Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-03-21
BEECHER TALKING
John ChInaman and the HOOdlum =
Something that Er. BecchSr Learn
cd On his Recent We-tern Trip
HIS Former Dependence on
the Home Missionary
society,

New York E.rchaage: Among the no.
tees read 10y Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
yesterday morning was one announcing that,
after the sermon collection would be taken
up for the benefit of the Home missionary
society. He then preached a characteristic
sermon on the Importance of the society for
whose benefit the collection was asked. and
the influence 1t had exerted, was now exert
ing, and is bound to exert In the future upon
the well-being of this great and glorious
country. Mr.. Bee2her began by a reference
to the prevailing spirit among the Jews be-
fore the time of Christ, which was to stay at
home, and spend all thsir energies in work
ing for their own good-S After the coming of
Christ that feeling changed, and the COM
mand to go into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature was responded to
with will and energy. He then passed to
the more immediate consideration of the SUBJ
ject In hand, and referred to the formation,
fifty to seventy years ago, of the great clvllIz-
ing and outstanding societies of the pres
ent day-the American home missionary
society, the American foreign missionary
society, the American bible society and
the American tract society. They are
all good, he said, and he had no DIS
position whatever to detract from any
of them, but, in his opinion,
the most important of all to US Is the home
missionary society. This country is so vast
and extensive, aud its conditions are so pecu-
ness and magnlicence the Wore he becomes
convinced of the fact that his former boasted
knowledge was but the densest ignorance. If
any man doubted this, let him do as he had
done, and take trip across the continent to
the Pacific coast, and he would, no doubt,
come back BUNDLED at his former ignorance
of what lay beyond the Mississippi river. Mr..
Beecher paid a high tribute 10 the thrift and
industry and intelligence of the PEG. lie of
these States and Territories, and drew g vivid
picture of what they are to be in the future,
when their present meager population shall
have reached something near what their pos
slbllltleS OF development will render them
capable of supporting, and shall be numbered
by the tens and scores of millions. The Pa
cIhc States, he said, are yet to hold the pre-
ponderance of the population of this country
A vast Pacific empire Is rising up on the
western shores of our vast continent, the hem
of whose g2rment we have yet hardly
touched. Ladies and gentlemen, continued
Mr.. Beecher, assuming that deep earnestness
characteristic CT him at certain times, you
know not what problems under Providence are
being developed there. You may smile as
you read of the hCodlums chasing the pig
tailed Mongols through the streets of San
Francisco, and say that they only China
men. Do you know that China contains a
population of $50 100000? That the empire
existed before civilization began in the East
Do you know that in CHINA there are two
thousand colleges. and that their libraries
outnumber ours two to one? DO you know
that In that country there are more than
200, 900 highly educated men, and that out of
that vast population of $50, 100000 there is
scarcely one who cannot read aud write? Do
you know that in good manners, for which
there Is an ample market IN this country
iaughter China leads the world? We have
insisted upon their coming out and they are
coming llaughterl, and somebody has got to
r n Compare the mob loving emigrant with
tue patient industry of the Chinaman, and
you will find no doubt which, in the long run,
will surpass. From China and Japan there
are yet TO come swarms which shall exert a
power of which the Occidental nations have
not dreamed. Oar western coast is Ia posi-
ton where it can command the Orient, and
can tie the world together on that side, as we
have on this. And all these considerations
make 1t important that we should know
what is going on there. 1t is of interest to
Maine to know what California is doing
and some of her statesmen do not seem to
know how to find out Mr.. Beecher then
referred to his recent tri p to California, and
the qualification he felt at one great feature
of the country, which Was that the people
everywhere, whether they cared for churches
or not, were all enthusiastic in regard to the
schools. This he considered hopeful sign.
There is a great need of ministers, he said,
to go forth and plant the gospel In that i'm
portant part of the county, and it is the
province OF the Home missionary society to
furnish the means to send them forth and
support them. Therefore, in behalf of the
Home missionary society, whose treasury
furnished him the means of buying his
bread during the early days of his ministry,
he asked for liberal contribution. The bas-
kets were then passed, and as they came
back to the platform we'll filled, MIR. Beecher
dropped into one of them a card upon which
was indicated the amount ne desired to give
to the cause OF home missions"