Chapter II: Part 2

Our revival commenced on the Sabbath, August 15. That night there were four or five inquirers. Monday the interest increased, and Monday night there were thirty inquirers. Tuesday there were twelve or fifteen conversions. Tuesday night, 28 or 30 inquirers and three or four conversions. The number of inquirers continued to be from ten to twenty till the close of the meetings. The whole number of conversions was about 25. The congregation on the 15th was the largest, we are told, that it has ever been. Only about two-thirds of the people could get into the church, even by the closest packing. Sunday, the 22d, between the sermon in the forenoon and communion in the afternoon, we examined 23 new candidates for membership, one to be restored and two for renewing their covenants. In the afternoon they were publicly received, and more than half of them baptized. I also baptized two infants. The communion was then administered to a large number of communicants. The house was full, forenoon and afternoon. One man, 56 years old, and his wife as old, or a little older, walked ten miles Sunday morning to attend the communion. Another man walked ten miles, or over, to the meeting, both the 15th and the 22d. Three of our pupils came about 35 or 40 miles to the meeting, by rail; another, a young woman, came by private conveyance 20 miles; and another, a young man, walked 12 miles, and came forward as an inquirer. Four of the converts were members of my daughter’s Sunday-school class, a number of them were members of my class, and nearly all young people and members of our school. Two are married men. One young woman came to us by letter from the Methodist Episcopal church.

It was truly a season of refreshing from the Lord. The people held a prayer-meeting Sabbath night, the 22d. We were too tired to go out. We were told that all the non-professors in the congregation (and the house was full), except three or four, came forward for prayer.

More than a dozen bade us good-by at the depot. Seven girls walked three miles to bid us good-by. We were greatly rejoiced that Miss Douglass was with us to share in our labors and in our joys. Some of the converts are among our brightest and most advanced scholars.

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SOUTH CAROLINA.

MR J. D. BACKENSTOSE.

During my recent vacation (spent in the State of New York) the question most frequently asked me was, “Are the Freedmen as anxious to obtain an education, as they were when schools for them were first opened?”

I have answered these inquiries by relating some of my experience, and fearing lest Christians at the North have the impression that they are less eager, and so are becoming weary in aiding these poor people in their struggles for an education, I now relate it for the benefit of the readers of the MISSIONARY.

In the fall of ’73, two young men from distant part of the county came to our Institute at Greenwood, S. C., and asked permission to occupy a vacant room in the building and cook their own meals while they attended the Institute. I consented, and assisted them in furnishing the room. From the wood-shed we procured lumber for a bedstead and table, had boxes for chairs, and newspapers for window shades. They were delighted with this, and immediately wrote to their friends that there were excellent accommodations for boarders at Brewer Institute, and before the winter had fairly set in, there were nineteen men living in that room, which measured only 30×32.

Another raid was made on the wood-shed, and three more bedsteads hastily built after the pattern of the first, and on these four bedsteads the nineteen men slept four months. Part of them would retire at an early hour and sleep till midnight, then arise and let the others take their places. While some were sleeping, the others were cooking and preparing their lessons for the next day, in the same room. During all this time, I never heard a complaining word from them. Our rooms are now neatly furnished for students, and we have recently built a good frame house which is also well furnished. We have accommodations for only twenty students, and yet during a part of the past winter we had thirty-three crowded in these rooms, and even then they were unwilling that I should say we were full and could accommodate no more.

So eager are they for an education, that they are willing to live for a time on corn meal, bacon, and molasses. The former they mix with cold water, minus the eggs and butter, and, after baking, eat it with their meat, gravy, or molasses. This three times a day and seven days in a week. Tea and coffee are never on their bill of fare.

The home of two of these men was fourteen miles distant, and once in two weeks they would walk there on Friday afternoon and return on Sunday night, bringing on their shoulders provisions to last them till they should go again.

A young man, a Baptist minister, who was obliged to leave school a few weeks before the close of the term, walked sixty miles in order to be examined with his class at the close of the term.

Could ever a people be more anxious to obtain an education than these are now? Twenty-three of those who have lived and struggled in this way to obtain an education are now engaged in teaching, and have under their care over thirteen hundred pupils. We have a beautiful school building well furnished with everything but a cabinet organ, and we believe that God will put it in the heart of some good friend to send us that.

A lively interest is constantly and in various ways manifested by the people, and everything gives promise of abundant fruit in the future. If our highest hopes have not already been realized, we thank God for the progress made. May He put it into the hearts of the benefactors of this race to add to their gifts and prayers, until not only twenty-three, but ten times that number shall go out from Brewer Normal Institute, as competent instructors of thousands of their brethren now ignorant and despised.

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GEORGIA.

Anniversary of Midway Church.

REV. FLOYD SNELSON, M’INTOSH, LIBERTY CO.

Last Sabbath was a day of great interest to us as a church. It was our regular communion season, and in addition to that, we observed our anniversary for the first time, though it is six years since we organized. The other branch of the old Midway church that formed itself into a Presbyterian body, came over with its pastor, Rev. J. T. H. Waite, to share the enjoyment of the occasion with us. We find, in reviewing our history, that, including those who formed the original church, 337 persons have connected themselves with it; ten have been dismissed, fifteen have been excommunicated, and twenty-eight have gone to their eternal home; leaving 284 to continue the Christian warfare. It is true that a great many of our members occupy the two extremes in life, and are very old or very young, and consequently bring no pecuniary strength to the church. Still there is a benefit derived from both which is of infinitely greater value than mere money, though we poor mortals are in many instances unable to see it. Especially is this the case when our eyes are both bent on self. However, the young will certainly prove, in due time, a help to the church also in the way of material support. Our church edifice is still unfinished, and as there are no means of heating it it is an uncomfortable place for service during the winter. Notwithstanding the failure of crops from the drought this year, my people have resolved to do everything they can toward completing it. Will some friend come to our aid? “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again.”

