The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-01-13
CHINA MISSION.
LETTER FROM REV. B. HELM.


teresting letter from the Rev. B. Helm, of Ken
lucky. 1t was dated from the steamship
Great Republic" October 26, 1868. Our breth-
rem were on their highway on the sea, near
to the coast of Japan, and in fine health and
spirits. Believing that much good may be done
by engaging the interest of our people in this
and other missionary operations OF our Church,
we publish most of the letter. They arrived at
San Francisco, Oct. 8, 8 o'clock, A. NJ, and
sailed for China the same day.
We left the wharf at 4 P. NJ, when
we had leisure to consider our new situa-
tion and fellow travellers. The ship is
second to none in elegance, and second
to but one in sea going qualities, which We
have fortunately had no occasion to test.
The officers are dignifed and courteous
gentlemen. The passengers number only
twenty-five, first cabin. They are very
pleasant companions, but are "without
God in the world" By the time we had
partaken of sumptuous dinner, elegant.
ly served by Chinese walters, the fog had
become so dense that we had to cast an
chor and lie to till A. NJ, five miles
from the city, and still in the harbor.-
This was trial to many who had hoped
to spend Sabbath with their friends in
San Francisco. But to us the Sabbath
was delightful. We had come from
vessel crowded with passengers, to one
where Sabbath air seemed to pervade
everything. We called on the captain
rs. Doane) to inquire concerning divine
service. He informed US that the Com.
pauy required the Episcopal service to
be read every Sabbath morning, and that
he would have to read it if we would not
do it for him; and that in the evenings
the ministers aboard held such services
as they saw proper. We then accepted
the management of divine service while
on board. The captain has rendered US
all assistance needed; e. g., yesterday
one week ago, we crossed the 1SOth par
allel early Sabbath morning, where we
had to drop one day to compensate for
the time gained in sailing with the sun.
Thus, early Sabbath morning we were
ushered into Monday, and the bulletin
was headed Monday" But there was
notice posted for services both morning
and evening. And thinking the Lord
Justly entitled to one-seventh of our time,
we, for the first time in our lives, kept
Sabbath on Monday. Now our Sabbath
comes while you are closing Saturday s
work. Since the first Sabbath, we have
had two services each Lords day; and
though our Lord has, as yet, withheld
all visible fruit, we know our labor has
not been in vain. And feeling that we
have not been as faithful as followers in
Paul's and Christ's footsteps should have
been, we yet have been permitted to bear
witness to the truth as it is in Christ
against Unitarian and sceptical objec
tions, both in private and in public
preaching. Thus, "Christ has beer
preached, wherein we rejoice, yea, ant
will rejoice"
The remainder of our time on boar(
has been spent in studying-chieAy works
upon China and Japan. We have als'
had the pleasant opportunity of studying
Chinese and Japanese. From Sir Ruth
erford Alcock's "Three Years in Japan,
and Mr.. ELEPHANTS "Lord EIgin's Mis-
sion," we were led to rank the Japanes
much above the Chinese as a people, il
all respects, except their capacity to lie
which Chinaman may equal, but no
surpass. Their country, also, as seel
through those gentlemen's glasses-Ob
scured by the smoke of war just clOse'
by their government with China-was
small Eden, as compared with China
But there are two sides to every ques
ton. We have four japanese on board
returning from America, where they hav
, been studying. One of the most pleas
ing features here is, they are studying
their Bibles, and are eager for instrue
r ton, so that we have been able to ez