Part 4

It has been our custom in previous years to begin our special religious meetings the first of January in connection with the “Week of Prayer.” But this year the Church seemed in readiness at an earlier date, and we felt that we were obeying the call of the Lord to “go forward” when we began our special effort to reach the impenitent, on the night of December 1st. The Friday preceding had been observed as a day of fasting and prayer. For many days the spirit of prayer and consecration had been evidently deepening upon the part of the great majority of the Lord’s people. People who, for some trivial reason, had been alienated, came together in the spirit of forgiveness. A great desire was expressed, and I have no doubt felt, to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. Our lady missionary with unsurpassed devotion, visited all the families of the congregation, making in the short space of ten weeks some 600 visits. The effort was made to reach every one who sustained even a nominal relation to our church, as a member or casual attendant, and invite him to our revival services.

The result was all and more than we anticipated. The church was thronged every night. The very first night several presented themselves for prayer. The number of inquirers increased till we counted more than fifty. One by one, with a quietness and depth of feeling that impressed every heart, these earnest inquirers came into the light, and were made to “rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” The two manly and dearly beloved sons of the Dean of our Faculty, were among the first to share in the blessings of the revival. God only knows our joy when they came forward with the rest, and bowed before God as suppliants for His mercy and forgiveness. Never did the words of Holy Writ, which have fallen from the lips of so many believers, sound sweeter than when one of these young men recited as his verse at the breakfast table, the morning after his conversion, “I know that my Redeemer liveth.”

A pleasant and somewhat unusual feature of this revival has been its influence upon the men. On more than one occasion we counted twelve men on the “Mourners’ seats.” Thirty-four professed conversion. We hope and believe they have been “born again.” A class of 35 are waiting in joyful anticipation of taking the vows of God upon them in the Church, and of receiving their “first communion.”

I should do injustice to my own feelings did I not speak of the earnest sympathy and hearty co-operation of all the teachers in the University in this religious movement. We moved in this matter as a united body, with but one object in view: the glory of God, and the upbuilding of the Kingdom of His Son.

ADDITIONAL REPORT OF THE REVIVAL.

PROF. R. C. HITCHCOCK.

The revival which has been in progress for several weeks at Central Church has been to me a constant wonder. Even in sedate old Connecticut a revival season is usually a scene of much emotional excitement, and it is often impossible to tell how much is sincere and permanent; but this revival has been all through marked by a quiet, deep and reverential character. It was my first opportunity for observation of such meetings among the colored people. I had heard and read a great deal of the tumultuous excitement on such occasions, and each night I looked to see, when they should be fairly “warmed up,” such scenes as I had had pictured. What I actually did see was this. Each night the pastor preached a short, practical gospel sermon, packed full with reasons why religion should be chosen and chosen now, to an earnest, attentive audience. Then he stepped down in front, and in kind but strong words invited all who felt the truth of what had been said and wished to become Christians, to come forward for conversation and the prayers of the church. Most of those who accepted the invitation were men of middle age and young men; a few were young ladies.

Night after night this went on; while the pastor and others were talking with those who came forward, the audience engaged in singing. No general invitation was given to speak or pray, a few only being called on each night to take part. Each night some souls found peace and joy. It was my good fortune to talk with nearly every one of the converts, and I found all, so far as I could judge, thoroughly in earnest; no one scared or urged into confessions, but each, as the new hope was born in his soul, rising, generally with streaming eyes, to tell what God had done for him and ask for fellowship and prayerful help.

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SCHOOL AND CHURCH WORK AT FAYETTEVILLE, ARK.

BY REV. B. F. FOSTER.