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Atlanta University—An Encouraging Precedent.

The Atlanta University, at Atlanta, Ga., was one of the earliest educational institutions in this country to adopt as a text-book Dr. Richardson’s “Temperance Lesson Book,” published by the National Temperance Society. Among the recent commencement exercises of the University was a thorough examination in this admirable text-book concerning alcohol. A New England correspondent, who was present and listened to the examination, was much gratified with it. In thus leading the way in giving to its students thorough scientific instruction concerning alcohol, the Atlanta University merits the warmest commendation from all friends of temperance. It furnishes a most valuable precedent which we hope may ere long be followed by all our colleges and universities, as well as academies and public schools.

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Our correspondent writes:

“I spent most of the time in the temperance examination. They use Dr. Richardson’s text-book, and the students showed that they had been thoroughly drilled in it. Isn’t it a very admirable thing for this book to be used in that place? There are nearly three hundred students, and they all study it at some time; and with scarcely an exception these students go out into the by-ways and hedges of this and other States to teach the colored children. They teach through the vacations to earn money for the next term. Think what a leaven this is to work among the poor, ignorant creatures. They estimate that the University students reach ten thousand children during the year. I attended the graduating exercises and thoroughly enjoyed them. The essays and orations were excellent. The speaking was really eloquent. One blind-folded would never have guessed that he was listening to black students, all of whose parents were slaves only seventeen years ago. Mayor Calhoun and one of the ex-Governors were present.”

The National Temperance Society has just received the sum of seventy dollars from this Institution, money collected by its students for temperance work, and we have forwarded a large case of books, tracts and pamphlets for distribution throughout the South during the summer vacation.—_From National Temperance Advocate._

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ALABAMA.

Good Vacation Work.

REV. J. D. SMITH, SHELBY IRON WORKS.

We have just had a refreshing time here in our church from the good Lord. Shortly after that class of eight young men graduated from the Theological Department of Talladega College, Bros. Cantry, Strong and Y. B. Sims, all members of my church, came down to spend a few days at their homes with their relatives and friends before going to their fields of labor. Each of them did some faithful preaching for several evenings. It seemed at first as though we were not going to have any success, but I continued the meetings after the brethren left us, and the Lord gave us some nine or ten conversions as the result of our labors. We received ten new members into the church last night. It was one of the most interesting occasions we have ever had here. The meetings were very quiet indeed; no excitement. They were all converted through the simple preaching of the Gospel and the quiet persuasion of the spirit of Christ. There was not as much fervor among the brethren as I like to see; the Lord did the work, nevertheless, and we give all the glory to Him.

Most of the members who united with us last night were heads of families, and all of them were adults. Our church is gathering in the best material in the place. The members of the other churches say their ministers do not feed them, and they must seek for better pastures. Our church has a brighter outlook than ever before.

The Sunday-school is in a flourishing condition. The Lord is building up His Zion here. Pray for us, that we may still be refreshed from Heaven.

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Outside Work.

REV. W. H. MOORE, FLORENCE.

This has been a busy week with me, and I trust one of good to our cause, in removing false impressions, &c. I have come in contact with the masses of the people; we like each other well. Last Wednesday night I preached at Oak Grove A. M. E. Church. As we approached the meeting house, our ears were greeted with a volume of song, and the woods re-echoed with such weird strains as only our people in their unlettered state can produce. The surrounding grove was filled with horses and mules hitched to the trees. The church was packed; all seats were filled, pulpit filled, windows crowded, standing room taken, doors filled, and large numbers out of doors. There were all kinds and conditions present, from the ebony hue to the pearly white, from the infant in its mother’s lap to the octogenarian; women and men sat round the floor of the rude pulpit, and just left standing room for me to speak.

The thought of their ignorance and superstition, and the fact that fifty or more of their number were seeking the Saviour, fired my heart and mind. I preached from Matt. vi., 33, and they listened with rapt attention, while I spoke as I only could under the inspiration of such an audience and the presence of the Holy Spirit. More than twenty have decided for Christ since the Sabbath.

On my return to town, I gave a lecture on Labor—the dignity of labor, and that labor should be duly rewarded. The meeting had been well advertised and worked up by friends, so there was a good turn out, especially of working-men and women.

I think I begin to see the dawn of a bright day for our cause here. To-morrow afternoon I preach a sermon to children. It is to be our S. S. Centenary (Raikes’?) Celebration. The church will be decorated with evergreen and flowers. I shall give each one a beautiful card, a present from the Muskegon, Mich., S. S. That Sunday-school and the “Little Ones of the Bird’s Nest” of Kalamazoo, Mich., have sent us a lot of beautiful papers and cards as a memento of the day.

I have had the pleasure of carrying the word of life to the aged, infirm, and sick who cannot attend church often. I receive more comfort, I think, than I give. It did do my heart good to see a dear old aged and infirm lady rejoice and weep that she had the word brought to her. I shall see this class of God’s poor as often as I can. I do enjoy the pastoral and pulpit work; would that I might do it better. It is my only ambition to become a faithful and successful minister of Jesus Christ.

To-day Mr. Alex. Jones, Sr., and I attended a large country gathering ten miles west of Florence. The crops are unusually large this year. We noticed on our way large farms of golden corn and fields of blooming cotton, which will soon be changed into snowy whiteness. This is a holiday with the farmers, who have laid by their crops and are now hopefully awaiting the harvest time. They have an annual picnic at Bethlehem Church. Two hours of the morning and two of the afternoon are devoted to speeches. The audience was large and appreciative. I spoke an hour, and received several “Amens,” “That’s so,” and “Tell it, brother.” Then followed the hand-shaking, good words, &c., when I had finished. I enjoyed it royally, and trust I did some good.

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MISSISSIPPI.

