Part 4

1. _The Finances._—It was at this point our former chapter closed. I announced that we were laying out work with reference to raising, over and above the regular appropriation from the parent society, $5,000 this year, in place of $1,610.70 received last year. I am glad and grateful to be able to announce that of that $5,000, fully $2,600 are already in sight, either in cash or in reliable pledges. It has been made easy to raise this, because all except the hundreds (_i. e._, $2,000) has come in a single donation from the grand English house of Balfour, Gunther & Co., in this city. That is to say, $500 from the senior partner in Liverpool, Alfred Balfour, Esq., $500 from his Liverpool associate, Hon. Stephen Williamson, M. P., and $1,000 from the house as a whole, among the partners in which is a worthy son of Chalmers’ great successor in the Free Church of Scotland—that prince among preachers, Dr. Guthrie. This great gift is proffered in the hope and expectation that the balance of $3,000 will not be found wanting, and, God helping us, it _shall not_ fail. There has been a painful sense, all along these years, that we were reaching only the outer edge of the great necessity touching, so to speak, only the bare fringe of our great opportunity, though we have done the utmost possible for us, with the means at our command. I can with a clear conscience claim that not a dime has gone forth needlessly; that every minutest item of expense has been carefully scrutinized; and, while it would be “too good to be true” if we said that _no_ mistakes had been made, that every experiment had proved a success, or that no fields have been entered from which we were compelled to retire before the harvest came to view, still, I speak the simple truth when I say that I know of nothing that to-day I would extract, or, so far as _our endeavor_ is concerned, essentially change. The constant prayer has been for the Master’s guidance; is it vain or presumptuous to believe that the prayer has been answered, his _promise_ fulfilled, his guidance vouchsafed? It would be meanly ungrateful if I did not thus testify for Him.

But the point is that now we must go deeper. We cannot rest on the outer edge of the great work. We must avail ourselves to the utmost of our opportunity, and for this we must have a marked increase of means. Toward this, now that God has inclined these English brethren to give so largely, I cannot believe that American Christians will fail to make fitting response. And inasmuch as I cannot see how more than $1,500 out of the $2,400 remaining to be raised, can possibly be gathered in California, I venture to press it on the thoughts and hearts of Eastern friends, to furnish over and above their regular contributions to the parent society, at least $900 for its California auxiliary. Let the gifts be sent directly to me at 940 Copp Street, or to our treasurer, Deacon E. Palache, 218 Front Street, San Francisco.

2. _Our Schools._—In the February MISSIONARY I spoke of 13 schools in operation, a larger number than ever before. The first of March will see the number 14, a school being prepared to start on that date, at Tucson, Arizona. It will be, by far, our most distant out-post, but gives promise of being a very useful mission. Several of the pupils who had become Christians in connection with our Santa Barbara mission, work failing at that place, moved on towards the front, and were scattered among the villages of Arizona; one, at least, even crossing the line into Mexico. We had letters from them occasionally, such as encouraged us to believe that, though in exile from what had been to them a very house of God, and often standing alone, as Christians, among a crowd of ungodly and profane Americans, they were still walking in the truth. At length, from one of them who had settled at Tucson, came, in behalf of himself and eight or nine others, an urgent request for a mission there. At the suggestion of some excellent Christian ladies of that city, to whom I appealed for advice, and who kindly pledged their personal co-operation, the school is to be placed in the care of Rev. Mr. Messenger, once a missionary of the Episcopal Board in Africa. He is pronounced to be “a _good_ Christian, who can sing well, can play on the organ, and will work earnestly” in the liberty of Christ and not in bondage to any ritual or liturgy. The pupils attest their zeal by pledging contributions sufficient to pay the rent of the school-room, $15 per month, and, perhaps, the incidental expenses likewise. Pray for the success of the first Chinese mission in Arizona.

Among the new schools reported in my last was that at Oroville. Its teacher is a daughter of Rev. Alvin Ostrom, pastor of the Congregational Church in that place, who himself was once a missionary in China, and has, in his enforced return to this country, been hungry these many years for an opportunity to preach Christ again to the Chinese. I hardly need say that with such a spirit in the work tokens of a coming harvest begin to appear. Two or three of the pupils began to venture in, on Sabbaths, to the half empty church, and to sit in unoccupied pews. Whereupon an irate Caucasian vents himself in the village newspaper in this wise:

“ED. MERCURY—‘What are our places of divine worship coming to?’ is a question with many. Are we to give way our places in the pews to the long-tailed Mongolians, or shall we be obliged to take sides with them? We answer, ‘No!’ Better send them and our pretended leaders away together to their proper places. We have no objection to his teaching them, but for the sake of common decency and the respect due to us, let it be a separate matter.

