p. 16 | China by Mrs. Ida Pilquist

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Dec 22, 1904

China

By Mrs. Ida Pilquist

LOH SHAN HSIEN.—Although we expect to see greater results than we have seen from the work in slowly progressive China, yet we have reason to be thankful for all the favors received during our short stay in this place. It is about four months since we came here, and some of the time was spent in repairing the houses. At first quite a number of visitors came to see me—more from curiosity than from anything else. It is always expected that there will be many callers in a new place. As a rule, we do not allow them to run about and look at everything, but kindly ask them to be seated in the guest hall, in order that I may have a chance to speak to them on the most important subject—their salvation. Notwithstanding the great heat in June, July, and August, I was glad for the opportunity of receiving them, because I knew very well that many might never come again. Of course it is trying sometimes, when the women interrupt me, and show no interest in religion. To me their curious questions sound strange, indeed, although for over eight years in China I have heard them repeated occasionally. These are some of them:—

“How old are you?” “How many children [sons] have you?” “Do you make your shoes and clothes yourself?” “Do you cultivate the ground in your country?” “Is there any foreign kingdom populated by women only?” “Do you like our country or your own best?” “Are there any people with holes in the chest, carried on a bamboo pole?” Besides these, many, many other strange questions are asked. But I make the best of it, and tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love over and over again. The seed sown falls by the wayside, upon the stony ground, among thorns, and even into good ground.

The people are especially fond of song and music, and as a result we have a class of children in our recently opened school who are now learning to sing about Jesus, both in the day-school and in the Sabbath-school.

An eight-year-old orphan girl has been added to our family. Her father was one of our first converts here in Honan, and died over two months ago. At my request, her mother unbound her daughter’s feet during our stay in San-li-tien last year. Shang Mao Ri is a clever little girl, and if the Lord tarry, we hope to educate her for future usefulness among her benighted sisters.

One of the Chinese sayings, “Man man tih tsiu shi kuai,”—“Slow slow is fast, and vice versa,”—does not agree very well with us, as we wish the Chinese to accept the truth quickly. And had it not been for our slowness in receiving the word of truth and proclaiming it to all nations, the Lord would have come long ago to establish his kingdom. O how we long for the kingdom to come! And how we long to see the King of kings enter many hearts in China and manifest his saving grace!

Dear friends, just think of it—China is nearly four thousand years old! And of her millions, thirty thousand people die every day, most of them without any knowledge of him who died that we might live forever in his presence. What are you now doing to rescue the perishing and care for the dying?

Mrs. Ida PILQUIST.