Tougaloo University—Its Location, Work, Equipments, Success and Needs.

REV. G. STANLEY POPE.

The immediate surroundings of Tougaloo University are, perhaps, the most beautiful of any of our schools. At the same time it has seemed for the past three years to be a very healthful location. The school has been unusually full during the past year, and the work in the school-room has been most thorough. I have had associated with me a very competent and willing corps of workers. Their work has been every thing I could ask for. We attempt to give only a thorough, practical _Normal_ training in our school, feeling that this meets the present necessities of the colored people of our State. We are willing to take the rough stone from the quarry and put on the heavy, telling strokes of the _builder_, and leave the more artistic strokes of the sculptor to be given by some of our sister institutions. A peculiar and interesting feature of our school-room work is the study of the Bible in the class-room. This is done to give a special preparation for Sunday-school work.

We have sufficient apparatus for illustrating physics, but beyond this we are poorly supplied with school-room conveniencies. We have but a limited supply of models, maps and charts, while our library consists mostly of Congressional documents.

A peculiar feature of the work at Tougaloo is the training given the students in gardening, farming, stock-raising and housework. Already the shipment of strawberries to the Chicago market is proving a rich remuneration to student labor. Our clover field is a wonder to the students and neighboring planters, and our fine blooded cattle not much less of a surprise. These industries are opening up new avenues of livelihood as well as usefulness to our students. Many of our young women have been but field hands, so that the work about the house and in the sewing room is a new kind of labor to them.

We have been able to do nothing, comparatively, in the church work. No churches have been organized as the outgrowth of our school. There are communities ripe for such work if we only had the means to carry it on. There are points along the lines of railroad that could be supplied by students if we only had a theological class to put to work in organizing and carrying on church work. We have not neglected the Sunday-school work because we have not been able to do all that we have wanted, but have visited schools and held some conventions. The influence of these conventions is being felt in the surrounding country.

The exodus affects our school but little thus far. The effect of the movement upon the colored people themselves has not been such as to warrant us in encouraging it in any way. Many of the patrons of our school have secured small farms and are in a way to give their families a fair education. Our school is becoming more widely known and its influence more powerfully felt. Parents came two hundred miles to see their sons graduate last June. Applications have been crowding in upon us for accommodations next year.

Our buildings are far from supplying our necessities. We have comfortable accommodations for sixty-four boarders, and some of the time we have had one hundred and eight. We have unfinished and merely temporary rooms for thirty others, but instead of one hundred boarders we ought to have two hundred, and might readily have if we but had rooms.

During the year we had a most precious revival, embracing nearly all in our normal and preparatory departments. Our work seems limited only by the lack of means to furnish room for those desirous of coming.

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THE INDIANS.

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S’KOKOMISH AGENCY—FIELD AND WORK.

REV. MYRON EELLS.

I propose to give some idea of the extent and character of my “parish,” and of the kind of work we are attempting to do.

1st. In the S’kokomish Reservation. Here are seven English-speaking families, and a school of from twenty-five to thirty scholars at the Agency, and about two hundred Indians in the vicinity. Besides pastoral work, I hold a service every Sabbath morning in Indian. Once a month, in the absence of the pastor, one of the lay members of the church takes his place. This congregation averages seventy. In the afternoon, the Agent and employees carry on the Sabbath-school with an average attendance of fifty-eight. Twice a month I preach in the evening in English to a congregation of employees and scholars, which averages about thirty-five. On Thursday evening the regular church prayer meeting is held, at which the male members take their turns in leading. Occasionally I meet the school-children and apprentices, generally once in a week or so, for some kind of an informal meeting.

2d. Three miles from the Agency is a small place, Union City, consisting of a store, hotel, saloon and five families, and a number of transient loggers. I can give them one evening a month without neglecting regular duties. The average attendance is about twenty-five on public worship and eighteen on Sabbath-school, the latter of which the ladies of the place keep up most of the time when I am not present.

3d. Thirty miles North is Seabeck, a saw-mill town of two or three hundred people, where I have charge of a small church organized last May. I generally visit them about once a month. There is a Sabbath-school which the church sustains for the Indians, about thirty of whom live there, gaining their support mainly by work in the mill—two of them being members of our church.

4th. Twenty miles further on is Port Gamble, a large milling town, which has a minister of its own, but near it are about a hundred Indians who belong to our Agency, most of whom are Catholics, but who receive me cordially when I go there, two or three times a year.

5th. Forty miles still further is Dunginess, a flourishing Indian colony, named Jamestown, which is the centre of an Indian population of about one hundred and forty. I generally visit them twice a year. Six of our church members live here; they have a small church built by themselves, a day school, and I also preach to them sometimes. They sustain a weekly prayer meeting most of the time, the only one in the county which has a white population of over six hundred, and they likewise have the only church building in this county, organized twenty-six years ago.

6th. Six miles from Jamestown is Sequim, a village of about forty Indians, most of whom are aged and infirm. These are tributary to Jamestown, sending their children to that school, some of whom travel the whole distance twice each school day, and also on the Sabbath.

7th. Between Port Gamble and Jamestown is Port Discovery, another saw-mill town, where nearly forty Indians make their home, whom I generally call to see on my journeys; but so much whisky is sold near them that it has been almost impossible to stop their drinking; they also live in a somewhat scattered condition, which makes it difficult to make any permanent religious impression on them.

8th. Once a year I calculate to go still farther; and twenty miles beyond Jamestown is Port Angelos, with about thirty nominal Indian residents. But few of them are settlers, and like those of Port Discovery they are diminishing.

