Canton (China) Workers’ Meeting by Mrs. J. N. Anderson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 18, 1908

Canton (China) Workers’ Meeting

By Mrs. J. N. Anderson

MRS. J. N. ANDERSON

The workers of the Quangtung province, both native and foreign, met in a general workers’ meeting at Canton, March 12-18. Elder Keh Nga Pit from Amoy was present, and his long experience in the gospel ministry and in educational work, combined with an unflagging enthusiasm for the cause, makes him especially valuable help in a meeting where, as in Quangtung, most of the workers are young men of short experience. All of the workers except the teacher of the Kongmoon girls’ school were present,—some thirteen regular native workers in all, including the teachers. These, together with the older pupils from the two girls’ schools and the boys’ school, made up an altogether inspiring congregation.

The meeting began with a prayer service at seven o’clock, on Thursday. The topics assigned for that day were as follows: forenoon, ten to twelve o’clock, “Our Message;” afternoon, two to four o’clock, “The Selection and Training of Workers.” Elder Keh led in the first topic with an address, a model synopsis of which will appear later. Real earnestness and enthusiasm were manifested from the first, and the discussion by other workers, which followed, leads to the expectation that God is laying upon these young people the burden of this message to their own race. Other topics considered were, “Means and Methods of Advancing the Message;” “Our Schools, Their Aim and Management;” “Narcotics and Stimulants, Our Attitude Toward the Use of These;” “The Sabbath-school;” “Street Chapel Work;” “Country Work;” etc. A question-box offered opportunities for the discussion of miscellaneous topics, and was made very helpful. There was general Bible study each morning.

The subject of narcotics and stimulants is a vitally interesting one here in South China, where men and women alike smoke everywhere and all the time to the full limit of their means, and where only the very poor do not afford at least a few cash worth of wine with the family meal. Dr. Law Keem dealt with the subject very pointedly both from a physical and spiritual point of view. To receive callers without pipes, and to entertain guests without wine at meals, is, in Canton, niggardly and discourteous,—a breach of custom, which to most people is worse than sin against God. To refuse these courtesies from others is quite as bad, or even worse, and calls for no little moral stamina on the part of church-members. Heathenism appears to be a very fat-stalk for the grafts of all foreign vices; and while the stung and poisoned nation of China is stirring herself to be freed from the curse of opium, Western enterprise is literally walling her streets with cigarette and tobacco posters, and filling her shops with bottled wines and liquors vastly more dangerous than those of home manufacture.

One speaker, in pointing out our duty in the face of this situation, said, “Why should virtue be so overmodest? Why should we fear to offend these menacing twin evils? Vice is not so modest. She flaunts her ugly fame through our street everywhere. Vice is boastful, vaunting, TRIUMPHANT. Let us not cower before vice because it is custom, but in God’s strength carry the standard high as he has placed it.”

So many good things were said that I have decided to give a few of them in other articles as an encouragement to our brethren at home to “have faith in God,” and in his work in heathen lands. His Word prospers here as elsewhere, and in darkened China will ultimately bear the same fruits, though development on heathen soil may take place more slowly.

On Sabbath our rented chapel was more than filled by our own people, pupils from our schools, and their invited friends, though the street doors were not opened to allow a promiscuous attendance.

One very significant feature of this meeting was the circle of inquirers which gathered to it. First there was Hung Hei Ying, the pastor of an independent congregation of Christians, some two hundred miles from Canton, in the vicinity of Swatow. Once a mandarin (government official), he left that work because, as is usually the case, the salary was insufficient to support him in proper style without “squeeze” (“graft” it is called in America). Later he became a Christian worker, and being a man of some means has supported himself for some years past. He began to keep the Sabbath about one year ago, with his wife and a family of five children. A greater part of his congregation, who are mostly farmers, now stand intelligently with him, keeping the commandments of God. This interest, I believe, was awakened through the Sabbath tract written by Elder Keh, and which he himself distributed at Swatow in calling at that port on his way to Canton. He related how, in the days when the Sabbath truth first dawned upon him, and his conscience was moved to obedience, he at first wavered under the persuasive arguments of friends, but his wife staunchly persisted that since it was God’s command, they could do nothing else but obey. There has been caution both on the part of Brother Hung and on the part of the mission. He, as a thorough Bible student, has tested carefully every point of truth. It is possible, too, there have been some misgivings about connecting with a mission under a foreign board. On the part of the mission there has been a fear to encourage connection with a work so far distant from close supervision until its character was thoroughly known. Brother Hung’s presence at this workers’ meeting brought perfect confidence to both parties, and since his return home he writes a splendid letter in which he says his wife is very much pleased with what he has to say about his visit, and counseling together they wish to convey to the church here their desire to become members of the Seventh-day Adventist

Church forever. This will open the way for the organization of a church at his place in the north of this province.

Two relatives by name of Chan were present from the village of Ngoi Hoi, not far from Kongmoon, where Brother E. H. Wilbur is located with his family. They are representatives of a band of some twenty odd, as they report it, who have become interested, and are keeping the Sabbath according to their idea, as the fruit of literature sold in that section. They offer to support a chapel, and ask for leadership and further instruction.

From a village ten miles out from Canton came another man, Ho Kei Yam by name, whose interest is very recent. So far we have had no opportunity to investigate the matter. He represented himself as educated for the ministry in a mission school, and that the people in this village are ready to furnish a site, erect a chapel, and do all they can to help if a work can be started there. This man was present at almost every meeting, sometimes walking the ten miles before breakfast to be at the early morning prayer-meeting.

Another call was presented by a man from Hoi Fung about half way between Canton and Swatow. Some years ago a few men in this district accepted Christianity and appealed to a mission for help. At the time that mission was unable to undertake the work, but a young preacher accepted the call on his own responsibility, and went there to work under the support of these Christian believers. They now have two chapels with a good company of believers at each. The work has far outgrown one man’s capacity, and some time ago they appealed to one of the German missions for help. This mission could not undertake the work, but, after looking into the matter, wrote a letter to whatever mission these Christians should see fit to present it, seconding their plea for help. Through the influence of young men in our Bible school this man, Yim Tak Ming, had his attention called to present truth, and now brings a call from six hundred families for this message to be preached among them.

They are perfectly independent of any relation to any mission body, and want a chance to know the truths for these days. Brother J. P. Anderson went home with the man to stay a week. As he was leaving, they gathered around him, and pleaded like men begging for bread that he would promise them help. What answer will the brethren in the home land return to them?

Altogether this meeting was one of blessing and great benefit. On every side are evidences of fields white to the harvest while at this time we saw indications never so apparent before, that God is preparing witnesses for himself from among this people. We feel to do as Paul did when the brethren from Rome heard of his coming, and came to him at the Three Taverns,—thank God, and take courage.

Canton, China.