China by W. C. HANKINS.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jul 13, 1905

China

By W. C. HANKINS.

CANTON.—At last we are in China. We reached Hongkong May 3, after a cold, but otherwise very good trip across the Pacific. We had only two or three days of rough weather, and suffered but little from seasickness. We went ashore at Yokohama, Kobe, and Nagasaki, and saw something of Japan and the way the Japanese live.

When people in America read of how the Japanese soldiers are whipping the Russians, they naturally think of Japan as a country fast becoming modernized. This is quite an error, however. Even in the seacoast towns, where the people have come in contact with Europeans for years, the native part of the city is as far from being modern and up to date as it was years ago. And I am told by people acquainted with the interior, that the people there are far behind the dwellers in the coast cities, in civilization.

We reached Yokohama in time to see the celebrated double cherry blossoms. They are very beautiful. The flowers in Japan are fine, and some of them very rare.

At Kobe we found time to visit the Drs. Lockwood, and spent a very agreeable evening with them. We also paid a brief visit to the Japanese sanitarium in that place, which is doing a good business now, and is the medium through which our workers at Kobe can reach many of the Japanese people with the truths of the third angel's message. There is a church there of about sixty members, I believe. The work is moving onward.

After leaving Kobe we sailed through the Inland Sea. The scenery of this sea is said to be very beautiful. We had very cool weather until within a day's journey of Hongkong, when it became very warm.

Our boat arrived at Hongkong May 3, early in the morning. We were just packing our things, getting ready to go ashore, when Brother Wilbur and his wife appeared. We were very glad to see them. We started for Canton that evening, reaching here the next morning. It is quite hot, and we feel the heat all the more severely as it was quite cold most of the time while on our way. But I think we shall soon become accustomed to it. It will take some time to become acclimated, I know, but we will be careful, and hope to be well and strong. We expect to start for Amoy in about a week. We look for Brother Keh some time this week.

We are of good courage, and hope that the Lord will help us to carry the “true doctrine,” to many souls in this benighted land. May God bless the work and workers of Washington, as well as in China, is our prayer.

W. C. HANKINS.