cess. He has been very good to us so far, giving us kind friends in a very providential way. Our ladies have agreed to assume $200, to be raised within the year. We do not see just how it is to be done, but "Where there's a will there's a way," and we know God will give us success.

Sincerely yours,

MRS. G. W. READ.

A Beautiful Story.

BAPTIST CHINESE MISSION, FRESNO, CAL., February 22, 1895.

"

I write to tell you about Len Fay, one of my grown pupils, who was baptized on the evening of the 10th inst. His conversion was the more joyful to me, perhaps, because of the hard struggle he has had. For about four years we have tried to teach him and have had to contend with his bad temper, which at times was beyond his control, and gave us much grief. Often, for several days, he seemed entirely under the control of the Wicked One. At other times, he would say he desired to be a Christian, and confessed that his temper was in the way. When asked, he would frankly say: Sometimes I pray, and sometimes I don't." A few weeks ago "he came to himself" and saw that he was lost, and could not save himself. He concluded to trust himself, temper and all, to the mercy of the dear Saviour. He asked us, for the first time, to pray for him. He came into the light almost at once, and desired baptism. We put him off about a week, because one of the Chinese Christians thought he might be tested for a little, but had faith in his profession. On Wednesday evening, the 6th inst., we dismissed our school and went to the weekly prayermeeting at the First Baptist Church. The presence of so many Chinese seemed to enthuse the warm-hearted Christians. At the close of the meeting an invitation was given to those who wished to unite with the church to come forward. Len Fay was the only one who went. The white friends thought he would need me to interpret alı he said; but when the pastor asked him it he would tell the church in his own language, which would be interpreted, some. thing of what he felt, and why he wished to join the church, he rose and faced the crowd and began to speak English. It seemed hard for him to find the words he

wished; therefore, he spoke very slowly, but was distinctly heard all over the room. The people were very quiet. He said about this:

"I am very glad to see so many Christian friends here to-night to pray to God; but before, when I lived in China, I never heard the Gospel. My forefathers worshiped idols. All was dark. Then I came to this country and worked in San Francisco canning shop a few years, and then I came to Fresno to find a job; and when this job was finished, I came to Fresno City and I met one of my countrymen, a Christian, and he led me to go to Chinese Mission School. Miss Stein teach me to read the English and about the Jesus Christ. I have been to school about four years. I read in the Bible for 'God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' Now I know Him in my heart. I trust in Him, my Saviour. He died for my sins, and my soul saves. I want to confess Him in this house by being baptized, if the Christians will receive me. I hope you will pray the Lord increase my faith. Hereafter I lead a Christian life; I shall be glad. Amen!" This simple testimony, so humbly given, touched every heart. He was closely questioned, at my request, by the pastor and members, and at the close was unanimously received for baptism. The Sunday evening following he was buried with Christ in baptism, many Chinese being present. He is trying to be helpful in the school, and is learning more of the Bible. His testimony was very beautiful, given last evening in our Chinese Gospel service held in the school-room. The dear Lord is blessing our feeble efforts here. We have cause to rejoice, and do rejoice. Pray for us that the good work may go on. Truly, S. E. STEIN.

True Missionary Spirit.

The following note exhibits so truly the earnest spirit which characterizes many of our faithful helpers, that I send it on to cheer others. It comes from a lady whose contributions to our treasury have been as regular as the seasons for many years.

W. M. H.

"I enclose three dollars for Home Missions. I send to you thinking you will know

where it is most needed. Thought I had done what I could, but cannot resist the plea in the last MONTHLY. May the Lord open the hearts of others who can make larger gifts, and multiply this for His own glory. "Yours in the bonds of Christian fellowship."

Sheridan, Wyoming.

Dear Bro.:-The past quarter has been the most prosperous in the history of our little church. With the debt and other difficulties removed, we are taking steps forward. Ten promising ones have been recently added to the membership, and six others are to come in as soon as they can procure letters. The Lord is with us in spirit, and the church is becoming more united.

We have money in the treasury to finish paying debt, but one man we owe has moved away, and we are having trouble to find him. There is also a small plasterer's bill, which can't be paid till the weather gets

warmer so he can finish take an offering for the Society soon.

his work. Will Home Mission J. L. LIMES.

