agency, has in marked cases, within the last few years, given encouragement for effort, indicating that the time for China's redemption may be near; and our brethren, on the ground, urge the policy of pushing out more and more into the interior. Blodget tells us: "The country is all open, the climate is very healthful, and the people are kind and accessible." Chapin writes: "Would that we had a hundred men, full of faith and zeal and love, to preach Christ to the countless multitudes who fill up this great plain of Northern China." Stanley exclaims, "O! we need more preaching missionaries. How much we need them, young men preparing for the ministry do not realize, I am sure, or there would be more candidates for the foreign field." And Goodrich cries out, “Alas, alas! more than eighteen hundred years have passed away since our Lord ascended on high, and forty years since China was opened to the gospel, and now, for four hundred millions of men, the church has little more than one hundred missionaries in the field. The fields are white for the harvest, but the laborers are few."" Intelligence is very recently received from Mr. Blodget, that a house has been secured at Pantingfoo, a large and important city, about 110 miles from Peking, and near the same distance from Tientsin, in the hope that, as a result of "the movement for China," at the last meeting of the Board, there will soon be missionaries to occupy that place as a station. And Mr. Chapin writes from his new station at Túngchau, that there are one or two places which he regards as of even greater importance than that to which he has gone. - Not less than six chapels are occupied by the brethren of this mission as places for preaching the word, two at Tientsin, two at Peking, and one at each of the other stations. The engraving in this number of the Herald presents a front view of a chapel which has been occupied but a few months at Peking, near the mission premises. It is the plain building at the right of the picture. A photograph of the chapel simply was sent to the Missionary House, but to make more of an engraving, the artist has introduced, from another source, a part of a Chinese marriage-procession, with other buildings, which must not be supposed really to stand, as in the picture, near the chapel. The building now constituting this chapel was generously purchased for the purpose, and presented to the mission, by one who wishes to be known in connection with this gift only as a friend in China,” more than a year ago. It has been repaired and fitted up for its present use, at the expense of the Board, and was opened on the 1st of September last. May all the hopes of the generous donor, and the desires of the missionaries, be more than realized in the results which shall follow the proclamation of the gospel there. Respecting another chapel, opened in November, 1866, Mr. Blodget wrote, in February following: "There has been daily preaching in it since that time. The audiences are large, varying from 100 to 200 persons." 66 FINANCIAL PROSPECTS OF THE BOARD. STATEMENTS have been made in each of the last two numbers of the Herald, calling attention to the fact that the receipts of the Board were so much less than the necessary expenses as to give occasion for apprehension. It was hoped that this simple announcement would be sufficient to call forth all needed action from the friends of Christ. The officers of the Board have been very unwilling to resort again to such "special appeals" as have sometimes been needful in the past, but which they know to be as distasteful to many friends of the mission cause as they are to themselves. But the time seems to have come when a more distinct note of warning - — a louder call for increasing effort — must go forth. Only six new ordained missionaries have been sent abroad, as yet, during the present year of the Board's operations; the necessity for reinforcement, in several fields, remains quite as urgent as ever; but already vital interests are seriously imperiled by the prospective want of funds. The churches were duly informed in December last, that the Prudential Committee had felt called upon, in faithfulness to the interests committed to their charge, to make appropriations which it was expected would carry the expenses of the year to $525,000. The Treasurer's accounts, thus far, give no reason to hope that expenses can fall much, if any, short of that sum; and of that amount, at least $515,000, if received at all, must come from donations and legacies. But for the first eight months of the year, up to the close of April, the income from these sources has been only $261,159; leaving $253,841 to be raised during the four remaining months. This is $81,100 more than was realized from the same sources during the corresponding months of last year. Peculiar circumstances enabled the Board to meet the expenses of the last financial year from a comparatively small income, but these circumstances no longer exist. It may be that the patrons of the Board have not sufficiently considered, perhaps, in many cases, are not aware of, the embarrassments under which the financial operations of all missionary boards must now be carried forward the circumstances which render expenses necessarily much larger than they were a few years since, if only an equal amount of effort is put forth. First, there is a large increase of prices, upon the gold basis, in nearly all articles, the world over, which has increased the expense of living, and of all operations, probably more, upon the average, than twenty per cent. And to this must be added, in the case of all American Societies, the well-known fact, that the expenses of missions in foreign lands must be upon a gold basis, while the currency in which the income is received has for several years made that income worth, in gold, near forty per cent. less than its nominal amount. Put these two facts together and it will at once be seen, that to support the same number of mission families, and in other