9th. Seven miles further is Elkwa, with about seventy Indians. It has been the home of one of the most influential bands in years past, but owing to the fact that there have been but few white settlers from whom the Indians could obtain work, they have hitherto done very little about cultivating the soil for themselves; and as they could easily go across the straits to Victoria in British Columbia, where there is but little restraint in regard to their procuring whisky, because they are American Indians, they have been steadily losing in influence and numbers. Four families of them have “homesteaded” land, however, and others, moved by their example and success, are taking the preparatory steps to secure homes; but being scattered, and most of them back from the water, as it is now impossible to homestead good land on the beach, they will lose the benefits of school and church in a great measure; but still the old way of herding together will be broken up, and they will obtain more of their living from civilized pursuits.

10th. Thirty miles still further is Clallam Bay, the limit of the Indians belonging to our reservation, the home of some seventy more. Within a year they have bought about a hundred and sixty acres of land, and propose to follow somewhat the plan of the Jamestown Indians. This place promises to be an important point, as it is near a salmon cannery, and in the catching of salmon they are at home; it is also the nearest station of the tribe to the sea fisheries of the northwest coast of the Territory, by far the most lucrative business, in its season, which the Indians can follow.

Then there is call for work among the whites. In Clallam county, with its more than six hundred inhabitants, there is no resident minister, and I am repeatedly asked to preach to them, but can only give them a sermon during some hours of the Sabbath when I am not talking to Indians. In Mason county, here I live, with six hundred more people, I am the only resident minister, and call after call comes which I cannot in justice to the work of the A. M. A., answer; but I shall try shortly to give them a fifth Sabbath in the month.

Fourteen miles from Seabeck is another settlement where there has never been a sermon preached in the fifteen years of its existence, and four times, one young man, not a Christian, has asked me to go there, even offering to carry me over fifty miles in his boat. These are small places, with scattered people, and probably small congregations, yet it is hard to resist their appeals. If there were two Sabbaths every week I sometimes think I could manage the field better.

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Sisseton Agency, D. T.

CHARLES CRISSEY, U. S. IND. AGT.

This Agency has been established about ten years; the people are Wahpeton and Sisseton Sioux Indians; some were in the outbreak of 1862–3 as hostiles, but a large per cent, as friendly Indians. Most of them wore the Indian dress of cloth and skins, and lived in tepees.

They now dress entirely in citizen’s clothing, and live in log-houses, some with shingled roofs and board floors; most of them with dirt roofs and floors. The number of houses built of logs is 220, and 15 frame. There are five organized churches with a membership of 416 Indians and ten whites. Two of the churches are building new frame buildings, 28 × 50 ft. and 20 × 30 ft., respectively.

There are about 4,025 acres under cultivation; there was broken of new ground during the spring, 1,055 acres. There was raised last year about 17,000 bushels of wheat and oats, with a little barley. The estimated crop this year will be 25,000 bushels. The Indians have bought without Government aid, during the last three seasons, 16 reapers, 8 fanning-mills, and 4 sulky horse-rakes; one has purchased a self-binder.

Many of them are able to do such work as an ordinary carpenter or blacksmith does. We have built three frame houses and have two more nearly completed. I depend on Indians as help in running our threshing machines, engines at our at steam-mills, caring for our horses, and have employed no extra white help, other than one white man to oversee each department, since April 1st, 1879.

The largest crop raised by any one Indian last year, was 573 bushels of wheat and oats, two others raising nearly as much. We have threshed for one only this season, and he had 1,500 bushels of oats. We have distributed to those who have never been supplied with teams previous to June last, to work with, 95 yoke of work cattle, with plows, yokes, chains, harrows, etc. The only way they had to supply themselves previous to June last, was by yoking the beef cattle and using them, thus depriving themselves of fresh beef; and when an Indian does that, it is a good sign that he is well on the road to civilization.

There are three schools, two Government and one mission; 7 teachers, five Government and two mission.

The number of scholars attending one month or more during the year is 104; number attending boarding schools, 78; number attending day school, 26; number of months which school has been maintained during the year, 10; average attendance during that time, 81. Largest average attendance during any one month, 100; about 25 of the 78 boarding scholars attended the mission school, the Government furnishing the same with most of the clothing and rations; both Government and Mission Boarding schools have been well maintained and successfully managed, the scholars showing marked improvement during the past year, and the parents much more interest than ever before.

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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. Palache, Esq.

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SERMON BY JEE GAM.

[The MISSIONARY of last month contained sermons by two of our Chinese helpers of the California mission, with a promise of one this month from Jee Gam.

These come to us, unrevised, in the handwriting of their authors, which, for beauty and legibility, excites the wish that all our correspondents were converted Chinamen. These sermons give, as perhaps in no other way open to our readers, an idea of what can be done in this work of imparting spiritual truth to this class of heathen minds, and the adaptation of these men to be its heralds to their own people. Lack of room compels the omission of the first part of the sermon, in which is answered the question, “What is this faith?” Our extract begins with the account of Moses’ faith, under the second head, “What has faith done?”—ED. MISS.]

Heb. 10:38. “Now the just shall live by faith.” 2d. What has this faith done?

By faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. In a worldly sense, one may say he was the most foolish man in the world; for if he had remained and accepted the offer he would have been King of Egypt, as Pharaoh had no son. He would have had great power; he would have lived in the finest palace of Egypt; he would have had all the riches, comfort, pleasure, honor and glory he chose to have; but by faith he saw and knew all these were things which would vanish away like vapor. Besides these, I venture to say that Moses must have been utterly disgusted with the idolatry of that people. He knew in his own conscience that it was wrong and against God to worship any idol, bull, cow, or cat, all of which were gods in Egypt. On the other hand he knew that the Lord was his God, and that he has millions of times more riches and honor than Pharaoh had. So he regarded not the low station of being a Hebrew; neither cared he for being poor, despised, oppressed and persecuted, for he counted all these trials as nothing compared with the blessings of God which were to come. At any rate, he preferred and did choose to be on the side of God, rather than on the side of the Egyptians. By faith he wrought many wonders in Egypt; by faith he led his people across the Red Sea; by faith the many battles were fought and won on the way to Canaan. By faith Daniel prayed continually three times a day when he knew that there had been a decree against him; yet he cared not for the consequence of violating that law. He knew that it was far better and more important to obey the commands of his God than the corrupt decree of the King, even if he should be cast into the den and torn to pieces by the terrible beasts.

