Part 4

Besides this drill, we have a class especially for the helpers, a teacher spending two hours a day, for five days in a week, with them. They study reading, spelling--paying particular attention to the meaning of the words--grammar, especially the construction of sentences; with a little history and arithmetic, as there is time for them. But the study of all studies is the Bible; a large part of the time each day is spent in studying it, chapter by chapter and verse by verse, and the end of all study, reading, spelling or whatever it may be, is to understand the Bible, and to be able to explain it to others.

Their pastor, Mr. Pond, gives them one afternoon of each week, spending two or three hours in exclusive Bible study. Two or three chapters are assigned them for study the previous week, and these chapters are carefully reviewed. They bring up anything that has perplexed them, any truth that they do not quite understand, and he makes the meaning as clear as possible. Each one is expected to bring in a sermon from a text given him the previous week. This sermon he reads himself to his pastor, who makes such remarks and suggestions as he thinks may be helpful. The sermons are prepared in this way: The day teacher explains the meaning of the text and the practical lessons it teaches, parallel passages are read that will bring the meaning into clearer view, and it is talked over, so that each one may have a definite idea of what is expected of him. Those who have not had much practice in sermonizing first make a rough copy in pencil, which is corrected by the teacher, after which it is carefully written out with a pen.

We have among our helpers one whose sermons, in their clear insight into the very heart and spirit of the Gospel, in their depth of thought, in their originality of expression and their logical connection, would do credit to a graduate of a theological seminary. Indeed, many a graduate has written worse sermons. One of our class has a sparkling vivacity of expression; his points are pointed, and his illustrations are frequently apt and telling. One of our helpers some time since was highly educated in Chinese. He had a great reverence for Confucius, having carefully studied his writings, committing large portions of them to memory, as is the custom among Chinese scholars. He once made this comparison between Confucius and Jesus. He said: "They are like two bridges. They are both noble structures. You admire the strength of the timbers and the way in which they are framed together, forming the solid foundation and the graceful arch rising above it. You walk on the bridge of Confucius; it is all right till you come to the river of death; then you see the black waters rolling before you--and there is no plank on which you may cross to the shore beyond. Jesus Christ is a completed bridge, over which you may safely pass to the Heavenly home, and to the mansion He has prepared for your eternal habitation."

We do not attempt to teach them any abstruse system of theology; we bring before their minds Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Saviour of men. This text comes up more frequently than any other in their sermons: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life!" We tell them of his pure sinless life; how He went about healing and helping the bodies and the souls of men; how He willingly, gladly died upon the cross that He might bring salvation near, and how He rose from the dead in victory over death and hell; that He now lives in Heaven; that He hears even our whispered prayers, and that He will give His spirit to them whose hearts are open to receive it; that if we would be His disciples we must have His spirit--we must be like Him.

The work is not our own; it is God's work; and we use not our own, words, but God's words, relying upon the promise, "My word shall not return to me void." We have faith to believe that China shall become a Christian nation, whose God is the Lord, and that the Chinese trained in our schools have an important work to do in bringing it to pass. With this faith we work and pray, and we believe that God's blessing is upon us. A Chinaman knows how to read the hearts of his countrymen as one not of them cannot learn to do. If he has a clear knowledge of Gospel truth, and is filled with the Spirit, he can go back to his native land ready for immediate service. A foreigner must spend years in learning a difficult language, and in studying the manners, customs and hearts of a puzzling people. The native knows his people; a very great advantage in his favor. Some of our number are now in China doing good work for the Master. Each year more and more will return; we wish them to be fully armed and equipped for effective service. The Gospel day has already dawned upon portions of that dark land. May it grow brighter and brighter till it reaches its full meridian, making every nook and corner luminous, and sending warmth and glow into every home and heart in that vast empire.

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A CHINESE VIEW OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.

