THE first annual meeting of the Kiangsu mission has just closed; and thinking that perhaps the brethren and sisters in the homeland would enjoy hearing how the Lord has prospered the work here, we shall review some of his blessings of the past few months.
KIANGSU MISSION HEADQUARTERS, WITH WORKERS ASSEMBLED FOR GENERAL MEETING.
When we last reported, we were in the midst of an evangelistic effort in Shanghai. It is a well-known fact that work of this kind in the port cities is comparatively difficult; but the Lord gave us a goodly number of new believers, several of whom will make efficient workers for him, and thus our force of laborers will soon be materially strengthened.
Soon after the opening of the new year, we began work at Ying Ziang Gaung. The weather was anything but conducive to large audiences; but those who did come to the meetings are still doing so, and most of them are now Sabbath keepers and lights in that heathen village.
The experiences of some of the new believers are truly encouraging. One man, who has a medicine shop, immediately closed his place of business on the Sabbath, and asked our evangelist to come and preach to the people in front of his shop on Sabbath afternoon, telling them that he had not gone out of business, but was closing his shop in accordance with the Lord's commandment.
Another brother, whose father owns an indigo dyehouse, has been buffeted and persecuted because of his faithfulness in keeping the Sabbath. His father, when approached on the subject of the Sabbath, said: “Well, but I couldn't stop working one day in seven. It is all I can do to make a living now; besides, all my ancestors worked seven days every week, and I must do so, too.” The young man, however, continues to attend our services,—his hands as blue as the indigo in which they work during the week; but his heart is never blue, for he is rejoicing in the hope of a soon-coming Saviour.
Another shopkeeper has decided to make a change in his stock of merchandise, as his present goods consist principally of candles, incense, paper money, etc., all of which are used in worshiping the idols of the heathen.
These experiences bring to our minds the words of the Saviour concerning the work of the Holy Spirit, “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin.” It is this power that works upon the heart of the heathen, and converts the captive of Satan into a willing follower of Christ.
Before the annual meeting was held, a number of our workers took a trip through the central part of this province in search of a location for a new outstation. For a week before our departure, it had rained almost continuously, and the weather was cloudy and threatening until our boat left Shanghai. It certainly seemed that the Lord desired us to extend our work, and that to this end he was making conditions as favorable as possible for us; for during our entire trip the sky was cloudless both night and day, and the moon was full, making our journey a pleasant one and traveling at night comparatively safe. However, it began to rain again the night after our return, and continued to do so for several days.
All the cities at which we stopped received a liberal supply of our Chinese Signs of the Times, also tracts on the second coming of Christ and on kindred subjects.
Naziang, a city on the Shanghai-Nanking railway, was selected as the best opening for work at the present time. One of our native workers had previously spent several days there; and after our arrival, we rented a new store building on a busy thoroughfare for a chapel, and rooms for our workers during the meetings. We were also fortunate in finding a suitable plot of ground on which to erect a bamboo mat shed to be used in lieu of a tent in which to conduct the meetings. On securing the owner's consent to use this ground, we were greatly surprised to have him inform us that he did not desire any rent for it. It is an almost unheard-of thing in China for one to refuse to accept money when there is the least possibility of obtaining it.
COMPANY OF BELIEVERS AT YING ZIANG GAUNG, ONE OF THE KIANGSU MISSION OUTSTATIONS. EVANGELIST HYŪ IS AT EXTREME LEFT
Immediately following our annual meeting, at which time plans were laid for work during the coming year, a week's institute was conducted for the11benefit of our native workers. Every afternoon, from three to four o'clock, a study was presented on some special feature of this message. Then, from four to five o'clock, Elder R. C. Porter gave some valuable instruction to the church, emphasizing the thought that brethren should be of one mind, even as Christ and the Father are one. The evening studies were on the progress of the work in other lands; and all received much encouragement as they saw how the Lord is opening ways and providing the means to carry this gospel of the kingdom to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.
