There are many reasons for going before the idols, but I have no chance to tell so much as I like to. A few weeks since I was in San Francisco. I found some of the people from the town near my home in China, getting money to send and build a temple over there. Every one who give to help build it can have their names hang up in the temple, but if any one who give $20 to $50 they have a present, and at the time of first worship or dedication a band of music to honor them on their way home. Some of them asked me to give, but I said, “No, I cannot, I rather put money in the missionary fund.” They said, “Your parents will feel sorrow and disgrace if they not see your name; but if you don’t want your name you can give and have your parent’s name put there; no one of your Christian men know it; you can be a Christian just the same.” I said, “I do not wish to help my parents to sin; I don’t believe idol worship and I cannot help about it. If I be a Christian I must try to live like one.”
There is a great difference in the religion taught by the Saviour and that of the heathen. It is great change to me to try to be a Christian, to know the true God who sees us all the time. I have worked many things for the idols. I feel thankful I shall do so no more. Before I come to the light my life was gloomy, miserable, hopeless; always was fearing the evil spirit going to trouble me; but I don’t fear them now.
Would I go back to idolatry? No; the Bible says, “Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image, or likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shall not bow down thyself to them nor serve them.” I cannot serve idols again; but I will try to serve my heavenly Father, and bring all I can to bow down to Him. I wish every one in China and America knew about the Bible. I thank all Christian people that they led me to the true way. I hope you will pray that I may always be faithful, and at last receive the crown of life and dwell with God in the world to come.
Room 20, Congregational House, Beacon St., Boston.
MISS NATHALIE LORD, _Secretary_. MISS ABBY W. PEARSON, _Treasurer_.
We are glad to bring before our friends this month the work among the colored people in Washington, D.C., as it has been carried on there by Mrs. C. B. Babcock. In her field, as in that of our other Southern missionaries, the industrial work occupies a prominent position. Here the women and children learn lessons of practical value to them, as they are taught to cut and make their own garments and repair old ones, while at the same time they are instructed in truths of the highest importance. In a letter recently received, Mrs. Babcock writes of this work: “The ladies of the Congregational church have given 180 yards material for the industrial work, and a few of them gave a supper to the women’s class, numbering fifty. The women have made 102 new garments besides mending 100 old ones during these three months. This has been of untold help to them and their families.” Her girl’s sewing-school numbers 135. The natural outgrowth of these schools has been prayer-meetings for the women and young girls respectively. “The mother’s prayer-meetings have been deeply interesting of late,” she tells us.