Part 4

The people assembled at the ringing of the second bell. “Praise God from Whom all blessings flow” was sung. Brother Snelson then led the congregation in the Lord’s Prayer. A hymn was sung, after which the Rev. J. Gomer offered prayer. “Alas! and did my Saviour bleed?” was sung. Portions of Scripture were read by A. P. Miller. The services of organization and dedication were combined, owing to want of time. Brother Snelson spoke through the interpreter, and told the candidates what their step meant—turning from death unto life. The church, too, he said, we had come together to dedicate to God and His service. Brother Snelson preached, choosing Luke xii. 32, as his text—“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” A comparison was made between the people to whom these words were spoken and these our benighted brethren. The promises of God were dwelt upon. We must trust in Him for salvation. The dedicatory prayer was then offered by Rev. A. P. Miller. A hymn was sung. The right hand of fellowship was given by Bro. A. E. White. The address was delivered by Rev. J. Gomer. The Lord’s supper was then celebrated; Brothers Gomer and Jackson presided. It was a solemn scene. The Doxology was sung, and the benediction pronounced by A. P. Miller. The meeting was one long to be remembered. One more stronghold is now erected in this land of night to tear down the powers of darkness. We have all reason to thank God for His blessings thus far. A better day is dawning for these benighted, long-neglected sons of Africa.

Brother Gomer says that more laborers (colored) are wanted in his mission. We, too, in a work so vast, can but ask God to prepare such as are needed for a work so difficult.

We ask the prayers of all lovers of mankind that the work begun here may not only succeed, but that its influence may be far-reaching.

REV. FLOYD SNELSON, _Moderator_. REV. A. P. MILLER, _Secretary_.

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THE INDIANS.

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THE LATE INDIAN WAR AND CHRISTIANITY.

REV. MYRON EELLS, S’KOKOMISH, WASHINGTON TERRITORY.

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We have had another Indian war, and, as usual, there has been a cry in favor of turning the Indians over to the War Department. There are some, however, of us who will persist in seeing something favorable to Christianity and the present policy even in this war, and we think we have our reasons for it.

I do not propose, at present, to thoroughly discuss the causes of the war, for I am not well enough acquainted with them to do so intelligently. Some will lay the blame on Government, some on a Christian policy, and some on the Indians. Perhaps all may have to bear a part. Although I believe that the Government has often treated the Indians wrongfully, yet a long course of observation has convinced me that the Indians are not all saints, and when the Government is often crooked, either intentionally or unintentionally, and two crooked sticks come together, there is almost always sure to be trouble.

The published statements of General Crook, who is not supposed to be very sentimental in his feelings toward the Indians, and who was at the Fort Hall Agency at the beginning of the war, implicates the Government severely.

A residence of nearly three years in Idaho, 1871–1874, in the very region of the war, led me to believe that very little was energetically done for Christianizing those Indians. This has been true at some Agencies. Their annual reports show that while the Government opened wide the doors for Christian work, when the present policy was adopted, and said, “We will give you opportunity, encouragement and aid, if you will only send the Indians missionaries,” yet that Christians have failed to take hold of the work as they ought to have done. If this was true of the Indians engaged in the late war, Christians may have to bear a part of the blame.

Notwithstanding all this, some laurels have been added by the late war to the Christian work which has been done among the Indians. One “who wishes to be understood” has written a letter in which he speaks very harshly against the Christian workers on the Yakama Reservation, where Father Wilbur, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, has been successfully laboring for sixteen years. He says: “The present reservation system is a failure in every respect. We, who daily come in contact with the Indians, cannot be made to believe that prayer-books, praying generals, and Methodist preachers, (or any other preachers,) are a good safeguard against the tomahawk and the scalping-knife; and the pseudo-philanthropists, the Christian-mongers of the East, who are paying thousands to send missionaries among these barbarians, would do us a favor if they would keep them away; and if the U. S. Government would be less influenced in its conduct toward the Indians by the advocates of Christianity, our wives and children might be annually spared the sight of murdered husbands and fathers. So far we have been loyal, while Indians, with passes from Wilbur and other Agents, have been on the war-path. We have reliable information that some of the dead Indians found after the battles near Pendleton had on their persons passes from Wilbur.”

Now it is probably a fact that some of the Umatilla Indians, and perhaps a few of the Yakamas, were engaged in aiding the enemy. There are always some renegade Indians connected with each tribe, as well as white renegades and tramps. As tribes, however, they did not engage in the war, and comparatively few individuals did.

In the Indian war of 1855–6, before Father Wilbur went among these same Yakamas, they were the leading spirits, and it was the most wide-spread war which has ever devastated this coast. If they and the Umatillas had joined in this war, it would have been far more terrible than it has been. Inducements were not wanting to lead them into it. It is said on good authority that two thousand horses were offered them by the hostiles if they would join them, and yet they refused. An army officer in command of one of the battles said that some of those Indians did nobly in aiding our soldiers to gain the victory.

