Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

"She is not dead, but sleepeth. She took her joyful flight to the cloudless land on the Lord's day, September 29, 1872, at half past one P. M. Her departure was triumphant. The funeral was attended on the next day, at two P. M. Had the day been fair, the house would not have contained the multitude. English, Scotch, Irish, Germans, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Americans, Chinese, were present, but the great company was Hawaiian men, women, and children. All classes of our population came out as by instinct, to express their love and profound esteem for the dear, departed one, and their tender sympathy with the bereaved mourners. The house was a hushed Bochim, the tears within falling like the rain-drops without. Respect and sympathy could hardly have been more sincere and universal. "Fidelia Church Coan was the daughter of Capt. Samuel and Abigail Church, of Churchville, a beautiful village some fourteen miles west of Rochester, N. Y. She was born, February 17, 1810. The whole family parents and eight children were Christians. Fidelia united with the Presbyterian Church of her native town when quite young. She early developed a decided taste for learning. She studied in the high schools of Rochester, Palmyra, and Canandaigua, and took lessons in Greek, Latin, and French. She had a taste for music and an eye for the fine arts. She also taught school in Rochester and several other places. On the 3d of November, 1834, we were married, and on the 5th of December, 1834, we sailed for the Hawaiian Islands. Here we have toiled, planted, watered, and reaped together, for almost thirty-eight years.

"In the spring of 1870 we consented to leave our chosen work and our dear people, and visit our native land. During all her journeyings in the States, she was not her former self; she was only increasingly an invalid, and a patient sufferer. . . . . As the spring began to open, we hastened back to the tropics, in great fear that she would never reach her quiet home in Hilo. . . . . As the summer advanced she grew weaker and weaker. Her descent toward the grave was not rapid, but it was steady and sure.

...

"From the time of her espousals to Christ, her faith was simple, intelligent, and firm. Principle ruled her life, and duty was the great factor in her acts. Forgetting her own ease, she calmly, quietly, and without observation,' studied the comfort of all around her. The poor, the sick, the bereaved, the friendless, the way ward, and all of every class, were objects of interest to her; and she so carefully studied the peculiar characteristics and wants of each as to be able, by a well-timed act of kindness, or a gentle word, fitly spoken,' to touch some responsive cord in the hearts of all around her.

66

6

On our return from the United States, she commenced at once to 'set her house in order,' while it was yet day. As weakness and pain increased, her patience and peace of mind were affecting. She would suffer nothing to be done for her that she could do herself; and, to the last, she seemed more anxious to avoid wearying others, than to obtain ease and comfort for herself. All the summer long she looked upon her departure as sure, and steadily drawing nearer and nearer. But she was calm and strong in her

faith.

"On the 27th she said to me, 'How strange! I have no fear of death,

though I used to think I should have great fears.' On the 20th of September, she said, I have received a parting commission and the prospect is delightful. The way seemed hedged up, but God has opened the door. It is pleasant to go so gently.' I repeated a verse of the hymn which we usually sung together on Sabbath evenings, 'There is a land of pure delight.' That,' said she, is very sweet; but the one I have most in mind is, Ye angels that stand round the throne.' Early in the morning of the 21st, when extremely weak, she said to me, 'Well, this is going home. It is going very easily.'

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

6

"Sabbath morning, September 29, lingering on the border land, she asked, 'How long?' the seal of death was now upon her; she was on the very brink of the river,' but it was the river of life.' Her pulse ceased, her eyes were sightless, closed to all mortal objects, the last cord of mortality was being sundered, when she cried out, 'Lord Jesus, come quickly.' These were her last words. The prayer was answered at once. The Lord came, and at halfNever was faith more

past one P. M., her triumphant spirit was in Paradise.

calm, more pure, more intelligent, or more victorious. The triumph, through Christ, was complete. It was the glorious closing of a faithful life."

VOLUNTEERS.