And now let us come down to a later period, and see how by faith the disciples of Christ worked many miracles. Still later we find that Luther by faith broke away from the monastery and preached Christ as he then thought He ought to be preached, not fearing any dangers that were to come. When he was summoned by the Council at Worms to answer its charges, he said to his friends, “I will go to Worms, if there are as many devils as there are tiles.” And by faith he was protected and saved. And now look at the present century, and see what the faith of Christian people has done for Japan and China. Fifty years ago, I believe, there was not a single Protestant Chinese Christian in that vast empire; but just see how many there are now—over thirteen thousand, besides the many thousands who have been Christianized abroad. And by faith I venture to say right here that, China will, before long, become a Christian country, and rank high when compared with all her sister nations.

3d. Can every man have this faith, be he white, black, red or yellow? Yes. The beggar can have it as well as the king. The poor can have it as well as the rich; and the negro, the Indian and the Chinaman.

4th. Of what benefit is it? It makes us see our own sinfulness and weakness. It tells us to look to God for forgiveness and for strength. It assures us that our sins have been pardoned, and the promises of God make us sure of our reward in Heaven. It makes us have more confidence in God and in His Son Jesus. It gives us hope that we shall see not only God, but all who have had this faith and are now in heaven. It gives us patience, peace, hope, comfort, joy and anxiety of heart to do God’s will, and to lead people to Christ. Without faith we cannot please God, nor can we go to him in prayer. It is the foundation of Christian life. It justifies us, and, being justified, we live and shall live forever.

5th. What are we called if we have this faith? The just. The born again of the Holy Spirit; the forgiven; the justified ones; those who have faith in God; the Christians. So then we are called just, not by works, but by faith. Nevertheless, faith can never be without works; faith is the companion of works; they can never be parted. For instance, Luther, although he exalted faith, yet acted it right out with works.

Think of Paul, how he by faith suffered many persecutions; how he labored in prison as well as out of prison, and bore much fruit. “Faith without works is dead.”

6th. Have we this faith? Have all men it? Alas! Let us consider how many in this sinful world have not this faith; how many have never heard of it; how many have willfully refused to take it when it was so kindly and so lovingly presented to them. Oh, how sad! for without this faith they are the enemies of God, and they shall be condemned. Though in this world they may have all riches, comforts, respect, and much honor in the sight of men, in the eye of God they are “Weighed in the balance and found wanting.”

But those who have this faith will have Heaven, and they shall live by the blessings derived therefrom, both in this world and in the world to come.

7th. Brethren and friends, let us get faith; for it is the greatest blessing to us. If we have it, let us live by it; for it is the most vital and most wholesome food our souls can have. Let us hold fast to it. Let us exercise it so as to promote the happiness of men to the saving of their souls. Let us exercise it so as to magnify the love of God, and His Son Jesus Christ.

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CHILDREN’S PAGE.

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CHINESE AND CHINESE CUSTOMS.

The longer you live in China and the better you know the people, the greater do your wonder and amazement increase. Their superstitions are as numerous almost as your thoughts. Their religious customs are so many and intricate, that they make burdens for the people more grievous to bear than those the Pharisees laid upon the Jews. They spend as much money on those, to us, useless and silly customs—ten times as much, I fully believe—as we Christians spend on the Gospel. A rich man, I am told, recently spent on the building of a paper house, which was burnt, for the use of the spirit of the head of the family who had died, and on the ceremonies connected with it, $10,000 in hard cash.

This is a large sum of money to spend on paper to be burnt simply in what, to us, seem perfectly ridiculous rites. But that is only a tithe of the money spent by such a family, on this religion, which God hates. These people believe that every man has three spirits. When he dies, one spirit goes to hell, the second dwells in the grave, and the third by due ceremonies is invited to take up its residence in a wooden tablet, on which his name is inscribed. This tablet is kept in the house, and the worship of it is the ancestral worship, which is the last thing a Chinaman will give up.

No later than yesterday we had a good example of the ceremony for the dead of which I have spoken. This is the case of a Chinaman born in Penang, whose wife died in the latter part of last year, but the ceremonies for providing for her comfort in Hades were not performed till yesterday. He should have performed these services several months ago, according to the proper custom, and was very much blamed by the Chinese for having delayed. He told me the secret of the business, however. He did not believe in the thing, as he said, but his wife’s mother was near at hand and all her relations, and because he was going to neglect the matter apparently, they began to give him trouble. For peace, therefore, he made the preparations. In the meantime, the body of his wife was still in the house in the coffin. A Chinese coffin is thick and air-tight—at least, no smell escapes from the decaying body, which sometimes is kept for years in the house or in a temple. This man was not a rich man, but was in good circumstances.

He prepared a house about twelve feet square, built of bamboo and paper, most beautifully and carefully finished, the painting on it representing brick, stone, marble, and woods of different kinds. Silver and gold leaf were used profusely; fruits and trees in relief, and figures of all shapes. Inside the house, which was, by the way, beautifully furnished with miniature furniture, reclined the lady of the house, to represent his wife, on a handsome couch. In the house were all the household utensils and everything indicative of wealth. At the door was a handsome sedan chair, and four coolies standing by, ready at her call. Around her were men and women servants in figures about eight inches high, some engaged in one work, some in another. Some were preparing rice, some baking, some washing clothes, some cleaning rice with a fanning mill. All was most tastefully and elegantly made up.

