Various

“ There are 8,000 liquor saloons in the city of New York. Last year they paid for licenses $600,000. This money, strange to say, is divided up among charitable and reform institutions in the city. Saloon keepers pay $600,000 for protection by law, while they carry shame, sorrow and ruin to tens of thousands of their fellow-beings. Surely the American Missionary Association ought to receive the $350,000 asked from the churches, as it tries to carry the Gospel to twelve millions of the most neglected and ignorant of our American population. ”

“ They have no duty between Emperor and officials, parents and children, elder and younger brother, husband and wife, or even between friends; but we, Chinese, are taught by our great sage, Confucius. His teaching on these duties is above all that men ever taught on earth. The foreigner has not the son of heaven (meaning the Emperor) . When he is 21 years old he leaves his home and thinks no more of his parents; not only so, but leaves them to take care of themselves. The husband lends his wife to his friends, who walk with her arm in arm on the street. ”

“ Society has settled to its normal condition. Now is our opportunity. Let us plant churches, strengthen and multiply Sunday-schools, establish Christian schools, and thus keep out saloons and places of evil resort. It is always easier to keep the devil out than to get him out.
Many of our A. M. A. Sunday-schools are rejoicing in new libraries, the gifts of the “Congregational S. S. and Publishing Society,” and the “Western Tract and Book Society.” The thoughtful Secretaries of these societies have the hearty thanks of the field workers. ”

“ The way of courtship and marriage is like that of beasts. He knows no politeness, [55] no integrity, no modesty, and no shame; in fact, all foreigners are barbarians. Confucius said: “I have heard of barbarians becoming Chinese, but have never heard of Chinese becoming barbarians.”’ He continued at length in that way. Gin Foo King and I listened till patience failed us. ‘Where did you get your knowledge about the foreigners?’ I asked. ‘What do you know of the Bible?’ He gave no answer. ‘Who are these people that Confucius called barbarians? ”

“ An old lady who was a slaveholder, dying, bequeathed her colored man, John, and her dusky maid, Jane, who sustained to each other the relation of husband and wife, to the trustees of the church, to be used as far as possible for the ‘glory of God.’ I was curious to know what course was taken, and upon investigation found that, after meditation and prayer, the pious trustees sold their living legacy at auction, and with the proceeds sent a missionary to China. ”

“ All the more should an issue be met when forced by such people. Better that a millstone be hanged around the neck of the institution and that it be drowned in the midst of the sea than that it be made an occasion of offense to one of Christ’s little ones. Christ is in the world in the person of these little ones, and he who insults them insults Him, and he who insults Him insults all who love Him. ”

“ They are taxed to the very utmost of their strength and have turned away between fifty and sixty children, who would gladly walk many miles each day, if they could be accommodated. The Bible readings at some of the sisters’ houses, held twice a week, and also the Bible instruction and society meetings which are held at the teachers’ home, are all undertaken after school hours, so that an idea can be formed as to the exceedingly heavy task bearing upon them, but the promise is still as certain to-day as of old, “As thy day so shall thy strength be.” ”

“ No section shows a more prosperous laboring population than the negroes of the South, none in fuller sympathy with the employing and land-owning class. He shares our school fund, has the fullest protection of our laws and the friendship of our people. Self-interest as well as honor demand that he should have this. Our future, our very existence, depend upon our working out this problem in full and exact justice. ”

“ The fact that contributions come from so many churches and individuals, in amount sufficient to maintain so great a work as the Association is carrying forward, is a demonstration that they have the love and hearty support of tens of thousands, some of whom make large sacrifices to contribute as they do. ”

“ I have learned that there are some peculiar hindrances to teaching the Indians, so that it is by no means always easy. I have learned, also, that the teachers, with all their happiness in their work, see enough of sickness and ignorance and evil many times to make their hearts ache. ”

“ There are 215 stations, in charge of 422 workers. Each station is a centre at which mission work is organized for all the region round about. To him who scans it carefully the list reveals the variety of the work. It is both evangelistic and educational. Church planting and building; Sunday-school work; primary, normal, industrial, collegiate and professional training, are all represented, because the people need to be instructed in everything secular, social and religious, that pertains to civilized life and well-ordered society. ”

