More about Tio Chiu, China
By W. C. HANKINS
Feeling sure that you will be interested to learn more concerning the progress of the truth in the prefectural city of Tio Chiu, inland from Swatow, and marked on the map as Chow Chow Foo, I write a short account of a trip that Elder B. L. Anderson, Elder S. Keh, and I took to that place some time ago. In the afternoon of April 17 we boarded the steamer for Swatow. We arrived at that port the next morning, after a very quiet and uneventful voyage. The sampans at this place soon attracted our attention, as they were unlike any we had ever seen before in China. They are long, quite narrow, and are generally operated by one man, who stands in the stern and does all the guiding and propelling with one oar. One not used to rowing such a craft would be pretty sure to row around in a circle, instead of straight ahead; but these people seem to get along without any such difficulty. Our baggage was soon lowered into one of these old boats, and we were rowed to the station, to take the train that runs between Chow Chow Foo and Swatow. We were quite agreeably surprised to find the station well built and well kept. In fact, it compared very favorably with many depots in America. The Japanese are evidently managing the affairs of this line, which perhaps accounts for the order and neatness which were here noticeable. At 10:40 A. M. the train arrived from Chow Chow Foo, and by eleven o'clock we were on our way to that city, which we reached about 12:40; the distance was between twenty-five and thirty miles. The country between the two cities is very attractive, and the land seems much richer than that around Amoy. There are also a number of smaller cities, at which this train stops. When we arrived at our destination, we went at once to the home of Mr. Aug, who received us gladly, and immediately proceeded to make us comfortable. We stayed there about ten days, spending two Sabbaths with them. At each of the Sabbath services there were between fifty and sixty adults present, who have decided to keep the Sabbath. One might naturally have a false idea of these Sabbath-keepers, and that you may not, I will offer a word of explanation. Many are unable to read, and, consequently, have a very poor knowledge of the gospel. So far, they are keeping the Sabbath much the same as they formerly kept Sunday, which was to go to services in the morning, and work in the afternoon. We are hoping, however, that the last message of mercy to this dying world will so transform their hearts as to make them new creatures in Jesus Christ. Already some have given up their tobacco and wine, and we pray that through the power of God they may all be brought into full harmony with the teaching of God's Word. There are, of course, some among16them better educated, who are taking a more intelligent stand for the truth. They all need teaching, and we are in hopes that the Lord will raise up some consecrated man and his wife to go to this place, learn the language, and teach these people, by both precept and example, the way of life. Chow Chow Foo is a city of about six hundred thousand inhabitants, and is very nice, and comparatively clean. Here is a great opportunity for extensive work—not so much among those who have already heard the gospel, but among those who know nothing of the Saviour and redemption—the heathen. Some work is being done by the two missions already located there, but they have only begun to make a little headway in evangelizing that large city. The language spoken there is similar to the Amoy dialect; but it would take several months' hard study before we could expect to do much preaching in it. Besides, it is too far away to be worked from Amoy. All we can hope to do is to try, by the Lord's help, to keep the work alive until some better arrangement can be made. The region inland from Swatow is more or less stirred over the Sabbath question. While we were at Chow Chow Foo, three preachers from other cities came to see us, and expressed their determination to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. We also heard of an old man in another city who is keeping the Sabbath. Nearly every evening of our stay we studied with some young men who were interested in the truth. In the afternoons a young teacher who speaks English quite well, came and studied with us. He was also present at many of the evening meetings. We always had to speak through Elder Keh, who speaks the dialect of that place quite well. Sometimes he gave the lesson himself, thus saving much time. The Independent church, which has begun keeping the Sabbath, has a membership of from sixty to seventy, although between fifty and sixty were the most that attended our meetings at any one time. This was a good attendance, however, as it rained quite heavily most of the time we were there, and some of the members had to walk about ten miles to the services. A large number of them are farmers, who live in the villages some distance from the city. On our way home we called on one of the Baptist missionaries at Swatow, who received us very pleasantly, and with whom we had a good visit. But our stay was limited, as our boat was to take its departure at a given hour, and we therefore had no time to discuss any of the truths of God's Word. We hope to have another and longer visit with this brother some time in the future. While we were there, he entered a very earnest protest against our mission opening up work in that field, since he seemed to think there were many places in China that had never been entered by any other mission. We are praying for this brother that he may see the truth. He seems to be an earnest, consecrated Christian. Truly the harvest is ripe, but the laborers are few. Surely, if our brethren could realize the needs of this vast field, there would be many who would seek a preparation for work in this great needy portion of the Master's vineyard.