Chapter II: Part 2

“Mr. M. I am very sorry! Sorry and hurt to my very heart, to think how I have longed to go to school and learn something, and now I am not able to do so and pay for my own board. Probably I could do so, but I have a poor afflicted mother to help, and six younger brothers and sisters and an orphan cousin; all of them I must help. I am 23 years old to-day, and I have craved to go to school ever since I was seven years old, which is sixteen years I have craved for it; and all the time I have gone, after all, is not more than one year and five or eight months. And now I am almost discouraged of ever going to school like I want to go, that is, to bear my own expense.”

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MILLER’S STATION, GA.—Rev. J. R. McLean, after an absence of seven years, has taken a vacation trip to his old home in McLeansville, N. C. He reports a good work at that point by Rev. A. Connet, the examinations and closing exercises of whose school he attended. Among many changes noted, he says: “Perhaps the greatest is in some of the plantations. Where once there were from 50 to 100 slaves and from 30 to 40 horses and mules, with large barns, granaries and many cabins, desolation now reigns. One cause of this is the low wages paid for labor (for men, $6.50 or $7 per month; for women, $3), which causes the young men to leave home and work in the tobacco factories. These are schools of vice, as are all places in which young men congregate free from restraint; and the money earned is speedily spent in forming evil habits. In looking over these desolated plantations, I could but be reminded of the prophecy of Jeremiah iv., 27, and Isaiah v., 9-25. As I talked of these things with the only one left of those who formerly ruled over my home and people, it seemed as if the frown of God was resting upon these old homes. May God speed the day when men of all races shall love Him as a common father, and each other us brethren.”

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ANNISTON, ALA.—The Iron Company whose furnaces are at this place, which is about to erect also a woolen mill, is doing much to improve the condition of the colored people. The neat church edifice and parsonage, occupied by the Rev. P. J. McEntosh, were largely built by this Company.

The parish school taught by the pastor, assisted by Miss R. Cruikshank, a graduate of Talladega, closed on the 30th of June a successful term. Miss C. was able to add music to the list of studies, to the great advantage of both school and church. In this she was much aided by the valuable gift of an organ from Mr. Robert Cushman, of Pawtucket, R. I.

The need of women missionaries and teachers, to visit and labor in the homes of the colored people, is deeply felt and strongly urged by the pastor.

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THE FREEDMEN.

REV. JOS. E. ROY, D. D.,

FIELD SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTA, GA.

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A JULY VACATION.

“Once at Clifton Springs, always there.” That is the proverb. Well, why not? Dr. Cuyler boasts of his thirty years at Saratoga Springs; and he has been a tolerably healthy man, able to do some work in preaching and writing for the newspapers. Multitudes of other people go to the same place year after year for rest and recuperation; and so do many find it to their inclination and profit to come to these springs, season after season. The make-up of Dr. Foster’s Sanitarium develops a peculiar home feeling. The judicious medical treatment, if needed, is an attraction. The water, with, its sulphates of lime and magnesia and soda, has in many cases a remedial quality. I think that within the time I get more of revivification here than I could get anywhere else, and so I am now on my fourth summer at Clifton.

Nor can I refrain from saying that I find a peculiar pleasure in coming back to this place, where, during two years of enforced respite from labor, God was preparing my mind for the transition in His life-plan for me, by which I was to be taken from my own dear West and set to doing much the same work at the South, which I have already learned to love. Here I told the Lord that if He would only let me up so that I could again preach the Gospel of His dear Son, I would go anywhere, even to the ends of the earth. But I may as well confess that when He took me at my word and pointed out the field, it did cost a struggle, a night without sleep. Up North to have been a good friend of the slave was one thing; to go down and put one’s self by the side of the depressed ex-bondsman, to take chances with him, to try to lift him up, that was another. Now I bless God for the joy of the work. It is a missionary service without the labor of acquiring and using a strange language. It is in some sense the work of a foreign missionary without going from under the flag of my own country. I feel unworthy of the gratitude of these people, of whom the Master speaks as “these my brethren.” These two years I have gone everywhere from Virginia to Texas, without receiving one word or act of discourtesy, but with many tokens of approbation, from my white fellow-citizens.

I find this also a good stand-point from which to look back upon my field, to review the work of the year gone by, to devise for the next, and also to catch the inspiration of Northern interest in this work. Here are Christian and patriotic people from all parts of our country and from all branches of the Church of Christ. A single address before them in the chapel, in behalf of Christian education among the Freedmen, elicits a gratifying expression of sympathy, and imparts an impulse to the cause through several denominational lines.

In the review, this seems yet the exigent work of the time. It is not the caring for one, two or three new Territories or States at a time, but for five millions of people scattered over fifteen States, who are needing, all at once, the helping hand. This going back and forth makes one realize that this is all one country, with one language, with one history, with one Christian religion, with one interblended destiny; that the comfort of the whole body must depend upon the welfare of every member; and that so our common patriotism requires the uplifting of these lowly poor. This glance back over the field brings immense encouragement as to the results of this evangelizing process; brings assurance that, if it is only prosecuted with vigor, there need be no fear as to the outcome of the great act of emancipation; and brings evidence of cheerfulness and happiness among the hundreds of workers, Northern and native, male and female.