A FEW weeks since, as the steamship Batavia, on her way from Liverpool to Boston, was in the midst of a violent gale, her captain saw, in the distance, a few men clinging to a floating wreck. On such a raging sea, and at such imminent peril, he hesitates to order men to go to their relief, but calls for volunteers to attempt the rescue. Brave men step forward, literally taking their lives in their hands, and while witnesses watch with trembling anxiety, the gallant deed is done. Is there less heroism among our Christian young men, to save them that are ready to perish? The great Captain of our Salvation, in the memory of his own life and death of sacrifice, points to the hundreds and thousands perishing in their sins, in ignorance of his love and the blessings of his gospel, and calls for volunteers. "I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" As we >ee the way open on every hand-opened by his providence mistake the call?

can we

The one mission field that has least felt the changes and the reliefs of modern civilization, which have done so much to do away with the trials and hardships experienced by early missionaries, is Micronesia. This is still the field of self-denial and sacrifice, of greatest isolation from the civilized world. Read the touching words of Mr. Snow in this number of the "Herald," as his thoughts turn to his loved children in this land, from whom he has not heard a syllable for six, eight, ten, fourteen months! Happily, the children have been more favored in hearing from him, through traders, now becoming more and more frequent in those seas. And in all Micronesia the place of greatest need, in all the missionary field, perhaps, the place of greatest promise of immediate results, in bringing men to the saving knowledge of Christ, is

Ponape, an island with a population of about 5,000 souls, where the veteran Sturges, after seeing four churches gathered, with a membership of 750, of whom about 200 were added in the last year reported, is now left alonehis last loved associate and partner in this great work, Mr. Doane, having been obliged to leave. These native Christians have been taught to work 'for Christ as well as to believe in Him. They build their own churches and school-houses, pay for the books they use, are making a good beginning in the arts of civilized life, and need only training and education, to be prepared to carry the gospel to the many islands northward and westward. Two married missionaries, of earnest, self-denying spirit, and good executive ability, are needed to raise up a body of efficient evangelists, who, under their superintendence, may soon carry the news of salvation to multitudes. Degraded as these islanders are, they are free from those systems of superstition and error in which the whole social and moral life of many races is fast bound, and have ever been the most receptive of the truths of the gospel, as bear witness the past successes in other portions of this island world, and just now in Madagascar.

Who will go to Ponape? The two families should be ready to leave here by the first of June, to go by the next trip of the Morning Star, which leaves Honolulu in the early part of July. Mrs. Sturges will keep them company, on her return to her husband. WHO WILL GO? Other fields are in almost equal need. In the name of the Great Captain we call for volunteers; first of all for PONAPE; and then for Mardin, Marash, Manissa, Sholapoor, Satara, Pasumalie — Bulgaria, Spain, Austria, CHINA, JAPAN. O for the volunteers!

NO RETRENCHMENT.

Ar a meeting of the Prudential Committee subsequent to the great fire in Boston, while the smoke was still sullenly rising from the ruins in which were buried the wealth and hard-earned savings of so many of the most generous givers to the Board, as the question, What shall be done? passed round the table, one after another said, "Economy, but no retrenchment;" till, as it came at last to the chairman, whose locks had grown silvery in his many years of official duty, his full heart, hardly prepared for this hopeful response from his colleagues, found expression iu the language of old Simeon. Let the churches abroad remember that our friends in this region will not fail in their duty. Two of the Boston churches which have suffered most severely, on the Sabbath before Thanksgiving, took up larger collections for their poor than ever before! So they begin the new campaign! But their ability to give to the Board and kindred objects must be much reduced. Others more favored must now supply their lack of service, as God has prospered them.

No retrenchment of the bread of life to the perishing, only careful economy and caution in incurring new expenses. As the appropriations are intended to express just what the concurrent judgment of the missions and of the committee deem necessary to the healthful support and progress of the work, where is retrenchment to begin? Shall missionaries be recalled or detained

at home, native preachers dismissed, schools broken up, the press suspended, or young men discouraged from offering themselves to this work? Thanks for the words "No retrenchment." Christian hearts at home will welcome the decision and justify the confidence of the committee, and missionaries abroad will push on their work with new hope and more earnest purpose.

THE WEEK OF PRAYER.

By the order of exercises for the Week of Prayer, published by the Evangelical Alliance, the various topics relating more especially to foreign missions are assigned to Saturday, the eleventh of January. The day is a particularly unfortunate one for the interests involved, in view of the business habits of our community; and outside of the larger towns and cities, will not be generally observed.

