THE MINNESOTA WORKER.
3 MISSIONARY WORK. <¢ -
Report of Labor of Minnesota Tract Society
~~ For Quarter Ending Sept. 30, 1895.
Number of Societies Reporting
Membership
Number of members reporting
Letters written
Letters received
Bible Readings held
Subscriptions obtained for per. outside of Soc.
Missionary Visits
Periodicals distributed
Pages books and tracts distributed
Number societies holding weekly meetings
A. E. E.
From a letter just received from the Sign’s office, I
quote the following :—
“We have been counting up the Signs list for Min-
nesota, and find that the last of April there were tak-
en in your State 249 copies, of which 84 were single
subscriptions and 165 taken in clubs. ‘The present
list for Minnesota is 1133 copies; 103 single subscrip-
tions and 1030 in clubs. We were quite surprised and
pleased to find that the increase had been so great.
Hope you will be able to find still more who will be
glad to take advantage of the present low rates, and
become subscribers to the paper.”
I am sure that all our people who read the Signs
from week to week can but wish that they could
place the paper in the hands of every intelligent
person. Are we doing all we can in this direction?
As the winter approaches, we ought to double our
efforts to give all a chance to read the stirring truth
for this time. Many might read ‘‘the Message”
this winter who will never have another time to do
so. When, in a meeting held with some of the
South Sea Islanders, Mr. Williams proposed to re-
turn at once to his native country to bring back
more missionaries, one of the chiefs replied, “Go
with all speed; get all the missionaries you can, and
come back as soon as you can; but many of us will
be dead before you return.” While we are waiting
and holding on to the little means we might use in
God’s cause, many will pass forever beyond the
reach of our efforts.
I trust that what papers we have are being faith-
fully used, and that whoever sends them through
the mail will not fail to send with them both letters
and prayers. Iam in receipt of many letters which
show that the Signs is being blessed of God as a
means of grace. Perhaps some of these will find a
place in the WORKER soon. A. RE. E.
_ .
I wisH to call attention, through the WORKER, to
the plan which was recently followed by one of our
laborers in the organization of a Tract Society.
Each member was provided with a copy of the con-
stitution of the Tract Society, and was instructed
according to ‘its provisions and requirements, - I
‘think if all who try to organize societies would use—
the same care, there would be a more. intelligent
membership, and fewer mistakes and " misunder-
standings to correct on the part of those to whom the
work is afterwards committed. A. KE. E.
: THE SABBATH SCHOOL. :
. CHINESE CUSTOMS.
Thr Chinese have many customs that seem
strange to us. ~~ Many of their ways seem to be
exactly the opposite of those to which we are ac-
customed.  Wingrove Cook says of China «It is
a country where the roses have no fragrance,and the
women no petticoats; where the laborer has no
Sabbath, and the magistrate no sense of honor;
where the needle points to the south, and the sign
of being puzzled is to scratch the antipodes of the
head; where the place of honor is on the left hand
and the seat of intellect is in the stomach; where
to take off your hat is an insolent gesture, and to
wear white garments is to put yourself in mourn-
ing.”
New Year's day is the great Chinese holiday.
It is looked forward to by each and every one.
For weeks beforehand every one is busy preparing
good clothes to wear and choice food to eat. Those
who can have chicken but once a year now prepare
it as a great treat.
All debts are supposed to be paid up before the
light of the New Year dawns. Men may often
be seen returning home after the day has begun
with their lanterns still lighted. They have
been dunning their debtors and as long as their
lanterns remain lighted they could ask for the
money , on the plea that it was still the night be-
fore New Year.
In China the people keep no Sabbath. So
New Year's day is the only one on which all the
shops are closed. The streets are very quiet and
nearly empty until noon as the people have been
sending off fire-crackers all night so are sleepy in
the morning. About noon the children begin to
be seen at the street doors, dressed in their gay-
est chothes, and looking happy for it is thought
to be a dreadful thing to look cross on the first
day of the year. The wealthy people are dress-
ed in silks and sating and even the poorest have
something new to wear.,
The New Year holidays last for about twelve
days. The men make calls, and the women go
5
THE MINNESOTA WORKER.
