Part 4

The property was well enough, and there was work enough to be done among the dense native population settled upon or near it; but an ordained minister to be the pastor of the church, a married man, a man fully qualified for the great and responsible work, one after God’s own heart, earnest, energetic, efficient, spiritually minded, with a paramount love for the lost souls of his own people, was wanting. The good seed had been sown, but there was needed some one to harrow it in, nurture the growth and reap the harvest. In this extremity God raised up one who seems to be the right man for the place. Mr. Kemp is a graduate of Lincoln University, and ably represents the thorough and practical training of that institution. With his coming and installation as pastor, the struggling church took heart, and determined, forgetting those things which were behind, to press forward toward those better things which they believed were in store. The examination took place on Saturday evening, April 9th, and was well attended, and although Mr. Kemp was feeling somewhat unwell at the time he stood the long and searching fire of questions, theological, wise and otherwise, with credit to himself and with great satisfaction to the council, which, besides the “my-doxy” members, was composed of representatives of various shades of theological opinion. This fact indeed formed one of the pleasantest features of the council. Here in the midst of a heathenism rendered fouler and more corrupt by contact with an immoral civilization, and in a common work for a common Master and a common people, party names were wholly forgotten. One of the best and most earnest prayers that I have ever heard was offered on this occasion by an excellent brother of the Church Missionary Society, and he had no book before him or gown on his back. The ordination exercises on Sabbath morning were attended by a full house, while a deep sense of the solemnity of the hour seemed to pervade every heart. The Holy Spirit was manifestly present to sanctify the new relationship with the outpouring of His grace. As appropriate to the occasion, the third chapter of the First Epistle to Timothy was read. The sermon, full of earnestness and spiritual power, was preached by Brother Evans of the Shengay Mission. The charge to the people by Brother Jowett was partially historical, reviewing the course of the church in times past, and counseling sound wisdom for the future. Brother Nurse, who knew something of the wants of the field, gave the charge to the pastor; and Brother Jackson, of whose growing work at Avery Station a fuller account will be given at another time, as his co-worker in the mission, very feelingly gave his brother missionary the right hand of fellowship; while it was my privilege to offer the ordaining prayer. After the benediction, pronounced by their new pastor, the people, with tears of gladness in their eyes, flocked around him and his good wife, whom they had already learned to love, for a hearty hand-shaking, which, as some one has truly said, is also one of the means of grace. Can it be necessary, after this little glimpse, so hurriedly taken, of the hopeful relation just entered into, to ask the sympathy and prayers of all the friends of missions for the blessings of God to rest upon the new missionary and his work at Sherbro’ Island? He will have many trying hours in that dark land, where there are worse things to be feared and harder to be contended against than physical death. But the promises are his as well as ours, and unitedly we can plead them at the throne of grace. The promises of God include Africa.

FOOTNOTE:

[A] The location of Mr. Kemp was a matter of such importance, considering the fewness of the workers and the demands of the work, that it called for and received the most careful thought and attention. After considering the subject in its various bearings, and after duly consulting with all the persons concerned, it was finally decided to station Mr. Kemp and his wife at Good Hope.

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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., Robert B. Forman, Rev. T. K. Noble, Hon. F. F. Low, Rev. I. E. Dwinell, D.D., Hon. Samuel Cross, Rev. S. H. Willey, 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, A. L. Van Blarcon, Esq., George Harris, Esq., and the Secretary ex officio.

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

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ANNIVERSARIES.

BY REV. W. C. POND.

Since my last communication was forwarded, the four Mission Schools in San Francisco have held their anniversary at Bethany Church, a crowded audience being held attentive and interested till nearly 10 o’clock. An address delivered on that occasion by Jee Gam was forwarded in advance of delivery, and published in the last MISSIONARY. Last evening, Sunday, May 22d, the anniversary of the Sacramento Mission was held at the First Congregational Church in that city. The _Record-Union_, the leading paper at our capital, devotes nearly a whole column to a notice of it, including a verbatim report of the address by our helper Lem Chung. I am sure that I cannot put our columns in the MISSIONARY to better use this month than by reproducing that address entire.

ADDRESS BY LEM CHUNG.