respects to do the same amount of work, the Board needs now, in the medium in which the churches make their contributions, a sum at least sixty per cent. greater than when that medium was the equivalent of gold; or $600,000 to do what $375,000 would have done in 1860. But the receipts for three years ending in 1860 were, upon the average, $371,577 per year. For the three last financial years, ending with August, 1867, they were, upon the average, in currency, $473,196, or about $121,000 a year less, in actual commercial value, than before the war! Can the patrons of the Board complain of extravagance on the part of the Prudential Committee? We gratefully recognize the fact, that the native churches, in mission fields, are now doing much more than formerly to support their own institutions, and in some cases to carry forward missionary operations also. But on the other hand, fields are opening; the number of places which should be occupied is increasing; and the number of qualified persons who may be, are, and ought to be, employed as native agents, in the prosecution of the work, is largely increased also; so that expenses in this line of things should not diminish but advance; and the churches at home should by no means consider themselves as relieved by what the native churches do. Indeed, changes going forward among the nations of the earth to no small extent the result of past missionary effort - have from year to year made it more and more apparent, that the fields are whitening for the harvest. Providential openings and calls thus urge us onward in this work; and there seems every reason to believe, that the day of merciful visitation among many nations, and very many millions of men, will be found to be not remote, if the Christian church will but put forth her strength for Christ, and for the world's enlightenment. Look at Japan, for a single illustration of the change that is transpiring among pagan nations. A very few years ago utterly shut up and exclusive in their policy, the Japanese are now "adopting foreign customs, habits, and manners," "eager to make progress in all useful knowledge," "quick to appreciate the advantages of foreign improvements of all kinds," "anxious to perfect themselves in our arts and to study our institutions," and "sending choice young men to this country, to England, and to France, to be educated."* Like changes of sentiment and of practice, it is well known, are taking place in China, India, and other lands. Surely this is no time for the Christian Church to falter in her evangelizing efforts. Never were the calls more loud, or more plainly from the Master, and never were prospects of glorious success so animating. Many bright hopes were awakened, many hearts, in mission fields and at home, were cheered by the action of the Board at its last annual meeting-action looking to great progress in China, and to direct calls for many more men to be the messengers of the churches to the heathen world. Shall all these hopes be disappointed? Shall the church fail to follow providential leadings, and refuse to come to the help of the Lord? Shall the disheartening announcement, at the next annual meeting be, that, instead of having a good supply of men and means for pressing forward, the Board is again heavily in debt? Will not pastors of the churches, all through the land, without more delay, let the people know the facts and the danger, and invite them to increased effort for Christ? Will not the rich now give of their wealth, and the poor of their poverty, (remembering that the Lord looketh at the heart, and counts the "two mites" of the really poor as more than the larger, if they are less liberal, offerings of many rich)? Will not all give as the Lord has prospered them, that we may see threatening clouds dissipated, and that, the tithes being brought in, we may look confidently for God's more abundant blessing on a work which he has ever blessed? Spirit of Missions for May, 1868, p. 369. LETTERS FROM THE MISSIONS. North China Mission. TIENTSIN. (80 miles S. E. of Peking.) LETTER FROM MR. STANLEY, January 8, 1868. Visit to Chu-Chia-tsai. When Mr. Stanley wrote, he had recently returned from "a horseback tour of 500 li [140 miles] to the south, to the village of Ti Ch'i," which place he once before visited, with Mr. Williams, in 1866, and where he now found encouraging readiness to hear the word. He also visited the neighborhood of the remarkable work of grace in Shantung, reported more than a year ago." (See Herald for March, 1866, pages 73-4.) Mr. Innocent, the English missionary, has not of late resided at Chu-Chia-tsai, on account of his wife's health, but spends a portion of his time there, and was now going to the place; so that Mr. Stanley began his journey with him. He writes respecting visits to that interesting field. "My first Sabbath out was spent with him, at Chu-Chia-tsai. The protracted absence of the missionary is even more deleterious to our little churches here than is the absence of a home pastor from his charge. As we arrived late on Saturday night, we had a good opportunity of seeing how the Christians regarded the Sabbath in the absence of the missionary, inasmuch as our arrival could not be known to neighboring villagers till they began to assemble for worship. To our gratification, nearly all the members were present except a few who were sick. The congregation consisted of about 30 to 35, of whom 10 were women. The attention was very good, and I think I never preached to an audience which seemed more anxious to get every word. The conduct and appearance of the women pleased me very much. I should have mentioned, that early in the morning prayers were held in the chapel, attended by a good number of resident members. Their answers to questions on the portion of Scripture read were very gratifying. They showed the care that had been taken in instructing them, and there was also evinced a considerable amount of independent thought, on the part of some." After his visit at Ti