Book: The American Missionary, Vol. 43, No. 8, August, 1889
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Various >> The American Missionary, Vol. 43, No. 8, August, 1889
The day following was variously occupied, but in the evening we were all
at the Mission House again. The lessons were given, and then the table
was spread for the celebration of the Lord's Supper. Then came the
preaching, with Yong Jin interpreting, sentence by sentence. The
topic--the Shepherd seeking his lost sheep, followed by the story of the
prodigal son. One could not have asked a more attentive audience. The
presence and work of the Spirit were unmistakable. At length, a little
after nine, Yong Ack appeared. He had been over that road three times
that day, and expected, before morning to go over it again. But he
confessed no weariness either by word or by manner. He was bright,
wakeful, joyous. He confessed Christ, was baptized, and was welcomed
with gladness to the church, after which we gathered round the table of
the Lord.
Wednesday and Thursday were spent in and about Marysville. Both Oroville
and Marysville are "hard fields." In both of them good work has been
done in days past, but the fruits from the seed sown have been widely
scattered, so that in each place but few Christians remain. Our Chinese
Church in Marysville, some years ago was reported--truthfully, I am
sure--as in proportion to its numbers and its means, the Banner Church
of the country for its contribution to Foreign Missions. But now only
one member, a deacon, resides in the place. He is a cook at one of the
hotels, and is unable to leave his work till about 8:30 P.M., but he
"holds the fort" sturdily, bravely. He is an athletic man, full of
energy and courage, with, doubtless, some of the defects which usually
attend these qualities, but honest, earnest, consistent, determined.
The first evening was a reproduction of that at Oroville, there being
also one believer to be baptized. On the second evening, in view of the
Lord's Supper and the baptism, our good deacon, as soon as his work was
done, was "all abroad" in Chinatown. Squad after squad he brought, and
seeing them seated, went out after more. When about 9:15 P.M., I
commenced my discourse, the room was packed. Oh, what joy it was, what
inspiration, to look into those eyes fixed closely upon me, and tell
them of the love of God in Christ! Yong Jin's quick, animated
interpretations of my sentences were not interruptions, but seemed to
urge me on. I am sure that the Spirit spoke through me to some hearts,
and that I shall see the fruits of that seed-sowing in the better world.
After the most careful and repeated statements as to what a partaking of
the bread and wine would mean, and as to the guilt of those who should
partake _without_ meaning what they did, a goodly number, eight or nine,
I think, who had never before consented to be recognized as Christians,
did thus profess that they received Christ as Saviour and Lord. They did
it in the sight and in the midst of others who did not do it--did it
with a painstaking and an apparent determination which encourages my
hope that they will hold fast and be led on to clearer light and the
full day.
Reaching home on Friday noon, I started for Petaluma on Saturday
morning. That evening was spent partly at the Mission House preaching
the word, and partly at the church preparing our pupils for the parts
they were to take in the anniversary exercises on the following evening.
Our brothers, Jee Gam and Lem Chung, were with me. I see that I have
already exhausted my space and venture only to add, that this
anniversary service was one of deep interest. The Congregational Church
at which it was held was crowded, auditors standing in the doors. All
the exercises by the pupils were well rendered. The address by Jee Gam
and the songs by Lem Chung seemed to win all hearts. The report of the
year's work at the school was more cheering than any we have been able
to make for years; the collection amounted to about sixty-five dollars,
and last and best of all, the gospel work done by our Chinese brethren
at the Mission House was the means of leading at least two, heretofore
undecided, to take their stand clearly and decisively as followers of
Christ.
In a later letter, Dr. Pond adds:
It seems that _three_ instead of _two_, as I have it in my article, were
led to confess Christ at Petaluma last Sunday. One other was almost
persuaded, but said he must first send home to China the bones of his
father. (Matt. 8:21). Jee Gam explained to him that he could do that as
a _Christian_, without _worshiping_ his father. But he could not be
persuaded. He is a very bright and promising young man, and I hope and
pray that this wrong decision may not cost him his salvation.
Jee Gam and Lum Chung were so wrought upon by what they saw and by what
God wrought by them at Petaluma, that they came back fired with a desire
to do something like it at our Central Mission House. This is what I
have long wished for, but could never seem to inspire the brethren with
courage to undertake. On Tuesday evening the first of a series of
meetings was held there. The room was crowded. Some scoffed, some tried
to seem indifferent, but _all heard_ the word, and one took a stand
for Christ. The brethren take hold well, each one contriving to make
himself the center of a group of heathen, so as to go right to work in
the after-meeting. Pray for them.
