China by H. W. MILLER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Nov 16, 1905

China

By H. W. MILLER

SHANG-TSAI HSIEN.— We have been greatly interested in reading the reports of the General Conference, and gratified, as well, at the turn the conference took toward the mission fields.

To those interested in China, and inquiring for literature on this country, I would recommend the two books by A. H. Smith, “Village Life in China,” and “Chinese Characteristics.” Every missionary of China who reads them will say that he pictures every phase of China and Chinese life as well as language will portray it.

We agree with you that we must plan for other provinces besides Honan, and we are looking toward our neighboring provinces. But placing ten or twelve workers in Honan has a different meaning, toward spreading the message in China as a whole, from placing that many workers in Kwang-tung or Fukien. Honan represents fifteen provinces, or five sixths of China, while Kwang-tung represents from one eighteenth to one tenth, and Fukien one eighteenth.

It is the language that sets the boundaries to missionary progress in China. The province of Kwang-tung is practically as foreign to the fifteen provinces speaking Mandarin, as Japan, as far as language is concerned. The dialects of Kwang-tung, Kwang-si, and Fukien are not understood at all in the fifteen northern provinces. The plan to get workers located in districts where the three dialects are spoken is a good one. Brother Hankins is learning the Fukien, and the workers at Canton, the Cantonese, which is the language of Kwang-tung and southern Kwang-si.

Other mission societies have been canvassing China, and adding recruits so rapidly of late that there is scarcely a vantage-point left. We will necessarily have to encroach on another man's so-called “territory;” for China is divided among the missions. To thus encroach means war, and the man who goes must be prepared. His sword—and it is a good one—is the Word of God. But if he can not understand the language, he can not use his sword. As a result, he loses ground.

The Honan workers, with the language, can push out into fourteen other provinces, and do active work at once. And as soon as we get recruits sufficient, it is our idea to open up work in the other Mandarin provinces.

Just three weeks before the death of J. Hudson Taylor he was within thirty miles of my station, and learned of our work. This great man had the privilege of hearing of a church that will reap the true in heart in the land where he spent his life.

The hot summer has been depressing. Although I have not been well all of the time, I have managed to keep going, and not make any break in my work.

H. W. MILLER.