It may be said that they had too much permanent property in homes and farms, to allow them to engage in the war; for they knew that if they should do so, they would certainly in the end lose it all. This is undoubtedly so; and yet when Father Wilbur went among them they had none of this kind of property, but only movable property which they could carry with them even in war, as the Bannocks have done. It is a fact that Christianity gave them this property.

It may again be said that they were thoroughly whipped in 1855–6 and were afraid to engage in war again. They were thus whipped, and the remembrance of it may, even now, do them good. But in 1862–3 Gen. Crook, the noted Indian fighter, just as thoroughly thrashed the Indians in Idaho, in precisely the same region where the late war was carried on, and the praise of his effectual work is still in the mouths of the old citizens. This was seven years later than the Yakama war, and so much fresher in the minds of the Indians. No, it was evidently Christianity which prevented their joining in the war.

Gen. Howard, too, has added new laurels to his reputation. It must be remembered that he is the principal one of our generals who has not been in favor of the transfer of the Indians to the War Department. This praying general has prosecuted the war with such vigor that the strong papers with strong arguments have sustained him, and almost invariably those who went with him in his rough marches have defended him, such as newspaper correspondents, scouts and the like, and the “stay at homes” have been about the only ones who have found fault. His recent conference with the Umatilla Indians since the war has shown such firmness, justice and Christianity as to win for him very many friends among those who previously opposed him, thus showing again that Christianity is the way of dealing with the Indians. So Christianity has won its laurels even in this war.

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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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“THE CONGREGATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN CHINESE.”

Its Origin and Organization.

REV. WM. C. POND, SAN FRANCISCO.

Soon after our work among the Chinese began to yield results in souls apparently converted, I felt the necessity of banding the converts together for mutual fellowship, for instruction, and for test-work; for it seemed unwise, considering the difficulties under which we must labor in determining the genuineness of the conversions, to bring them at once to baptism and the church. Yet they must not be left quite outside the fold, and I proposed to them the organization of _The Chinese Christian Class_, into which any Chinese might come who, in the judgment of those already members of the class, had begun to believe in Christ. This class was to have frequent meetings for prayer and for instruction in the Bible; its members were to maintain a fraternal watchfulness over each other, and were to be baptized only when, through a probation of at least six months, they had proved to be steadfast and true.

This class at first comprised only such Chinese as had been led to Christ through the work of the Third Congregational Church in this city, of which I was then the pastor. Afterwards it was found desirable to receive to membership the Chinese connected with other congregations, and to enlarge somewhat the scope or design of the class. It was therefore reorganized under its present name, but with the same principles and conditions of membership. Some of the benefits, in the way of mutual aid and protection, which the heathen Chinese seek to secure through their “Six Companies,” our Christian Chinese, who have renounced all connection with the “Six Companies,” gain through this Association. Its rooms are their places of resort; a sort of home. They have made a little beginning towards a library of Chinese works, mainly religious, written by the missionaries. The regulations of this Association, prepared by the Chinese, without assistance or suggestion, so far as I know, from any American, have been translated for me into English, and will be printed in full in our Annual Report. I quote here the 2d, 3d, 6th, and 8th Articles:

“2d. Any one who desires to become a member of this Association must forsake idolatry and all bad habits, and prove himself to be a follower of Christ. He must bring references from one or more members. His name must be brought before the Society a week before he can be admitted, and he is received upon a vote of two-thirds of the members. He must himself sign his name, and pay the sum of two dollars as entrance fee, and twenty-five cents every three months, this money being used to defray the expenses of the Association. He is expected to do all he can to bring in new members, and to lead his countrymen to Christ.”

“3d. The members are expected to take part in the meetings for worship, giving counsel and encouragement to one another. If any member does wrong, he is to be kindly entreated and led back to the right.”

“6th. If any member continue in the violation of the regulations of the Association, after three successive remonstrances, he must be expelled from the Association. If he afterwards repent and desire to come back, he is admitted without an entrance fee; his admittance depending upon the sincerity of his repentance, as judged by the members of the Association.”

“8th. If any member desire to go back to China, he must give notice to the Association one month beforehand. He must not go until he has paid all his debts here. If he is really obliged to go before he can pay his debts, he must find some one who will be security for him.”

There are now four Branch Associations, two in San Francisco, one in Oakland, and one in Sacramento. Each branch supports itself and is governed by its own officers. There are three—President, Vice-President, and Secretary who also acts as Treasurer. The statistics of these “Branches” are as follows: Oakland, 36 members, one expelled, five gone to China, 11 baptized; total contributions, $472.20, of which $117.25 was for Bible and missionary work in California and China. Sacramento, 14 members; contributions, $103.80. San Francisco, 82 members, four expelled, two gone to China, 10 baptized; contributions, $351.00, of which $178.00 were for Bible and missionary work. Bethany (San Francisco), 9 members, 3 baptized; contributions $244.50, of which $71.00 were for Bible and missionary purposes. There are besides these, 23 members belonging to the Central Association, who on account of their places of residence are not yet identified with any “Branch,” so that the total membership is 164. Of these 33 were received the past year. The total amount contributed for all purposes was $1,181.50.