Before this house on a table were spread out all kinds of provisions—a little pig roasted, whole chickens, ducks, &c., &c. The heads of these all pointed toward the place where the woman sat. It is, by the way, a Chinese custom, to point the head of an animal, cooked, at the guest to whom you wish to show honor.

Outside and over the door of the house, and extending across the whole front, was an elaborate framework of bamboo, covered with gilt paper. This was supposed to represent the grounds before the house, and there were dozens of little figures, all representing the lady’s retainers—some as soldiers, runners, tradesmen, &c. And why all these things? For the comfort and use of the spirit in hell, to mitigate her torments by providing her with comforts. All these things cost about $40 or $50.

In another room, the ceremonies in connection with this were performed. Here was a table covered with priestly symbols, food, liquor, candles, and peculiar priestly appliances. About the table stood three Buddhist priests, and sitting on benches were four men with drum, cymbals and horns. For two days nearly they kept up incessantly the most fearful din, reading and howling at the top of the voice. Every now and then, the priests would perform a sort of dance. On the walls were hung large pictures of the torments practised in hell—most hideous pictures of pulling out men’s tongues and eyes, and tortures you would hardly think men capable of imagining. The little children of the dead woman were there, clothed in coarse sack-cloth, and kept busy taking part in the ceremonies, directed by the priests. In the place where the house was they would come in and bow down to the ground several times to their mother. The father stood by, looking on like one troubled and ashamed of the horrid nuisance, as he evidently thought it to be. In the morning, the whole thing was taken out and set on fire, and thus spirited away to the spiritual regions for the use of the poor woman.—_From Presbyterian Record, Canada._

* * * * *

RECEIPTS

FOR AUGUST, 1880.

* * * * *

MAINE, $351.70.

Andover. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $5; Rev. S. W.
Pearson, $5 $10.00
Bangor. First Cong. Ch. 27.50
Bath. Central Cong. Ch., $56.10; Winter St.
Cong. Ch. and Soc., $35.50; Eliza Bowker, $2 93.60
Brewer. M. Hardy, $50 to const. MRS. EUGENIE
L. BECKWITH, L. M.; First Cong. Ch., $8, and
Sab. Sch. $8 66.00
Brunswick. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 25.00
Castine. Rev. A. E. Ives 2.00
Falmouth. First Cong. Ch. 20.00
Farmington. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 12.00
Garland. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 6.00
Gorham. Cong. Ch., ($2 of which bal. to const.
MISS REBECCA WATERS, L. M) 25.40
Hampden. Mrs. R. S. Curtis 5.00
Portland. “Mrs. A. L. M.” 25.00
Skowhegan. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.20
Standish. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 3.50
Warren. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 12.00
Waterford. Mrs. S. C. Hersey 1.50
West Bath. Isaiah Percy, $3; Beulah B. Percy,
$2 5.00
Windham. Cong. Ch. 7.00

NEW HAMPSHIRE, $338.02.

Antrim. Individuals, _for Mag._ 15.00
Claremont. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $38.35; MRS. E.
L. GODDARD, $30, to const. herself L. M. 68.35
Concord. Alma J. Herbert, $3.50; Others,
$1.50; “A Widow,” $5 10.00
East Jaffrey. Eliza A. Parker 20.00
Goffstown. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 50.61
Hebron. Rev. J. B. C. 1.00
Henniker. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 20.00
Hinsdale. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.43
Keene. First Cong. Sab. Sch. 35.50
Lebanon. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.00
Orford. “A Friend” 5.00
Pembroke. Cong. Ch., $26.47; Mrs. Mary W.
Thompson, $5; Prof. Isaac Walker, $5 36.47
Rochester. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 18.11
Stoddard. Rev. B. Southworth 10.00
Winchester. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 34.55

VERMONT, $1,124.79.

Barnet. “A Friend” 3.00
Bridport. Cong. Sab. Sch. 6.50
Charlotte. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 76.50
Chelsea. ESTATE of Dea. Samuel Douglass, by
Edward Douglass, Ex. 750.00
Coventry. Mrs. S. P. Cowles 5.00
Cornwall. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 29.78
Georgia. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00
Greensborough. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $2.50; Rev.
Moses Patten and family, $15 17.50
Middlebury. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 20.44
Newbury. Mrs. E. F. 1.00
Saint Albans. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 86.34
Shelburn. “A Friend,” adl. to const. J. K.
DAVIS, L. M. 15.00
Springfield. Cong. Ch. by Rev. T. M. Boss 15.00
Swanton. Ladies’ “Home Circle” of Cong. Ch. 5.00
Thetford. John Lord (aged 98) 2.00
Waterbury. Cong. Ch. and Soc. to const. BURTON
H. HUMPHREY, L. M. 30.00
Wells River. George Leslie 5.00
West Enosburgh. H. Fassett 5.00
Westford. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.00
West Westminster. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $26.46,
and Sab. Sch. $7.27 33.73

MASSACHUSETTS, $4,666.06.

