Fu-Chau Mission by J. E. FULTON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 24, 1916

Fu-Chau Mission

By J. E. FULTON

J. E. FULTON

ONE of the most interesting places in all China, in our experience, is the Fu-chau district. Fu-chau is on the Min River, a principal river of Fukien Province. There are a number of towns of considerable size farther up the river, but Fu-chau is the metropolis, and with its suburbs has more than 800,000 inhabitants. It is the largest coast city in China south of Shanghai, and is the capital of Fukien Province.

Pastor N. P. Keh, our Chinese minister, labors here, with occasional visits from Pastor W. C. Hankins, superintendent of the Fukien Mission, and Pastor B. L. Anderson, the director of the South China field. A strong work has been built up under the leadership of native workers. There are more than one hundred baptized members in the city of Fu-chau, and many others are interested in studying the truth.

But perhaps the most inspiring feature of the work is that of teaching. A number of young men and boys were won to the truth, and a good school under an experienced Chinese teacher was started. Now the school has grown until there are one hundred and forty boys boarding in the school, and about thirty others are attending as day students. All of these are paying their way; and were it not that we are in rented quarters, the school would be entirely self-supporting. There is a staff of ten Chinese teachers. Brother Tsng, the head master, has a model school. The writer spent part of five days there, and never has he seen a school conducted in better order.

The school occupies a large Chinese residence, but the accommodations for such a large number are altogether inadequate. Students dine in six different places, here and there in vacant corners of the building, eight at a table, the tables being three feet square. The sleeping accommodations are also distressingly crowded, according to any standard with which we are acquainted. Every little nook and corner available is used, even the little lofts above, and down in the anterooms and hallways. Yet everything is clean; and how pleased I was to see the soap, towels, toothbrushes, etc., so much in evidence.

Daily, after their noonday meal, all the one hundred and seventy students assemble in the chapel to answer to the roll call. They make a graceful bow to their head master, who reciprocates by bowing to them. Then they take their seats, and the roll call begins, each standing as he answers. The roll call finished, they arise at a signal, bow again to their teacher, and pass out, beginning at the front and going out in perfect order, two abreast.

The Chinese, as a rule, are not good singers; but some of these boys are far above the average, and one lad about sixteen years of age plays the little organ well. Altogether, they are a very intelligent class of students, and so far as we could judge, are making good advancement.

Reference has been made to the meager dining space. A word as to the diet. At every meal large quantities of rice are cooked, and this is the daily staple food. With the rice are served a few relishes, but in this school rice is the “staff of life.” The boys have all the rice they desire, and their bowls are frequently filled and quickly emptied by means of their chopsticks. We are told that each of these boys is boarded for $1.50 a month on this diet, and yet they all look plump, well, and contented.

This school is a light in the heart of a great city of nearly a million people. As a rule, missions are doing little in the cities in winning new converts among the older people, but by the education of the young much is accomplished. Shall we not learn a lesson here? Thirty of these bright boys have already given their hearts to God, and we are sure there are many others deeply impressed and desirous of following the light. During our meetings, these boys were very responsive to our appeals, and all expressed a desire to have a home in the kingdom of God.

Land in a good location has been procured for the school, and some money is on hand for the erection of buildings, but about $4,000 more will be required. The school is already larger than our most sanguine expectations reached, and now, because of lack of room, boys are being turned away.

Are not some who read this impressed with the opportunity before us in the large city of Fu-chau, and willing to help provide facilities to meet the urgent need? This has been a work thrust upon us, not one we had sought. Fu-chau is the center of a great awakening, and presents an urgent need. Will this not appeal to our brethren as a Macedonian call and a great responsibility?