* * * * *
BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.
MISS D.E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.
* * * * *
WOMAN'S STATE ORGANIZATIONS.
CO-OPERATING WITH THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
ME.--Woman's Aid to A.M.A.,
Chairman of Committee, Mrs. C.A. Woodbury, Woodfords, Me.
VT.--Woman's Aid to A.M.A.,
Chairman of Committee, Mrs. Henry Fairbanks, St. Johnsbury, Vt.
VT.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. Ellen Osgood, Montpelier, Vt.
CONN.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. S.M. Hotchkiss, 171 Capitol Ave., Hartford, Conn.
MASS. and R.I.--Woman's Home Miss. Association,
Secretary, Miss Natalie Lord, Boston, Mass.[2]
N.Y.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. William Spalding, Salmon Block, Syracuse, N.Y.
ALA.--Woman's Missionary Union,
Secretary, Miss S.S. Evans, Birmingham, Ala.
MISS.--Woman's Miss. Union,
Secretary, Miss Sarah J. Humphrey. Tougaloo, Miss.
TENN. and ARK.--Woman's Missionary Union of Central South Conference,
Secretary, Miss Anna M. Cahill, Nashville, Tenn.
LA.--Woman's Miss. Union,
Secretary, Miss Jennie Fyfe, 490 Canal St., New Orleans, La.
FLA.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. Nathan Barrows, Winter Park, Fla.
OHIO.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. Flora K. Regal, Oberlin, Ohio.
IND.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. W.E. Mossman, Fort Wayne, Ind.
ILL.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. C.H. Taintor, 151 Washington St, Chicago, Ill.
MINN.--Woman's Home Miss. Society,
Secretary, Miss Katharine Plant, 2651 Portland Avenue,
Minneapolis, Minn.
IOWA.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Miss Ella E. Marsh, Grinnell, Iowa.
KANSAS.--Woman's Home Miss. Society,
Secretary, Mrs. G.L. Epps, Topeka, Kan.
MICH.--Woman's Home Miss, Union,
Secretary, Mrs. Mary B. Warren, Lansing, Mich.
WIS.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. C. Matter, Brodhead, Wis.
NEB.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. L.F. Berry, 724 N Broad St., Fremont, Neb.
COLORADO.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
Secretary, Mrs. S.M. Packard, Pueblo, Colo.
DAKOTA.--Woman's Home Miss. Union,
President, Mrs. T.M. Hills, Sioux Falls;
Secretary, Mrs. W.B. Dawes, Redfield;
Treasurer, Mrs. S.E. Fifield, Lake Preston.
[Footnote 2: For the purpose of exact information, we note that
while the W.H.M.A. appears in this list as a State body for Mass.
and R.I., it has certain auxiliaries elsewhere.]
We would suggest to all ladies connected with the auxiliaries of State
Missionary Unions, that funds for the American Missionary Association
be sent to us through the treasurers of the Union. Care, however,
should be taken to designate the money as for the American Missionary
Association, since _undesignated funds will not reach us_.
* * * * *
Ladies upon whom the duty devolves to plan and lead missionary meetings,
will welcome the suggestions in the following paper by Mrs. Regal,
Secretary of the Woman's Home Missionary Union of Ohio, which paper was
read at the recent Annual Meeting of the Officers of Woman's State
Organizations.
* * * * *
THE LOCAL SOCIETY--ITS MEMBERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT.
BY MRS. FLORA K. REGAL, OBERLIN, OHIO.
The local society will always have its active and its passive
membership. How to increase the latter from without, and how to transfer
recruits from the passive to the active list, are problems that have
taxed the ingenuity of not a few and have not infrequently been
abandoned as insoluble. It has so long been said, "This missionary work
always has to be carried on by a few," that the expression has come to
have something of the force of axiomatic truth which, of course, no one
dares assail. And so the missionary society lives on, decade after
decade, with less than a quarter of the women of the church on its list,
and of that quarter not more than one-fourth active members. How to
change these conditions, is the problem which confronts us.
I.--It has not always been clear who should be included in the
membership, but with the broad scope given to our Home Missionary
Unions, its auxiliaries should include:
_First._--Every woman who thinks that if she were living on some lonely
frontier and had for years heard no sermon, no public prayer, no songs
of praise, had no communion service, no Christian fellowship, she would
welcome the home missionary and all the sweet influences of the Gospel.