SIR: A paper was presented to me yesterday for inspection, and I found it to be specially drawn up for subscription among my countrymen toward the Pedestal Fund of the Bartholdi Statue of Liberty. Seeing that the heading is an appeal to American citizens, to their love of country and liberty, I feel that my countrymen and myself are honored in being thus appealed to as citizens in the cause of liberty. But the word liberty makes me think of the fact that this country is the land of liberty for men of all nations except the Chinese. I consider it as an insult to us Chinese to call on us to contribute toward building in this land a pedestal for a statue of Liberty. That statue represents Liberty holding a torch which lights the passage of those of all nations who come into this country. But are the Chinese allowed to come? As for the Chinese who are here, are they allowed to enjoy liberty as men of all other nationalities enjoy it? Are they allowed to go about everywhere free from the insults, abuse, assaults, wrongs and injuries from which men of other nationalities are free?

If there be a Chinaman who came to this country when a lad, who has passed through an American institution of learning of the highest grade, who has so fallen in love with American manners and ideas that he desires to make his home in this land, and who, seeing that his countrymen demand one of their own number to be their legal adviser, representative, advocate and protector, desires to study law, can he be a lawyer? By the law of this nation, he, being a Chinaman, cannot become a citizen, and consequently cannot be a lawyer.

And this statue of Liberty is a gift to a people from another people who do not love or value liberty for the Chinese. Are not the Annamese and Tonquinese Chinese, to whom liberty is as dear as to the French? What right have the French to deprive them of their liberty?

Whether this statute against the Chinese or the statue to Liberty will be the more lasting monument to tell future ages of the liberty and greatness of this country, will be known only to future generations.

Liberty, we Chinese do love and adore thee; but let not those who deny thee to us, make of thee a graven image and invite us to bow down to it.

NEW YORK SUN. SAUM SONG BO.

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BUREAU OF WOMAN'S WORK.

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MISS D. E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.

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ILLINOIS WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY UNION.

This society, organized at the last meeting of the General Association at Rockford, is getting under way. Its President is Mrs. A. E. Arnold, of Stillman Valley; its Secretary, Mrs. J. H. Dixon, of Chebanse; its Treasurer, Mrs. E. F. Williams, 4,018 Drexel Boul., Chicago. Its Executive Committee consists of one lady in each of the dozen district associations. That committee has had a business meeting in Chicago. It is providing for the organization of the ladies in all of the associations of the State. Forty of these unions have been organized in as many local churches. The object of the State Union is to aid the A. H. M. S., the A. M. A. and N. W. E. C., A. C. U. and S. S. P. S. Such unions as desire may also embrace the work of foreign missions. As the State body absorbs the work of the former A. M. A. committee, it has also assumed the support of the same special missionaries under the American Missionary Association.

The President and the Secretary have just issued a small folio giving the officers of the Union, the constitution of the State body, and a proposed constitution of an auxiliary. The folio, besides a fresh letter representing each of three of the home mission societies, presents a stirring appeal to the more than 15,000 women in the Congregational churches of Illinois. We quote that part which refers to our work, giving our new associate a hearty welcome and a Godspeed in the blessed work it has undertaken:

The Woman's Home Missionary Union includes not only home missions as represented by the American Home Missionary Society and its Auxiliaries, but all the other great societies which act as the almoners of the gifts from our churches for missionary work in this country. It is eminently appropriate that the work of the new society should include that of the American Missionary Association.

In every Southern State, in the cabins of the freedmen, in the halls of its institutions of learning, are to be found the A. M. A. teachers. Ladies of culture and refinement go from high social circles in the North to endure social ostracism in the South. During its twenty years of existence more than three thousand women have been in this service. Patiently they have toiled, never faltering when their homes and school-houses were burned over their heads, and have endured with Christian fortitude trials that might well have crushed their brave hearts.

Our dark-faced sisters of the South to-day plead with us for love and sympathy, and for the boon of education. Men, both white and black, look upon them in precisely the same light as Turks and Hindoos regard the women of the Orient. The curse of slavery is still upon them. Is it not woman's work for woman to carry the Gospel of Christ to these despised ones? Equally pressing in kind, if not in degree, is the work among the Indians and Chinese, also carried on by the A. M. A. The work by women for women is especially emphasized by its "Woman's Bureau," which is giving efficient aid to the Society in "letting Christ shine among the oppressed and degraded of the sons and daughters of men."