We began work here on the 5th of September, and opened school under very favorable auspices. We have had 92 pupils enrolled. Our school is the only one for colored children within a radius of 65 miles. We are giving some attention to church work, and are using our school-house as a place of worship. We have service every Sabbath morning at eleven o’clock—the audiences are large. We are gratified to say that the influence of the teachers takes fast hold upon both parent and pupil. We have Sunday-school every afternoon at three o’clock, and these services are largely attended. Thanksgiving day was appropriately commemorated. A sermon was preached in the morning by the missionary pastor. All who were present seemed deeply impressed with the word. The chapel was beautifully and tastefully festooned with autumn leaves and berries, and the walls were embellished with appropriate mottoes of the sacred Scriptures. At seven o’clock in the evening a very large number of patrons and friends of the school gathered, and partook of a repast prepared as a thanksgiving token for them by the teachers and pupils. Toasts were responded to by the several pastors of the town and teachers. I said we had service in our chapel at 11 A.M. every Sunday. We could induce as many to come in the evening if we had lamps to light up our chapel. Equally as good results would come from a weekly prayer-meeting, if we had sufficient lights. We heartily accept this opportunity of asking the friends of some of our Northern churches to give us of their old ones—chandelier lamps. The Lord’s Supper was celebrated the first time, since beginning our work here, last Sunday. Truly, the Lord was with his people on that solemn occasion. At this service the missionary pastor’s first and only little daughter was baptized, which increased the interest of the meeting. To carry this blessed Supper to Christ’s brethren and sisters, Mrs. Foster’s pie-pans were used for the emblems of his body, and two borrowed mugs for the emblem of his blood. From this the friends of God’s poor will see we would thank them very much to assist us in getting a communion set. The people among whom we are working are very poor. Few of them have homes.

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THE CHINESE.

REV. W. C. POND, SUPERINTENDENT.

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MISSION WORK—GOOD RESULTS.

SACRAMENTO MISSION.—Mrs. Rilla Carrington, who for the last three years has most faithfully and successfully conducted the Sacramento Mission, is required by the state of her health to take a vacation. It will be only a vacation, and I hope and expect that two or three months of recuperation will bring her back fresh and strong, and good for another three years of steady and faithful service. During her absence, her sister will take her place, and will fill it well. In communicating her desire for this respite, she indulges in some reminiscences which, I am sure, will interest our readers. “During the past three years and a quarter, more than 450 have, for a longer or shorter period, been members of our Sacramento school. I would that all who come with us in the school could remain until they are converted and ready to work for the salvation of their people. We know of the good service of many who have gone out from us to visit their homes. For instance, Fong Get Roy, who wrote you something of his work while in China: he has not ceased to labor for Christ since his return; Fong Gee, whose father, now dead, was a heathen priest, was always zealous while here with us; sometimes speaking to his country-men for an hour or more at a time, showing them, in the most ridiculous light, the folly of idol and ancestral worship, and holding up Christ as the only hope of salvation. His health gave out, and he was compelled to return to China—being helped by the brethren of San Francisco and Sacramento to do so. There he is working at his trade for a mere pittance, and giving what time he can for the conversion of his country-men. Wong Loung visited his home a year ago, and was married, in accordance with Chinese customs, to one to whom he had been betrothed in childhood by his parents. Because he had renounced the religion of his fathers, he suffered much indignity from members of his family—the persecutions becoming so great he was obliged to leave home. But the result was that he returned to America more determined than ever to hold fast to Christ. Louis Sing, too, was under great pressure while in China to take part in worship with his relations, but could not, he said, because he knew the uselessness of such worship. We hear of Gwan Lee, our organist, as standing firm amidst the powers of darkness—holding fast to the living faith. He is one of those whom the present law prohibits from returning to this country. We all feel as though we could not give him up, and that some way must be found by which he may come back.

“We are not only made glad by work done far away, but workers are here with us—true hearts that love to do something for Jesus every day. Several have joined the Association this year; among them, Fong Bow, who is one of the class for whom I requested your prayers several months ago. He seemed to have much to hold him back; outside influence made it hard for him to decide. He has been a member of the school so long that we feel more than usually happy in his coming. May we not hope and still pray, in faith, for the other members of the class? This mission work is ever a source of comfort and pleasure to me, and I know I cannot remain away from it if blessed with health.”

LOU QUONG, ON HEATHEN PRAYERS AND REAL PRAYER.

Each Wednesday afternoon I meet the Chinese helpers in the schools of this city for a drill in Bible study, and to receive and remark upon the sketches of sermons, which they have prepared during the week. Here is one which Lou Quong brought in yesterday. James 5:16.

