The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-04-04
For The CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Extract of a Private Letter from the Rev.
Ben Helm, Of Hangchow, China.
HoNIEwARD BOUND FROM SHANGHAI I
Ianuaru O6 IA 1877

hoMEWARD BOUND FROM SHANGHAI,
January 26,h, 1877. }
have recently been to Shanghai to
put little book to press. 1t is in the Mandarin
diaIect-has ninetyseven hymns and six doxologies'
Only twenty'seven, or there about, of the hymns
are my own TRANSACTIONS. It cost me good
deal of labor and will cost me $500 to print 600
copies. Mrs. Randolph will help me by $50 con-
tributon, taking about $40 of it, in books for her
school, hope quite number of the books will
be wanted, and have sent round prospectus
to various mission stations to see. Already about
700 copies have been subscribed for: but that even
will still leave me some $500 $500 to pay, over
and above immediate sales. This will take some OF
the funds had laid by to go home on, Uia Europe:
but that is small matter, if God blesses the book,
as hope He WILL There are several such books
appearing in the ShapSSIi dialect; but that is
local; whereas Mandarin Is used 10 number OF
provinces, and ought to be the High German" of
China. My feeble effort is the first of the kind
Sabbath School Hymn Book with music and
words in that dialect Excuse all this about my
little book but every one, you know, feels an In
terest in his own work,
would have begun my letter yesterday, but it
was so cold in this almost open boat, with strong
Nor. wester" blowing, that [ could do nothing
but try and exercise patience it was easy enough
"to keep cool" certainly, as l read home papers,
For two days since leaving Shanghai, [ have had
to tie up" and lay by for the day, waiting for the
tide, as the bead.wind was too much for the boat
man to face with adverse tide. availed myself
of the opportunity to preach and sell books in the
towns off which we lay. But to stand in the wet
and muddy streets, with the thermometer some.
times below 320 and the wind blowing gale, is
itinerating under she weather" as we'll as under
difficulties. Still sold IS or 100 books. And
strengthened myself in the trial of patience with
the thought that possibly God had some elect chill
dren in those places, and He was thus OBTAINING me
by head winds that might leave there the seed of
life. know it will not be in vain that l preached
Christ and left His word there. The day left
Shanghai, letter came from Mr. Du Bose saying
Miss Stafford had the measles. got a physician
to 90 up Is it not a shame for three or four mis-
siOns to be left in 500 without any physician p
Won't some one of experience be willing to come
there?
| was interested in your account of the
Japs in the Centennial Exposition. And you
thought John Ohinaman boorish? To foreigners
he can be very bear But speak to him in his
own dialect, and no FrenChman is potter. There
is friendliness about the japanese that is win
some to one who has been rubbing against the
sharp corners of Chinese exclusiveness And it
would make work in this land perfectly charming,
we're this people to change as Japan is changing.
But the very traits that make the Chinese SO slow
in receiving the truth, will make them all the
frmer adherents oft when once they are thorough
ly imbued with it.
When in Shanghai [ called on the family of Mr..
l., one of the persons who prevailed on the
Chinese cffioisls to send $50 young Chinese to
America and Europe to be educated. We were
ushered into the psrlor where the lady of the house
received us in native Dress with one grown daugh-
ter, also in native dress with the addition of frill
and ck-tie. An older daughter afterwards en-,
tered, walked up to u.s. and shook hands in foreign
fashion. They both speak English admirably /:
having been educated in England. The younger
one soon arose and took her seat near nay young
companion c., for tete-d-tete strange for a
Chinese lady to do, but natural as life The older
had crochet work in her hand, and brought out
her book of pressed firms, talked Botany, 3d. &c
They had been at the Centennial, and had brought
home With them sterescOpic views. The mother
had copy of the Bible Society specimen of the
language il which the Bible is printed. Il wish
had copyl) 1t did not seem like talking to Chi
nese to sit and converse with these ladies'; and
how 1 did desire to see all China Christianized
and foreignized On Sabbath one of the young
ladies played the organ and led the singing in the
foreign Sabbath School.
4 When had my boat " tied up, and saw
little steam launch belonging to the Chinese off.
Gals puff BY did long to see China thrown open
to Western innovation. When will the stupid
heather be wise even for this world But the
time is coming The officials will have steam
launches to tow their boats and steam cars, (they
have bought fifteen miles of railway near Shapg.
hail aud coal mines. After while the people
possibly will get something from their avaricious
monOpolizing grasp May the day be fastened,
say, as | write in my cold, open boat, with foot.
stove hung between my knees to keep me little
warmer than would be with only four suits of un-
derclothing on
Saturday. SnOw-storm on US, and still not at
Hangchow. 0 for steam, or even horse instead
of a man to tow have tired myself out helping
to tow the boat but my health is now fine, though
it was slow in getting up to the Fall standard this
year. ~ If it be the will of God would like
to labor for China for forty gears Rest will come
soon enough"
have copied portion of our friends letter,
principally to induce such as are interested in our
mission work in China, to help this solitary aborer
to bring the hymn book through the press. lie
asks no such aid at. our hands, though he well
might. But it does seem hard, that out of his
slender salary, put down to the lowest point at
which missionary can be supported, this one man
(who has given hmsef) should contribute IN
n,oaa, to this work Of publication, more than any
one individual perhaps, in our whole Southern
Church. Ought this so to be? Will not some
few Christian men and women who sympathize
with, and pray for Mr.. Helm, in his self denying
labors, send a special contribution to DR.. Nell.
waine, P. 0. 33l, Baltimore, Nd, to aid in pay.
ing the cost of this Mandarin Hymn BookP
NIP.
LITERARY FAoTs-The first book in EGG