The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-05-14
From the Missionary.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM REV. a
C. DU BOSE.
sooCHow, CHINA, Feb. 7th, 1873.

CHINESE AUDIENCES.
1t is truly privilege to preach here. Our
chapel is crowded, literally packed, each
time it is open for service; aid one hundred
men, and sometimes twice thai number, hear
the word of life. The door is thrown open,
and those passing along the street stop and
look in. They are invited to come in and
sit down, and are told not to be afraid, that
we don't wan. their money. The minister
commences talking, and one or two come in
side, and perhaps stand and read some of
the notices that hang on the walls, or the
Lords Prayer, or Ten Commandments; then
several walk in; then a stream of men; and
in FIVE minutes, or, at the most, fifteen, the
chapel is full. Soon some have to leave !;
and they go and others take their seats; and
again perhaps quite number will jump up
and 90 out, but generally the large majority
sit long time. l have seen twenty or thirty
stay two or three hours and listen to several
proclaim salvation. Generally, good order
is maintained, as one of US remains in the
rear of the house and make them sit down,
while the other breaches. The fine atten-
ton they give is point to be noted; there
is an earnest fxedness of gaze, which We
generally see only in Presbyterian churches.
The prompting motive in their coming and
listening is carsosity-still the people hear.
As ours is the only foreign chapel now
open, our brethren often come to preach,
and many natives who reside here, or pass
through, also are invited, so several times a
week we have little camp-meeting," and
l think have never heard preaching where
there was more adapta6ility. The subjects
discussed are the simple truths of salvation.
The main points are LIST, Sin; I'd, Jesus
The Saviour gives the model of preaching to
the heather. At one time delivering for
NAL discourse; again, few words; at another
time, starting with some present incident, he
interweaves into his sermon all the great
fundamental truths, and brightly impresses
zach with example and illustration.
But though these people listen, their ears
are dull of hearing, and their hearts waxed
gross. True it is, think they, that all men
who are sinners will be punished in hell; but
we are not the ones, it is those people over
in the west. Never a more self-righteOus
nation since the days when the meek One,
cried: "Scribes, Pharisees. hypOcrite8. -
60 fools, and slow of heart to believe. ="
Perhaps special emphasis should be placed
upon the law, that it may be SchoOlmaster
to bring them to Christ.
The Chinese are certainly remarkable
people. Present arguments, and they will
accept your conclusions. They will assent,
for example, to what you say, when you tell
them the words of the Prophet, that they
will burn one end of piece of wood in the
FIRE, and with the other make god; yet
they will straightway go off to the temple
and burn incense.
AN AGED INQUIRER.
Yet God is not unmindful of US. One
old man for cid men are sometimes saVed)
who heard the word preached in our chapel,
came again and again; afterwards he came
daily to our native helper to receive instruc
ton, and is now applying for membership,
and as far as the eye of man can see, is
sincere believer. He was carpenter, and
has made living for his old age. During
the war few years since, all the houses