As my eye takes its usual course and sweeps around the coast from the point where the old Mason & Dixon’s line struck the Atlantic to the boundary of Mexico, all the way it brings up colleges and professional departments, and normal institutes and high schools, which, under the management of this Association, are sources of light, fountains of blessing. It brings up the hundreds upon hundreds of primary schools, in which, during the last year, the native teachers of our own training were instructing their one hundred and fifty thousand pupils. It brings up the seventy churches of the primitive faith, which are the outgrowth of that educational scheme, and which as to their influence for good, by their character are multiplying their number many times. It brings up the multitudes of youth in those higher schools, who are ambitiously taking on a Christian cultivation that they may use it for the good of their people. It brings up those Christian congregations so hungry for the word of God, so anxious for the best things in church-life. It brings up, too, those masses, beset with ignorance and superstition and unthrift, who need to be rallied by some worthy aspiration. And then it turns with all hope to that corps of men and women, who, under God, have wrought such great things already, whose excelling in the passive virtues has commanded respect, and made it so comfortable for those of us who come to join them now, and whose service for the Republic and the Kingdom makes them high benefactors in our time and land.

Clifton Springs, N. Y.

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Lincoln Mission.

REV. S. P. SMITH, WASHINGTON.

One of the most beautiful sights on the streets of Washington, on the 5th of July morning, was the colored Sunday-schools coming out from different churches, going to Howard Park, Vaness Garden and other places to pass the day. The little ones seemed to be in a delirium of happiness while marching on the street, keeping step with the music, as their banners floated in the air.

But we felt very sad to think that our poor children at the Lincoln Mission did not have this privilege. They could not go because we have not enough teachers now to look after them. All the teachers who taught here during the winter, left on the thirteenth of June and will not be back until September. Some thought that it would be well to close the school during the summer; but others thought that we had better continue it, if we could have only five teachers and fifty scholars. We do not expect to have so many scholars in the summer as in the winter; but what we lose in quantity we hope to gain in quality. Moreover, to keep up the school through the summer, will aid us in our church-work.

It has been said that this school cannot be carried on successfully here in the summer, for it has been tried and uniform failure has been the result. But if the Lord be with us we shall endeavor to carry on the work; if we fail, it will be no more than what has been done already.

One of our greatest difficulties is to secure teachers; we have tried very hard to get some from among the colored people, but have few as yet.

We are very grateful to those who have come from the Colored Presbyterian Church in the city to help us. But we feel especially thankful to Mr. J. W. Cromwell, editor of _The People’s Advocate_, a colored newspaper, published in the city. He holds a high position in one of the Government departments here, but this does not make him forgetful of the children of his humbler brethren. He is found every Sunday afternoon at the Lincoln Mission (unless called away from the city) teaching the youth some truth from the Bible.

Indeed, he manifests such zeal in our work that we cannot but believe him to be one of our warmest friends. He is our example for all educated colored young men.

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ALABAMA.

Florence and Her People.

REV. GEORGE W. MOORE.

Florence is one of the prettiest towns in Northern Alabama. The climate is fine, the water good, and the scenery picturesque. It stands upon the banks of the majestic Tennessee, which is fast being opened to navigation; boats now come here from the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and it is intended to open its channel so that it shall be navigable as far as Chattanooga.

This is a land of abundant foliage, and one cannot but be attracted by the beautiful gardens of flowers and groves of cedar. To those seeking rest, or health, the springs of various kinds of water and the wholesome food are especially welcome.

Good air, pure water and magnificent scenery, ought to have a good influence upon its people, and it may truthfully be said that Florence furnishes a good example to our race; her people are healthy, cheerful and hospitable. Some of them have nice homes, and there seems to be a disposition in all to improve their condition. To this end, they have societies, schools and churches, and, last but not least, they work.

One of the additions to the town is a beautiful Congregational edifice, which is a little gem, and the people, irrespective of race, say that it is an ornament to the city; but, best of all, it is paid for.

The A. M. E. and Baptist denominations have large and prosperous churches. The Sunday-schools of all the churches are well attended and in a flourishing condition.

The educational work of the county is in full blast; the whites have good seminaries and normal schools and our people have good common schools. The school at Florence, under the management of Mr. Y. A. Wallace, is a centre of quite a number of schools taught by students of the Baptist Institute, Central Tennessee College and Fisk University. The great need of the place and demand of the colored people, is a good Normal school. These common schools would become feeders of this Normal school, and thus meet a great need of the county and do much good for the State.

Another mark of progress may be seen in the effort some have made, and are making, to get farms. I am told that some of our people in this county have farms containing from ten to three hundred acres. The crops are unusually good this year. If we have rain soon we shall have fine crops of corn and cotton.

With the church to Christianize, and the school to educate the people, and the plow to cultivate the soil, the county of Lauderdale may well be considered a power for good.

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LOUISIANA.

Lady-Missionary’s Letter.

