The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-07-31

HANGCHoW, CHINA, ApraE I5h, 1917.
To the Sabbath Schools:
My Dear Friends-After an absence of
more than four months l am in Hanchow
again. The day after my arrival it was my
privilege to go to church and join in worship
with other Christians. 1t gave me great
pleasure to see the boys and girls with happy
faces, singing some of the familiar songs of
Zion, and listening to the preaching of the
gospel. 1t seemed to me that it would de-
light your hearts if you could only see them,
and that none of you could regret that you
had given anything to have them taught to
turn from the worship of dumb idols to the
worship of the true God Every one of them
is better off now than they could have been
had you not sent forth the money to support
and educate them. The girls would have
been brought up in ignorance, and, when
grown, would have been sold for wives to
any man who would give the most for them.
Now they are taught, not only the things
which are useful in this life, but also those
which are able to make them wise in the life
to come. As to the boys, it is probable that
not one of them would have received good
education, and only a few would have heard
the plan of salvation.
You have done very much for them, bat
am sorry to say that one very important
thing is yet wanting, and my object in writ
ing to you at this time is to call your atten-
ton to it. The boys need house. For
three years, with the exception of few
months, they have lived in rented house.
This house is a very unsuitable place for
them, and am sure that, if you could only
see it, you would think so too, and try to
give them better one.
First 1t is too small for them. They are
crowded together in two rooms upstairs, and
have no place for play or recreation except
the school-room, and no place of privacy, for
reading, study or prayer. This is trying on
their health, and drawback to spiritual
growth.
Second. 1t is in bad situation. til on
one of the large streets, and it is hard to
keep the boys from running out into the
street, where they see and hear much which
is not for their good.
Third The foreign teacher cannot stay in
the house during the daytime, for several
months in the summer, on account of the
heat. Even in some Of. the warm days of
March, Mr.. Helm was not able to remain in
his room during the afternoon. Now with
out the constant oversight of the foreign
teacher the school is almost useless. He
must be with them, both to control them and
teach them Christian doctrine
We therefore think that it is necessary to
give them a more suitable house. We have
already bought lot on the hill, near to the
other lot, for two hundred and eighty dol
lars, and have already made contract with
workmen to putap house. The houseis
to be two stories high, with seven bedrooms
up stairs, a school-room, dining-rOom, and
two rooms for the foreign teacher down
stairs. When finished it will cost about thir-
teen hundred silver dollars.
But where is this money to come from
One of us advanced the money to buy the
lot, from his private fuuds-and all the pri-
vate funds belonging to us all have been of
fered for the building of the house, but this
is not enough, We thought that when the
great need of house for the boys. was known
by the Church at home, they would not rest
until suitable house was provided; so l
have written to you thus fully and plainly
on the subject, leaving it to you to do as may
seem right.
With much regard, yours truly,
JOHN L. STUART.