_Second._--Every woman who thinks we owe it to the Freedwoman to put
into her life and home something of the sweetness and purity of our own;
to the Indian woman a sympathetic effort for her uplifting, in atonement
for a "Century of Dishonor."
_Third._--Every woman who thinks that if she, or her sister or daughter,
were heroic enough to share the labors and sacrifices of a home
missionary, she ought to have some better place to live in than an old
grocery, a room over a saloon or the basement of a church.
_Fourth._--Every woman who thinks that if she were an inmate of a Mormon
home she might not have grace to welcome the companionship of the
second, third or tenth woman who might be sealed by celestial marriage
to her husband.
_Fifth._--Every woman who thinks there are worthy young men trying to
prepare themselves for ministerial or missionary work whose struggle
with poverty ought to be relieved.
_Sixth._--Every woman who would welcome for her own children, if she
were living in some Godless community, the Sunday-school missionary and
the books, papers, lesson helps, prayers and Christian songs which make
the Sunday-school a place of blessed influences.
If there be in any Christian church a woman who will respond to none of
these calls for service to the extent of a moderate annual membership
fee, say twenty-five cents, she has missed the true import of the Gospel
and has never entered into its most blessed privileges. Let us assume
that there is no such, but that rightly approached, every woman worthy a
place in the church will be willing to enroll herself into at least the
passive membership of the local society.
II.--The management of this new membership, presumably uninformed,
indifferent, possibly prejudiced, will require familiar acquaintance
with our six benevolences, sympathy with them all, much practical
wisdom, good courage, and the spirit of I Corinthians, 13th chapter.
The _President_ must do more than preside at the meetings. She must plan
every detail; must know beforehand what hymns, what Scripture lesson,
who shall lead in singing and in prayer, what reports, what letters,
what original papers, what selections, what business. Everything must be
carefully planned and written down, yet there must be withal a certain
amount of elasticity of management, so that the timid question may be
answered, the objection removed, the enthusiasm expressed. The President
will welcome strangers and greet the diffident and neglected. She will
not be _surprised_ at seeing anybody at the meeting. It was reasonably
to be expected.
The _Secretary_ will do more than keep the minutes of the meetings. She
will not forget the proper public announcement of the meetings and will
add special invitations to such as may not feel themselves included in
the general. She will send for such printed helps as are needed for use.
She will fill out distinctly and promptly such blanks as are needed for
Conference, State or other Reports, and her quarterly and annual
reports will be helpful from their information and their inspiration.
The _Treasurer_ will do more than passively receive what is brought to
her hands. She will see that no one is overlooked when a canvass is made
for any object; that pledges are redeemed; that the way is made easy for
the poor to give without embarrassment and the rich without ostentation.
She will see that all moneys are forwarded as designated and that _they
go through the State Treasury_.
But the highest qualification any local officer can possess, is the
ability to transfer members from the passive to the active list. Some
practical hints toward this result maybe gathered from the following
suggestions:
Aim at unity of effect for each meeting. Make some one of the six
benevolences the subject, and center everything--Scripture, hymn,
prayer, letter, paper, leaflet, about the single topic. Suppose it be
"Missions on our Western frontier." Ask some lady to prepare a fifteen
minutes' paper. Give out in addition six back numbers of the _Home
Missionary_ to as many ladies, asking each to select a paragraph or
short article bearing directly on the subject and which she thinks
will, or ought to, interest the meeting. Let several of these ladies
be chosen from the passive list--the diffident or even the
indifferent. In making their selections, they will perhaps have made
their first acquaintance with missionary magazines and will have
learned something about the heroism of our home missionaries.
Moreover, they will have participated in the exercises. This, repeated
with variations, will give them courage to speak, and intelligent
thoughts to express. _They are on the way to active participation._
Crown the exercises with a collection. The leader must know how to
kindle enthusiasm and put it to the tangible proof.
The subject for the next meeting may be some branch of the work of the
American Missionary Association, as "Indian Missions in Dakota." Assign
to some one a paper, an historical sketch. She will need books from the
missionary library. "Ten years among the Dakotas," and "Mary and I; or,
Life among the Sioux," (to which she would never think of going for help
unless informed that the Dakotas and Sioux are one.) She may also send
to Miss Emerson for further helps. Then, in addition, give out back
numbers of the _American Missionary_ to two or three passive ladies,
asking them to make short selections concerning Indian missions--or let
one read Prof. G.F. Wright's leaflet--"Indian Missions as seen upon the
ground"--and another some missionary's letter. Call out expressions of
interest in the work--proofs of its success--etc., and ask if we ought
not to do something for its support. Give to everyone present a small
envelope with the request that it be brought to the next meeting with a
free will offering for Indian missions.
