which this
work has been conducted. It is precisely the kind of work to bring
out the best qualities of Christian character in those who are
responsibly engaged in it. The motives for engaging in it drawn from
any other than the purest Christian fountains are few indeed. The men
and women, who, within my knowledge, have given their time and heart
to it, have long been among my "evidences of Christianity." To the
poor the Gospel has been preached by them. Several of those most
interested during the early years, as superintendents or teachers,
have been laid aside or have "gone home." But there can be no doubt
that the Master has said to them, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto the
least of my disciples, ye have done it unto me."

For this is pre-eminently the work which makes its appeal to the few.
To sustain it pecuniarily as well as otherwise, must pertain to those
who give, hoping for nothing in kind again. Those here who would
give, perhaps, to help Africans on the Congo, cannot always be
appealed to in behalf of this cause. A worthy Christian friend who
has charge of a Sunday-school consulted me about a gift he was
interesting his scholars to make to some missionary. Whom could I
suggest? It was natural, being on this Pacific sea, to suggest a
laborer in northern China. It was amusing to see how quickly he
dropped my suggestion as if it were something very hot. Why, it would
not do at all to mention China in that school. It would kill his
darling missionary proposition completely. This illustrates not by
any means a universal feeling here, but a feeling which is quite too
prevalent. And there are many who would help to teach the Mongolians
if they were to be taught _where they belong_, who would be almost
offended to be asked to help in their education here. So all the more
admirable, in the face of public sentiment here, is it that so many
noble workers and givers have been found to sustain this work. For is
not this, of all others, the enterprise which "takes the gold right
out of the country?"

I overheard an intelligent gentleman, a member of Congress, and born
in my native Massachusetts, express the duly considered opinion that
the Chinese mind is so organized that it cannot be expected to
entertain the Christian ideas. It illustrated the sad fact that it
takes a long time for even Americans to entertain and be molded by
those ideas. This gentleman might easily have found scores of humble
servants and laborers of t