We are like the two American boys.  One says to the other:  “My father is a Christian; is your father a Christian?” The other boy replies, not wishing to be outdone, “Oh, yes, my father is a Christian, but he is not working much at it just now.”  That is about the way with this nation, nominally a Christian nation; we are not working much at it in the way we are treating the Indian, Chinese and colored man.  We want the nation to act out the principles it believes in.

Mr. Gladstone said he divided the English nation into classes and masses.  The masses, he added, have as little regard for the doctrines of the Gospel, as the upper classes have for its precepts.  Now we have not only to give the precepts of the Gospel to the Chinaman, but we must inculcate its principles in the heart beyond all danger of eradication.  If we do not do this, we shall act little better than the Chinese do themselves.  A man was once asked how much he weighed.  He replied, “I weigh 160, but when I am mad I weigh a ton.”  We need the madness born of a great zeal, the enthusiasm kindled by the Gospel, then shall we be able to lift up all classes and conditions of men.

When we get anointed for this work, and carry the Gospel with all the earnestness of our faith, and all the patience born of the example of Christ, then we shall realize our fondest hopes for the Christianization of the Chinese and of other races in our country.

We have only a few thousands of Chinese in our country, and whenever one of these becomes a Christian he is much like a Christian in apostolic days.  He is raised above his former life, loses largely the sympathy of his own people, and is regarded as an apostate from his ancestral faith.  It costs, therefore, a great deal to become a Christian under such circumstances, yet there are joyous, devoted Chinese Christians preaching, with signal power, the Gospel to their brethren, and living so as to be Christian luminaries among their idolatrous kindred.

I consider it no inferior part of this Association’s work that it is expending its efforts among the Chinese now resident on the coast.  We have, however, only made a beginning; much, very much, remains to be done.  We have to conquer political prejudices, and invite to our faith with warmest welcomes those for whom Christianity has such priceless boons.  If we raise up amongst them missionaries to go back to the crowded Mongolian Empire, this society will become an institution not only for Christianizing the conscience of our nation, but also an agency for training up and sending forth missionaries for the neediest of lands.  Let it be ours to evince a friendly fellowship and true devotion to the despised, and kindle a manlier faith and larger Christian service.

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BUREAU OF WOMAN’S WORK.

MISS D.E.  EMERSON, SECRETARY.

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