DEAR FRIENDS: I am a Chinese. Why I not be a heathen? A few years ago I didn’t know anything about the Bible. I didn’t know about Christ. I had not heard of the true and living God; but I heard of this land, where so many of my countrymen came and I come too, and here I found Christian people who loved Christ, and for His sake love me and show me the way of life. When I first hear of the Bible I didn’t think I like it. I said: If no other books, I don’t care for this one; I don’t want such a book as this. I thought I didn’t need any more gods, for I said I have all kinds in the temple, and I could see them if I go there, but the God I hear of in America I cannot see! When I learn in the Bible what it says about the heathen gods that are made of silver and gold, the works of men’s hands—how they have mouth and cannot speak, eyes cannot see, ears and cannot hear, noses cannot smell, and hands but handle not—I learn also the God of the Bible made all things and sees us all the time, every thing is ruled by His hands. We must fear him, for He is powerful and glorious, but the idols is unwise. I am obliged to leave the idols and come to worship the true God, and trying to observe His law and commandments the Bible shows me how sinful I am, and if Christ had not come to the world to save me I am sure get lost.

After I was converted I study the Bible more and more and learn great deal, great wonder to me. Now the Bible is a precious book. I am glad I accept the Saviour for my Saviour and His God for my God. “I pass from death unto life, from darkness and bondage of sin into the glorious light and liberty of a new creature in Christ Jesus.” What I expect to do if I still be a heathen? I must be bound to worshiping idols, bow down to all kinds of gods; great fear to them and not dare to touch them. Whenever I enter the temple, cannot without three bow to the idols.

The people of China are great superstitious; they believe every things whatever chance to hear or think. Let me tell you how some of the people doing when any of the family getting sick: They have a doctor, but they think some kind of spirit troubling them, it may chance their ancient father or friends or enemies who died before. They think they must offer something for them to eat that they may go away, or some times they go into the temple to pray to the idols. They hope the idols may tell what are the reason with the sick that they find out how they may do and get well. How the idols can tell them? Let me make known to you: A piece of wood has been smoothen in the shape of a banana and cut in equal size the longest way. This they throw down before the idols that they may give a certain condition according which they request before; may be they say: If this is the spirit of an enemy let this pieces of wood fall both the same way, or some other way, they may choose, till they find out what is the matter and offer sacrifice that the spirit may leave off troubling and let the sick get well. The thief can pray the idols that he may get help to steal! The gambler can ask that he may win the money; the robber that he may be able to get what he wishing for. If any kind of business going to be taken up the idols must first be asked about it. Every one is sure to say, “Now, idols, if you help me good, I going to bring you something nice to eat when I get success.”

When I was coming over to Cal., suddenly a storm came up, the wind violent sweeping over the great ocean; the water dashing high upon the boat. The sailors all at work to make the ship more safe. The passengers all trembling with fear and desperate to arrive in San Francisco. Is there any chance to be rescued from the storm? Yes, soon there was heard one of our number calling: “Whosoever man in this ship have any money let us have some of it, that we may sacrifice to the goddess of the sea that she may deliver us out of the storm and let us arrive safe to the land of Cal.” I had a small sum of money. I gave half of it; others gave also. The man cast it into the water and asked the goddess that she let no harm come to us, and we promise more sacrifice if we get here.

There are many reasons for going before the idols, but I have no chance to tell so much as I like to. A few weeks since I was in San Francisco. I found some of the people from the town near my home in China, getting money to send and build a temple over there. Every one who give to help build it can have their names hang up in the temple, but if any one who give $20 to $50 they have a present, and at the time of first worship or dedication a band of music to honor them on their way home. Some of them asked me to give, but I said, “No, I cannot, I rather put money in the missionary fund.” They said, “Your parents will feel sorrow and disgrace if they not see your name; but if you don’t want your name you can give and have your parent’s name put there; no one of your Christian men know it; you can be a Christian just the same.” I said, “I do not wish to help my parents to sin; I don’t believe idol worship and I cannot help about it. If I be a Christian I must try to live like one.”

There is a great difference in the religion taught by the Saviour and that of the heathen. It is great change to me to try to be a Christian, to know the true God who sees us all the time. I have worked many things for the idols. I feel thankful I shall do so no more. Before I come to the light my life was gloomy, miserable, hopeless; always was fearing the evil spirit going to trouble me; but I don’t fear them now.

Would I go back to idolatry? No; the Bible says, “Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image, or likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shall not bow down thyself to them nor serve them.” I cannot serve idols again; but I will try to serve my heavenly Father, and bring all I can to bow down to Him. I wish every one in China and America knew about the Bible. I thank all Christian people that they led me to the true way. I hope you will pray that I may always be faithful, and at last receive the crown of life and dwell with God in the world to come.

