p. 27 | Our Schools by E. H. WILBUR

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 4, 1909

Our Schools

By E. H. WILBUR

Educational Work in Canton, China

WE have watched with deep interest the progress of our educational work in all the world, and are glad to report that we see the same encouraging omens in the work at Canton. Our schools this year have had a larger enrolment than ever before, and have been doing a higher grade of work. The study of the Bible has been given first place, and is bearing fruit to the glory of God.

The Bethel Girls’ School

The Bethel Girls’ School, which was opened in the spring of 1903, in a small room in the southern suburb of Canton, has, under the untiring labors of Miss Ida Thompson, continued to increase in attendance and interest. During the first half of 1908, the enrolment was about seventy. We now have our own building. With the help of the Wisconsin Conference and the Mission Board, a property was purchased from the Baptist Mission. This place was formerly occupied by them as a boys’ boarding-school. Thus far most of the students board and room at their own homes, but a few from a distance have been received into the school building on the payment of two dollars Mexican a month. This may seem to our American brethren like a small school fee, being less than one dollar in gold a month for board, room, and tuition. Yet, I am told, this nearly covers the cost of plain board. It must

be remembered that education for girls is practically a new thing in China. The middle and poorer classes, and, in fact, many people of all classes, do not as yet realize this need as they should. Well-to-do families, who wish to educate their girls, usually employ a private teacher. As a class these people are unfavorable to mission schools. Notwithstanding these facts, mission schools for girls in China are generally quite well patronized, and the same has been true of our schools for girls at Canton. For some reasons it is very desirable to have girls board in the school building, or confined, as this brings them more fully under the supervision of the one in charge, and the girls thereby receive a training that they would not get otherwise. Then, too, they are kept away from the idolatrous influence of their homes, and this means much. Some of our brethren and sisters in America have paid for scholarships in this school, thereby enabling poor girls and women to learn the gospel. Eternity alone will reveal the fruit of these gifts. May the Lord impress others also to have a part in this work.

Many of the readers of the REVIEW have heard of the terrific typhoon in Canton, on the morning of July 28, 1908, which caused great loss of life and property. One end of the Bethel School building was badly damaged by this storm; but fortunately Miss Thompson saw the danger, and she and her helpers escaped from that part of the building before the roof and walls fell in. Later Miss Thompson was stricken down with serious illness, but after several weeks of careful nursing, at a hospital on the mountain top at Hongkong, she was again restored to health. On this account the school was about six weeks later than usual in opening for the fall term; but when Miss Thompson took up her work again, about forty girls had enrolled, and others had sent word that they were coming. Four girls from this school have already been baptized and taken into the church. Still others are awaiting baptism.

The East Gate School

In March, 1907, a girls’ school was opened outside the east gate, in a good residence district. Miss Amanda Van Scoy has had charge of this work. The rooms are very small, but about thirty girls have been in regular attendance this year. All the girls spend a part of each day in the study of the Bible, and meet for Sabbath-school in the school-room.

The Boys’ School

In August, 1904, we opened our boys’ school in Canton. We planned to have the school hours about equally divided between the English and Chinese languages. A tuition fee of two dollars (Mexican) a month, was charged for English. For various reasons we found it difficult to get students for the Chinese department. Beginning with March, 1907, we employed a more experienced teacher for this department. Brother G. D. Wong, who had recently returned from America, had charge of the English division. The average attendance was only about twenty, but good work was done. Though the attendance was small, I was much encouraged, as I saw that after all our struggles we were really succeeding in establishing a Seventh-day Adventist boys’ school in the Chinese language. This year the same teacher has been retained in the Chinese division, but the time for the study of English has been cut down to one hour a day. As was expected, this change has not had a tendency to increase the enrolment. But I think the crisis is now past, and I am encouraged to see that we are gradually getting into our school a class of students who are regular in attendance at church services, and who are more inclined to learn the gospel.

The Bible School

In connection with the boys’ school, we have a Bible school. About half a dozen boys are in attendance in this class. It is made up of young men who have previously spent several years in school, and already have a good knowledge of the Bible. They join this class to learn Bible doctrines, and to fit themselves for a part in the work. In the past three years nine young men from this class have been baptized and taken into the church. Several of these are now engaged in the work as teachers, evangelists, canvassers, etc.

At our general meeting in Shanghai, in February, 1907, it was voted to ask the Mission Board to send us a good teacher and his wife to locate in Canton. Next to the call for a treasurer, this was really one of the most pressing calls that we had, and I regret to say that as yet no one has been sent to take up this work. Since our removal to Kongmoon in July, 1907, the work of Bible instruction in the Bible school has fallen principally upon Elder J. N. Anderson, and the general work frequently calls him from Canton. Brother J. P. Anderson lives in the boys’ school, and has a general oversight of the work. But thus far he is the only European laborer in our mission who has made preparation for the Hakka field, and should be released to give his time more directly to that work. We need a man who has had experience as superintendent of an academy or training-school, and who can help the teachers to plan for a good course of study, and otherwise thoroughly establish and strengthen this important branch of the work.

E. H. WILBUR, Chairman Canton Educational Com.