[Without designating either the lady or her field, we give a letter from a missionary among the Freedmen in a Southern city. These devoted women, for whom there is a vast work, under many discouragements and difficulties are carrying the Gospel of sympathy and comfort into the lonely cabins in the South, and helping in many ways our larger and more fundamental work. It would be a great mistake to withdraw needed funds from our teaching, and give them to the visiting missionary, but it would be a great loss in many ways, not to multiply the number of those whose mission is to visit the mothers in their homes, carrying the Gospel of cleanliness and thrift, and a knowledge of wifely and motherly ways, to those who are to shape so largely the next generation.—ED. MISSIONARY.]

I must tell you of my experience last Sabbath in the “House of Refuge.” At 3 P. M. I took a car up the long, beautiful, white shell-road—through “St. Patrick’s Cemetery”—to the Institute buildings, expecting there to meet our superintendent and teachers. For some reason they were detained, so I had to proceed, though trembling and alone. The position can be appreciated only by those acquainted with the history and training of these poor children. During the school hours, for our benefit, boys were screaming, dogs snarling just outside the doors, pupils called out, and once the whole school utterly refused to sing the hymns so pleasing to them.

This made me afraid of what might occur to-day; but the service must not be given up, though the door was locked and the “key lost”—the bell overturned, and no official to be seen about the grounds. Trusting, however, for guidance, I followed one of the boys through the yard and work-house to the little chapel, where all had been to mass in the morning. Thirty or forty were awaiting our arrival, and I am sure the Lord helped me, for that wild, uproarious group, through the hour, remained quiet and gentle, while I had no difficulty in interesting them.

My Sunday-school class in Central Church is a great joy and help in my work. Commencing with thirty little ones, the names have increased to one hundred and twenty. Through these, I find entrance to many homes otherwise closed to all religious influences.

Nothing is so pleasing to the mother as interest taken in her children, and many interviews, following these friendly calls, will long be remembered. Only kindness and welcome do I receive everywhere among them. I have learned truly to pity these poor mothers, who tell me, with tears, how hard it is to bring up their children properly in the midst of all this abounding iniquity. All I can bring under the influence of the A. M. A. work I deem a great gain.

During the last three days I have visited thirty-four families. Quite a good number were promised for church and Sunday-school.

One Sabbath I was pleased to see in church three mothers and ten children whom I had visited during the week. There are many discouragements attending these efforts, but there are also many rewards—many bright, happy faces, and many happier homes; many children learning good, rather than all evil ways; and so the days go by, while we take courage in the growing work, hoping that the little seeds, as well as the greater, will take root and grow.

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TENNESSEE.

Better Prospects of Memphis—Effect upon School-Work—Value of
Industrial Work—Hopeful Outlook.

REV. A. J. STEELE, MEMPHIS.

In October, 1879, few were hopeful of immediate prosperity for Memphis. All her interests seemed paralyzed, her best friends discouraged and even hopeless.

But now, in June, 1880, all is changed, despondency and fear have given place to the utmost assurance of a great future for the business and social influences of the city.

The business season just ended has been one of unexampled prosperity in the history of the city; all classes have been kept busy; and as the sanitary improvements, including a complete and almost perfect system of sewerage, and durable street pavements, are pushed forward, little fear is felt of another visitation of the fever this year.

Our work has seemed to take on new life and vigor, and the year just closed, though cut short two months by the fever, has been one of special success in every respect.

Though an unusual number of our students have continued teaching during the year, our classes have been constantly full, the enrolment being in advance of last year and the attendance more steady.

In industrial work, such as may be undertaken in a day-school, we have met with every encouragement and success. The sewing classes, two each day, have done much in learning to cut garments and in the various branches of needle-work, knitting, etc. The class of older girls in nursing and care of the sick has been a feature of interest. A prominent physician said of the examination which the class passed, “If your class answered those questions they ought not only to make safe nurses, but also fair physicians.” We hope another year to have better facilities for this work, meeting as it does a sad need in colored homes, and at the same time the most hearty approbation of both colored and white people.

Our closing exercises were of the usual nature, the Junior classes having their exhibition for the benefit of the library, and netting $50 for that purpose. Then followed the public session of the Literary Society, under the management of its members, and the graduating exerciser, at which three young men received diplomas. The address given on this occasion by Judge Pierce was heartily appreciated and enjoyed by a large audience of both colored and white people. He also presented the diplomas in a manly, earnest address to the graduates.

The final, and perhaps most significant, meeting of commencement week was the Alumni, at which about a dozen of the graduates of the school—nearly all who have been sent out—gathered, with teachers and a few friends, for a pleasant evening. The refreshments were followed with the usual orations and speeches, and did much to gain for the school an earnest working constituency.

We are rejoiced that Mr. B. A. Imes, of Oberlin, accepts the call of the church here, and hopes to enter upon his work in October. Mr. Williams, of Talladega, who has supplied the pulpit this year, has done faithful, earnest work, but his health will not allow him to serve the church longer than till a regular pastor can be found to relieve him.

Everything, the interest of our students, the appreciation of the colored people, and the growing sympathy of the best class of the white people, as indicated in the lecture course given by prominent gentlemen to the school during the year, and by their aid to the school in other ways, points to a successful and growing work for the future.

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Flower Mission and Care for the Sick.

MISS HATTIE A. MILTON, MEMPHIS.