“CHURCH-GOER.”

The community soon began to be astir. The pillars of the church began to tremble. Subscriptions began to be withdrawn. Families were reported as “going over to the other church.” The croakers rose to the ascendant, and the outlook grew dark. But silence and patience and gentleness, and pastoral diligence, having God and the right on their side, are winning the day; and fresh sunshine, gleaming through the whole church-work, already “puts to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”

Although the severe storms of the past two months have interfered with the attendance on our schools, and even made desirable the temporary suspension of one of them, yet there is much to encourage in the reports received. At Marysville three during last month “joined the Association,” professing thus their faith in Christ, and coming under probation with reference to reception to the church. At Sacramento the teacher writes, rejoicing over the return to the school, with heart apparently renewed, of one pupil for whom she had labored and prayed with great earnestness, but who first left our school for another, and then seemed to “go to the bad” with utter recklessness. But the Lord has brought him back, and he now applies to be received to the Association, and to be thus recognized as a believer in Jesus. This Sacramento school, as, also, the one in Stockton, that in Marysville, and those in this city, are a perpetual joy to me, in the spirit which pervades the work and the results vouchsafed. Indeed, I know not that I need except any of our schools from this statement, and I cease to mention them by name only because the list would be too long. The great lack just now is Chinese helpers trained for service. To select them wisely, to provide for their being trained, to put them into harness at the right point, where by teaching they can learn to teach and by preaching to preach, is the problem now before me.

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WOMAN’S HOME MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.

Room 20, Congregational House, Beacon St., Boston.

MISS NATHALIE LORD, _Secretary_. MISS ABBY W. PEARSON, _Treasurer_.

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MONTHLY REPORT.

The Woman’s Home Missionary Association has made no new appointments during the past month under the American Missionary Association. From those already sent into this part of the field the reports are encouraging and interesting.

From Baxter Springs, Kansas, where are 1,000 refugees and 1,100 white inhabitants, Miss Wilson writes that she is getting her work systematized, and gives her plan as follows:

“A small unoccupied building, owned by the Hard Shell (colored) Baptists, has been offered me, on condition that I will put in window panes and a stove. To do this I shall use a sum of money now in Gov. St. John’s hands, and I hope this will be enough also for a ton of coal. In this building I am to open an afternoon industrial school for women. The different arts of housekeeping will be here taught in turn. Those who wish will learn to read, and especially mothers’ meetings will be held. This is the central point of all my work—_the women and their homes_. Around this will cluster several other departments, for I have already four or five co-workers. Two of these are good Quaker women, living in the place and already doing all they can. They will assist in the women’s school and in visiting at the homes. Another of the workers there will be John Smith, a colored minister, from Iowa, educated by the Society of Friends. This man has been on the ground three months. He is teaching a children’s school. There are three hundred children of the age to go to school, only about half of whom are provided for by the town schools. He will be ready to assist me in every way necessary, and will have one of the departments in the Sunday-school, of which we have arranged three, beside being the superintendent of the school. For the use of the Sunday-school we have three rooms in the public school building. The fourth assistant is Miss E. Cabell, also colored, a graduate of Hampton. Miss C. joined us from Virginia in October. She is proving a valuable assistant. She will open a children’s school, mornings, in our little building, and also have the Infant Department in our Sunday-school. One other service I desire to hold, a Sunday morning Bible reading in our little church. And if we can persuade the ignorant preachers around us, of whom there are several, to come to our rooms some evening in the week for a weekly study of the Sunday-school lesson, we shall have gained a great point with them.”

