A General Advance by R. C. Porter

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Aug 13, 1914

A General Advance

By R. C. Porter

R. C. PORTER

Since my last report there has been a general advance throughout the Asiatic field.

Japan has closed a very profitable three months' institute for the Japanese workers. It was my privilege to spend three weeks there near the close of the period. A practical presentation of the leading features of the message had been given by Elder F. H. De Vinney. Elders W. D. Burden and T. H. Okohira carried daily studies in Bible, music, and history. The work closed with a marked outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the laborers returned to their fields full of faith and courage, and better equipped with an intelligent knowledge of the message for successful work. Brother C. N. Woodward and Elder C. L. Butterfield attended a part of this institute, and rendered valuable assistance.

The work throughout the Japanese field has been divided into five divisions, each division being under foreign supervision. This will be an important factor for the future success of the work. Land

has been purchased near Tokio on a nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine-year lease for the location of the headquarters of the Japanese work, and building operations are now under way. The whole trend of the work in Japan is forward.

Central China has purchased a fine building in a good location in the city of Changsha as the headquarters of the work in Hunan Province. It is all paid for, and is being occupied. Much gratitude to God and the brethren in the homeland is expressed, that this much-needed station for the work in that large city, combined with headquarters for the province, has been made possible.

Photo by R. C. Porter
TEACHERS AND WORKERS ATTENDING JAPANESE INSTITUTE AT TOKIO — Photo by R. C. Porter TEACHERS AND WORKERS ATTENDING JAPANESE INSTITUTE AT TOKIO

The headquarters for the Central China field are now located at Hankow. This is the natural center from which to operate the three provinces—Honan, Hupeh, and Hunan. In the near future Elder R. F. Cottrell, the superintendent, will move to Hankow, Elder C. P. Lillie taking the supervision of the work in the Hunan Province, with Brother S. G. White as assistant. Brother White will also act as treasurer. Brother and Sister J. O. Ryd will assist Elder Cottrell in Hankow. Dr. A. G. Larson, also located at Hankow, fills the office of treasurer of the Central China Mission. On his last tour through Hunan four new churches were organized and twenty-four persons were baptized by Elder Cottrell. Sister Cottrell accompanied him and did excellent work in the Sabbath school department.

Elder J. J. Westrup, who has charge of the work in Honan Province, is returning to America on account of the illness of his wife, from whom he has now been separated for more than two and one-half years. He returned from his furlough alone, expecting that Sister Westrup would regain her health and come to him later, but she has not made the recovery that was hoped; so Elder Westrup now leaves to join her, and will labor where the conditions are more favorable for Sister Westrup. Elder Fred Lee takes the work as superintendent of the Honan Province, with Brother O. J. Gibson as assistant and treasurer.

Plans to extend the work in the East China Mission were laid during a general meeting recently held in Shanghai. Elders Stafford and Wood have charge of the work in Shanghai and its vicinity, also in the Kiangsu Province. They are now holding meetings in a mat house built for the purpose, about ten miles out of Shanghai. Their work the last few months has resulted in bringing a goodly number into the truth, several of whom are attending our training school, and give evidence of making good workers.

Brother H. J. and Sister Doolittle have charge of the work in the central part of the field. Some one to oversee the work in the northern part is greatly needed. Elder O. A. Hall, the superintendent of the East China Mission, is a teacher in our training school, and it is difficult for him to give sufficient attention to the northern part of his territory, which has no foreign supervision. But the work is moving forward, and the workers are of good courage.

South China is suffering from the loss of three workers, one by death and two by removal from the field. The work is advancing however. One new province has been opened, and there is a spirit of unity and courage throughout the field. The demand for two superintendents for missions and one for the treasury department of this field is imperative.

Elder L. V. Finster writes that the work in the Philippines was never more prosperous. The first residence on the newly purchased site for the headquarters of the Philippines, located in the city of Manila, is nearing completion. The printing plant has already been transferred to the new location. Twenty-five were recently baptized as the result of meetings held by the Filipino workers, aided by the foreign laborers from time to time. Forty-five accepted the message during the last month.

The latest word from the Malaysian field reported by the treasurer, Brother H. E. Sharp, is that the income from tithes, offerings, and book sales during the past months exceeds the expenditures throughout the field. Elder F. A. Detamore, the superintendent, passed through Shanghai with his wife and family, accompanied by two brethren and their wives as recruits for that field. They were preceded by Elder and Sister Yates and Sister Mamie Yarnell, who reached the field a few weeks ago and are already getting a good grip on their work.

A spirit of good cheer vibrates throughout the Asiatic field, and there are continual evidences of God's leading, which are an assurance of prosperity in the work, and of continual advance until the great clock of time marks the hour for its final triumph.