[The training school for nursing, at Le Moyne Institute, is doing good work, not simply in giving instruction that will fit the pupils to become intelligent and efficient nurses when they have gone to their homes, but in visiting and caring for the sick now. Under instruction from their teachers, they have done much for the sick among the poor of the city. Miss Milton tells below of the Flower Mission she started in the City Hospital.—ED. MISSIONARY.]

Yesterday I asked the girls in the sewing class to bring me flowers for the sick at the City Hospital. They were very glad of the opportunity and brought sixty bouquets of our lovely roses and some honey-suckles, I took them to the Hospital, where I met, by previous appointment, the lady-missionary among the whites, and assisted her in conducting the services in the white ward. Then we went to the colored ward, which she had not been in the habit of visiting, gave each patient a bouquet, which was very gratefully received, after which we had a short service consisting of Bible-reading, prayer and singing. We then passed through all the white wards, giving each inmate a bouquet. We came away leaving many happy hearts and smiling faces. One old colored man, who was dying when I gave him the flowers, and passed away shortly after I left, said to the nurse with his last breath, “Take these three spring-chickens” (sent to him by a friend from the country) “and give them to the teacher who gave me the flowers.” The chickens came, and I shall have an opportunity of making some of the sick ones happy with them. The girls are very much interested in working for the comfort of the poor and sick, and have asked permission to go with me on my visits. They have been making some garments for orphans, in the sewing class, and have enjoyed the work. They ask me to tell them about the poor and sick while they are sewing. I trust the Holy Spirit has touched their hearts.

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AFRICA.

* * * * *

MENDI MISSION.

MR. NATHANIEL NURSE, GOOD HOPE STATION.

We have about a mile of land connected with this station. On this the natives have built a number of “fackies” in which they live. I noticed one afternoon, as I entered one of them, a man before the front entrance; and upon going to see what he was doing, my attention was attracted to a large piece of country cloth spread outside, and in front, of the door.

I asked the man what it was there for. He could speak English, but did not want to tell me; however, when he saw that I could not be put off, he said that it was there to keep away sickness and death from their facki; that they put their trust in it as their God. I said, “Would you like me to put you on the ground, walk on you myself, and let other people do the same, too? Would you think that I liked you very much?” He said “No.” I said, “Now you say that you put your trust in this cloth to keep away sickness and death: if a person has anything, as silver or gold, which he values, he will keep it in a secure place, because he values it. Now you show how you value what you put trust in; you are walking on it yourself, and others are, too; the rains will soon come, which will cause it to rot, and then it will be thrown away.” The head woman of the facki was there, (they were without a head man, as he died only a few weeks before this,) as I spoke to this man, and another one who would explain what I said to her. I asked if this cloth was here when their head man was alive. They said it was. I added, “Then, you see, he got sick and died; this cloth was not able to save him.” They admitted it. I said, “There is nothing man can make that can be worshiped as God, neither silver nor gold, nor anything; God made all, and has made man. If you worship a tree, and say that man has not made that, God made it. He lives in Heaven, and has made man, and there is nothing that man can take in place of Him, and if you will believe that, and put your trust in Him, He will save you through His Son. If at any time you believe what I have told you, but are afraid to take away the cloth yourselves, send for me, and I will come and take it up.” They explained it to the head woman, and while I was there, they took the cloth up and threw it away. I thought it was best to have it at the Mission, as a memorial. I asked one of the men to bring it to the yard some time when he was coming that way.

The head woman of this facki now comes to our church every Sabbath, and on the first Sabbath, when she was dressed for church, she brought the cloth in her hand. The act of doing that showed that she gave up all. I was speaking that day on the long-suffering of God, and inviting sinners to accept Christ who was waiting to receive them. I said that although the heathen cannot read His word, they have a conscience, and naturally know that there is a God. In speaking about that, I referred to this case, and had one of the brethren bring the cloth into the church and show them. I exhorted them concerning the life that we should endeavor to live among these people. Many could not refrain from tears. I was much encouraged myself. I had almost given up, thinking I could not do anything, and that the Lord had not called me here. I have trouble in getting the people to church, but, when visiting them in their fackies, I have a chance to bring the truth home to them, and have made it my special duty to visit the fackies twice a week. While I cannot speak the language myself, I endeavor to avail myself of every opportunity of doing all the good I can. In many of the fackies I find some that can speak broken English, so I speak to these and ask them to tell the others what I say. Sometimes I have a chance to speak to the parents about bringing up their children, especially if I see any that are disposed to accept civilized dress, but allow their children to go anyhow, and do not even send them to school. An ordained missionary is greatly needed for the advancement of the work here.

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THE INDIANS.

* * * * *

LA POINTE AGENCY.

DR. I. L. MAHAN, U. S. INDIAN AGENT.

I have just returned from Lac Courte d’Oreille, where I have been to deliver the annual goods and supplies, and to superintend the farming operations carried on upon that reservation. Garden and field seed had been sent forward early in the season, and the farmer and assistant had progressed finely with the work. I found a larger number of Indians gathered upon the reservation than at any time since the first year I came to the agency. This is accounted for by reason of the late visit of three of their chiefs to their great father at Washington. The report had gone abroad among the roving bands that the bills had passed Congress, and they expected to meet the Indian Commissioners to counsel upon the sale of their timber, from which they believed they were to receive large sums of money.

