The record-union., 1898-04-02
Afternoon Session.


the business of the society was trans
acted, followed by greetings from other
societies os Sacramento.
Mrs. E. B. Purnell said she was glad
that the movement was on foot to car
ry the Gospel to those who are in dark
ness. She was glad that to-day, in
stead of cavilings over points of
doctrine, all denominations are bending
their energies toward missionary work.
She knew that when a few years ago
the missionaries were mobbed in China
and their lives and property were de-
stroyed, the secular newspapers in
commenting on it, practically said they
had no business there, and might bet
ter hae stayed at home. But they
were obeying the injunction to carry
the Word to all nations of the world
There are new avenues open to women
| in these days, and this is one Of them.
She was glad to welcome the associa-
ton at this time.
| Representatives of several other So
cieties made addresses Of welcome. and
a soprano solo by Mrs w. l. Magray
| followed
An interesting address on christian
Missions and Social Progress was
made by Rev. R. ]. Johnson.
He said that he thought that no
sane man would deny that Christian
| missions were a power for progress.
1t is a fact to-day that such missions
have a dynamic force in social progress
| If rightly directed they cannot fail to
have a good effect but it must be wise
| ly managed. We must not attempt to
| Overturn the social life of the Chinese
and impose on them American civiliza-
ton. We must leave them their Gus
toms and social life. but try to eradi-
cate the cruelty and barbarism that
exists among them. The opium habit
| is one of the worst things to be broken
| up. Opium was not used in China till
the East India Company introduced it
in order to make money, and now there
are 2O,0GO,000 of the degraded victims
of the drug Self-torture is another of
| the evils to be eradicated 1t is prac-
ticed in the most horrible forms, those
who do so thinking it makes them
more holy.
In India, woman is degraded, and
while all sects of Hindoos agree that
| the cow is a sacred animal they all
| agree that woman is a depraved being.
| In some countries the female children
are put to death Polygamy and the
custom of suttee also keep the women
| degraded. There are many other evils
to be corrected one of the greatest be-
| ing cannibalism Education is a great
| power, but it is not a moral power,
and unless rightly used is detriment.
So patriotism is not moral force I'm
! less properly directed. Buddhism,
| Brahminism and Confucianism do moth
| ing for the people. The Gospel is doing
away with many of these abuses and
customs gradually, and taking up the
| social part of the question.
MRS. BROWNIES ADDRESS.
| Mrs. P. D. Browne, President of the
| Occidental Board, made an excellent
| address on THE Home Side of Foreign
| Missions"
| She asked If we, who are strong and
| able to help the heather. do not do
so, are we not guilty in the sight of
| God? The cruelties and abuses of
heathenism are terrible. It is very
easy in our cushioned pews to take the
matter easily. but have we the right
| to do so? 1t is all very we'll to say,
| Let them go on and believe what they
| please. They are happy and contented
So Suppose they are taught better
and lifted up, will they not be happier
| than they now are, if their condition
is improved and they are relieved from
! their burdens? We never know how
wide-reaching is the effect of a word
| spoken earnestly and in season, and
how much good it may do.
| Think of what Rome was under
Nero. and yet what good Paul and the
| early Christians were able to do to
| lift up the people So it is with the
| work of the missionaries. People who
read the papers or books always find
Whatever interests them: they find
what they are looking for If they are
interested in missionary work. they can
| find plenty of information concerning
| 1t, while those who take no interest in
1t think that nothing is being done by
the missionaries We are leaving out
too much in these days of various
church organizations of the education
OF the children in relation to these
matters. When they are taken to the
| meetings with their elders they soon
| become interested in the work. We
must be earnest in our work, too. if
we would draw others into 1t.
I'VE who are strong must help the
weak" is the missionary creed. How
| Will we grow strong? How do young
men in the gymnasium grow strong
| 1t is by continually exercising their
muscles. So we must strengthen our
selves in our work by constant atten-
ton TO it,. She was sick of hearing
| people say, Il am willing to practice
self-denial in order to help the mis-