Daily Republican., 1880-04-19
MISSIONS.
Rev. Mr.. Mnfeor tells or tho MIS-.
sion work In ChGna.


After the opening service at Hanover
Presbyterian church Sunday morning,
DR.. Marks, the pastor, read selections
from a pamphlet issued By the Woman's 3
Foreign Missionary Society, which re-
fsrred to the work, its progress, condi-
tion and prospects. Ke then stated that
II had bsen decided to raise thank Of
fering of 100000 this year, and that
the raising Of the money had been left
to one thousand ladies, who were ex-
pec.ed to secure t100 each. One of those
ladies was q member of Hanover church
and she had already amsssed the sum
Of SIS. He hoped no difficulty would
b. met with in securing the remainder
of the amount, and urged upon the
congregation to give freely. He then
introduced the Rev. G. W. Msteer, a
missionary in China for the past six
teen years.
Mr.. Mateer spoke first Of the work of
Cvangilization in China. 1t was
work Of great difficulty. 1t required
first q knowledge OF the China language
and this 1t usually took Two years Of
diligeut study TO acquire. Much trou.
BILE was also to be met in learning thu
manners, literature, history and tradi.
sion of the nation. Added to this is
the hatred Of the Chinese against all
other nations; they have a strong ma.
tional character, which gives riss to
strong national antipathv, Increased
by unsuccessful wars with England and
France. Then there is the opium
traffic, the most besetting Of all vices.
and one which destroys ths bsst people;
a deep hatred of missionaries, and an
unbslief in God, aud a devotion to
iddls. To this unbelief and idolatry is
allied the difficulty of converting the
people and making christians Of them
after they havo bsen convinced of the
truth.
The manner in which the mission
work is carried on consists ott1o mode
OF the educational and eyangelistic.
The educational method is a most i'm
portant branch the influence of souu
doctrine being brought to bear upon the
children, who are more susceptible. The
speaker dwalt but briefly upon this
poiat. and spoke at length upon the
evangelical work.
Preaching was carried on by the mis-
sionaries i'll chapels and in the open
air. The ohapg!s are usually small
rooms rented on principal thorough
fares in the large cities. These are
thrown open during the busy portion Of
the day, and the preacher soon has an
audience, TO which he is unable 10
preach until he has commanded order,
which is sometimes difficult. Open air
preaching is carried on in the villages
and towns. The people flock around
him in little while, and he can usual
ly oouat on quite an audience. The
preacher said that he always found it
better to answer all their questions and
talk about other matters at FIRST, and
thus get their attention before speaking
OF spiritual truths.
In conclusion Mr.. Mateer spoke of
the success of the work, saying that 1t
was very great, considering the obsta-
Gles to b. met with. In his district,
where four missionaries had labored for
eighteen years, there were $50 native
forming ten or twelve
churches. Much other good had been
done IN sowing the seed for future
work and in gaining foothold for
greater success il years to come. He
urged upon his hearers to aid the cause
all in their power.
In the evening Mr.. Mateer lectured
upon the China mission work in Cen
tral Presbyterian church.