Hunan, China by W. C. HANKINS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 8, 1908

Hunan, China

By W. C. HANKINS

W. C. HANKINS

Sabbath morning, April 11, found quite a little company of foreign Sabbath-keepers assembled in the home of Brother and Sister P. J. Laird at Chang-sha, Hunan, China. The company consisted of Elder J. N. Anderson, Dr. A. C. Selmon, Elder and Mrs. R. F. Cottrell, Miss Pauline Schilberg, Brother and Sister Laird, and the writer.

At the appointed hour all assembled in the room that had been set apart to serve as a chapel. There were about twenty native inquirers present at this service. Brother Laird first preached in Mandarin, after which Elder Anderson talked a few moments, Brother Laird acting as interpreter, as the Cantonese language, which Brother Anderson speaks, is almost as unintelligible to the ordinary Hunanese, as is English. Dr. Selmon also talked a few moments, and then the meeting was closed with prayer and song. The service was nearly two hours in length, but the Chinese brethren paid good attention throughout.

In the afternoon Brother Cottrell spoke to us foreigners concerning the promises of God, and his words were as meat in due season to all. It seemed good to hear an old-fashioned sermon once more. It is seldom that the workers in China get such a treat. A Bible study together is about as near as we generally get to anything of the kind.

Chang-sha is a very fine Chinese city, and we feel sure that the Lord has some honest souls there. We hope that you will, with us, remember our brethren there in your prayers.

Sabbath, April 18, Elder Anderson, Dr. Selmon, and the writer spent the day with Elder and Mrs. J. J. Westrup and their little boy, Joseph, at their station in Shang-tsai, Honan. In the morning one of the native evangelists from Siang-cheng, Honan, who was with our party, spoke to the people, after which the writer gave a short address, Brother Westrup acting as interpreter. In the afternoon Elder Anderson spoke, and Dr. Selmon interpreted for him.

In the morning there were about thirty men assembled in the men's chapel, and about twenty women in the room set apart for their use. In the afternoon the men and women all met in the same chapel to hear Brother Anderson.

The work at Shang-tsai seems to be moving forward. A number have been baptized, while there are about fifty who regularly attend the Sabbath services. Elder Westrup also reported quite a good interest in a city some thirty-five miles north of Shang-tsai. And, while every such interest does not necessarily mean the opening of a permanent work in that section, yet it does mean that the truth has penetrated to that place, and that the people of that locality have been given the opportunity to accept or reject this “gospel of the kingdom” which has been “preached for a witness” in that place. And then, too, in some of these places the seeds of truth fall in fertile soil, and, springing up, bear fruit.

We found Brother and Sister Westrup of good courage in the Lord, and we were very glad indeed for the good visit we were permitted to have with them, both at Shang-tsai, and, later, for a few hours, at another place farther north.

While we did not have time to stay over the Sabbath at Siang-cheng, where the Drs. Selmon and Brother and Sister Allum have been located, yet we had the pleasure of meeting with the native workers and their wives, and speaking to them concerning the great truths that have made us all brethren.

Sabbath, April 25, Elder Anderson, Dr. Selmon, Brother Allum, and the writer spent in a Chinese inn in Cheo-Chia-K’Ou. It was not a very pleasant place to spend the Sabbath, but Brother Anderson gave a good Bible study, and we felt the presence of the Lord with us.

Dr. Selmon and Brother Allum have secured very commodious quarters at Cheo-Chia-K’Ou and will, from now on, make it their headquarters. This city is much easier of access from the railroad than the other stations in Honan, being connected with a railroad station by a river, and this same river has a number of cities located on its banks, which will be comparatively easy to work from that place.

Humanly speaking, it looks like a big proposition to carry this message throughout the length and breadth of China in this generation, but we are persuaded that our Leader is well able to accomplish it, and that he will supply both the men and the means, while all we need to do is to follow where he leads.

May God grant that not only the workers in the fields, but all the children of God, whether at home or abroad, may so consecrate their lives to God that he may be able to use them to finish the work and finish it quickly.

Kulangsu, Amoy, China.