The work of Mrs. Steele, in Almeda, S. C., proves full of interest. This place takes its name from a daughter of Mr. Reuben G. Holmes, who bought this tract of land, 12,000 acres, for the purpose of giving employment to worthy colored men and enabling them to buy small farms for themselves at $5 per acre. He now has nearly 150 families, including more than 700 souls, on the place, and to instruct and care for these is the work of Mrs. Steele. She writes that she has more or less care of all, has already had more than 200 in her Sunday-school. Her day school occupies her from 9 A.M. to 12.30 P.M.; her evening school from 7 to 9.30 P.M.; and her afternoons she spends in “calling on the folks.” Having mentioned some touching cases of distress and how she was able to relieve them, she adds: “Now don’t think it is all out-go and no income. I called on another family—the mother had previously called on me and wanted me to cut out a calico dress for one of her little girls—when my little girl and I came away from that home, the mother brought me a _fresh egg_ as a present. Now that gift for her was more than ten dollars would be for some people to give. The good-will back of the gift made me feel _rich_.” “In my solemn talks,” she says, “with my pupils, I’ve found some who seem to me to be of the Lord’s noblemen, so conscientiously living up to the light and knowledge they have, and eager for more. I’ve formed a temperance and anti-tobacco society and have quite a number of names already.”

All who had a hand in filling or packing the barrel lately sent to Miss Carter, in Nashville, Tenn.—as well as those whose hands are filling or packing or are about to be filling or packing other such choice barrels or boxes—will be glad to hear of its welcome, and also to learn what are among the most acceptable things to send in such cases. She writes:

“The barrel arrived Saturday and delights my heart. Were I _a little darker skinned_ I should say, ‘_it will do me so proud_,’ but as it is I hardly know how to express my thanks and perfect satisfaction. Did I tell you so explicitly all my needs—I can’t remember—or did you guess them? Those test cards are gems: perhaps their value to others may be beyond price. The papers I’m so glad of, especially the children’s papers. The pictures cut out by some loving fingers, the picture cards, tracts, story books, Testaments, _all_ these things meet especial needs. The children’s clothes, especially the flannels and boys’ shirts, are most welcome. I know this moment the destination of each article.

“Perhaps that for which I’m most truly grateful, is the quantity of sewing materials. The Lord has not since I came here let me name a day for help, but just now I was counting my little funds and wondering—wondering if the time had come when I should be really obliged to halt. This supply of materials is a true blessing. Perhaps my Sunday-school stands highest in importance, but surely this sewing-school work, with all the influences of good which I strive to bring there to bear upon the girls, is next. I couldn’t willingly give it up. Through it the girls are clothing their bodies with their own honest efforts; are learning Christian gentleness and politeness, and having their minds stored with good thoughts out of good books. They let me come very close to them, tell me their needs, their troubles, and recognize me as their friend. So in furthering this work, you are setting many wheels in motion. I held a reception at the ‘opening’—opening of my barrel; how enthusiastic and happy we all were.”

The Association held public meetings in Boston, Mount Vernon church, morning and afternoon of March 3. The interest of these meetings indicates, we believe, increasing energy and delight in forwarding the work. The total receipts of the year, as announced there, have been $5,077.34. This is not a great sum, but neither is it a bad beginning, and as fast as it gives pleasure to the friends of the work to add to our pile, the present year, so fast shall we be eager to increase it by scattering.

Receipts from Jan. 1, 1881, to March 1, 1881:

From auxiliaries $818.65 From donations 188.89 From life members 40.00 From annual members 14.00 ———————— Total $1,061.54

Donations from Cong. Pub. Soc., $25 worth of S. S. papers, lesson papers, books and cards, for Miss Julia A. Wilson, Baxter Springs, for use among refugees. From Mrs. C. A. Johnson, for Miss Wilson’s use, flannel, new cloth and sewing materials, valued at $25.00. Office chair, $10.00, from friends. Three chairs for office, from a friend.

The following boxes and barrels have been sent, valued at:

From Bradford Academy $180.00 From North Ave. Church, Cambridge, box, $90.21, barrel, $48.90 139.11 From Providence Central Ch. Aux., barrel 475.00 ———————— Total 794.11

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RECEIPTS

FOR FEBRUARY, 1881.

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MAINE, $841.69.