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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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We are glad to bring before our friends this month the work among the colored people in Washington, D.C., as it has been carried on there by Mrs. C. B. Babcock. In her field, as in that of our other Southern missionaries, the industrial work occupies a prominent position. Here the women and children learn lessons of practical value to them, as they are taught to cut and make their own garments and repair old ones, while at the same time they are instructed in truths of the highest importance. In a letter recently received, Mrs. Babcock writes of this work: “The ladies of the Congregational church have given 180 yards material for the industrial work, and a few of them gave a supper to the women’s class, numbering fifty. The women have made 102 new garments besides mending 100 old ones during these three months. This has been of untold help to them and their families.” Her girl’s sewing-school numbers 135. The natural outgrowth of these schools has been prayer-meetings for the women and young girls respectively. “The mother’s prayer-meetings have been deeply interesting of late,” she tells us.

There is much need of temperance work all through the South, and it is encouraging to read of the new Band of Hope in Washington. “It has succeeded beyond my expectations,” Mrs. Babcock writes, “not only interesting the colored churches about us, but also bringing in, as officers and helpers, some of the colored public school teachers and students from Howard University. There has been a good deal of enthusiasm about our meetings. Of course, our exercises must be made interesting, and I work hard for it, but _it pays_, when I see such audiences as we’ve had. And then I know that our Scripture readings and lessons from the Temperance Catechism must do good.”

Mrs. Babcock has worked in Washington in connection with the Lincoln Memorial church, which was organized January 10th, and Rev. S. P. Smith installed as pastor. Of this church she writes, under date of June 3d: “Our little church is prospering, having now twenty-one members, some being added as fruits of our revival. * * Rev. Mr. Smith is greatly encouraged. I have made over an old carpet for the platform, helped to buy chairs, Bible and communion table, so that when our pulpit comes we shall be nicely fixed. Our hall is very large and rather _dreary_ without any pulpit furniture. Nobody knows but those who have worked in the field, how great are the obstacles in the way of forming a colored Congregational church. We have the same jealousy and bitter feeling from the _churches around_ us that there is farther South.”

Speaking of the sickness and suffering among the colored people, Mrs. Babcock says: “I feel that I’ve been greatly blessed in having friends at the North respond so nobly to my appeals for help. I have sold a great deal of clothing, and the money received for it has done much good.”

In connection with this allusion to the generosity of Northern friends, it may be well to mention that in the last six months boxes and barrels of clothing, sewing materials, etc., have been sent through this Association to the amount of $1,674.00, and, in addition, books and papers valued at $93.88.

Since the annual meeting in October, six of the auxiliaries alone have contributed $1,228.70, the largest contribution being from the Second church in Dorchester, of $445.70.

We would gratefully acknowledge, too, the hearty response to the appeal for Sunday-school papers for the colored schools in the South. We have on hand still a long list of Sunday-schools waiting for supply.

Receipts of the Association from April 25th to May 31st, 1881:

From Auxiliaries $349.45 ” Donations 174.50 ” Life Members 60.00 ” Annual Members 12.00 —————— $595.95

Donation of Case’s Maps of United States, British Provinces, etc., from S. M. H.

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CHILDREN’S PAGE.

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THE STORY OF REBECCA.

BY REV. J. E. ROY, D.D.

The following incident in the life of a freedwoman affected me very much. Let me tell you her history.

In the old times, Col. Holly, of Middle Tennessee, was known as a kind master; but failing in business, his slaves had to be sold; then, hoping to retrieve his fortune, removed to Arkansas, taking with him two little slave girls, one of whom was Rebecca, four and a half years old. Here she grew up in his family, and was married to a man who belonged to another master, and who hired his time, paying one-half his wages as a mechanic.

In Tennessee her mother was, of course, taken away to another family. Her father, who had not belonged to Col. Holly, had already been sold to the Red River country, where he soon after died.

Recently, at Little Rock, I was a guest for five days in the house of Rebecca. Her husband owned his home, together with two other places. Her only son and a son-in-law were teaching school, and she was mothering the two little girls of her deceased daughter. On the centre table were a large family Bible and a copy of Shakespeare, both rich in binding and illustration; and on the walls were some, not costly, but tasteful and suggestive pictures, one of which represented Abraham Lincoln, Charles Sumner and John Brown. Her deportment was that of a lady; her company enjoyable. She said she remembered well the time and the scene when she was taken from her mother. The screaming was yet ringing in her ears. She bore in mind the last words of her mother, as she put a little red flannel shawl round her neck: “God bless my child! God bless my child!” She had in memory also her own crying and bursting of heart. So, too, was fresh in her mind, her weeping of nights in the new home, until, upon the imperative chiding of master and mistress, she was obliged to repress that relief of hidden sorrow.