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CHILDREN'S PAGE.

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SHOEBLACK JIM.

In a small, crowded room in one of the rear tenement houses of our great city, where the sun's rays were never known to shine, or the fresh air allowed to penetrate, our little Jim lay dying.

Months before, I one morning saw him standing on a street corner, with his shoe box strapped to his back, calling out in tremulous tones, "Shine, sir?" But the hurrying business men paid little or no attention to the pleading voice or frail form which was swayed to and fro by the bitter, biting December wind. As I handed him a picture paper, I asked, "Are you hungry, my boy?" I noticed the pale, pinched cheeks and the large brown eyes fast filling with tears as he replied, "Yes, miss. I've had nothing to eat since yesterday morning; but granny is worse than me; fur she's had nothing but a cold tater since day 'fore yesterday."

"And who is granny?"

"She lives in the rear alley on Mott; me own mother died over on the island, so granny says, and I guess I never had any father."

"Did you ever go to a Sunday-school or Band of Hope meeting?"

"Laws, no, miss! I've no time. I has to stan' around all day, and then sometimes gits only a couple of shines. Them Italian fellers, with the chairs, takes all the profit of us chaps. Granny says 'tis a hard world."

I handed the child a dime, and told him to get a warm cup of coffee and a roll; then got from him a promise to attend the Band of Hope meeting that afternoon at four o'clock. I hardly expected to meet him again, but was happily surprised to see him walk in,--shoe-box on his back,--while we were singing,--"Fold me to thy bosom." I shall never forget the expression that was on his face as he stood spell-bound in the middle of the floor, and stared at me and the organ. I motioned him to a seat, and he did not move till the music had ceased and the other children were all seated.

My lesson that day was about the great Shepherd that goes out upon the hills and mountains of sin and gathers in the little lambs that wander away from the sheepfold. I did not know, that day, that the dear Saviour's hand was already stretched out to receive this one little lamb that had many times, young as he was, been found tipsy, and also smoking cigarettes that he had stolen from somebody's street stand.

He was a regular attendant at Sunday-school and Band of Hope, and no one joined more heartily in the singing than "Jim." One day, in our children's prayer-meeting, he gave his heart to Jesus. No one could doubt the conversion of that little heart when they looked into the bright eyes and beaming face that continually shone with heavenly light.

One day a messenger came to me in haste and said, "Jim is dying. Hurry, please, miss; he wants to see you agin afore he dies." I hurried; and as I groped my way along the dark alley and up the rickety stairs, I caught the sound of the sweet voice singing "Fold me, fold me, precious Saviour." I entered quietly, so as not to disturb the singer, but his bright eyes saw me, and he said, "Sing it with me once more, teacher." We sang it through together, then he said, "The next time I sing will be when Jesus folds me in His arms. I'll never forget the hymn, but will remember it till you come up there too; then we'll sing it again."

The little lamp of life went out. The great Shepherd had called His little lamb home. There was

"Another gem in the Saviour's crown, Another soul in heaven."

--_A True Story by a New York Teacher, in S. S. Times._

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RECEIPTS FOR AUGUST, 1885.

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MAINE, $574.03.

