MISSION WORK IN MONGOLIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2167, 5 September 1895, Page 27

MISSION WORK IN MONGOLIA.

On Thursday night the Rsv. J. Parker, of the staff of the London Missionary Society ia Mongolia, addresied a mating, in connection with that society, in the Kaikorai Presbyterian Churoh. The Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland presided.

The Rw. J. Parekr, who was dressed in Chinese apparel, explained that when a priest iv Mongolia received guests he nevrr appeared with his head uncovered, for in that country it was not polite to re ceive friends with an uncovered head. People of that place had customs quite the opposite of Eugli»b. Ab the Hong temple thero were to be §eon 200 or 300 persons deoorated with the ceremonial hat, a peculiar and heavy-looking object. Chao Yang, 150 miles north of the Great Wall which divided Mongolia from Chin* proper, wm the missionaries' coutral station, and in that district; tkey had a population of Mongolians and Chinese. Around Chao Yang they had four oufcstations, which were started by Mr Gilmour some 10 years ago. Winter was so intensely cold in that country that the people slept on ovens built of dried bark. When the Chinese visited tho missionaries' dispensary room, which also served as a chapel, they were told of the Heavenly doctrine which was to save their Bonls. To save their souls was the first matter, and to save the body was the second. Mr Parker gave a number of amusing instances of the superstitions of tho Chinese. He sold them a number of almanacs with a text of Scripture against the day of tho mouth. They took them home and hung them on thq walls of their houses, and if a man were going to sell hie grain he would consider the almanac. If he saw & long texb he would say it waa a lucky day, and it be saw a short ttx'i In-, would say it was an unlucky day. It had btotno * part of the Chinese life that when tbe ton was grown up he would eire for bis father, uud tha son that did nob care fur bis fa 1 her wa« looked upon as an outcast and disrespectful person. It was very touching to aoe tbe feeling' of the sons to their parents, aud that love had done a good deal to bind tbe Chinese into one big, sol-d lump. When talking to thorn of Jesus Christ, tha speaker had to interest them, lest one would tarn to the other and say : •' How much did you give for thai bat ? " or " How much pork did you buy at to* market P" When the m'«Bionariea wont on th»ir knees to pray half of tbe audienca would go outside and »tand looking on. They now had the Now Testament and Gospel written in Mongol aid Chinese, and were able to soil the New Testament io those poor people for 3£d, or forty-eight brasn cash, and the Gospel for something like half a farthing, or seven braes otah. The people were extremely poor, but most of them would take Bomo patt of God'a work. In the- long winter nights, when their friends gathered together to smoke fcheir loDg pipes, they would often read in a uing-soug voice tho Word of God for the first time. He oould give muny instances of where many of tbe Chinese, af cer hearing the Word of God for tho first time, came to the mission house to inquire about Christianity and learn more about Jesus Christ. At about sunset sarvicea were held every day iv the week except B»turdvya. A few Christians would get together and sing hymas, and it was amusing to heir them K iug. E*oh one would siag his own way, nud iv consequence some would be balfw&y through the second verse before tha others finished the first. They sang vigorously and earuostly. There was no use for a harmonium, for they would drown that altog«th«r ; and what was wanted was a strong cornet. Aftor three years of training they could now siDg some 60 or 70 hymns. During the winter months the chapel was always full night after night, and if spoken to in an interesting manner the congregation would give no trouble. A man would *flk questions aboat the Gospel, aad at Utt by teaching he would believe the Gospel and be ultimately baptised. Id this room they were able to hold 160 men of tha poor class. They only earned 4^d a day, bub were able to keep their wives and children on that bmall sura. Iv summer time services were held in the open air, buk'in wiater, when it was 10 or 20 degrees below zero, they were compelled to keep indoors. He was glad to say that some of tha Christian Endeavour societies of New Boath Wales were going to build them a muoh larger chapel. Their mission in China was the latest one of th« London Missionary Society, having only comm»no»d work 10 years ago. Before that time no foreigner had been iO thab district of Mongolia, so that many difficulties had to be overc»me. Now th»y had 160 persons believing in Christ, three native i preachers, and fiva stations. There they were working amidst a great; mass of heathenism. Jesus Chrteb died for all human beings, and those men in far-off China had a» much righb to the hope of silvation as anyone else, and it was thfir duty to give it to them. In concluding, Mr Parker explained that in thaft great empire there was on«-third of the human race and onahalf of heathendom, and that fact, he thought, i was enough to appeal to everyone

On Friday evening Mr and Mrs Parker, boh of wbom apj.«»red in Mongolian ooetump, addressed a meeting in the Anderson's Bay Preabjterian Church, when, notwithstanding the very wet weather, there wan a good audience. Mr Parker occupied the pulpit in two of the city churches on Sunday, there being a large attendance to hear him on each occasion.

In connection with the moTomenfe for union of the Methodift ohurohes in the colony, au enthusiastic public meeting, preceded by a ten, wm held on tbe 28th ult. in Trinity Ohireb, wbioh was crowded to excess. The Rev. W. R«»dy, president of the Bible Christian Conference, occupied the chair, aed waa supported by the Revs. J. J. Lewis, R. Taylor, J. N. Buttle, W. Hesitsou, D. Dutton, and Mr Chaeles Duke.

At a special meeting of the George street School Committee on Monday evening (Mr Haynes in the chair), Mr R. G. Tubmau, of the Port Moerfcki School, was recomaiended for the vacant third male assisfcantahip. There were 14 applicants for the post.

Ifc is estimated that nearly £21,000,000 wa3 spent in England alone in chartty in 189*. Stone'B OtBRo and Southland A.8.0. Guide and. Diary for September is to hand up to time M usual.