For life is the mirror of king and slave, M VI A PASTORATE IN AMERICA R. AND MRS. AMENT with their daughter, Emily Hammond, left Peking in March, 1885. They had now been nearly eight years in the mission work and were practically veterans in the service, easily carrying many forms of mission work and remarkably well adapted to meet the varying vicissitudes of mission life. They had endeared themselves to the native Christians in no ordinary way and their departure for home was greatly regretted, although there was pleasure in the thought of the rest they would have, and the delight of the mother and other friends in their return. The returning missionaries were received with eager interest in the Owosso home. The opportunity for making missionary addresses was used to the full. Ere long it seemed wisest for Mr. Ament to resign from the service of the Board. He was invited to take charge of the pulpit in Owosso, in the absence of a pastor. He thus entered upon pastoral work under most pleasing circumstances among friends and acquaintances who were rejoicing in having such a leader among them. A missionary during the period of his furlough in the United States in going from place to place, telling the story of life and service, is not infrequently surprised at the eagerness with which many listen to his accounts. While there is often prejudice against the work of mis sions and little knowledge of its hardships or successes still the field of the world is interesting. The missionary life partakes of a kind of statesmanship, that large share in the life of the world which brings to men a sense of wider interests and of international relationships. It may be these which lend attractiveness to the story of the well-equipped missionary. His reception among the churches is overflowingly warm hearted. If he is able to respond to this kindly feeling, his furlough will be full of joy to himself and of good to those hearing the record of his work. With such an opportunity for interesting an audience as Mr. Ament had attained, it is no surprise to find him more than ordinarily acceptable when he spoke upon his favorite theme of China. After no very long delay, therefore, when he had decided to seek a pastorate at home, he received and accepted a call to the church at Medina, Ohio. Medina is one of the considerable towns in the Western Reserve, south of Cleveland. The population was at that time a little above two thousand. He speaks of the church as a country" church, and yet it stands eighth in membership among the two hundred and fifty churches of Ohio. In benevolent gifts it stands either ninth or tenth. It had had a fine record in the ability of its former pastors. His immediate predecessor was the Rev. Dr. C. J. Ryder, since a secretary of the American Missionary Association. There are few letters to tell the story of this pastorate. His mother joined him here, fulfilling the long cherished desire for them to be together. Mr. Ament's Christian enthusiasm found happy scope in the new field. His people became responsive to his missionary as well as other appeals. It is given to but few foreign missionaries to enter so closely into the church life at home. The following letter begins the record : MY DEAR MISS SCHIRMER : Owosso, Mich., Oct. 24, 1885. I have accepted a call to Medina, Ohio, a country town. with a church-membership of 250, twenty miles from Cleveland. They have a fine building and a good roomy parsonage. Why can you not come and spend the winter with us? If the town is too monotonous, you can drop into Cleveland, the finest town in the West. I have a horse and a carriage and we will take daily rides in the fresh air. I am delighted with my parish. My predecessor, Rev. C. J. Ryder, was called to Oswego and refused the call, thinking Medina the preferable place. There is only one regular service a day and two other meetings. Eternally yours, TO A FRIEND : is W. S. AMENT. We are now a united family. My mother reached here last Saturday evening in good health and spirits. Our home very comfortable and convenient. I keep a carriage to visit my parishioners, many of whom live in the country. Yesterday I had an audience of nearly five hundred people. To-morrow night I speak in Cleveland on "China." Our health is good. We are working hard and the Master is helping us. TO DR. SMITH: Medina, Ohio, Jan. 25, 1886. We are comfortably settled and hard at work. The people have given us a cordial reception and the prospects for the future are most encouraging. It is easy to criticize the progress of missions in China and pronounce them a failure but you never hear such criticism emanating from a live missionary. Progress in China is marked and encouraging, but it cannot be wholly represented in figures. It is seen in the general breakdown of idolatry in many places, the reception given to missionaries, and the general diffusion of useful information. I hope you may be coming around by way of Medina before long. The foreign missionary interest needs rousing. I hope to give a course of a dozen lectures on China. Our ladies' society is quite revived in interest as also the children's. I want to do much for the cause still near my heart. Let me know if I can be of any service, and I will perform it if I can. Miss Mary A. Curtiss of Medina writes of an incident in Mr. Ament's new pastorate. "Early in February, 1886, a series of meetings for which Mr. Ament and others had been preparing was held in Medina under the direction of those well-known temperance workers, Francis and Edward Murphy. Into this work and that of the Gospel Temperance Union, organized during Mr. Murphy's stay in Medina, Mr. Ament threw himself with characteristic energy and enthusiasm. He was most earnest in seeking out those who were not hopeful. No home was too distant or too humble for him to find it, if so he might be of service to one who needed help. And his interest and sympathy were so genuine and so kindly manifested as to give him great power with those he was trying to reach. As one who knew him well in this work said, 'He could come right to the point and yet not insult anybody.' His interest in the work never seemed to abate. He started meetings in a section of the town where not many were in the habit of attending church, and kept them up. One intimately associated with him in this part of the work quotes him with grateful remembrance as saying in his hearty way, 'There will be a meeting tonight and you will be there. I've got something to tell you and I know you will be there.' And he went. As a result of these meetings the last open saloon in Medina was closed and more than a thousand signatures were secured for what was known as the Murphy pledge." Among the interesting incidents of this home pastorate was a discussion with a company of outspoken infidels, who had secured much influence with the young men of the town. The discussions were held in the county court house. By wise and thoughtful discussion, and happy retort and reply to objections, the power of this opposing force was practically broken. One of the pleasant incidents of his work in Medina was the securing of a young man to be the business agent and treasurer of our North China Mission. One of the real burdens in any mission is the business end. To Mr. Bostwick the mission is indebted for the discovery and selection of the now well-known watering place on the north coast a score of miles south of Shan-Hai-Kuan. Family circumstances compelled him to return home after an eight and a half years' service. He is well known as the diligent and successful manager of the great sanitarium at Clifton Springs. A little son, William Sheffield Ament, came to their home July 25, 1887. TO DR. SMITH . Medina, Ohio, Oct. 31, 1887. We have received letters from China which have broken us entirely down. Not that we have needed any suggestions to make our interest in China real and living, but the present needs lay the burden upon us heavier than ever before. Three preaching missionaries have always been needed in Peking. By the return of Mr. Noble next spring and the transfer of the treasurer's office to Tientsin a house is left available and the desire of Dr. Blodget for a third preaching missionary can be realized. The question forces itself on us, ought we to return and take up our work; is it right to do so under the circumstances? The situation has improved wonderfully in the last few months. My mother decided that she would reëstablish her home in Michigan, so last month I returned with her and she is now comfortably settled in her own house. Two years of rest have given her quite a zest for work again. She is almost ready to say go, but what shall I say of our beloved parish which has a hold on our affections second only to China? I have nearly a hundred spiritual children here. Should they be left? Would so sudden a change in plan indicate fickleness on my part? Is it fair to the people after a pastorate of only two years and a half to leave them when everything is on a most satisfactory basis? Perhaps you can give us a little light on these matters. My heart yearns for China. It is no light thing to be swerved from a line of work chosen not for a day but for a life. Let me hear from you as soon as convenient. |