Does Home Mission Work Pay? Sometimes good Christian people raise this query in their minds, even if it is not expressed in words. As an instance showing the value of this work, I want to point to Wenatchee, Wash. This is a comparatively new town on the Columbia River, at the crossing of the Great Northern Railway, and is some three or four years old. Two years ago it was about the most wicked place I found in the State. Other denominations started operations, from one to two years, before the Baptists, and, with a flourish of trumpets, the representatives of one of them said they would have a meetinghouse pretty soon, and the Baptists were urged not to begin until this first church in coming should get established. One year ago our District Missionary, Rev. A. M. Allyn, held some meetings and organized a Baptist church of some nine or ten members, and several were added by baptism. During last summer a good building, costing some $800, was bought for $300, and the lots were donated by the Town Company. Last October the first pastor, Rev. D. C. Ellis, was settled. The building has been

In a

nicely fitted up for an audience-room and two good prayer and class-rooms. revival just held several persons were baptized, and the church now numbers fortyone members, including some of the most influential people in the place. Thus, in one year's time, this Baptist church has become the largest in members, is the only one owning a meeting house, and has the only building devoted to that purpose; is the only one having a settled pastor, and its Sunday-school is very much the largest in

town.

Thus, a little missionary aid in the support of a pastor, and $100 from the Church Edifice Fund, put the Baptists away ahead in religious influence. This is not written in a spirit of boasting, but to show that missions do pay, and that Baptists are not always behind. The moral condition of this place has become much improved; and while now it is a little place, it is destined to become the center of one of the finest fruit

regions in this State. Dr. Morehouse, in his letter found in the February number of the MONTHLY, says that the ratio of Baptist growth in Washington, from 1890 to 1894, was about five times as great as the popula D. D. PROPER, Seattle, Wash.

tion.

More Religion Needed, Too.

I notice in the February number of the HOME MISSION MONTHLY a contribution from Rev. Joseph A. Booker, of Arkansas Baptist College, Little Rock, Ark. In his article Bro. Booker prays for "an increased number of stars." I join with him in that prayer. At the same time, I am not willing to admit that, "so far as the colored man's inclination is concerned, he is sufficiently religious." To be religious, as is taught in our land, is to be godly; strict to right; dutiful to God and man; Christ-like in our character and dealings. Taking this view, it is evident that the Negro needs more religion. I would agree that the Negro is sufficiently sentimental-too much so; but he is far from being sufficiently religious. In the same writing Bro. Booker says the need is "mental, moral and social development." I admit this. But what is moral development but duty to God, and hence religious! What is social development but duty and relation to our fellow-man, and hence religious. To be truly religious, is to

know and do our duty to God and man. That religion (?) which does not govern a man morally and socially, should not be called religion. I should regret very much to see a development which excluded religion.

I, too, am engaged in the "star" department of the Home Mission work. At the same time I cannot feel that the missionary and institute work of the Society is of any less importance than the mental-development department. I regard the ministerial and missionary departments of our institutions of the first importance. If our wives and mothers can be taught to be more religious-to have that home and fireside religion, that family religion; and if we can have a more religious ministry, pure, true, and loyal, we may hope for much to the glory of God and for the advancement of mankind. May our Lord so favor us that more means will come to the Society for our educational institutions, and may a great portion be given for the ministerial and missionary training departments. May more religion be the object of every one who contributes. J. R. E. LEE,

Bishop College, Marshall, Texas.

La Junta, Colorado.

A deep interest is pervading the church, although we have as yet held no extra meetings. Twenty have been baptized within two months, and nearly as many more are awaiting the ordinance. A worker's train ing class has been in progress for some time, the purpose of which is to train the Christians in the use of the Bible with inquirers. Every Saturday a band of twelve meets at the pastor's house to pray for the work of the following day and for individual friends. We call it "The Inner Circle." We begin extra meetings next week.

Dillon, Montana.

February 28, 1895. Dear Bro.:-The past quarter has been a busy one, as the enclosed report will indicate. We have made some advancement as a church. The people are more earnest, cordial, and devoted. The Lord has blessed us in giving four, who have been baptized. Of these three are mothers. We are still working for others.

We are longing to see all our debt paid off, and are denying ourselves to work for that. We hope to give more largely to the work of the Society than last year, and next Sunday we shall try to raise the total gift to $80-a very large amount for our forty-two members (many of whom are non-resident and do not pay).