All the roving Indians within a hundred miles had gathered, and were awaiting my arrival. I soon put their minds at rest, however, on that score, and informed them that those who helped themselves the Government would help, but no others. In looking over their patches, for their farms are in miniature as yet, they were seen to be well tended and well fenced; and as I looked upon the nearly twelve hundred Indians as they received their goods, for which the males between the ages of 18 and 45 had worked under the direction of the farmer, I could not but compare them with the same number gathered in the fall of 1873. Then they wore long hair, blankets, feathers, paint, &c.; they were dirty, filthy and almost eaten up with vermin. Now they are clean, with short hair, blankets rare, little paint, no feathers, and most of them well clothed. The dresses of the females were in the latest fashion; and many of them had on hats. The men wore clean white or colored shirts, and hats or caps. They prized the agricultural implements, hoes, rakes, scythes, plows, grub hoes, &c., all being in great demand. Some years ago they wanted blankets, beads and trinkets. They seemed delighted with the idea of a boarding-school such as we agreed upon while I was East. There was an entire absence of that domineering spirit which characterized them in ‘73. They received the goods with thankfulness. Mildness and gentleness were pictured upon every face. They respected their agent and loved the Government that dealt with them so bountifully. This is the reservation on which Mr. and Mrs. Holt commenced the work of civilization. Truly the seed was well planted, and although for years we have only been able to hold our own, now, as the times look favorable, we hope for grand results.

These are the Indians who must go to the personal care of another. I leave them with sadness, yet cherishing a grand hope of their future. I have done what I could, and hope they may fall into good hands, for the field is ripe for the harvest. Give them a good agent who understands them and will toil for them, and I have no fear. The Lac de Flambeau are much in the same condition, but the other Indians of this agency are able to care for themselves.

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THE CHINESE.

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“CALIFORNIA CHINESE MISSION.”

Auxiliary to the American Missionary Association.

PRESIDENT: Rev. J. K. McLean, D. D.
VICE-PRESIDENTS: Rev. A. L. Stone, D. D., Thomas C.
Wedderspoon, Esq., Rev. T. K. Noble, Hon. F. F. Low, Rev. I. E.
Dwinell, D. D., Hon. Samuel Cross, Rev. S. H. Willey, D. D., Edward
P. Flint, Esq., Rev. J. W. Hough, D. D., Jacob S. Taber, Esq.

DIRECTORS: Rev. George Mooar, D. D., Hon. E. D. Sawyer,
Rev. E. P. Baker, James M. Haven, Esq., Rev. Joseph Rowell, Rev.
John Kimball, E. P. Sanford, Esq.

SECRETARY: Rev. W. C. Pond. TREASURER: E. Palace,
Esq.

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SERMONS BY OUR CHINESE HELPERS.

It seemed to me that no better use could be made, this month, of the columns set apart for our Chinese Mission, than to introduce to our friends some of our Chinese helpers, by giving a sample or two of their work. Let it be remembered that they have been taken from the kitchen, and set, at once, in the missionary service; and that whatever of special training they receive, comes along with the work itself. They are assisted in the study of the Bible by the teachers with whom they serve respectively, but learn to preach, mainly, _by preaching_.

Lee Sam, in our missionary work but four months as yet, sends the following:

Matt. xxvi., 41.—Jesus says to his disciples, “Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” When we first become Christians then our own hearts are evil. It often seems much easier to do wrong than to do right; without Jesus we can do nothing. We must pray without ceasing. Jesus says, “If a man love Me he will keep My words, and My Father will love him and make Our abode with him.” Hear what He says: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me, for whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.” If we know of Jesus and His love we shall be willing to give our life that we may bring others to love Him and to accept Him as their Saviour. We must pray to Jesus to help us love the Lord our God with all our hearts, and with all our soul, and with all our mind, and love one another and keep His commandments; and we must pray that we enter not into temptation, and we may ask Him for whatever we need. We may ask Him to heal us if we are sick, to help us if we are weak; for food to eat and clothes to wear. We must ask His care when we go to bed, and His wisdom and strength when we rise in the morning to the labors and duties of another day. We must rely upon Jesus Christ as long as we live. Most of all must we beg of Him to blot out our sins and give us a new heart. If we live a life of prayer, God will love us in this life and when we die we shall have joy, and after death our souls shall be full of joy for ever and ever. We cannot live near Jesus without much prayer; but we must watch as well as pray. We have many enemies that we must watch. Our own hearts lead us away from Jesus. Jesus says: “If thy right hand offend thee, cut it off and cast it from thee, or if thy right eye offend thee pluck it out.” This means that we should part with anything, no matter how dear, if it makes us sin. We must watch our thoughts; if we know they do not please Jesus, we must put them from us. We must love only good things, and delight only in what we can have with our heart full of love to Jesus. If we know that anything will tempt us to sin, we must watch against it and keep away from it. We must not go to any place where we know Jesus would not wish us to go. We must watch our tongues that they do not speak any wrong words, and we must watch that in all that we think, in all that we say, and in all that we do, we please Jesus. “The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.” If we are true Christians, we desire more than anything else to follow Jesus. We mean to love Him always, to work for Him always, and to turn from everything that is wrong. But how many times we do not do things we mean to do, and how many times we do things that make us sorry: and we go to Jesus and we ask Him to forgive us. Our spirit is willing. In our heart, our very soul, we love Jesus, but the flesh is weak. The flesh is our sinful self, the old wicked heart, anything in this life that makes us do wrong. Sometimes we want to speak good words for Jesus. We would like to tell our brethren of His love, but we are not wise; we do not know the right words to say. “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” That is, in our own selves, without Jesus we are very weak, we cannot do anything right. But He will give the Holy Spirit to help us, so we may be strong in Him, though we are in our own selves, without His spirit, very weak. He will help us be strong to do right, and wise to say the right word.

