The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-05-29


ing country, have manifested to listen to the
instructions of the gospel, as well as the
willingness they have showed to place their
children under Protestant instruction, can
not fail to have struck the attention, ana
excited the interest of all who love the cause
of missions. Three young men of more
than usual promise have been added to the
communion of the Church within few
months, making the whole number of adult
communicates seventeen.
But the great and urgent want of this
mission at the present moment is means to
establish high school, where the rising
generation may be gathered in large num-
bers and be fitted for the duties of life, but
especially where they may be trained to be
teachers and preachers of the gospel. The
most intelligent portion of the community
have manifested very strong desire to have
such an institution established, and it would
no doubt be thronged with pupils as soon as
opened. A very eligible lot, sufficient both
for missionary residences and the educational
institution, has been purchased and paid for
Six thousand dollars are needed to put up
the necessary buildings. The Executive
Committee have not felt able to appropriate
more than $1,000 from the general fund for
this purpose, and it is now proposed to raise
$4,000 by contributions from individuals who
can afford to give to this without lessening
their ordinary gifts to the general cause
Cannot one hundred persons be found who
can eve $50 each to, make up this sun A
number have already entered their names.
Who will follow?
CHINESE MISSION.
Nothing of very marked character has
attended the missionary work in China dur
ing the past year. The arrival of Mrs.
Houston there last autumn greatly cheered
the house and hearts of our brethren, and
it is hoped they will be still further COM
forted and cheered by the arrival of the
missionary party now on the way. The
brethren on the ground have enjoyed good
health during the year, have prosecuted their
work in peace and quietness, and have not
been without comforting tokens of the divine
presence in the various departments of their
labor. The schools, in consequence of the
acce8sions to the missionary force, will be
placed upon broader and more solid foun-
dation. 1t is probable also that the station
at Guchow will be exchanged for one nearer
to Hanchow. By this arrangement our
brethren will be brought nearer to each
other, and will work more effectively than
they could when separated by so great a
distance as intervenes between Guchow and
Hanchow. Hanchow itself is strong posi-.
ton, and may be made the centre of one of
the strongest missions in the world. All
that is necessary to make it such, with the
blessing of God, is an adequate missionary
force.
GENERAL CONDITION OF THE WORK.
We have now as Church of the Lord
Jesus Christ reached that point in the great
prosecution of the work of evangeizing the
nations of the earth, when it becomes US sol
emily to review our situation, to consider the
responsibilities that have been assumed, and
to inquire what is further demanded of us
IN the present crisis By the providence Of God.
1t has recently been remarked by one of the
leading ministers of the Church, "that we
have Knocked at no door in the great un-
evangelical world that has not flown wide
open, and revealed to US fields of labor of
almost indefinite extent" This is preemi-
nently the case in Chisa and South America,
to say nothing of those other great divisions
of the unevangelized world which we have
not yet even essayed to enter. The founda-
ton for great missionary work has been
laid in at least three important centres in
this great kingdom of moral darkness. The
languages of the people have been studied
and mastered; the glad tidings Of salvation
havesbeen proclaimed around these centres
churches have been organized and humble
pentents have been gathered into those
churches; schools have been established and
many youths have been gathered into those
schools most of whom, it is hoped, will be
come teachers and preachers of the Gospel
But our missionary brethren who have been
the honored instruments in laying the foun-
dation of this work find they have reached
the limit of their power to sustain and carry
it on. They are now calling earnestly upon
the Church to be sustained.
Nor have they called in vain. The hearts
of our young men, and our young women too
have been stirred by these calls coming from
the distant ends of the earth. Besides the
eight missionary laborers mentioned in pre-
vious part of this report as having already
gone forth to these different fields, eight or
ten more will be ready to go in the summer
or early autumn, if the means can be found
to send them. Among the latter class, are
four young men of more than ordinary prom
Use, who have just completed their theo-
logical studies and have placed themselves
under the direction of the Executive Com
mittee. Shall they be sent? Shall this
solemn call from the Spirit and providence
of God be needed? What response shall be
made to these young brethren, whom we
have every reason to believe have been sum-
moned to this work by the Holy Ghost, and
who are responding to this call from above,
by saying, "here are we, send US" to carry
the light of salvation to these benighted ma
tons. This is a matter in relation to which
the Committee desire to hear the voice of
the Assembly, and to them this solemA liz
quiry is directed.
After careful consideration of the whole
matter, the Committee have come to the con-
clusion that in order to carry On the work
already undertaken and send out the pro
posed reinforcements, the full sum of $780,
600 will be needed. Will the churches fur
nish this amount? The Committee think
there will be no doubt of the matter, if only
ministers and church sessions can be relied
upon to bring the subject fully before the
people.
All of which is respectfully submitted on
behalf of the Executive Committee of For
eign Missions.