Alford. Rev. J. Jay Dana, to const. TENNIE L.
CONVERSE, L. M. 30.00
Andover. ESTATE of Peter Smith 500.00
Andover. South Cong. Ch. and Soc. in part, 200.00
Attleborough. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 127.71
Boston. Mrs. Henry H. Hyde 50.00
Boston Highlands. Miss E. Davis 25.00
Bradford. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 36.40
Braintree. First Ch. and Soc. 14.27
Campello. Sarah Packard 49.16
Chelsea. E. T. S. 1.00
Chesterfield. Mrs. Edward Clarke 5.00
Curtisville. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 19.00
Danvers. Maple St. Ch. and Soc. 58.65
East Wareham. M. F. &. J. H. Martin 10.00
Everett. E. H. Evans 5.00
Fall River. “A Friend” 1.00
Falmouth. First Ch. and Soc. 38.50
Fitchburg. Rev. and Mrs. J. M. R. Eaton 10.00
Foxborough. Orthodox Cong. Ch. and Soc. 30.07
Holliston. Mrs. R. R. W., $1; Ladies’ Benev.
Soc. of Cong. Ch. Bbl. of C., _for Savannah,
Ga._, by Mrs J. A. Johnson, Sec. 1.00
Holyoke. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 18.09
Hubbardston. “A Friend” 10.00
Gardner. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 40.00
Greenfield. Second Cong. Ch. 53.22
Ipswich. First Ch. and Soc. 28.19
Lawrence. Lawrence St. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 127.00
Lee. Cong. Sab. Sch. 75.00
Littleton. Orth. Ch. and Soc. 14.60
Lowell. ESTATE of E. S. Hunt by George F.
Richardson, Ex. 500.00
Marshfield. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 45.43
Merrimack. Ladies of Cong. Ch. 9.00
Middleton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00
Millbury. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 57.95
Mittineaque. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.82
Newburyport. Belleville Ch. and Soc., $37.20;
Whitefield Cong. Ch. and Soc., $17.73; Miss
Bassett, $5 59.93
Newton Centre. “A Friend” $40; C. L. H., 50c 40.50
Northampton. “A Friend” 150.00
North Abington. Reuben Loring, _for addition
to school building, Fayetteville, Ark._ 5.00
North Andover Depot. F. D. F. 1.00
North Brookfield. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 50.00
North Wilmington. L. F. M. 1.00
Palmer. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 9.40
Plainfield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 12.00
Pittsfield. James H. Dunham 25.00
Quincy. Cong. Ch. and Soc., Mon. Con. Coll. 18.00
Randolph. Miss A. W. Turner 10.00
Rochester. Cong. Sab. Sch. 17.00
Royalston. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 114.10
South Amherst. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 7.00
South Egremont. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 25.00
South Weymouth. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc., to
const. CHARLES MERRILL and FRANCIS TORREY,
L. M.’s 51.00
Springfield. ESTATE of George Merriam, by
Henry S. Lee, Ex. 1,000.00
Springfield. “M,” $500; South Cong. Ch. and
Soc., $43.25; First Cong. Ch. and Soc.,
$38.84 582.09
Sturbridge. ESTATE of M. A. Bullock, by M. L.
Richardson 50.00
Sturbridge. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 42.77
Taunton. Union Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.73
Templeton. “A Friend” 2.00
Tolland. Rev. C. J. 1.00
Walpole. M. G. 1.00
Ware. “A Friend” 10.00
Webster. Cong. Ch. 15.00
West Boylston. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 22.00
Westfield. H. Holland, M. D. 3.00
Whately. Cong. Ch. 16.47
Wilmington. J. Skilton 5.00
Williamstown. First Cong. Ch. 50.00
Worcester. Union Ch., $32.01; G. M. P., $1. 33.01
——. “A Thank Offering” 20.00

RHODE ISLAND, $4.00.

Little Compton. Ezra Wilbur, $2; G. A. G., $1. 3.00
Slatersville. W. P. 1.00

CONNECTICUT, $3,998.30.

Abington. S. C. 1.00
Berlin. MISS HARRIET N. WILCOX _for Woman’s
Work for Women_, and to const. herself L. M. 30.00
Brooklyn. First Trin. Ch. and Soc. 39.00
Cromwell. BEQUEST of Miss Roxana K. Porter, by
Rev. G. S. F. Savage 100.00
Derby. First Cong. Ch. 17.00
East Lyme. Cong. Ch. 5.24
Greenwich. Miss Sarah Mead 50.00
Greenfield Hill. Cong. Ch. 13.08
Goshen. Cong. Sab. Sch. 31.32
Guilford. Mrs. Lucy. E. Tuttle. 100.00
Hadlyme. Richard E. Hungerford, $100; Jos. W.
Hungerford, $100; Cong. Sab. Sch., $11.18;
Cong. Ch., $8. 219.18
Hampton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 21.73
Hartford. Mrs. John Olmsted 30.00
Higganum. Selden Gladwin 5.00
Lebanon. Mrs. L. Hebard 2.00
Meriden. Sab. Sch. of First Cong. Ch. to
const. HOMER A. CURTIS, L. M. 75.00
Middletown. Member First Cong. Ch. 5.00
Mt. Carmel. Cong. Ch. 28.51
Naugatuck. Cong. Ch. 100.00
New Britain. South Cong. Ch., semi-annual
contribution, $72.55;--Levi S. Wells, $40
for _Straight U._ 112.55
New London. “TRUST ESTATE of Henry P. Haven” 500.00
Norfolk. Mary, Belle and Alice Eldridge _for
books for Theo. Student, Fisk U._ 30.00
North Stonington. D. R. Wheeler 10.00
North Woodstock. Cong. Ch. 25.00
Norwich. ESTATE of Mrs. Emily H. Mansfield, by
A. T. Converse, Ex. 1,800.00
Norwich. First Cong. Ch. ($5 of which _for T.
C. and N. Inst._) 140.00
Putnam. Second Cong. Sab. Sch., _for ed. of an
Indian boy, Hampton N. and A. Inst._ 15.00
Rockville. Mrs. A. Martin, B. A. Chapman and
Mrs. A. B. Martin 5.00
Rocky Hill. Cong. Ch. 11.54
Salem. Cong. Ch. 6.00
South Britain. Cong. Ch. and Soc., to const.
H. P. DOWNES, L. M. 37.53
Stafford Springs. F. S. 0.50
Terryville. Cong. Ch., $233.60, to const. WM.
H. GRISWOLD, LEVI BASSETT, GEORGE F.
BUSHNELL, MR. O. D. HUNTER and MRS. VALERIA
TERRY, L. M.’s; Elizur Fenn and Mrs. Elizur
Fenn, $5 ea. 243.60
Thomaston. Cong. Soc. 12.30
Wapping. Cong. Ch., to const. DEA. JOHN ALDEN
COLLINS, L. M. 30.00
Washington. Mrs. Rebecca Hine, to const.
FREDERIC P. POND, L. M. 30.50
Westville. Cong. Ch. 20.00
Wethersfield. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 45.42
Wilton. Cong. Ch. 19.34
Wolcottville. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 20.96
——. “A Friend” 10.00

NEW YORK, $971.47.

