“They have been severely beaten.  The elder was severely scourged yesterday.  This morning he was again tied up in a very painful manner, and beaten by his cruel father.  He carried the marks of his sufferings on his arms, which we saw.  We were told that he had scars also on other parts of his body.  We trust that they are ‘the marks of the Lord Jesus.’  A brother, still younger than themselves, we are told, also worships Jesus.  If they are, indeed, lambs of Christ’s flock, the blessed Saviour will take care of them; but their severe afflictions should call forth much sympathy and prayer in their behalf.

“The conduct of our church members continues to give us much comfort.  They are not free from faults.  They need much careful oversight and exhortation and instruction.  In consequence of this, our cares, anxieties, and labors must necessarily increase as the converts increase.  But if allowance be made for their limited knowledge, only a short time having elapsed since the most of them first heard the Gospel, there are probably but few churches, even in our own beloved country, compared with which the Christian character of this little flock would suffer.  Were it not for the Christian activity of our members, so many of them abounding in good works, our operations here would necessarily be confined within much narrower limits.  Almost every one seems to be impressed with the truth, that he or she is to improve every opportunity to speak a word for Christ.  Many of them are quite effective speakers.  The heathen are often astonished to hear men from the lower walks of life, who previously had not had the benefit of any education, and are yet perhaps unable to read, speak with such fluency, and reason with such power concerning the things of God, as to silence all their adversaries, even though they be men of education.”

Speaking of the awakening at Peh-chui-ia, a market-town once under our care, now under the care of the English Presbyterians, Mr. Talmage continues: 

“We have been specially interested in their lively faith, their praying spirit, their earnestness in the study of the Holy Scriptures, and, as a consequence of all this, their joy in the Holy Ghost.

“The house first rented was found too small and uncomfortable for our work.  The adjoining house, of about the same size, and the upper part of the next house, have since been rented, and doors opened through the walls.  Thus we have several rooms for lodging and conversation, and also for holding more private meetings than we could in the chapel.  The members and inquirers spend the greater part of the Sabbath at the mission premises studying the Scriptures, listening to the preaching of the Word, and in religious conversation and prayer.  They go home only for their meals, and some not even for that.  A part of them spend much of their time there in similar employments on other days of the week.  When we have been with them, we have been much gratified by seeing their earnestness in the study of the Scriptures.  They are continually coming to us for explanation of passages which they cannot understand.  Often the voice of prayer will be heard from all parts of the house at once.  They are but babes in Christ; yet their knowledge of the Scriptures is remarkable.  We feel it good for our own souls to be among them.”