The American Missionary — Volume 44, No. 03, March, 1890 — John Shaqi
The American Missionary — Volume 44, No. 03, March, 1890Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 44, No. 03, March, 1890
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
Then comes another song in English, and then the second unloading of the
Christmas tree, which has kept its place in the chapel since its proper
day of Christmas cheer. Then the whole occasion is honored by an address
from the Governor, in simple words, with smiling face and transparent
good feeling. It is not every children's holiday that has a Governor at
hand to grace the occasion. As the President of the Board of Trustees
which, under the A.M.A. fosters the Ramona, and as Governor of a
territory which has nineteen Pueblo villages and the reservations of the
Navajoes and the Mescalero and Jicarilla Apaches, he is a faithful
friend of the Indians. This is apparent from his first report just made
to the Secretary of the Interior. The 21,000 of the Navajoes he reports
as possessing 250,000 horses, 500 mules, 1,000 burros, 5,000 cattle,
700,000 sheep and 200,000 goats. Their wool-clip the last year reached
2,100,000 pounds. Here is a grand field for a mission.
* * * * *
THE CHINESE.
* * * * *
"THE UNBELIEVING WIFE SANCTIFIED IN THE BROTHER."
I Cor. vii: 14. (Revision.)
Our Chinese brethren have their full share in the family feeling which
for ages has been nurtured in their race. This feeling is even
intensified by their new life in Christ. They long for what they hope to
make a Christian home, and greatly desire to perpetuate themselves in
children who may follow them in following Christ. But what are they to
do for wives? Many live in a virtual celibacy that is hopeless, because
enforced by the betrothals made for them in China by their parents or
elder brothers. These are accounted sacred, and are honored by our
brethren with an oblivion of their own fancies or affinities that will
be adjudged to be either stolid or heroic, according as the person
judging is disposed to think kindly or unkindly of this people. Many
have returned to China for the express purpose of consummating this
betrothal in marriage. They remain a few months with their wives, and
then return to California to find work and provide for them. Such
persons are obliged by their principles to live in virtual celibacy.
Some greatly desire to send for their wives, but not only does the
Restriction Law bar the entrance, but the father in China will probably
raise effectual objection. A son is as much the property of his father
at sixty as at six, and all he has, not only in property, but in wife
and children as well, is under the father's control. The
daughter-in-law, if strong and willing, is a very serviceable person
about the old homestead in China, and the appeals of the son for the
enjoyment of his wife's society in California are answered with the
advice to get him another wife here. One in China and one in America
seems to them a very safe arrangement. Eight thousand miles of ocean
intervene and assure against domestic broils.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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