The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-06

zens Lea rning the English language,
therefore is a task to which they i'm
medlately set themselves. The chill
dren all go TO school. but the parents
do not content themselves with
learning English from the children,
al is sometimes the habit Of other
immigrants Some of the men go TO
school to learn the language; others
keep a Russian English dictionary in
the house. and when they have Eng
disappearing visitors they learn much
by asking outright what different
words mean
Unlike many people these Russians
are remarkably fond Of long sepmons
This point is brought out in an ac-
count given in missions by the Rev,
Bruce Kinney. who tells Of his visit III
the vicinity Of Max
Sunday Much Enjoyed
Sunday. of course, was the great
day" ne writes Morning service be-
gan at 1910 o'clock Mr. Sambor
called on some twelve or more boys
and girls to recite pa ssa ges of Scrip
ture, some of which were quite long
prompt and accurate. One little girl,
just past three years, recited her
verses. There were songs by the chill
dren and music tnterspersed all the
way through by the choir
They are great singers. Mr. Sarhor
led the congregation in singing the
gospel hymns in Russian. Where we
recognized the time we ionted IN wit h
the English words Brother Mironuk
led the choir Of twenty voices. pitching
his key with the old fashioned tuning
fork, after the most approved manner.
They have no organ. How they did
sing, and how we did enjoy IT, There
is peculiar quality to their singing.
as there Seems 10 be a minor strain
running through even their son ~ Of
tubiiation
The meeting house is crowded with
1875 chairs. hut when the needing
opened there were 150 in the house.
The children sat on the pulpit steps.
and many men stood through the en-
tire service. I cannot foget that small
but damned together audience with
eager. uplifted faces No ten
minute homiiies will do for these rus
sian people. We did not dismiss
until 2:55, h4ving been In session with
out intermission for three hours and
forty-hve minutes. night service
fact that some had tn go more tina n
twenty miles that night.
Sincerity Tmpresscs Visitor.
That evening over 100 listeners
came. by special request l gave a
survey Of Baptist mission work. For
one hour and forty-fve minutes August
kezena stood by my side and trans
lated Then they clanored for a SER
mon by Brother Hsmans He declin-
cd. however. as he knew that many Of
them had to drive more than twenty
miles
The writer's impres sion of these peo-
pie Is even more significant than the
account of his visit, First. | W ~ I'M
pressed with their intense American
ism, he says, second. by the trans
parent sincerity Of their Christian
lives Not once did | see an action or
hear word that would have brought
blush to the cheek Of the most par
ticular lady. Third. their thrift i'm
TreSst Il me. None of them IS wealthy,
but some will he some day.
Many live in sod houses yet. When
they came, net one had anything to
speak Of They came to an unim-
proved country, unfamiliar with our
language. laws or customs 1t takes
long to get A competence under these
circumstances, especially when our
own farmers SIRE uncertain Of the best
crops and methods Fourth. we must
do more for these people. They have
"a Utilities of which to he proud.
Three-fourth of them now understand
English and 1t will not he long be-
fore all will speak IL f1uently"