Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-04-03

In exhOrtiug his flock to subscribe
to the home missions, DR.. Henry
Ward Beecher said last Sunday night:
This country is so vast and extensive
and its conditions so peculiar that the
more a man learns Of its yastness and
its m~agnifeence the more he becomes
convinced of the fact that his former
boosted knowledge was but the dens-
est ignorance. If any man doubted
this let him do as he had done and
take a trip across the continent to the
Pacific coast, and he would, no doubt
come back humbled at his former ig-
norance of what lay beyond the Mis-
sissippi river. Mr.. Beecher paid a
high tribute 10 the thrift and industry
and intelligence of the people Of these
States and Territories, and drew a
vivid picture of what they are to be in
the future, when their present meager
population shall have reached some
thing near what their possibilities of
degelOpment.wi render them capable
o disappearing aud shall benumbered by
the tens and scores of millions. The
Pacific States, he said, are yet to hold
the preponderance of the population
Of this country. \ vast Pacific en-
pire is rising up on the Western
shores of our vast continent, the hem
Of whose garment We have yet hardly
touched. ladies and gentlemen
continued Mr.. Beecher, assuming that
deep %earnestuess characteristic TO him
at certain times, you know not what
problems under Providence arc being
developed there. You may smile as
you read Of the hoodlums chasing the
pig-tailed ,MoRgols through toe
streets Of San Francisco, and say that
they are only Cinnamon. Do you know
that China contains a popopulatiOn Of
450,0O0,0002 That the empire existeS
before civilization began in the East?
Do you know that in China there are
1000 colleges, and that their libraries
Outnumber ouls ten to one? Do you
know that in hat country there are
more than 100000 highly educated
men, aud that out of that vast
population Of 10000, 900 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 laugh
teri, China leads the world? We
have insisted upon their coming out.
and they are coming [laughterl and
somebody has got TO run. Compare
the mOb-loying emigrant With tho
patient industry Of the Chinaman.
and you will have 20 doubt which, in
the long run, will surpass. From
China aud Japan there are vet 70
come swarms which shall exert a pow
err of which the Occidental nations
have not dreamed. Our Western
coast is in a position whore it can
command the Orient, and can tic
the world together on that side, as we
have on this side. And all these con
siderations make it important to know
what is going on there. II il of inter
est TO Maine to know what California
is doing-and some Of her statesmen
do not seem to know how to find out.
Mr.. Reecber then referred to his
trip to California, and the grstifca-
uon he felt at one great feature Of
the country, which wa that the poo
pie everywhere, whether they cared
for churches or pot. we're all enthusi
astic in regard 10 schools. This he
considered hopeful sign. There is q
great need Of ministers. he said. 10 10
forth and plant the gospel in that part
of the country, and it is the province
Of the Home Missionary Society to
furnish the means to send thom forth
and support them. Therefore. in bc.
half Of the Home Missionary Society
whose treasury furnished him tho
means of buying his bread during the
early days Of his ministry. he asked
for a liberal contribution. The bosk
cts were then passed, aud as they
came back to the platform we'll filled.
Mr.. Beecher dropped into one of them
q card, upon which was indicated the
amount no desired to give to the cause
o home missions.