Ch'i, Mr. Stanley returned again to Chu-Chia-tsai, and not finding Mr. Innocent at home, went with a native helper to his station, Han Chia. He writes: "I met a number of the Han Chia members, and was quite as favorably impressed with them as with those at Chu-chia-tsai. Their knowledge of the essentials is good, and there was an appearance of earnestness and honesty which pleased me very much. The Christians are beginning to command the respect of unbelievers. Two sons of wealthy villagers came in to see the newly-arrived missionary, and hear him expound. They care nothing for the truth; but they would not have come with this request a year ago. They avoided the chapel. Some six or eight persons came every evening to converse and have prayers with the native assistant, Mr. Hu; and during the three days I was there, not one passed without some woman coming to converse with Mrs. Hu. This brother and sister appear to be doing a good work there, and are full of zeal. Seldom have I spent three more pleasant days than those, partaking of the simple fare of Mr. and Mrs. Hu, conversing with and assisting them in their work. "On Friday evening, I went back to Chu-chia-tsai. Mr. Innocent had returned. Saturday we did some visiting. On Sunday morning, Mr. Innocent went to HanChia, while I remained at Chu-Chia and preached for the little church there again. One man was present who had walked sixteen miles on Saturday, to spend the Sabbath. He has been a member for some time, and states that several in his village are anxious for a teacher to be sent among them. Formerly three persons often came with him to spend the day of rest; but at this season, it takes almost three days to come and return, including the Sabbath, and they cannot afford the time. "In the afternoon, we went to another village, three miles from Han-Chia, and eleven from Chu-Chia, in which there are a few members and an assistant. Here we examined five persons for admission to the church, of whom three were approved. Two others were desirous of being examined, but as it was almost dark, and we had to return, it was thought best to defer further exercises till Mr. Innocent could visit the place again. I returned to Han-chia that evening, feeling that the truth has indeed taken root in this district, and blessing God for what I had seen and heard. This whole section of country is ready for the gospel sickle; but where are the reapers?” Visit to Ti-Ch'i. After his first Sabbath at Chu-Chia-tsai, Mr. Stanley hastened on to Ti-Ch'i, near two days further south, or southwest. There also, and in the vicinity, he found much to encourage Christian effort. He writes: "I arrived there on Wednesday, and was warmly received by the few villagers who had formerly become interested in the truth. I proposed stopping at an inn, about five li distant, but they would not for a moment hear of this. A Mr. Wu, nephew of the person spoken of in my letter of January 25, 1867, said he had a room in which he had recently put a k'ang for the accommodation of myself and others from Tientsin. I was soon settled in my small room, of about 9 by 14 feet, while the donkey had to give way to my horse. As soon as I could get some supper, arrangements were made for an evening service. My room was the only available place of meeting; and this was filled almost to suffocation. Being weary, I did little more than expound a portion of Scripture. Thursday, I had some conversation with old lady Wu and others. I was pleased with the amount of knowledge they had acquired from the assistant who was with them in the summer. With the appearance and conversation of Mrs. Wu, I was particularly gratified. Two others pleased me very much, but none seemed to get so clear an understanding of Christian truth, or so to feel its power in the heart, as she. During my entire stay, she was a frequent, daily visitor at my room, for the purpose of religious instruction. "On Friday I went to Sz-Nu-Sz, a village five li distant, in search of a Mr. Yang, who attended our Tientsin chapel about three months during the summer, with whom I dined. He received me kindly, but did not seem to manifest the same interest in the truth now as formerly. "Every evening a preaching service was held in my little room—which was generally well filled—and then a short meeting for prayer with the interested and inquiring. Some of the prayers offered did my soul good. The form of prayer had certainly been well learned, or else the spirit of prayer had taken form for itself. Yet I would not speak too confidently, so often have we been deceived. During the day, more or less time was occupied in conversing with such as came in. Excepting three persons, no one impressed me as desiring the truth from true love for it, although there were several quite regular hearers. "I think there are three persons at Ti Ch'i, ready for the ordinance of baptism. There are willing hearers of the truth in adjoining villages; and I have little doubt but that a good native assistant, residing perhaps at Ti Ch'i, and spending his Sabbaths there, but during the week laboring among other villages, would accomplish a great and good work. There is a willingness to hear, and to some extent an apparent preparation of heart to attend to the truth, in the rural districts lying south of Tientsin, such as I have not witnessed in any other part of the country that I have visited. Yet we cannot expect pure motives [at first] to actuate a people so superstitious and oppressed as are the Chinese. Present and immediate good is their only thought. Trained to deception, almost compelled to be deceptive by their social and political systems, the necessities of life even life itself— becomes part of a chance game, in which each strives to checkmate all. They have to learn that the missionary can be trusted -that his word is inviolable. When they learn this, sufficiently to express a desire for our instruction, an important point is gained. We have secured an attentive hearing, and good will result." |