The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-01-12
From the Missionary for January.
a Letter from Rev. ]. L. Stuart.
HANGCHOw, September 7, 1875.

| uANOCHOW, september 1, 1919.
"The heat of summer, which was unusu-
ally intense and protracted this year, has
passed, and it gives us great pleasure to say
that the health of each member of our mis-
sion has been unusually good, with the ex-
ception of Mr.. Painter, who was sick about
week with the chlls and fever. He is now
very well and is gaining strength every day.
My wife and Miss Kirkand'have been per-
fectly well, and never felt better since the
first day l set foot on Chinese soil. feel
perfectly well. There has been but one case
of serious sickness among the fifty odd Chi
nese-teaohers, scholars, and servants-who
live in our place. This one was little girl
in Mrs. Randolph's school, who was sick a
few days, but is now we'll There is reason
for great thankfulnes8 to our Heavenly Fa-
ther for His goodness to us in this respect.
The uncertainty Of lie was brought very
suddenly and forcibly to our minds one day
in the middle of the summer by hearing Of
the death of the Roman Catholic priest, who
lives only half square from us, and the
light Of his window is visible to US every
night. He was sick only FIVE days, with bill
ious fever, believe, but we did not hear Of
it until after his death. He was French
man, but no communications ever passed be-
tween us and him.
Mr. and Mrs. DuBose came down about
the middle Of August and are still with us.
Mr.. Helm and Mr.. DuBose started on an
evangelistic trip to-day, expecting to be alb
sent about ten days. They go in the region
of Hai-ning and Bingwee along the Hang
chow bay, the same region that Mr.. Hous-
ton visited last December.
l have just read over the second time the
account of your trip to Brazil and feel deep
ly interested in all you say about that deeply
interesting people and land. We long for
such an awakening to stir the dry bones of
old China-and We believe it will come. Yes,
she is beginning to feel little uneasy even
now. We sometimes almost envy our breth-
rem in Brazil, who do not have to wait so
long for the reaping-yet + believe there is
not one amongst us who would not prefer to
labor in China to any other part of the
Lords vineyard. This is simply from the
fact that we believe it is the Master's wiH.
In the fall Of 1877 we expect to hold
general Missionary Conference at Shanghai.
Missionaries from Japan, Burmah, and Siam
will also be invited to attend, and We hope
that many who are interested in missions
will come from America and Europe to see
and hear for themselves the facts and fea-
lures of the work which will be developed
by the conference. We have often spoken
to each other cf cur hapes that ynu~might--.
attend. We think that the benefit would be
mutual. You might give advice from your
standpoint, and might get clearer ideas and
better information on the ground and at
such meeting than in any other way. And
that information might be of incalculable
value to you and to the work here and to
our beloved church.
We were all very glad Of the removal Of
the Committee to Baltimore, and we hope
that the most saDguine expectations Of the
friends of the removal may be realized. We
are glad to hear of Mr.. Yerger's appoint
ment to China and hope to greet him sOOn."