Lena Chung, our Sacramento helper, who has been in service about one year, sends the following:

John xiii., 34. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another.”

What does this mean? Our Lord was on earth; His disciples had followed Him three years. Jesus knew His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father. The disciples had been with Him so long; they might know how to love God and follow Christ, but when their Light should go away then they would be troubled and offended because of the world. Jesus knew they would receive persecution; be cast out of the synagogues and despised and hated of men; so He gave them this new commandment that they should love one another in this world.

I. We ought to love one another. It is our duty to obey this command. Some may say: he may be a Christian, but he is not my countryman, not near to me. I am a white man, he is black, or he is a yellow man, he does not belong to my family or friends. I will not love him. It can be no sin to hate him. Not so, my friends. It hath been said, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy.” But Christ tells us: “Love your enemies and bless them which curse you.” If so, we must love all who love God, and are trying to serve and please Him, whatever their place in life.

The body has many organs. The head is upward, feet downward, hands at the sides; they must work in harmony with each other—they must love one another. So with us. There are many kinds of people in the world; but God is the Father of all, though same are in Europe, some in Asia, some in Africa and some in America. The color may be different, the figure also different; but all must work for the same object, and all must love one another as members of one body—which is Christ.

Oh, my friends, I hope you will turn to love and not hate. If any love Christ they must love all people in the world, not only those they know, but spread it wider and love all who come to Christ,

II. Love one another truly with our hearts. Paul said: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” So, then, we must love truly, honestly, and freely. “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar.” When Christ saw the people love outwardly, not with the heart, He said: “Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” We may learn from this, unless we love one another truly and honestly, we cannot get the blessing of God.

III. Love one another continually. This is like God, whose love is unchangeable. He loves us all the time, gives us our daily bread, our clothes, and all we have. He gave His only begotten Son to the world to die for us. If we hate Him, He does not hate us, but loves us still. There was once a father in China who loved his son like the precious diamond. His son did all things to dishonor his father, but his father loved him still, and would not change his love. After a time the son left his father and came to California, where he grew worse and worse; never wrote any letters to his father. At last, a friend came to California whom the father knew, and sent word by him to his son. He said: “When you meet my son please tell him for me, I love him continually. I never forget my love.” A few months after, this friend met the son. He said to him, “You are doing all things vain. The precious time is almost gone. Soon you will feel gloomy and sad. When I left home your father sent a short message to you. He said he loves you continually.” When the son heard this his face changed, his heart became like a piece of ice on the hot fire. He started at once to see his father. When he reached home, his father was so happy to see him he forgot all the wrong his son had done. The father represents the true living God; the son, the people of the world; and the friend represents Jesus Christ. The bad son leaving his father and doing wrong, is like the people of the world disobeying God and going far away from Him. God sent us word by our Saviour that He loves us continually. This word should melt our hearts and make us return to God. He will receive us joyfully and forgive us our sins.

Brethren: If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

[The third sketch, which is by Jee Gam, to whom, during his recent visit to the East, many of our readers listened with great interest, must be deferred to another issue.—ED. MISSIONARY.]

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CHILDREN’S PAGE.

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A TRIP UP THE YANG-TSE-KIANG.

REV. G. W. PAINTER.

By the last mail, I wrote that I was in Shanghai for my health. Since then, I have been up the Yang-tse-Kiang to Hankow, a distance up and back of 1,200 miles, first-class passage $8. This included board for a whole week, and it may startle you to hear that we had genuine strawberries (the first I have seen during seven years’ residence in China), which cost the steward five cash each (half a cent), and shad at a cost of $2 per pair. We always had five or six kinds of meat, and several kinds of fruit. How this could be afforded was a mystery, but to me a charming one.

The fare provoked even a sick man’s appetite, and the pure sweet river air conduced to sleep; the weather was fine, and the scenery, for one half of the route, superb. Part of the way the banks of the river were flat, and the view was cut off by tall reeds with which they were lined, but during the latter half of the upward journey the mountains rose, often abruptly from the river, not unfrequently to great heights, and it was true of some of these, what I supposed before coming to this country was true of all mountains, that they were terraced and cultivated to their summits. Much of the scenery was equal to that on the Hudson, minus the residences.