Besides this company of 164, there are 30 or more Chinese who have been converted, as we hope, at Santa Barbara, San Leandro, Stockton and elsewhere, in connection with our schools; and besides the contributions above reported, there has been raised at Petaluma, Stockton and elsewhere, certainly not less than $100. When we consider the poverty of these young men, the smallness of their wages, the drafts made upon them for parents and others dependent upon them in China, then this $1,300 which they have contributed during the past year for the nurture of their own Christian life, or for the salvation of others, grows to its true proportions—in our view, a token of real Christian heroism.

I quote the closing sentences of the statement written for me by the Secretary of the Association: “No death has occurred during the past year. Our Heavenly Father has greatly prospered us, for which we return Him hearty thanks. We are grateful that He has put into our hearts a desire to have our parents and countrymen in China brought to a knowledge of the Christian religion. We are endeavoring to open a Chapel in Chuck Hum, China, and if we only had means, could open as many as we desire. Most all the letters that are sent to China members of the Association contain something about the Christian religion, and urging the people at home to discard idols and believe in the Saviour.”

OUR LAST MONTH’S WORK,

as I reviewed it in the monthly reports, saddened me, and brought over me the first big _wave_ of discouragement which I have felt since I entered on this service. The enrolment and the attendance were both much less than I expected, and some of our smaller schools seemed ready to die. I quote from one of these reports as an example: “You will see that the average is very low, and I am afraid it will be still lower. The boys seem to have lost their interest in the school, and I am afraid that I am losing mine. It is very discouraging to me, after doing a hard day’s work (for I am working very hard just now), to walk three-fourths of a mile and then have but one or two come to the school. Thank God there are one or two faithful ones.” * * * “Now, Mr. Pond, I have laid the case before you, and I ask your prayers in behalf of this little school struggling to keep alive, and for the teacher also, that he may not weary in well-doing, but that God will help him bear this cross and try to save, at least, one soul.” To receive letter after letter like that, while it draws out one’s love and prayer for the writer, sets one also to asking, “Where is the Lord,” and what will become of our work at this rate? But before the reports were all in, news came that _six_, at least, during the month, had forsaken their idols and appeared to have become disciples of Christ, and we “thanked God and took courage.” Brethren, pray for us.

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RECEIPTS

FOR NOVEMBER, 1878.

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MAINE, $163.74.

Belfast. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. $3.00 Biddeford. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. (of which $25.55 _for Student Aid, Atlanta U._) $51.97.—Second Cong. Sab. Sch. $20, _for Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 71.97 Castine. Mrs. Lucy S. Adams. $10. (ad’l) to const. REV. LEWIS J. THOMAS, L. M.—W. H. W., 50c. 10.50 Farmington. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 19.07 Hallowell. Mrs. Flagg, $10; H. K. Baker, $5; _for Printing Press, Talladega, Ala._ (Incorrectly ack. in Dec. number.) Searsport. First Cong. Soc. 25.00 Thomaston. “Matt. vi. 3” 10.00 Wells. B. Maxwell 15.00 Wilton. Cong. Ch. 9.20

NEW HAMPSHIRE, $217.75.

Amherst. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 9.00 Candia Village. Jona. Martin 5.00 Concord. Ladies of North Ch., bbl. of C. Exeter. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. $27.—“Friends” in Second Cong. Ch. $12, _for a Teacher_ 39.00 Hinsdale. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 7.37 Keene. Mrs. Wm. W. 0.50 Kensington. “Friends” _for N. H. Memorial Inst., Wilmington, N. C._ 6.70 Milford. Peter and Cynthia S. Burns, $30; First Cong. Ch. and Soc. $23 53.00 New Ipswich. Cong. Ch. and Soc. (of which $27. _for Wilmington Memorial Inst._) $31.41; Proceeds of 16th Annual Fair, held by Children of Cong. Ch. $12 43.41 Plainfield. Mrs. Hannah Stevens, _for N. H. Memorial Inst., Wilmington, N. C._ and to const. TENNY K. PAGE, L. M. 30.00 Plymouth. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 15.16 Thornton’s Ferry. Individuals, by Mrs. H. N. Eaton 4.00 Warner. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 4.61

VERMONT, $244.22

Burlington. M. C. Torrey 5.00 Charlotte. Cong. Ch. and Soc. to const. JOSEPH S. SHAW, L. M. 37.60 Chelsea. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 17.00 Newbury. P. W. Ladd 5.00 Norwich. Mrs. S. J. Kellogg 2.00 Ripton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 27.00 Saint Johnsbury. Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Blodgett, to const. REV. WILLIAM P. BENNETT, L. M. 30.00 Stowe. Cong. Ch. to const. ALBERT H. CHENEY, L. M. 43.43 Tunbridge. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 2.59 West Enosburgh. Henry Fassett 5.00 West Fairlee. Cong. Ch. $12; “A Friend” $1 13.00 Westford. Cong. Ch. and Society 10.00 West Westminster. Cong. Ch. 12.45 Windham. Cong. Ch. 12.54; Rev. D. N. Goodrich, $2 14.54 Woodstock. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 19.61

MASSACHUSETTS, $4,329.83.