“ While the children were busy in cutting, fitting and sewing, their teacher gave them useful lessons in Bible texts and truths; sensible suggestions for every-day life, or rudimentary lessons in arithmetic, geography and grammar. To many in these classes this instruction is all they get during the year, and no one can estimate its value. Indeed, the A. M. A. churches are usually a sort of information bureau to the congregations.
The pastor of one church which I recently visited said to his people: “Some of you cannot read; all of you are very busy and find it difficult to get time to read ”

“ The teachers and scholars were just returning after vacation. The teachers seemed especially happy in meeting the scholars and one another, and beginning work again. I had never known a company of people with so much care who seemed so light hearted and hopeful, and I thought “They love their work.” ”

“ These children always take the attitude of devotion during prayer, and sit quietly and with serious demeanor through three or four services on Sunday. They seem to enjoy it, too, even when there is a part that they imperfectly understand, on account of the use of two languages in these services. They love Bible stories and hymns, and accept what they are taught concerning religious things, with a simplicity that I have been used to finding only in the youngest. ”

“ Would you claim that you are more enlightened than she?’ I then explained to him that those whom Confucius called barbarians were people within the Chinese Empire; his China was a small country, covering only a few of the present central provinces, and all the people outside that district were esteemed to be barbarians. There were no Americans when he lived, and as to English and Germans, he knew nothing about them. He did not call them barbarians.”
When the pupils heard this, they laughed at the pretentious scholar. Since then he does not loudly and boastfully contend ”

“ Perhaps it is because they are so shut in by themselves here. They know little of the indifference or half concealed hostility to religious truth that is so common in larger communities, even among those who attend church regularly.
During the first weeks here, while our windows were constantly open, I was struck by the amount of singing I heard. From more than one of the houses where the scholars live I could hear the hymn sung at morning prayers; then came the voices of the school in their opening exercises, and later of the music classes. ”

“ Towards sun-down the young folks began to scatter to their respective homes, everybody seeming to be delighted with the day’s proceedings, and wishing in their hearts that Christmas day came once a month. ”

“ Despite the discouragements and trials incident to their work, they are neither cast down nor discouraged. On this point their testimony is strong and continuous. They have the joy of their Lord’s presence and the sustaining power of His almighty grace. “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” has become the gladsome song of their hearts. ”

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“There are now other Magazines in the field of notable excellence, which lay claim upon the public attention,
but the ‘ATLANTIC’ remains the best distinctively literary Magazine in the country; a Magazine which
no person interested in the literary movement of the day cares to be without.
The programme which it has announced for the present year, is an exceptionally
attractive one.”—The Christian Union, New York. ”

“ Even the brave potato-man, who was marshal of the day, could scarcely sit still on his potato-horse. Perhaps they felt good because they were going to raise the A. M. A. debt.
And it was just as Mabel and Olive had said: Miss Haynes did buy a jack and Miss Leonard a nun, and Miss Ilsley and Miss Pratt both took dolls. Then those who had jacks wanted nuns and those who had nuns must have jacks, and no one could resist the acorn dolls, their heads rolled off so easily. ”

“ They are happy, also, in the knowledge that they are loved and honored by those for whom they labor. Father Riggs was almost worshipped by the Indians who knew him. E. A. Ware is a sainted name that thousands of colored people, young and old, are ready to rise up and honor, and whose very mention is an inspiration in their hearing.
We recall to our readers words spoken by Prof. W. A. Crogman, himself a fine specimen of the Christian scholar and thinker such as his race is capable of producing under Christian training. ”

“ We drop into a mountain cabin and there find the usual inmates of such mountain homes—a pale-faced, tired-looking woman, with the “old woman in the shoe” sort of family. The oldest of the children is a girl of eighteen. ”

“ He was a pompous fellow, who, though he is only a servant, dresses like a very rich man. Working for $16 per month, he wears a purple figured silk coat and a gold bracelet. He puts on the appearance, in the school-room, of high breeding and great learning. ”

“ They are happy, too, in the knowledge that they have so many friends and such generous supporters. The fact that the list of their names is so long proves to them that their work has taken a large hold upon the churches. ”

“ Thus these churches are training the people to a wise exercise of their citizenship.
The three theological students from Fisk University who were ordained at the State Association in Nashville, in November, find ready [51] opportunity to prove “their calling” by preaching in the church at Goodlettsville. This church was organized last year, and has not yet secured a settled pastor. ”