Notwithstanding Revolution, the Message Onward
By R. F. Cottrell
The annual meeting for the South Central China Mission was held at Chang-sha, Oct. 24 to Nov. 4, 1911. Although the Hunanese were much stirred up over the revolution that had broken out in the neighboring province of Hupeh, about one hundred of our brethren and sisters came together. While the meeting was being held, the city was taken over by the revolutionists, and we foreigners were prevented from going into the city for two or three days. During this time it was necessary for our native workers to carry on the meeting by themselves. But the Lord came very near, and although there was trouble without, the Comforter gave them quietness and joy within. At the close of the meeting, eight were baptized in the Siang River, and united with the Chang-sha church. One other person, who had previously been immersed by a missionary of another church, was also received into fellowship. Following the general meeting, most of our native workers went to their respective stations, or fields of labor. At the same time an eight weeks’ Bible institute was opened, which was attended by twenty-five persons, the larger part of whom were young people who had recently accepted the truth. In the early part of December, word was received from the American consuls at Peking and Hankow, also from our mission headquarters in Shanghai, that it was considered unsafe for us to remain longer in the interior. On the day of leaving, it was my privilege to baptize eleven other precious souls. From the riverside we went to the chapel, where they were received into the church. A farewell prayer and praise service was then held, in which there was no note of discouragement, but only a fervent desire to be faithful, to do the will of God, and thus hasten the time of the great heavenly gathering. Arrangements were made for the institute to be continued under the instruction of two of our native evangelists; and since we arrived in Shanghai, our brethren have written us most cheering reports concerning this work. They observed the week of prayer at the regular time, and at its close made their annual offering, which amounted to nearly thirty dollars, Mexican. When we consider this little company, a thousand miles in the interior, poor in this world’s goods, with war and famine conditions about them, making such a sacrifice as this must have been for them, we can only say their love of the blessed hope alone can explain it. From a place thirty-five miles east of Chang-sha, we have just received a letter, a portion of which reads as follows:— “For a long time we have known of your honorable church which has come to Hunan to proclaim the true gospel. In our humble city there are seven and a half wards longing for the light and grace of God. “For this reason, on the eleventh month, the sixth day [December 24], we have consulted together, written our names, and mutually covenanted to send Beng Ren Ding and others to Chang-sha joyfully to welcome your honorable church to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom in our lowly city, that the people may all receive of God’s grace. The house of worship will be provided for by our humble wards. We can not begin to write it all. “We wish you peace. As pupils desirous of instruction, we send greeting.” This letter is signed by thirty-seven persons, who not only offer a plot of public land as a site, but also promise to build a chapel. This is the third opening of this kind which has thrust itself upon us during the last eight months. In the other two places, the work started has already yielded good fruit. It is a source of deep gratitude to our Heavenly Father, that in spite of all the trouble and unrest in this country, his prospering hand is so clearly manifest. His truth bears the divine signet, and even though China is in the throes of revolution, the message within her borders moves steadily onward. It is our earnest prayer that peace may soon be restored, and then we are assured that with greater freedom and larger opportunities a quick work may be accomplished in the land of Sinim.