General Meeting in Siang Cheng by A. C. SELMON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 5, 1908

General Meeting in Siang Cheng

By A. C. SELMON

A. C. SELMON

From December 8 to 14 the Sabbath-keepers and enquirers from Shang Tsai, Brother Westrup’s station, united with those of Siang Cheng in a general meeting held at this place. The believers at both stations are more or less scattered in villages from ten to twenty miles away. They had not had the opportunity of meeting others of like faith, so the meeting was a blessing to them in many ways. In addition to the instruction from the Word, the interchange of experiences proved to be a great help. Brother and Sister Westrup, Brother and Sister Allum, and Brother Esta Miller were present, and helped in the meetings. The time of all our workers, since coming to the field, has been so taken up with the language study that it was a great encouragement to see a company of fifty Sabbath-keepers come together. Many of those who attended came a distance of forty to sixty miles.

Evangelist Chen, from Sin Yang station, walked seventy miles. The weather had been stormy for some time, but the Lord gave us good weather and good roads for the gathering. Our brethren in the home lands, who can go by railroad to and from camp-meeting, can hardly appreciate what it means to go by wheelbarrow or by ox-cart a distance of forty miles. It requires about fifteen hours with good roads to cover the distance by cart.

BRETHREN ATTENDING GENERAL MEETING, SIANG CHENG

Of those present some had been keeping the Sabbath for two years or over, and yet others were just coming out of heathenism, so the subjects taken up were intended to meet the needs of all. The testimony meetings gave evidence that the Holy Spirit was at work. After considering the subject of the use of tobacco and wine, many testified that when this truth came to them, they were led to give up the use of tobacco and wine at once. Although the other societies discourage the use of these, yet among their converts there are many who drink wine and smoke tobacco, and some even use opium. The message of Christ’s soon coming and the judgment led them to see that the sanctification mentioned in the Bible takes in the whole man; spirit, soul, and body must be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. To see a man saved who has been a slave to opium for ten or fifteen years, seems very much akin to a resurrection from the dead. Some who had formerly used tobacco still had a pipe or two about the house. One man, who had not smoked for over three years, brought his big brass water-pipe into the meeting, and destroyed it publicly. This led others to declare that since they did not use a pipe, they would not keep one around so that others could use it.

One unacquainted with Chinese life can have no idea of the place the pipe has here in social intercourse. The proverb says, “Tobacco and tea prevent a breach.” In other words, if a guest comes and you do not offer him the pipe, he would consider it as an open insult. It is considered so indispensable that we have heard of gospel-hall guest-rooms, where guests are offered the pipe. Among the people the salutation most commonly heard when they meet is, “Have a smoke.” It may be seen from this what a hold the vice has upon the people, its use being almost as common among women as among men.

Among the women some had unbound their feet, and others took their stand during the meeting. For a woman here in the interior to unbind her feet, is the greatest departure from Chinese custom that she could make, and brings upon her persecution and all kinds of slanderous reports. One young woman, who accepted the gospel a little over a year ago, has read all the New Testament and as far as Ezekiel in the Old. She unbound her feet in spite of the opposition of her own family and relatives. It is the general testimony that the members of the native church are very lax in keeping Sunday. It is not uncommon to see them attend meeting in the forenoon, and take some market product along with them to town, and in the afternoon some even feel free to go about their regular work.

Some of those who attended had formerly been Sunday-keepers and had not met with persecution, but when they received the Sabbath truth and began keeping it according to the commandment, it caused division in families.

On the Friday preceding the last Sabbath of the meeting seven were baptized, four men and three women. These, together with those previously baptized, enable us to organize a church of eleven members at Siang Cheng. The last Sabbath of the meeting the ordinances of the Lord’s house were celebrated. The Chinese sisters, all having unbound feet, also took part in the ordinance of humility. This was the first opportunity any of us have had of meeting with a company of Chinese Christians to celebrate the ordinances. It was a touching service; the testimonies as well as the tears of those who took part testified of the Spirit’s presence.

We all realize that the time has come for a great onward move in the work in China. Interest is awakened wherever the truth is made known. Up to the present time we have had practically no literature to use, and enquirers who can not come to our stations have no way to learn of the truth fully. Literature is greatly needed at once. To appreciate our situation one should consider what the work would be in the home lands with no tracts, papers, or books to help proclaim the message. It could hardly be expected that the work would progress rapidly. For the message to reach China’s four hundred twenty-six millions there must be large printing facilities, and a large increase in the force of workers in the field. The Lord is showing how the work may be done if we will only consecrate ourselves and our all to his service.

Siang Cheng, China.