The value of the Week of Prayer, as an aid to the missionary work, can only be fully realized on missionary ground, where the dependence on the ministration of the Spirit is most deeply felt. The revivals, in many instances, and the new baptism of native churches and of the native ministry, that have occurred in connection with it, have led missionaries to anticipate its recurrence with liveliest interest and hope. Will not this fact be borne in mind by the friends of missions; and where the week is not observed by public meetings, and especially on the day devoted to the interests of foreign missions, will they not remember this cause at the family altar, and in their private devotions.

[ocr errors]

The need of more laborers in the harvest field has recently led the Missionary Societies of the established churches of England and of Scotland, and the Episcopal church in this country, to set apart a day for special prayer in this behalf the 20th of December. The near return of the day of prayer for colleges and seminaries, seemed to make it unwise to ask our churches to come together then for an object already sufficiently provided for. We cannot, however, too earnestly request all who watch and wait for the triumphs of the gospel, to unite in prayer to the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into his harvest. The urgency was never greater; critical opportunities in the religious destiny of great nations never more imperiled!

"WOMAN'S WORK"-"LIFE AND LIGHT."

FOR the last four years, a few pages have been given in each number of the Missionary Herald, as a distinct department, to matters connected specially with the work of women in the mission fields abroad, and the operations of, and donations to, the Woman's Boards of Missions. With this month, the Woman's Board at Boston commences the monthly publication of its organ "Life and Light for Heathen Women" - which has hitherto been a quarterly, and this special department in the Herald will be discontinued. Intelligence

[blocks in formation]

relating specially to the work of women abroad will be used in the Herald in connection with other matters from the several missions, while the donations to the Woman's Board will be acknowledged monthly in its own periodical, thus saving some space in the Herald for other matter.

"Life and Light" is specially commended to the liberal patronage of Christian families. Though it is now to be issued monthly, the price is not to be increased; it will still be furnished for the very small sum of fifty cents a year. Each number will contain a children's department, of eight pages, which will also, as heretofore, be issued separately-"Echoes"—in a very neat form, eight copies for the year for one dollar; thus meeting the want of a missionary publication for children and Sabbath-schools.

READERS of the Herald will be glad to see, in this number, a good steelplate engraving of Dr. Anderson, so long the Secretary of the Board. It was intended to republish the lithographic map of the mission fields in Turkey, with additions, but the Boston fire destroyed the stone.

MISSIONS OF THE BOARD.

Mission to Spain.

BARCELONA -GETTING SETTLED.

DR. GULICK wrote from Barcelona, October 28th:

"On the 25th instant we held an examination of our girls' school, partly for the sake of greater publicity, and partly for its stimulating effect on the pupils. Several parents were present; and our English missionary friends, both gentlemen and ladies, very kindly favored us with their company, though greatly pressed with their own responsibilities. Our bi-monthly meeting of foreign workers grows in interest and profit.

"You will rejoice with us that we have at last found a room, which, though small, will serve very well for the present as a chapel. It is in the northeast part of the city, the portion until now unoccupied by other Christian workers. On the evening of Saturday, the 26th, all the foreign missionary gentlemen, and a considerable number of the members of the several Spanish congregations of the city, united with us in dedicatory services in our new

[blocks in formation]

seating from fifty to perhaps eighty persons, in the very compact way we are able to adopt by using chairs.

66

Yesterday Mr. Alexy held two ser. vices in his chapel. In the morning the attendance was small; in the evening we had such crowds of children that we had to invite many of them to leave to make room for some twenty-five adults who were finally in attendance, and who paid very respectful attention, though most of them were evidently unused to evangelical services. The girls of our boarding-school constituted the choir, and their singing was a great assistance to the service, and will be increasingly so. Alexy has reason to be encouraged by the results of his first efforts in his special sphere of work. He will this evening commence his night Bible-class for adult men, with eight pupils.

Mr.

"Mr. Alexy and I are trying to do something for the seamen in this harbor, by visiting them on board their ships and distributing tracts among them. As yet we have found no opportunity for preaching to them, but shall be ready to improve any that may present. We need tracts.

« PoprzedniaDalej »