Your ShelfYour Projects

South China

8%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 7, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 1.

Read the full edition

South China

By R. C. PORTER

R. C. PORTER
After the departure of Elders Harlow and Hills with their families, for America, by request of Elder B. L. Anderson, the acting superintendent of the South China Mission, I left Shanghai, August 27, for a visit to Amoy and Swatow.
Our coasting vessel carried two passengers, five hundred sheep, and a heavy cargo of freight. On our arrival at Swatow, there was a heavy typhoon blowing against the movement of the tide. When the boat was lowered to tie the anchorage rope to the buoy, it was caught by the undertow of the current and the outgoing tide, and crushed against the front of the steamer. One sailor caught the rope by which the boat had been lowered. Three others were swept out toward the sea with such rapidity that life buoys falling near them could not be reached by the men in the water.
Elder J. P. Anderson, who was coming to the vessel in a small boat, urged the Chinese oarsmen to pull for the men overboard and pick them up, but their superstition was too great to allow them to do so. They said the water devil was after those men, and they would not go near them. If they lived, it was for them to live; and if they died, it was for them to die. Two of them were rescued by the customs launch, the other drowned. The typhoon was so terrific that it was with great difficulty that Elder Anderson’s launch reached the steamer. The captain advised passengers to remain aboard until morning, but we ventured to go ashore. After a hard battle with wind and tide, we reached our landing safely. The steamer cast anchor, and made no further effort to tie up to the buoy until morning.
About ten the next morning we took passage on a Chinese river steamer for a four hours’ run into the country. We then transferred to our own house boat for a night’s run to Lo Kang, where our meetings were to be held. Just as we were ready to start, our Chinese evangelist living in the town where we changed to our boat, came and urged us not to risk a night ride on the house boat, as the country was infested with robbers. We desired to meet the appointment on time, and so went forward. After committing ourselves to God, we slept as sweetly as at home, and awakened the next morning safe at our destination.
The Chinese brethren and their friends gathered from the different outstations in that vicinity. Our chapel could not accommodate all who wished to attend. Children stood two deep, that is, one behind another, and two high, hanging on to the fence in front of the chapel during the services. The meetings were conducted by Elders B. L. and J. P. Anderson, assisted by Elders Keh and Ang, Evangelist Chang, and the writer.
The interest was very good throughout. At the close of our stay with this people, fifty offered themselves for baptism. After very careful examination, twenty-three, all but one of whom were from heathenism, followed their Lord in baptism.
It was the most beautiful and picturesque baptismal scene I ever witnessed. A high stone wall protected the river front. Stone steps led down to the water. In front of this wall, standing in the water’s edge, a hundred Chinese children, half of them scantily dressed and half wearing no clothing, witnessed the baptism.
On the top of the wall, eight hundred persons, attired after the most primitive fashion, satisfied their curiosity by seeing how Seventh-day Adventists administer baptism. Another hundred, grouped under the shade and in the tops of the majestic trees, the largest I have seen in China, formed the right and left wings of the assembly.
Fully a thousand persons, with little conception of the solemn rite of baptism, chattered and laughed while they waited for the opening of the service. Many laughed as the first candidate arose from the water; but as one after another was buried in the watery grave and arose with a countenance expressive of the peace and joy that reigned within, the spirit of peace so constrained the audience that order and quiet prevailed.
One of those baptized was a middle-aged village headman. Others were well-to-do farmers and laborers. A good foundation is being laid by the outstation work in the Swatow field for a strong advance throughout the country territory.
On our homeward journey we encountered one of the most terrific typhoons of the season. We could say with Paul, “A night and a day I have been in the deep.” For thirty-six hours we were buffeted by the waves, making thirty miles during the time. The officers became concerned for the safety of the vessel, but the Lord gave us a safe passage, for which we were exceedingly grateful. Very encouraging reports of progress are coming in from all parts of the field.