Augusta. Hon. James G. Blaine $25.00 Bangor. First Cong. Soc. 16.54 Bangor. "Friends," _for Sch. Building, Oahe, Dak._ 15.00 Bethel. First Cong. Sab. Sch., 20; Second Cong. Ch. and Soc., 17 37.00 Brewer. First Cong. Ch. 6.50 Brunswick. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 70.00 Bucksport. "Widow's Mite," _for Pleasant Hill, Tenn._ 1.00 Eastport. Central Cong. Sab. Sch. 5.00 Freeport. L. A. Warner 25.00 Gorham. First Cong. Ch. and Soc., 26.75; "Friends," 16 42.75 Gorham. Sale of Bullets, _for Jones Kindergarten, Atlanta, Ga._ 1.00 Hallowell. South Cong. Ch. and Soc. 24.00 Hampden. Cong. Sab. Sch., _for Indian M._ 10.00 Hermon. F. B. Sab. Sch. 2.00 Minot. "A Friend" 1.00 Newcastle. Second Cong. Ch. 43.25 Norridgewock. Mrs. Caroline F Dole, Bbl. of Bedding, etc., _for Talladega C._ North Bridgeton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.75 North Buxton. Union Ch. 3.00 North Yarmouth. Cong. Ch. 9.61 Patten. Mrs. Jerome Frye 1.00 Somesville. Cong. Ch. 4.45 Thomaston. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 10.00 Waterford. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 12.00 Yarmouth. "A Friend" 25.00 Ladies of Maine, _for Missionaries_, by Mrs. J. P. Hubbard, Treas. W. A. to A. M. A. 178.18

NEW HAMPSHIRE, $389.81.

Alton. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 5.00 Amherst. "L. F. B." (20 of which _for Woman's Dept._) 61.00 Campton. Cong Ch. and Soc. 27.00 Chesterfield Factory. Cong. Sab. Sch. 3.75 Durham. Cong. Ch. 5.50 Gilsum. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 9.42 Goffstown. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 35.00 Hanover. "A Friend" 10.00 Hollis. "A Friend" 1.00 Keene. "A Thank offering" 50.00 New Ipswich. A. M. Townsend 2.00 Pembroke. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 40.00 Rindge. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 4.21 Wakefield. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 15.00 By Rev. Evarts Kent, _for Jones Kindergarten, Atlanta, Ga._--Alstead, Sale of Bullets, by H. A. Lovell, 5.75.--East Alstead, Sale of Bullets, by Miss Chandler, 3.--Amherst, Miss Lucy Boylston, 10; Miss L. G. Clark, 3; Mrs. R. Clark, 2 23.75 ------- $292.63

LEGACY.

Goffstown. Estate of Mary Manning, by Alfred Story, Ex. 97.18 ------- $389.81

VERMONT, $429.44.

Bennington. A. B. Valentine, 10; Mrs. J. B. Meacham, 2; "Friends," 3 15.00 Burlington. Union Meeting First and Third Cong. Chs., _for Indian M._ 85.54 Dummerston. Cong. Ch. 13.19 East Berkshire. Cong. Ch. 12.05 Middlebury. Cong. Ch., 63.71; M. A. Dickey, 50c., _for Indian M._ 64.21 New Haven. "A Friend" 5.00 North Bennington. "A Friend" 1.00 North Danville. Cong. Sab. Sch. 11.00 North Thetford. "A Friend" 1.00 Saint Albans. E. P. Brainerd, _for Indian M._ 1.00 Saint Johnsbury. North Cong. Ch. 11.50 Saxton's River. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 8.00 Underhill. Cong. Ch. 13.00 Waitsfield. Cong. Ch. Sab. Sch., _for Indian M., Fort Berthold, Dak._ 12.00 Wallingford. Cong. Ch. and Soc. 45.00 Westford. Cong. Ch. 4.00 Westminster West. "A Friend" 5.00 Woodstock. Ladies, _for McIntosh, Ga._, by Mrs. Henry Fairbanks 7.20 By Rev. Evarts Kent, _for Jones Kindergarten, Atlanta, Ga._--Benson, Ezra Strong, 5; Sale of Bullets, 5--Enosburg, Mrs. Theron Baker, 10.--New Haven, Mrs. Eliza Meacham, 50; Rev. C. H. Kent, deceased, 10; Friends, 6; Sale of Bullets, 8.20.--Poultney, D. F. Southworth, 5.--Rochester, Earl Osgood, Sale of Bullets, 1.25.--Swanton, Sale of Bullets, by Mrs. Squier, 3.30.--West Haven, "Friends," 10 113.75 ----. W. G. Shaw 1.00

MASSACHUSETTS, $9,825.94.