China by E. H. Wilbur

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jul 27, 1905

China

By E. H. Wilbur

CANTON.—It has been several months since we moved back to Canton. We were exceedingly busy after our arrival here, but had a good rest during the Chinese New-year’s season. The past month has been unusually cold. The frost killed some of the house plants that were left out of doors.

It was hard for us to leave Hongkong with no worker to take our place there, but under the circumstances it was the best thing that we could do, and we have been very happy to be here.

Our schools reopened last week. Miss Thompson has already received forty applications for the girls’ school. Our English boys’ school opened with more students than we had at the beginning of the school last summer. It is too soon to form any idea of the attendance of the boys. This school is conducted by Brother A. C. Tidbury. I study the English Bible one-half hour each day with the advanced section, and our native preacher conducts a one-half-hour Bible study in Chinese, with the beginners. The two sections meet for Bible study together one hour on Sabbath.

E. H. WILBUR AND WIFE, WITH LANGUAGE TUTOR AND "BOY"

About two weeks ago we again opened evening services in the chapel. Before Chinese New Year we had from fifty to one hundred people attending every night. But now we are having cold, rainy weather, and only a few come in. However, we are trying to get a little nearer the few, by sitting down and reading the Bible with them. I know our brethren in America have been waiting to hear of the fruit of these meetings, but the Lord has not permitted us to see much fruit from this work as yet. I can truly say that the one grace of all others needed in China is patience.

Our Chinese Friday evening prayer-meeting is encouraging, as we have a regular attendance of fifteen to twenty. On Sabbath the attendance at the preaching service runs from about forty to sixty. We have been badly handicapped because of our limited knowledge of the language and customs of the people. There is not one of our company here but has lost time because we had no one to tell us some of the things it was necessary to know. Now, if new workers are sent to Canton, they can learn as much in one year as we did in two. Our hearts have been made glad at the prospect of more workers.

Next to the demand at Amoy [which has since been supplied by Brother and Sister Hankins] is that a man and his wife be sent to Canton to prepare for ministerial and Bible work. We are glad Dr. Law Keem and his wife are coming, but we have urgent need also for a European worker who is thoroughly established in the truth. He must study at least two years before he can take up regular work, though in a few weeks he might be able to sell tracts, Bibles, etc., on the street. Remember there are two million people in this city, and thirty million in this province, and those who work for the Cantonese must come to Canton to learn the correct language.

Then there is Hongkong, a most important field, a gateway to the world. After Brother La Rue “held the fort” there for so many years, it seems a pity for no one to take his place. Now that we have laborers in Canton, Singapore, and Ceylon, it is even more important that we have a connecting link in Hongkong. We still have on hand a quantity of books, and no one here has time to sell them. Perhaps there is in America a man who is past the age when it would be practicable to begin the study of a language, yet who feels a burden for this field. Such a man, I think, whether he be a minister of long experience or an energetic canvasser, would find a pleasant field in Hongkong. He might not have any large audiences to preach to, but if he were a good man in personal work, canvassing, or house-to-house work, he would find a good field in that city. If he could have literature to supply the passengers on the mail steamers, he could reach a very influential class of people.

My wife and I are still keeping up our language study. Recently Mrs. Wilbur has begun Bible work with women in

their homes. At one place where she is now giving readings, about fifteen women meet with her daily to study the Bible and learn to sing. These women can not read, so they are taught to read and commit to memory portions of Scripture. They never knew anything about the Bible. If you speak of Peter or Paul, or any other Bible name so familiar to us, they have no idea of whom you are talking. They are more familiar with the name of Confucius or those of other Chinese sages. The women of China are faithful in their worship of idols. What a pity they have so few to teach them how to worship the true God!

We have been glad to begin the publication of tracts, and hope means may be supplied so that the good work can go on. I hope we may be able to begin the publication of a small Chinese monthly paper after Elder Anderson returns from America. Such a paper would be an important means of instruction among our native brethren, both in China and in other lands. I know of no better means of giving them a knowledge of the fundamental truths of the message than by the printed page.

We have watched with deep interest the recent developments in the work at Washington, and realize that we are living in a most important time. It is our desire to be up and doing while it is called to-day, for “the night cometh, when no man can work.”

E. H. WILBUR.