Auburn. High St. Cong. Ch. $0.75 Belfast. Rev. W. Parker (_part for Refugees_) 5.00 Biddeford. Second Cong. Ch. 15.44 Brownville. Hon. A. H. Merrill 100.00 Calais. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 20.00 Deering. Mr. Bascomb 5.00 Dedham. Cong. Ch. 3.00 Foxcroft. Wm. W. Clark, to const. AXCEL M. CAMPBELL, L. M. 30.00 Gardner. Sarah M. Whitmore, _for Student Aid. Talladega C._ 5.00 Gilead. Rev. H. R. 1.00 Hallowell. Ladies, by Annie F. Page, Bbl. of C., _for Refugees_ Holden. Cong. Ch. 4.50 Machias. Eliza G. Longfellow, Bbl. of C., _for Wilmington, N. C._ Portland. Ladies in Maine, by Mrs. W. E. Gould, _for Lady Missionaries at Selma, Ala. and Wilmington, N. C._ 550.75 Portland. John M. Gould, Box of C., _for Talladega, Ala._ South Freeport. Rev. H. I. 1.00 Thomaston. Cong. Ch. 5.00 Union. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch., _for Talladega C._ 5.00 Waterford. “A Friend,” $4.50; Mrs. C. D., 50¢ 5.00 Woolwich. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $9; Mrs. J. P. Trott, $2 11.00

NEW HAMPSHIRE, $426.92.

Alstead. Third Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.52 Atkinson. Cong. Ch., Box S. S. Books, _for Macon, Ga._ Candia. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 40.00 Chester. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00 Colebrook. H. A. 1.00 Concord. Mrs. C. T., 50¢.; C. T. P., 50¢. 1.00 Dover. M. E. L. 1.00 Dunbarton. W. C. Stinson 10.00 Epping. Miss Hannah Pearson, $5; Mrs. John Billson, $5; _for School House, Athens, Ala._ 10.00 Exeter. Sab. Sch. of Second Cong. Ch., $20; Ladies of Cong. Ch., _for freight_, $3; _for Talladega C._ 23.00 Exeter. “A Friend” 2.00 Great Falls. Mrs. E. A. Tibbets, _for Talladega C._ 3.00 Hanover. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch., _for Student Aid. Atlanta U._ 30.00 Hanover. Cong. Ch. at Dartmouth College 22.00 Hinsdale. G. W. 1.00 Keene. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc., $81; Mrs. J. A. G., 50¢.; J. P., $1; Mrs. N. R. C., 50¢ 83.00 Langdon. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.00 Lebanon. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 40.00 Lyme. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 29.20 Monroe. S. H. 0.51 Mount Vernon. J. A. S. 1.00 New Ipswich. A. N. Townsend, $2; Mrs. Dr. G., $1 3.00 Newport. Cong. Ch. and Soc., to const. A. B. CHASE, L. M. 33.67 Orford. Miss A. E. 0.51 Peterborough. Mrs. E. H. 1.00 Piermont. Sab. Sch. of Cong. Ch. 8.00 Pittsfield. J. Merrill 1.51 Plainfield. Mrs. Hannah Stevens, to const. MRS. SOPHIA R. BAKER, L. M. 32.00 Plymouth. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 20.00

VERMONT, $201.38.

Andover. “Baldwin Family” 1.00 Bakersfield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.25 Bethel. Mrs. Laura F. Sparhawk 5.00 Brattleborough. F. W. K. 1.00 Burlington. Third Cong. Ch. 53.25 Charlotte. Nettie A Parker 10.00 East Hardwick. Mrs. L. W. J. and Mrs. L. A. P. 2.00 Essex. “A Friend” 1.00 Fayetteville. M. K. 1.00 Marshfield. Lyman Clark 10.00 North Craftsbury. Ladies’ Miss. Soc. of Cong. Ch., Bbl. of Bedding, val. $30, and $2 _for freight_, by Mrs. Mary W. Boardman, _for Atlanta U._ 2.00 Poultney. A. M. Knapp 2.00 Royalton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 19.00 Saint Albans. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 43.13 Saint Johnsbury. “A. I. R——y” 5.00 Saxton’s River. E. S. S. 1.00 Shelburn. “A Friend” 15.00 Underhill. E. S. Whitcomb 5.00 Vergennes. W. W. Pierce, $2; Mrs. H. S. and R. T. B., 50¢. ea. 3.00 Wait’s River. J. F. W. 1.00 Wallingford. Cong. Ch. and Soc., Bbl. of C. and $1 _for freight_ 1.00 Woodstock. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.75

MASSACHUSETTS, $5,599.11.