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

My subject is all on prayer to-day, and it is very needful to all Christians, especially to those who really mean to be the followers of the Lord Jesus, and to be workers in the Master’s field. I will mention a few things of the heathen prayers, which were occasionally offered to the heathen gods in China as well as in this city. So far as I can judge there is no true prayer which was ever offered to their gods, and I, having been born in a heathen nation, therefore know them well. Each certain prayer belongs to a certain god. You cannot take one god’s prayer to pray to others; if you do, you will get no blessing, because you got the wrong prayer, their prayers not having to come from the heart, but being learned only from the history of a certain god, so they mostly repeat the words as near as they can remember. There is not a single prayer that really comes from the heart. They come only from the lips; and besides this, when they pray, they do not, like our Christian people, pray for bad and good, and even for our enemies, and for all nations; their prayers are only for a certain thing, a certain matter, for riches, for honors, and for glory, and to have more sons born than girls; for their father and mother, brothers and sisters, that they might have a long life. If they have any one which they do not like, they would pray their God to destroy his whole family. By this we know that such a prayer our true God will not hear, but rather punish them. I have a great deal more to say about the heathen prayer, but I have no time for it just now. So I must go on to the true prayer, which our Lord Jesus Christ taught his disciples to say. Yet even such a true and short prayer as that, which we have repeated every evening in our schools, many of us would forget before we go to bed at night. This won’t do, my Christian brethren. We must give all our hearts to God before we shut our eyes. We cannot pray to God for a certain thing that must be done while our hearts are on something else, or are doubting whether God could hear us or not. Suppose to-morrow you intend to go out and look for a place, so you would pray to God to help you and to give you one, and you believe he will do it, and then when to-morrow comes you would lie in bed until afternoon. Then you got up, thinking that was too late, and would not go. This, indeed, would make you think that God did not hear your prayer last night. This is the whole trouble that sometimes God don’t answer our prayer; but I am very sure that God has heard all my prayers and has answered all which are for good. When we have a certain matter that we cannot manage at all, and when we would bring it to God, we must first make our hearts ready to pray and then without doubting draw out the true thoughts of our hearts and feel that God is above us and Jesus is on one side. Then comes the Holy Spirit into our hearts to teach us how to pray. After we got up from prayer I am sure we can feel that we were heard, and if we are not answered on a certain hour we must wait and pray without ceasing until it comes, for God not, like man, would fail you sometime. This is the kind of prayer that God does hear. So James says, “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much;” that is, God does always hear and answer the true prayer.

CHILDREN’S PAGE.

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MISSIONARY MUSIC.

Have you ever brought a penny to the missionary box— A penny which you might have spent like other little folks? And when it falls among the rest, have you ever heard a ring, Like a pleasant sound of welcome which the other pennies sing?

This is missionary music, and it has a pleasant sound, For pennies make a shilling, and shillings make a pound; And many pounds together the gospel news will send, Which tell the distant heathen that the Saviour is their Friend.

And oh! what joyous music is the missionary song, When it seems to come from every heart and sounds from every tongue— When happy Christian little ones all sing with one accord Of the time when realms of darkness shall be kingdoms of the Lord!

But sweeter far than all, which Jesus loves to hear, Are children’s voices when they breathe a missionary prayer— When they bring the heart-petition to the great Redeemer’s throne, That He will choose the heathen out, and take them for His own.

This is the music Jesus taught when he was here below; This is the music Jesus loves to hear in glory now; And many a one from, distant lands will reach His heavenly home, In answer to the children’s prayer, “O Lord, Thy kingdom come!”

Then, missionary children, let this music never cease; Work on, work on in earnest, for the Lord, the Prince of Peace; There is praying work and paying work for every heart and hand, Till the missionary chorus shall go forth through all the land.

—_Selected._

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RECEIPTS FOR DECEMBER, 1882.

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MAINE, $524.18.

Alfred. Cong. Ch. and Soc. $19.00 Augusta. Miss E. F., 1; Mrs. F. L., 1, _for Tillotson C. and N. Inst. (Land)_ 2.00 Bangor. Central Cong. Ch. and Soc. 150.00 Brewer. First Cong. Ch., 8, and Sab. Sch., 5 13.00 Brunswick. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 45.03 Cumberland. Cong. Ch. and Soc., to const. JOHN BLANCHARD L. M. 45.00 Ellsworth. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 82.45 Garland. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 6.00 Gorham. Cong. Ch. bal. to const. MRS. RUFUS FOGG and DANIEL BILLINGS L. M’s 25.95 Limerick. Bbl. of C., _for Raleigh N.C._ Paris. Mrs. K., _for Tillotson C. and N. Inst. (Land)_ 1.00 Portland. Williston Ch. and Soc., 30; T. B. Percy, 5 35.00 Searsport. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 20.00 Skowhegan. Eddie A. Hussey, 5; Mary Steward, 2; L. P. W., 1; Mrs. L. T. H., 1; _for Tillotson C. and N. Inst. (Land)_ 9.00 South Bridgeton. Cong. Ch. 35.00 South Paris. Cong. Ch., _for Student Aid, Tillotson C. and N. Inst._ 20.00 Yarmouth. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 15.70

NEW HAMPSHIRE, $324.31.

