A New Home

The Santa Barbara Chinese Mission has taken a long step forward. Until the beginning of this year, its rooms were hired. Now it lives in rooms of its own on grounds of its own.

Some time before the annual visit of our faithful Superintendent, the Rev. W. C. Pond, the further use of its old quarters had been denied the mission. In this emergency the teacher of the school, Mrs. E. M. Shattuck, opened her own house for its meetings until it should appear what was wise to do next... Within forty-eight hours after the steamer landed him, a desirable lot had been purchased and the contract for a mission-house made. In a week's time the building was sufficiently advanced to be used by the young men for their Chinese New-year's reception.

As for the spiritual results among these young men, it is even more difficult than in ordinary evangelistic effort to speak definitely and positively. Yet no one, it seems to me, can look into the many eager and open countenances to be seen every evening in those mission rooms, without the conviction that somehow the good seed is growing in those hearts... One of their number made a public confession of his faith in Christ the past year, making four who are now members of the Congregational church. Two or three more are anxious to be baptized, but dare not yet take this step for fear of the bitter opposition and the complete ostracism which they say they must expect from their family connections here and in China if they do.