The next meeting may be devoted to "Christian work among the Mormons,"
using the "New West Reports," "The Gleaner," newspaper extracts,
missionary letters and, if possible, have the experience of some one who
has visited the schools and the homes of sin-cursed Utah. Having
awakened deep interest, the proposition to procure a lecture or a
musical entertainment and devote the proceeds to the New West Commission
will probably find favor and be carried on to success.
For the next meeting, choose another object, as "Parsonage Building."
Distribute copies of the _Church Building Quarterly_ and again the
indispensable back numbers of _The Home Missionary_, and have extracts
read which show the discomfort, and even distress, which come to the
family of the home missionary. Propose aid in the form of a birthday
offering, in which every member brings in an envelope as many cents as
she is years old. The result may be surprising.
For other objects other plans, but in every case the way should be
prepared for _intelligent giving_.
It has sometimes resulted favorably to secure, at the beginning of the
year, pledges for some definite, well understood object, as a teacher's
or missionary's salary, or a share in one, which should apparently but
not really exhaust the resources of the society, and have the payments
made as early in the year as practicable. Then pursue intelligent study
of the other fields until the time is ripe for proposing generous aid to
the one which appeals most strongly to the combined judgment and
sympathy. And so on through the year, in which time the six benevolences
can all be reached. This somewhat irregular method of procedure has
perhaps no better defence than that it has been known to produce good
results. A society the intelligence and consecration of whose members
could be relied upon would doubtless find the plan of monthly pledges,
to be divided according to some accepted schedule, much easier. No
special labor would have to be expended to make the need apparent, or to
awaken sympathy for the object, or to choose the best means of attaining
it. Gifts would be systematic and uniform throughout the year and could
be counted upon.
The machinery, well oiled at the start, would run smoothly and quietly,
and woman's work would not be made unpleasantly prominent. But it seems
doubtful whether as many gifts would flow into the treasury and whether
the gifts would be accompanied by as much interest, sympathy and prayer.
The hints concerning management thus far presuppose a Home Missionary
Society organized on the modern basis of a programme of devotional
exercises and various mission studies, and do not apply to those cases
in which such exercises have been engrafted upon a sewing society with a
long line of Dorcases as Presidents, and antecedents too respectable to
be ruthlessly set aside. How shall a sewing society be so modified as to
best subserve the present home missionary needs? Do not create friction
by attempting a sudden and complete revolution. Propose that the brief
devotional exercises with which such gatherings sometimes close be
placed a little earlier than usual, that there may be time for some
interesting missionary letter or some inspiring leaflet, or other
selection, or better still, an original paper on some live topic. When
about the usual season for beginning the missionary box arrives, prepare
a symposium on the subject of boxes. Select and distribute brief
paragraphs from the magazines concerning missionary debts, from
missionary letters concerning unpaid salaries, and lead gradually up to
the question whether if we were missionaries we would rather receive a
box or a check for an unpaid salary. Which would best enable a minister
to look his creditors, who are also his parishioners, in the face--the
new pulpit suit or cash to pay off accumulated bills? In trying to
decide between box and salary, the society may decide for _both_, and a
point is gained. When box preparations begin, assign them a proper place
in the meeting. Do not permit papers and addresses to be sandwiched
between rolling quilt frames and turning down refractory hems, or
punctuated by requests or signals for scissors, thread, and bits of
gingham; and do not spoil garments by working with divided attention.
Give each its hour or its day. Best of all, when a box is in
preparation, sew early, late, and often, till it is despatched. Then
resume the studies, being especially careful to have their first
resumption provided with an attractive programme. In all cases when
studies have been grafted upon sewing, _encourage the graft_. It ought
to yield better fruit than the original stock.
It should be the constant aim of those in charge of local societies to
inspire in the membership intelligent interest in the six branches of
our work--to cultivate a spirit of liberality toward them all--to create
in every member a desire to aid them all. Only with such an aim can the
local society achieve its highest usefulness.
* * * * *
RECEIPTS FOR JUNE, 1889.
MAINE, $123.20.