Jpeedtel
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to the large temples to burn incense and worship
idols. :- The children have their holidays from
school, stand on the streets and buy candies, go
visiting to the gardens where they see monkey
shows, punch and judy shows, etc. Sometimes
the boys go with their fathers to make ealls.
‘The men and boys always call upon the men’ and
boys, never upon the ladies.
The refreshments offered the caller are a cup
of hot tea, watermelon sceds, peanuts, dried
peas and sweet meats. It is absolutely necessary -
to offer the tea, but impolite not to partake of
anything. ~~ When calling the men wear elegant
clothes of silk or satin, rented for the occasion.
A servant goes before with a package of cards
made of red paper, about eight inches long and
four inches wide. The name is written in black
ink. The servant goes to the house and asks if
the man of the house is at home. If he is not,
the card is left and the caller goes on to the next
house. If he is at home the caller is conducted
into the reception hall. The gentlemen do not
shake hands, but stand still, put their folded
hands together straight out before them, then
bow and bring them to the forehead, then down
and back several times while giving the compli-
ments of the season. After being served with
tea and refreshments they depart in as ceremo-
uious a manner, for the Chinese are very polite.
ALL
REPQRTS FROM SCHOOLS.
Lake Eunice.
Tue matter of holding teacher’s meetings has
been on my mind for some time and we have
arranged to meet before Sabbath-school and have
at least a season of prayer. I ealled a special
meeting and read Bro. Always letter.  Testi-
monies were borne to the effect that they had not
been as faithful as they might have been. Feel-
ings of sympathy with the letter were expressed.
After these we hadaseason of prayer in which all
took part, earnestly asking God’s forgiveness
and seeking his special blessing for the future.
Althongh we had four meetings that day, it
seemed to me that was the most precious of them
L. .
We are studying the missionary field—China—
with apparently much interest. Some one is ap-
pointed each Sabbath to give an exercise of five
minutes the following Sabbath.
| H. W. Jouvsox.
Pine ‘City.
Tuer: has been a- growing interest in our
school for some time. Some make it a practice
of studying the lesson daily but all do not. I
hope that all may be brought to see the need of
studying the sacred words of life every day.
We have studied the lessons on the mission
fields with much interest. . They are a great
help to our school, and we appreciate them very
much. The children are especially interested in
them. Wu. Pore.
¢ NOTES FROM THE FIELD. ¢
Philbrook, Minn.
DEAR WORKER :—
I have an interesting and remark-
able experience which I would like to submit to your
readers. ‘There was a lady last summer from Phil-
brook visiting with her son living in Holdingsford,
Minn. I was impressed to go and hold a meeting
with them. I followed up the impression and was
rewarded with free access, and privilege to speak
some of the truths of the Third Angel's warning
message of mercy in his house. I spoke from John
3:16. There wasa deep impression made upon the visit-
ing mother. I have been visiting this lady here recentiy
and she said in conversation with me, the truths that
I presented at her son’s place were the means of
arousing her from her carnal security and the dan-
gers threatening the impenitent and said she never
had any more peace of mind till she found that great
peace that passeth all understanding, whichJesus gives
to all who believe him and takes him at his word.
On her arrival home last summer, she found Brn.
W. B. Brooks and J. H. Behrens holding meetings in
her neighborhood ; she attended the meetings and
accepted the truth. Her husband followed her later
on and today they are rejoicing together in hope of
the glory of God.
I do thank God for such plain evidence of reward
for faithfulness. 1 am determined by God’s grace
to be more faithful than I have ever been in the past.
I remain yours in the truth, JouN E. MOORE,
— a
Warren General Meeting.
WE arrived at Warren ten o’clock Tuesday, Nov.
12th, and had the first meeting in the afternoon at
three o'clock. After that we had five meetings a
day, and closed with a parting meeting Monday,
Nov. 18.
As only one American sister was present only four
English meetings were held in as many evenings.
We expected some of the citizens to attend, but as
the streets and sidewalks were very muddy no one
who was not especially interested dared to venture
out. Of course we believed it was only an excuse.