Atkinson. Cong. Ch. and Soc. (ad’l), _for Student Aid Atlanta U._ and to const. GEO. P. DOW L. M. 15.00 Bristol. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 1.63 Claremont. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 17.37 Concord. “Friends.” 3.00 Gorham. Cong. Ch. 2.48 Greenfield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 13.30 Greenland. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.25 Hampstead. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 27.45 Hinsdale. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 9.03 Keene. Ladies Benev. Soc. of Second Ch., Bbl. of C. and $2.50 _for Freight, for McIntosh, Ga._ 2.50 Keene. Sab. Sch. First Cong. Ch. 127.78 Northampton. E. Gove 10.00 Pittsfield. Ladies of Cong. Ch., Bbl. C., _for Marion, Ala._ Rindge. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 2.38 Rochester. Cong. Ch., _for Straight U._ 21.00 Seabrook and Hampton Falls. Cong. Sab. Sch., _for John Brown Steamer_ 7.50 Swanzey. Mrs. R. Williams 2.00 Temple. Mr. and Mrs. Goodyear 2.00 Walpole. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 15.51 Warner. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 9.11 West Campton. T. J. Sanborn 5.00 West Lebanon. Ladies of Cong. Ch., Bbl. C., _for Marietta, Ga._ Wilton. Cong. Ch. and Soc., Bbl. Christmas Gifts, _for Savannah, Ga._ Winchester. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 1.78 Wolfborough. First Cong. Ch. and Soc. 18.24

VERMONT, $557.28.

Alburgh. Cong. Ch. 10.00 Ascutneyville. Dea. N. Gage 5.00 Barnet. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 35.50 Bellows Falls. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 56.44 Benson. Cong. Sab. Sch., _for Student Aid, Storrs Sch._ 5.00 Benson. Ezra Strong, 10; Mrs. Annie Howard, 5; Mrs. L. B., 1; _for Kindergarten, Atlanta, Ga._ 16.00 Burlington. “A Friend” 7.00 Cabot. Cong. Ch. 10.00 Cambridge. “Daughters of Mrs. Nancy Howe, deceased” 5.00 Clarendon. Mrs. Wm. D. Marsh, to const. MRS. GEO. H. MORSS L. M. 30.00 Dorset. Ladies, Cask of C., _for Raleigh N.C._, 3, _for Freight_ 3.00 East Berkshire. E. W. Hatch and Others, 1 ea., _for John Brown Steamer_ 5.00 East Poultney. A. D. Wilcox 5.00 Essex. “Cash” 0.50 Greensborough. Hattie Cutler (a dying girl’s gift), 5; Mrs. K., 1; Mrs. S., 50c., _for Kindergarten, Atlanta, Ga._ 6.50 Hartford. Ephraim Morris, 100; Second Cong. Ch., 26.16 126.16 Montpelier. Bethany Sab. Sch. 11.95 New Haven. A. M. Roscoe, 5; Miss A. W. Kent’s S. S. Class, 2.05, _for Kindergarten, Atlanta, Ga._ 7.05 Norwich. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 12.00 Peacham. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 34.86 Pittsford. Mrs. Nancy P. Humphrey 10.00 Royalton. Sab. Sch. of First Cong. Ch. _for Student Aid, Atlanta U._ 10.85 Royalton. Cong. Ch. and Soc., 16.53; A. W. Kenney, 14 30.53 Saxton’s River. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 11.04 Vergennes. ——, 2; 2 Bbls. C., _for Washington, D.C._ 2.00 Westminster. Cong. Ch. and Soc., 15; Rev. J. L. S., 50c. 15.50 West Randolph. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 9.25 West Townsend. A. R. Pierce. 4.00 Windham. Cong. Ch., 24.50, and Sab. Sch., 4.50 29.00 ------- $514.13

LEGACIES.

Jericho. Estate of Hosea Spaulding, C. M. Spaulding, 10; A. C. Spaulding, 5; Nellie M. Spaulding, 3; E. J. Spaulding, 3 21.00 North Ferrisburgh. Estate of Sylvia Dean, by J. M. and Wm. L. Dean, Ex’s. 22.15 ------- $557.28

MASSACHUSETTS, $6,118.07.