The country houses along the river are much poorer than in our Province of Hanchow, and the cities seem older and more dilapidated. The river annually overflows the low grounds from April to August, and as it often rises 50 feet above its winter level, the people build only rude huts. The missionaries at Hankow inform me that for months they are compelled to use canoes for travel on their streets. It was the busiest season (May) when I reached Hankow, which until recently was the most interior treaty port of the Empire. It is separated from Han Yang and Wa-Chang by the Yang-tse-Kiang and Han rivers, and each of them is an immense city. There are some two hundred foreigners here. The Bund (River) St. has houses only on one side, and is the finest in China. It stands 50 feet above the river, which for half a mile is faced with splendid stone masonry. It offers the busiest and most _Chinesy_ sight yet seen in this country. Fourteen steamers were lying at the wharves. There is a great rush to get the first new tea into the English market. The fleetest steamers are chartered at fabulous prices: $32 per ton is paid for transportation, and $1,600 for river pilots, on the round trip from Shanghai to Hankow and return—a trip of one week. This year the season opened on the Sabbath, some taking advantage of the fact that others were at church to begin lading. Neither heat, night, nor anything else checks the work. The Russians do the biggest business. They deal chiefly in the coarsest and poorest qualities of tea. Stem, leaf, and often extraneous matter, are ground to powder, steamed and pressed into bricks of convenient size for transportation, and these are used for money in Mongolia and Siberia.

Hankow is a filthy city. Wa-Chang is much better in this respect, has fine hills, and a lofty pagoda from which a magnificent view of the surrounding country is obtained.

I was hospitably received, not alone by the missionaries, but by many outside the mission circles, who as a rule do not show much kindness to us. I saw much of the mission work, and found that it was not given exclusively to the natives, but extended to the sailors in the various ports. Ancestral worship, which is the religion of China, is one of the chief obstacles to the reception of Christianity. A pigeon-English-speaking Chinaman to whom a zealous sister had given a book said, in answer to her question, “How did you like it?” “That book talkee fool pigeon. I no can leave father; no can leave mother.” He meant he could not cease from worshiping them.

I saw here an ancient and queer monument called the “Lamp of a thousand years.” The inscriptions on it are in Sanscrit, and have not been deciphered. Also a picture representing a miracle of like import to that of Jesus at Cana. A landlord had treated one of the _genii_ with great kindness. He rewarded him by turning his well into a wine pool. The host’s avarice was awakened, and he complained that now he had no swill for his pigs, whereupon the well gave forth water again. Hence, in characterizing an avaricious man, the Chinese say “If his well bubbled wine he would complain of a lack of swill.”

Smuggling is carried on to a great extent all along the river, opium and salt being the principal articles thus introduced. The natives employ foreigners to protect their goods, and the hands on the steamers are engaged in the work, and are skillful in all manner of tricks by which to evade duties. The whole trip was delightful and most invigorating to a sick missionary.

* * * * *

RECEIPTS

FOR JULY, 1880.

* * * * *

MAINE, $309.96.

Camden. E. D. Mansfield, $3; J. H., $1; A. H., $1 $5.00
Foxcroft and Dover. Cong. Ch. 6.60
Limington. “A Friend” 2.00
Machias. “Machias,” $10; Centre St. Cong. Ch., $6.45 16.45
North Waterford. Cong. Sab. Sch. 6.50
Portland. State St. Ch., $150; St. Lawrence St. Ch. and
Soc., $8.50 158.50
Scarborough. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 15.66
Skowhegan. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 31.75
Thomaston. Cong. Ch. 5.00
Vassalborough. ESTATE of Mrs. Mary B. Buxton, by
Samuel Titcomb, Ex. 50.00
York. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 12.50

NEW HAMPSHIRE, $354.33.

Amherst. Cong. Ch. 20.25
Bethlehem. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 3.00
Campton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 17.00
Concord. South Cong. Ch. and Soc. 54.92
Dover. S. H. F. 1.00
Exeter. “A Thank Offering” 25.00
Fitzwilliam. L. Hill 5.00
Fitzwilliam. Mrs. C. E. Gowan, _in memory of her
Mother_ 3.00
Hampstead. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $8.50; Ann M. Howard,
$5 13.50
Hanover. Religious Soc. 20.00
Lebanon. O. S. M. 1.00
Manchester. C. B. Southworth 25.00
Milford. Cong. Ch., $19.43; R. M., $1 20.43
Nashua. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 50.00
New Ipswich. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.23
New Market. T. H. Wiswall 10.00
North Hampton. Cong. Ch. and Soc., to const. MRS.
ADALINE DRAKE, L. M. 30.00
Peterborough. Union Evan. Ch. and Soc., to const. JONES
N. DODGE, L. M. 30.00
Swanzey. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.00
Temple. Cong. Sab. Sch. 10.00

VERMONT, $284.76.

