The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-06-22 00:00:00

THE FAMINE IN CHINA.

The famine is still the most prominent topic in the China
papers. The North China Herald of April 27 says :
The Shencao of the 19th ultimo publishes a state-
ment to the effect that several hundred refugees from
Shansi and lianan have arrived in Shanghai, and that
arrangements have been made for their accommodation
outside the Southern gate of the Ohinese city. The
same paper adds that they are said to be the pre-
cursors of 3,000 more, for whose provision arrange-
ments have already been made. The tide of emigra-
tion from the famine-stricken districts is beginning to
set steadily in towards the Southern provinces. Soochow
and other large towns in this province are already
burdened with the support of several thousands of
these refugees, and we hear that a first instalment of
the same has reached Ningpo. The latter city has
also been invaded by gangs of refugees from flooded
districts in the Hu Kwang provinces, who appear to
be moving in large numbers, and exacting relief in the
most determined manner. Some hundreds or more of
them, we are informed by a correspondent at Ningpo,
made a raid upon a Chinese house in the foreign settle-
ment on Saturday morning last, and took forcible
possession of all the money and moveables they could
find.
The Gazette of the 22nd of March contains an eloquent
lament over the sufferings of the people from the
famine which is devastating Northern China. The
Emperor, as is customary, attributes to the short-
comings of Government such a manifestation of
Heaven's wrath. The officials accordingly throughout
the country are desired to earnestly second the court
in its unwearying exertions for improvement; the
officers of the Imperial household are to exercise the
strictest economy, "for if only one candareen can be
saved, there is one candareen more to be distributed
in relief ;" and a further appropriation of Tie. 200,000
and 16,000 piculs of grain is ordered, for use in Ronan
and Shansi.

DEAN STANLEY AND THE NAVAL
VOLUNTEERS.
On Sunday morning a special sermon was preached
at Westminster Abbey by Dean Stanley, on behalf of
the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers, about 200 of
whom were present, under the command of Lord
Ashley. The abbey was densely crowded. The text
chosen was from 1 Corinthians, chap. xii. verses 4 to
6: "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same
spirit. And there are differences of administrations,
but the same Lord. And there are diversities of
operations, but it is the same God which worketh all
in all."
Dean Stanley, in the course of a stirring sermon,
said there are sometimes barriers and circumstances
thrown across our ways which we cannot overleap ;
but all these things remind us that we are in the
hands of an unseen heavenly Father. And so it is in
the life of a nation. There is much which can be
effected by the energy of great men and the force of
individual will; but here, also, we find operations,
workings of agencies that restrain that energy, which
moulds that will, and directs that force. Look at
England as she lies on the globe, and we see what
are those peculiarities and firmations which have
tended, above all other things, to make us the nation
we are. Look at her seagirt possessions, and cliffs,
and headlands—all these are the works not of man but
of God. An old sailor was asked for what purpose
shoals and rocks were created, and the reply was,
"That sailors may avoid them." A Christian philo-
sopher, using that axiom, upon being asked for what
purpose trials and temptations are sent, answered,
That we may overcome them and use them." In
concluding his discourse, the Dean said that in this
evil world, where it is so difficult to do good without
doing harm, any one may well be thankful to belong
to a service so good and so Christ-like as the work of
the seaman. it is the work of Jesus Christ, because
it is a work good for man, and because it resembles, in
a literal sense, His work on earth.