Augusta. Joel Spalding, to const. MISS
NETTIE R. SPALDING L.M. $30.00
Bangor. Central Ch. Sewing Circle, _for
Freight to Pleasant Hill, Tenn._ 1.53
Bethel. Sab. Sch. of Second Cong. Ch. 5.00
Castine. "Rainbow Band,"
_for Tougaloo U._ 5.80
Castine. Trin. Cong. Sab. Sch. 5.00
Gorham. J.H. Hinckley, Papers and
Cards, _for Meridian, Miss._
Hiram. Mrs. Moore. S.S. Papers,
_for Meridian, Miss._
Limerick. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.00
Machias. Centre St. Cong. Ch. 7.87
Portland. Second Parish Chinese Class,
by H. Mabel Leach, Sec.,
_for Chinese M. in Cal._ 50.00
Rockland. "The King's Daughters," by
Mrs. D.P. Hatch, _for Woman's Work_ 10.00
NEW HAMPSHIRE, $1,169.97.
Brookline. Cong. Ch. 6.05
Concord. "Friend" 5.00
Derry. Sab. Sch. of First Cong. Ch. 16.00
Dover. First Ch. 140.65
Exeter. Second Cong. Ch. 10. _for Chinese
M. in Cal._, 10. _for Miss Collin's Work_ 20.00
Great Falls. First Cong. Ch. 15.00
Henniker. Cong. Ch. and Soc., 30.50,
L.W. Preston, 3 33.50
Jaffrey. "Lillies of the Field,"
_for Storrs Sch._ 9.00
Keene. "S." 20; Primary Dep't Second
Cong. Sab. Sch., 5 25.00
Keene. Mrs. M.E. DeBevoise's S.S. Class,
_for Oaks, N.C._ 20.00
Keene. P'k'g Papers. _for Savannah, Ga._
Littleton. "Mrs. B.W.K." 5.00
Nashua. Ladies' Circle of Pilgrim Ch.,
Bbl. and Box C., _for Storrs Sch._
Penacook. Cong. Ch. 23.00
Plaiston and North Haverhill, Mass.
Cong. Ch. 130.88; Mrs. Eliza W.
Merrill, 50. 180.88
Plymouth. Cong. Ch. 6.10
Portsmouth. North Cong. Ch. and Soc. 134.79
Rye. Cong. Ch. 30.00
---------
$669.97
ESTATE.
Allenstown. Estate of Jabez Green, by
Mrs. Elsie G. Green, _for Green
Memorial Ch., Bending Oaks, Ala._ 500.00
---------
$1,169.97
VERMONT, $498.33.
Burlington. "Tithes" 1.00
Barton Landing. Children's Miss'y Soc.,
by Kate B. Joslyn, Treas., _for
Indian Sch'p._ 10.00
Chester. Cong. Ch. 2.75
Coventry. Ladies of Cong. Ch. and Soc.,
_for McIntosh, Ga._ 12.70
Fair Haven. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch.,
_for Storrs Sch._ 6.00
Manchester. Miss E.J. Kellogg 10.00
Middlebury. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch.,
_for Student Aid, Fisk U._ 19.53
Montpelier. Bethany Cong. Ch. 37.65
New Haven. Cong. Ch. ad'l to const. REV.
W.B. HAGUE L.M. 25.50
Newport. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.00
Putney. "A few members Cong. Ch." by
Mrs. A.C. Shattuck, _for McIntosh, Ga._ 9.00
----. "A Friend" 20.00
Woman's Home Missionary Union of Vermont,
by Mrs. W.P. Fairbanks, Treas.,
_for McIntosh, Ga._:
Bridport. Ladies 10.00
Brookfield. Ladles' H.M. Soc.
of Second Ch. 6.20
Burlington. Ladies' H.M.S.
of College St. Ch. 20.00
Charlotte. Ladies. 13.75
East Burke. W.H.M.U. Aux. 5.00
Enosburg. Ladies of Cong. Ch. 9.00
Fairlee. Ladies. 5.25
Franklin. Ladies. 2.30
Greensboro. Ladies of
Cong. Ch. 13.28
McIndoes Falls. Mrs. W.R.
Monteith 1.00
Middlebury. Ladies. 20.25
Montpelier. W.H.M.S. 5.00
Saint Johnsbury. Ladies. 100.00
Waitefield. Ladies of Cong. Ch. 8.22
Woodstock. Ladies. 20.00