Her young mistress, who was of about the same age, upon growing up, was sent to the High School of the city, and she herself was kept at home, and not allowed even to learn to read the Bible, out of which she was to be judged at the last day. She did experience a keen sense of injustice and of murmuring; but all of that she was obliged to suppress.

But what had become of her mother? “After freedom,” twenty-one and a half years since the parting, she came over to look up the daughter. But how shall there be an unmistakable recognition? Col. Holly and his wife have both passed away. Fortunately, a woman, who came over with the family, still survived. She brought the mother to the home of Rebecca, and pointing to her said, “That is your daughter.” Then such hugging, kissing, and shouting of joy and weeping, as is the sensation of the neighborhood. I am sure that I never heard a daughter speak with more enthusiasm of love, concerning her mother, than did Mrs. Solomon. She thought she would have known her anyhow; and her mother half came to the same conclusion when with such accuracy she depicted the scene of the parting.

And now she must go to visit the old family. Though the master and mistress are gone, in their place is left the daughter, whom she had nursed upon her own breast, and who is now married to a Northern man. Old times and scenes and friends are talked over, but soon she gives vent to the pent-up sorrows of the mother’s heart. With all the intensity of a great nature, she told of the grief at her separation from Rebecca. It was as though she had dropped blood from her heart; she went weeping and mourning every where. “I wept as I was making the bread, and _them that eat the most of my bread eat the most of my heart_.” So David had said: “Thou feedest them with the bread of tears.” The old colored people told her she must pray and the Lord would remove all that. In her prayer it seemed as though there were deep waters and high mountains between her and her child, and that the Lord would have to send men and remove the mountains, and make a way over the waters so that she could come to her child; and now He had done it all, and brought her to tell her story to the remnant of the old household. The young mistress, while her husband walks the floor in deep and mute emotion, herself bursts into tears, and as her only relief, declares: “My father was such a man that he never would have done that thing if he had not got broke.” “Oh,” said the sable matron, now rising up from the crushing of her womanhood, “I never thought anything about what _caused_ it.” As Rebecca came to freedom she tried to learn, but her work for bread and the clumsiness of her unused powers were so great, she desisted, and now her Bible is read to her by the children.

Will you who have heard this true story help the American Missionary Association with your pennies and prayers, in their work of educating these poor people?

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RECEIPTS FOR MAY, 1881.

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MAINE, $132.04.

Auburn. Mrs. B. J. $1.00 Bangor. First Cong. Ch. 19.37 Bethel. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.60 Brunswick. “A Friend,” _for Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 20.00 Camden. “A Friend” 1.00 Falmouth. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. 6.00 Kennebunk Port. Second Cong. Ch. and Soc. $7.70; First Cong. Ch. and Soc. $5.50 13.20 North Yarmouth. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 7.18 Orono. Cong. Ch. 1.73 Thomaston. Cong. Ch. and Soc. $6; Infant Class, Cong. S. S., $2 8.00 Yarmouth. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 43.96 Waterford. S. E. Hersey 2.00

NEW HAMPSHIRE, $446.29.

Acworth. Cong. Soc. 15.90 Bath. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 7.00 Bedford. Mrs. S. French, _for Student Aid, Williston Sch._ 2.00 Canterbury. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 18.50 East Jaffrey. Benj. Pierce 5.00 Exeter. Second Ch. 5.00 Hinsdale. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 18.61 Hanover. Cong. Sab. Sch., by Chas. P. Chase, _for Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 30.00 Lebanon. Miss Mary L. Choate, to const. MRS. O. W. BALDWIN, L. M. 30.00 Mason. Ladies, by Anna M. Hosmer, _for Wilmington, N.C._ 7.50 Manchester. C. B. Southworth 25.00 Mount Vernon. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 15.00 Orford. Cong. Ch. and Soc., $20; Mrs. M. B. Pratt, $10 30.00 Pembroke. Cong. Sab. Sch. 11.13 Plymouth. North Cong. Ch. and Soc. 85.08 Rindge. Cong Ch. and Soc. 2.17 Rochester. “J. M. and Sister,” _for rebuilding, Tougaloo, Miss._ 10.00 Swanzey. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 17.00 Walpole. Cong. Sab. Sch., to const. REV. FRED. L. ALLEN, L. M. 30.00 Winchester. Cong. Sab. Sch. 11.40 —————— $376.29

LEGACY.