Bath. Winter St. Cong. Ch., 2 bbls. of C.,
_for Selma, Ala._, 2.70 _for freight_ 2.70
Bethel. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.56
Blue Hill. Miss Caroline Joy, _for Pleasant
Hill, Tenn._ 2.50
Castine. Class No. 9, Trinity Sab. Sch., _for
Student Aid, Tougaloo U._ 1.05
Foxcroft and Dover. Cong. Ch., ad’l to const.
C. C. NICHOLS L. M. 24.00
Hallowell. By Sylvina L. Smith, _for freight_ 3.00
Machias. Cong. Ch. 6.42
Portland. Saint Lawrence St. Ch., 20; J. J.
Gerrish, 10 30.00
Scarboro. Cong. Ch. 5.50
South Waterford. Miss M. E. Shurtleff 1.00
Turner. Cong. Ch. 4.28
Wells. B. Maxwell, _for Debt_ 10.00
Westbrook. Second Cong. Ch. 15.79
West Brooksville. Miss Lucy J. Henry, _for
Pleasant Hill, Tenn._ 2.50
Woolwich. Cong. Ch. 12.00
NEW HAMPSHIRE, $534.27.
Alstead East. Cong. Ch. $9.54
Alstead Center. Cong. Ch. 7.94
Concord. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 20.00
Concord. Miss Folger, _for Talledega C._ 2.00
Exeter. Cong. Ch., 4.97; Miss Alcina Grover, 1
_for Atlanta U._ 5.97
Fitzwilliam. Horace Cooledge, 5; C. D.
Bigelow, 1. 6.00
Francestown. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 17.05
Great Falls. Mrs. H. F. Dixon, _for Pleasant
Hill, Tenn._ 10.00
Greenfield. Cong. Ch. 13.00
Hanover. “A Friend” 20.00
Lancaster. Mrs. A. M. Amsden 5.00
Littleton. Mrs. B. W. Kilburn, _for the Debt_ 3.00
Lyme. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 14.91
Milford. “Willing Workers,” _for Student Aid,
Tougaloo U._ 50.00
Pembroke. Prof. I. Walker’s Bible Class, _for
Student Aid, Wilmington, N.C._ 3.00
Penacook. Cong. Ch., 18.11; Sab. Sch. of Cong.
Ch., 10 28.11
Tilton. Cong. Ch. 40.00
————————
$255.52
LEGACIES.
Goffstown. Heirs Estate of Miss Frances
Meriam, by Samuel Upson, Admr. $78.75
Hollis. Estate of John C. Jewett, by E. J.
Colburn, Ex. 200.00
————————
$534.27
VERMONT, $702.64.
Bennington Center. Bbl. of C. and 5, _for
McIntosh, Ga._ $5.00
Berlin. First Cong. Ch. 8.48
Berlin. Bbl. of C., _for McIntosh, Ga._
Bradford. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 29.21
Brandon. Mrs. L. G. Case, _for Indian M._ 5.00
Burlington. Eldridge Sab. Sch. 3.00
Charlotte. “M. L. H.” 2.00
Chelsea. Ladies, _for McIntosh, Ga._ 10.00
Fairlee. Cong. Ch. 13.12
Greensboro. Cong. Ch. 5.50
Jericho Center. Mrs. Julia Graves 5.00
Lowell. Cong. Ch. 5.41
Milton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 2.51
Montgomery Center. Heman Hopkins 2.00
New Haven. Mrs. Cephas H. Kent, _for Jones
Kindergarten, Atlanta, Ga._ 5.00
Newport. M. B. Hall 2.00
North Bennington. Cong. Ch. 13.14
Northfield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.75
North Thetford. Cong. Ch. 6.62
North Troy. Bbl. of C. and 2, _for McIntosh,
Ga._ 2.00
Orwell. Ladies’ of Cong. Ch., _for McIntosh,
Ga._ 17.50
Post Mills. Cong. Ch. 5.00
Sheldon. S. M. Hulbert. 5.00
Springfield. —— 200.00
Springfield. A. Woolson, _for Atlanta U._ 20.00
West Brattleboro. Cong. Ch. 13.01
West Fairlee. Mrs. C. M. Holbrook 1.50
West Fairlee Center. Mrs. E. May 5.00
Westfield. Cong. Ch. 6.62
West Randolph. Girls’ Mission Circle, 10;
Ladies’ Mission Soc., 10, by Mrs. V. M.
Hardy, _for McIntosh, Ga._ 20.00
Windham. Cong. Ch. and Soc., 36.05, to const.
EMORY H. JONES L. M., Sab. Sch. of Cong.
Ch., 15.22 51.27
————————
$481.64
LEGACIES.
Jamaica. Estate of Mrs. Hepsibah H. Stowell,
by Mrs. Ella J. Robinson, to const. JOHN C.
ROBINSON, MRS. ELLA J. ROBINSON, MRS. LUCY
KELLOGG, MRS. MARY MUZZY, MRS. NORA MUZZY
and MISS JENNIE BARNES L. M.’s. $200.00
Jericho. Estate of Hosea Spaulding, C. M.
Spaulding, 10; A. C. Spaulding, 5; Nellie M.
Percival, 3; E. J. Spaulding, 3 21.00
————————
$702.64
MASSACHUSETTS, $6,261.64.