We shall also give more to the Missionary Union; though even in their crisis we feel our first and greatest obligation to be to the beloved fostering Society of this country.

If the Lord gives me grace, I trust that next year I shall be able to see our contributions still more systematically arranged and somewhat enlarged. Many are now giving every nickel they possibly can. Yours fraternally,

WILLIS H. BROOKS.

New York-A Birthday Gift.

Dear Bro. :-Inclosed you will find not the 'widow's mite," but a birthday gift to my Lord for eighty-one years of blessings, mercies, and for a year of uninterrupted health, and for being permitted to go up to the house of God weekly; a small return, but what I have-would it were a hundred times five. With the hope that the debt may all be met, and more, is my constant prayer for our dear Home Mission Society. MRS. JULIA S. GARRETT (and nearly blind).

Ballston Spa, N. Y., March 14, 1895.

Linn Grove, Iowa.

Dear Bro.: A revival meeting, eleven miles south of here in the country, has awakened the whole neighborhood. About fifteen were converted; several others declared their intentions to live for Jesus. The majority of the converts are arranging to come here or to Storm Lake Baptist Church to be baptized.

W. A. NELSON, Missionary.

The Swedes in Nebraska.

Your correspondent, the District Missionary to the Swedes in Nebraska, has been in the State and on the field only since November 1st, 1894, hence is not yet very well acquainted with the field, but a few informations from "our corner" might not be

out of the way. There has been so much written and said about the hard times and drought and suffering that I will not say much about it. Of course our people are just as needy in the western part of the State as other people, but I am glad that so much has been done, and hope that help will be given until, at least, the seeding time is happily past.

As to our Baptist work, its outlook was not the brightest, as it seemed the entire field west of Stromsburgh would be left destitute of workers; but I am glad to learn that the State Convention has appropriated aid for two missionary pastors, one at Holdrege and one at Gothenburg. The board did a wise thing when it made these appropriations, because these brothers are doing very efficient work on their respective fields, which they positively would have had to abandon had it not been for the aid of the State Convention.

Among the churches in the eastern part of our State there is a steady progress, and God is adding to the churches "such as are saved." On February 8th and 9th, inst. a Sunday-school convention was held at Valley First Church, and beside the work of the convention, the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ was proclaimed to the unconverted. We felt that the Spirit of God was working for their conversion; and after the convention was over, Bro. Arnquist, of Gothenburg and your missionary stayed and continued with meetings. God saved sinners and refreshed His Church, and many were the testimonies of new converts of the joy of salvation. The church found it necessary to build a baptistery in their house of worship. On Saturday evening it was permitted to your missionary to lead twentythree new converts down into the baptismal water and immerse them in the triune name. Among those that were baptized were three heads of families, some young people, and a number of Sunday-schoo children. The Valley Church is without a pastor, but I hope they will soon call one. Pray for these converts and the work among the Swedes in Nebraska. OLOF LIND.

Wahoo, Neb.

Bison, Kansas.

Dear Bro.:-The Lord has been with us, and let His blessing rest upon His people.

Twenty-two precious souls found peace in Jesus; fourteen followed the Lord in baptism yesterday, and the rest will soon follow. We had quite a turnout yesterday on account of our baptism; nearly five hundred people witnessed the act. The baptistery was cut in sixteen-inches-thick ice in the creek. During the act of baptism, a woman of middle age, whom we all knew for years as a faithful believer in Jesus, broke through the ranks of the spectators and came to me, like the eunuch to Philip, saying, "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" (Acts viii., 36.) And we both went into the water, and on her confession of faith in Jesus, I baptized her, and she went on her way rejoicing. Another victory for the Truth.

RUDOLPH KLITZING, Missionary.

Norfolk, Nebraska.-Singing Books
Wanted.

One of our great needs at present, and one we hardly see how we can meet, is singing books. If some church were about to change their hymn-books and wished to dispose of them by donating them to a needy church, or selling at a low price, we would like to communicate with them.

F. E. HUDSON.

The Work Among the Norwegians of North Dakota.

Dear Dr. Morgan:-As I have just received a copy of THE HOME MISSION MONTHLY, although I am not now working in the Home Mission Society's service, I feel it my duty to inform you in regard to the work.