Bergen. ESTATE of I. M. Hitchcock, by A. E.
Hitchcock, Ex. 40.00
Binghamton. J. D. Wells 7.00
Brooklyn. Tompkins Av. Cong. Ch., $33.91; Mrs.
Lewis Tappan, $10; Professor E. P. Thwing, $5 48.91
Camillus. Isaiah Wilcox 30.00
Clifton Springs. Rev. W. W. Warner, $10; Mrs.
Mary M. Chester, $5 15.00
Coxsackie. P. H. Silvester 10.00
Dansville. Mrs. D. W. Noyes 2.00
East Wilson. Rev. H. Halsey, $30; C. M. Clark,
$3 33.00
Eaton. Cong. Ch. 18.20
Eden. H. McNett 2.00
Gaines. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $29.79; and Sab.
Sch. $2.07 to const. ADAM P. VROMAN, L. M. 31.86
Leeds. “Beth” 5.00
New Lebanon. Presb. Cong. Ch. 7.50
New York. “Santa Claus,” $100; J. S. Holt,
$10; “S. J. W.,” $2 112.00
Nyack. John W. Towt 50.00
Ovid. D. W. K. 0.50
Poughkeepsie. Mrs. Margaret Jane Myers 25.00
Randolph. Mrs. T. A. C. Everett 2.00
Rensselaer Falls. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00
Rome. Rev. Wm. B. Hammond, bbl. of Books and
Pamphlets.
Schenectady. Mrs. Anna W. Viney 5.50
Utica. Mrs. Sarah H. Mudge 15.00
Warsaw. L. H. H. 1.00
—— “A Friend” 500.00

NEW JERSEY, $33.00.

Boonton. Mrs. N. T. J. 2.00
Irvington. Mrs. W. H. C. 1.00
New Brunswick. I. P. Langdon 10.00
Newfield. Rev. Charles Willey 10.00
Parsippany. Mrs. Jane W. Ford 10.00

PENNSYLVANIA, $105.00.

New Milford. H. A. Summers 5.00
Troy. Chas. C. Paine ($50 of which _for Indian
M._) 100.00

OHIO, $256.46.

Canfield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 18.68
Cincinnati. Vine St. Cong. Ch. 40.67
Cortland. Cong. Ch. 4.25
Cuyahoga Falls. Cong. Ch. 8.42
Delaware. Rev. John H. Jones 10.00
Gambier. James S. Sawer 5.00
Greenwich Station. W. M. Mead 5.00
Harmar. Cong. Ch. 5.00
Hicksville. “A Friend” 10.00
Newark. Plymouth Cong. Ch. 7.00
Norwalk. First Cong. Ch. 14.00
Oberlin. J. W. Merrill, $40; First Cong. Ch.,
$32.22; W. G. B., 50c. 72.72
Ravenna. Howard Carter 10.00
Willoughby. Miss Mary P. Hastings 10.00
Windham. First Cong. Ch. 35.72

INDIANA, $64.27.

Michigan City. Cong. Ch. 56.27
Winchester. L. O. Ward, $4.50; Lydia Maxwell,
$2.50; C. W. O., $1 8.00

ILLINOIS, $2,339.98.

Buda. Cong. Ch. 24.00
Bunker Hill. J. W. B. 0.50
Canton. First Cong. Ch. $82.08; Cong. Ch., $22 104.08
Chicago. First Cong. Ch., $736.15; Lincoln
Park Ch., $29.55; New Eng. Ch., Mon. Coll.,
$15.62 781.32
Elgin. S. N. Campbell 5.00
Galesburg. Mrs. E. T. Parker 10.00
Granville. Cong. Ch. 31.00
Homer. Cong. Ch. 14.50
Joy Prairie. Cong. Ch. to const. LYMAN L.
PRATT, L. M. 34.15
Kewanee. Ladies of Cong. Ch., $25.38; “The
Gleaners” of Cong. Ch., $12.81, _for Lady
Missionary Liberty Co., Ga._ 38.19
Lee Centre. ESTATE of Martin Wright 1,000.00
La Harpe. Cong. Ch. 20.50
Metamora. Individuals, Collected by A. C. Rouse 20.00
Morrison. Cong. Ch. 25.00
Newark. Horace Day 6.00
Paxton. J. B. Shaw 5.00
Peru. First Cong. Ch. 13.80
Princeton. Mrs. P. B. Corss 12.00
Rockford. Second Cong. Ch. 113.64
Roseville. Cong. Ch., to const. MRS. SARAH C.
ELDRED, L. M. 33.00
South Danville. Cong. Ch. 12.00
Waukegan. Young Ladies Miss. Soc., _for Lady
Missionary, Mobile, Ala._ 10.00
Waverly. Cong. Sab. Sch. 16.30
Winnebago. N. F. Parsons 10.00

MICHIGAN, $390.51.

Alpena. First Cong. Ch. 75.75
Ann Arbor. Cong. Ch., Semi Annual Coll. 30.00
Calumet. Cong. Ch. 120.72
Charlotte. First Cong. Ch., $30;--E. Pray, $5;
R. C. Jones, $3, _for Talladega C._ 38.00
Grand Rapids. Mrs. E. G. Furness 5.00
Hancock. First Cong. Ch. 42.92
Homer. Mrs. C. C. Everts 5.00
Port Huron. First Cong. Ch. 37.50
Union City. First Cong. Ch. 35.62

WISCONSIN, $204.45.