To Students Preparing for Work in China
By H. W. MILLER, M. D.
It would seem unnecessary here to mention the importance of being familiar with the Scriptures and the special truths for this time. This, above all other things, is what this nation, with its four hundred and twenty-six million inhabitants, is sadly waiting for; and this is the sword of the missionary. A good student of the Scriptures will soon become familiar with the Chinese Bible. We can not speak too highly of memorizing Scripture, since it will educate the mind for memorizing this language. Further, since the Bible is the text used in the Chinese course of study, having the English text in mind is a great help toward learning the meaning of certain terms, and also of translating. If time should permit, the study of Greek will prove valuable, as in many instances the Greek construction and order simulates the Chinese. Further, owing to the poor translation of the Chinese Bible, it is often convenient to refer to the original. Young’s Concordance will serve the needs of a missionary not having a thorough knowledge of the Greek. With gratitude we have noticed that the industrial branches are being made a part of the course of study in our schools. Just such a preparation is needed for the work in the primitive and Oriental mission fields. It must be borne in mind that the Chinese are far ahead of some foreign lands in agriculture. A missionary was quite surprised upon asking an old Chinaman why he was covering a pumpkin vine with dirt, to hear the reply that the vine would take root, and the roots would serve as feeders. From a bare red soil which has no rest from year to year, and from which every straw is gathered for fuel, they succeed in raising two good crops a year. Carpentering, bricklaying, tinning, and other industries have their place, and the missionary finds a knowledge of these subjects very convenient when having to overhaul a Chinese house, so that it will be suitable for foreigners, or in taking measurements for furniture, or in fixing an apparatus for a shower-bath, etc. In coming to a tropical climate like this, a good general knowledge of physiology and personal hygiene is of inestimable value. Although not all of this empire lies in the tropical belt, still the tropical diseases prevail in most parts. However, we believe that in most cases arrangements could be made whereby a knowledge of the care necessary to fortify one’s self against the climatic conditions can be secured after reaching the field, as well as how to deal with the most common ailments with which the people of China are afflicted. At present24the sick are receiving treatment at all our mission stations. Here in a land without foreign physicians except in the port cities and a few mission centers, the sick suffering from simple ailments can often be cured or greatly relieved by one who has had opportunity to spend a few weeks at one of our regular medical dispensaries. Many lives are saved by simply knowing how to use the stomach-pump, since people are constantly taking crude opium to commit suicide. In thus being able to minister to their physical needs, confidence is secured, and afterward an opportunity to reach them with the life-saving truth. Foreign foods are very expensive here; and since China affords a large variety of food material, such as wheat, peanuts, rice, vegetable oil, sweet potatoes, a few varieties of beans, some good varieties of vegetables and tubers; fruits, such as pears, peaches, cherries, grapes, persimmons, and plums, one can get along very well without many foreign foods. A knowledge of the principles of cooking, and of the combination of food materials, will greatly assist the worker in making his allowance see him through. One thing that can be studied here better than any other place in the world is economy. It is claimed that as many Chinese could live on what is wasted in America as there are inhabitants there, and we can see no reason to doubt the statement. To those who may have finished their school work some years previously, and desire to take some further preparation before coming to China, we would say that under ordinary circumstances, we would not consider it wise to spend a long time in preparation in the home land; for in most cases new workers will be associated with another worker for some time, and at least the first two years will be spent on language study, during which time many practical points may be picked up with reference to treatments and mission methods. The preparation of some of the great missionaries of the Bible, and the way they were able to meet emergencies, will furnish interesting study for those coming here, and there is a marked similarity between present existing conditions in China and those with which the apostles met. From the record concerning the apostle Paul’s method of training young men as missionaries, we learn that they accompanied him on his missionary tours, and he mentions not a few who received their training in this way. On this method of education we have the following counsel: “Young men should be qualifying themselves by becoming familiar with other languages, that God may use them as mediums to communicate his saving truth to those of other nations. These young men may obtain a knowledge of other languages even while engaged in laboring for sinners. If they are economical of their time, they can be improving their minds; and if women who have borne but little responsibility would devote themselves to God, they could qualify themselves for usefulness by studying and becoming familiar with other languages. They could devote themselves to the work of translating.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. III, page 204. “Many of the barren, unworked fields must be entered by beginners. The brightness of the Saviour’s view of the world will inspire confidence in many workers, who, if they begin in humility and put their hearts into the work, will be found to be the right men for the time and place.”—Id., Vol. VII, page 271. These statements emphasize the fact that the training of missionaries can, in a large part at least, be best secured in the mission field.