I have for one year and seven months been the pastor of the Norwegian Baptist Church at Fargo, which your records will show. Pastor J. B. Sundt is now their efficient leader; membership, about forty-five. This church has the sacrificial spirit. The Scandinavian Baptist Church, of Grand Forks, membership about thirty, is under Pastor O. Larson's persistent leadership. The Valley City and Cooperstown Norwegian Baptist Churches, with about twentyfive and fifteen members respectively, are now under the pastoral care of Pastor Torger F. Hov. The Hillsboro Church has no ordained pastor, but is led by Bro. Sund

berg, who also has had some experience in preaching.

Since July 1st I have labored in Pierce, Cavalier and Walsh Counties, with some assistance to Hillsboro and Grand Forks Churches. After preaching in Pierce County in July and August (for about two weeks), and again in the latter part of September, having baptized five converts, and being one brother there before, I organized a little church of six members, called the Barton Norwegian Baptist Church, which little band is doing nobly on those bleak prairies, holding prayer services every Wednesday evening, and on Sundays Sunday-school and meeting. The largest part of my labor has been in Cavalier County, especially at Vang and Poplar Grove. Vang is an exclusive Norwegian settlement, and Poplar Grove American. After having begun in Vang, I was urgently requested by my American friends to "come over and help us," which I consented to do, and the result is an American Baptist Church of forty-one members. Among the Norwegians at Vang a work of grace has been done by the conversion of about forty, twenty-three of whom were baptized and organized into a Norwegian Baptist Church. Five members were added by baptism to the Milton Norwegian Baptist Church. The two churches have Sunday-schools in connection with them. During this work I was ably assisted by Bro. C. J. Hill, of Milton. Some were also converted near Milton, whom I hope to see baptized at the earliest opportunity. Near Edinburgh, Walsh County, some were converted on my way down here; also at Larimore. I have since December 3, when I began at Vang, baptized sixty-two: once, twenty-three; once, seventeen; once, four; once, eight, and in three successive days there was an aggregate of ten buried with Christ. To the Lord belongs all the praise. We met with much opposition from the Lutherans. I am now at Hillsboro, Trail County, and hundreds are flocking to hear the Gospel truth. May God bring a rich harvest of souls! Two have been accepted for baptism.

Let me add that these new churches are being taken care of, and not a dollar received from the Home Mission Society. Yours for Christ's sake, L. J. ANDERSON.

Hillsboro, No. Dak.,

March 7, 1895.

CHURCH EDIFICE DEP'T.

Eagle Grove, Iowa.

REV. T. J. MORGAN.

Dear Bro. :-Fourteen years ago there were only three buildings where the city of Eagle Grove, with a population of 3 500, now stands. The Baptist church was organized four years ago. Since then, aided by a grant from the Home Mission Society of $500, it has built a good, convenient house of worship, the best Protestant house of worship in town, furnished complete, and paid for.

The town is a division station on the Chicago and Northwestern Railway for ines running north, west, and south, and will continue to grow, no doubt, in the future as it has done in the past, at least for some time to come. The church is made up mostly of young people, and the few who have reached middle life are only babes in Christ, so that it is going to require time and patience to develop it into a strong church. R. H. SHAFTOE.

Creighton, Nebraska.

Dear Bro. :-The most notable enterprise of the quarter here has been the erection of a small parsonage on the parts of the lots released for that purpose by the Board in November. The building is located twentyfive feet south of the meeting-house and fronting the East. It is 24x24, with an L kitchen 12x14, one story, with ceiling in the main part 10 feet 5 inches high. The four rooms of the main building are nicely finished, all papered, and the woodwork finished in hard oil. A reception and donation were held January 22, at which time the pastor and family moved into the house.

The house and lot are valued at $600.00, on which is an indebtedness of about $300.00. The pastor is to pay a monthly rent of $7.00, which will more than pay the monthly dues ($5.10) to the Nebraska Central Building and Loan Association of Lincoln. Three hundred dollars were borrowed there January 1st.

About $150.00 have been raised on the field; $50.00 are yet needed to finish the kitchen, extend the sidewalk past the house, and make other much needed improvements. We are glad to have so comfortable and commodious a home.

S. D. BADGER, Pastor.