Cabot. Mrs. S. S. H. 1.00
Cambridge. M. and C. Stafford, $89.98; J. G. Morse, $5;
Rev. E. Wheelock, $5; S. M. Safford, $5;
O. W. Reynolds, $3; H. Wires, $3; B. R. Holmes, $2;
J. W. T., $1; E. B. $1; M. J. M., $1 115.88
Clarendon. Mrs. N. J. Smith, to const. W. D.
SMITH, L. M. 30.00
Cornwall. Cong. Sab. Sch. 10.75
Fair Haven. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 18.38
Manchester. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 47.12
Morrisville. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $17.84;
“An Aged Friend,” $15 32.84
North Cambridge. John Kinsley 5.00
Pawlet. Mrs. Dan Blakeley 5.00
West Brattleborough. Cong. Ch. 12.44
Wilmington. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 6.35

MASSACHUSETTS, $4,517.04.

Amherst. Amherst College Ch., $61.25; Mrs. R. A. Lester,
$50; First Cong. Ch., $25 136.25
Andover. West Cong. Soc. 50.00
Ashland. Cong. Ch. and Soc., _for Student Aid,
Talladega C._ 13.25
Belchertown. Mrs. R. W. Walker 5.00
Beverly. LEGACY of Mrs. Betsey Butman, of Dane
St. Ch. to const. CARRIE T. BUTMAN, L.M. 30.00
Beverly, Dane St. Ch. and Soc. 70.15
Boston. “A Friend” 5.00
Boston Highlands. Eliot Cong. Ch., $122.60;
Immanuel Cong. Ch., $100; Mrs. Livermore, $2 224.60
Boxborough. Mary Stone 10.00
Brookline. Harvard Ch. and Soc., $112.52;—
Mrs. Seaman’s Infant Class, $50, _for Student Aid,
Talladega C._;—F. Winthrop White, $10; “A Friend,” $8 180.52
Brocton. “A Friend” 15.00
Cambridgeport. G. F. Kendall 10.00
Clinton. “A Friend” 50.00
Danvers. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 100.00
Dorchester. Village Ch. Sab. Sch., $25.10;
“E. P.” $1 26.10
East Hampton. Payson Cong. Sab. Sch. 50.00
East Somerville. Franklin St. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 52.58
East Templeton. Joel Fairbanks 5.00
Enfield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 50.00
Fitchburgh. ESTATE of Deborah B. Thurston, by J.
Baldwin, Ex. 50.00
Framingham. Plymouth Cong. Sab. Sch. 2.25
Georgetown. First Cong. Ch., _for Talladega_ 6.01
Grafton. Evan. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 41.43
Great Barrington. Mrs. J. M. Chapin 5.00
Haverhill. Centre Cong. Ch. 86.00
Hingham. Evan. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 3.23
Holliston. Cong. Ch. and Soc. $49.12; “Bible Christians
of District No. 4,” $25 74.12
Ipswich. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 25.00
Lawrence. South Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.37
Lowell. Thomas Hunt 5.00
Lynn. Central Cong. Ch. and Soc. 16.30
Marblehead. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 78.00
Mattapoisett. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.75
Medford. Mystic Cong. Ch. and Soc., $117.10; “A Lover of
the Cause,” $38 155.10
Medway. Village Ch. and Soc. 100.86
Middlefield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 48.76
Monson. Mrs. C. O. Chapin and her S. S. Class,
_for Indian Boys, Hampton Inst._ 11.00
Natick. First Cong. Sab. Sch. 50.00
Newton. Eliot Cong. Ch. and Soc. 125.00
Newton Centre. “A Friend” 10.00
Newton Highlands. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $54.17; “Willing
Hands and Cheerful Givers,” $10 64.17
North Amherst. Mrs. A. M. Smith 2.00
Northampton. “A Friend” 150.00
Norfolk. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 3.00
Oxford. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 25.49
Petersham. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 1.22
Pittsfield. South Cong. Ch. and Soc., $29;
First Cong. Ch. and Soc., $25.24 54.24
Reading. “A Friend” 5.00
Rutland. First Cong. Ch. 14.00
Salem. “A Friend” 10.00
South Boston. “H. J. B.” 1.00
South Hadley. Mt. Holyoke Sem. (ad’l) 5.00
South Weymouth. Union Cong. Ch. 108.80
Sunderland. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 60.00
Taunton. Trin. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $104.77;
Union Cong. Ch. and Soc. $12.34 117.11
Templeton. Trin. Cong. Sab. Sch. 6.27
Tolland. Rev. J. H. J. 1.00
Uxbridge. “A Friend” 2.00
Wakefield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 22.98
Watertown. Phillips Cong. Ch., $100, to const. MISS
LAURA STAFFORD GREEN, JOHN S. ABBOTT and EDWARD
STOCKIN, L. M’s; Corban Soc. of Phillips Cong. Ch.,
$18.70, ad’l, to const. MRS. C. L. WOODWORTH, L. M. 118.70
West Barnstable. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00
West Boylstown. Mrs. Polly Ames, deceased, $3; Geo. W.
Ames, $3 6.00
Westhampton. Cong. Ch. 21.00
Westminster. “A Friend” 2.00
West Newbury. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00
West Stockbridge. Rev. H. M. Hazeltine and Family 5.00
Worcester. Central Cong. Ch. 141.23
Worcester. ESTATE of Rev. M. G. Grosvenor, by
David Manning, Ex. 1,500.00
Yarmouth. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 50.00

RHODE ISLAND, $1,747.00.