A Woman's Meeting in China by Bertha L. Selmon, M. D.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Mar 2, 1905

A Woman's Meeting in China

By Bertha L. Selmon, M. D.

BERTHA L. SELMON, M. D.

The little woman who does my sewing was not well. I had not yet had a good excuse to visit her home, so I now gained her consent to go and help her take some treatment. I also wanted to see what kind of conditions she was living under. This much I knew of her history: For over two years she had supported a family of four children. She had been with me about two and

one-half months. During this time it was easier for her, because she had regular employment. She was not a convert to the gospel, but had heard a little, and seemed willing to learn. She could not read a word at first, but I taught her several hymns, and her daughter, who is nineteen years of age, also learned them.

I had done little among the women; for I lacked confidence in my ability to make them understand. The women are much more difficult to speak with than the men, for the men know the book language better. Now I found myself surrounded by a roomful of women and children. We had entered the only door in a long, narrow lane wall, and found ourselves in a very large courtyard, bordered by more than twenty houses. Into one of these my woman led me.

The floor of the two-room house, like the court outside, is bare, beaten earth. There is no ceiling in the house, but the rafters, made of material looking very much like corn-stalks, are blackened with smoke, and threads of dust and soot hang down everywhere. The walls are, like the floor, earth. The larger room has one bed, a pile of straw, an earth stove, and some narrow benches for seats. There is one window, which is open, except for sticks which cross it several inches apart. The small bedroom was darker still, with only a small opening in the wall to let in the light. Two beds and a few other crude articles of furniture nearly filled it. This is a typical Chinese home of the working class.

My errand accomplished, I began talking with the women, who seemed to understand me comparatively well. Soon the daughter came with their hymn-book, asking me to read a hymn which she was trying to learn. Then the three of us sang the child song so familiar to most of the little people in our native tongue, “Jesus loves me, this I know.” Almost before I knew it, I was explaining its meaning, and telling them how Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.” Then I had to tell them who Jesus is, and who God is; for the Chinese all know one name whom they acknowledge as the Ruler of heaven and the Creator of earth. They know very little about him, and less of how to worship him. I told them how Satan tempted our first parents, and how all except the little children are sinners, and how Jesus freely gave his life to save us all.

The Chinese regard it very strange and unfilial to leave one's parents' home and go far away, so I told them how my parents wanted me to come and tell them of a Saviour, and that Jesus could not take sinners to heaven; for they would make it bad, just like this earth. I tried to tell them of heaven's purity and beauty, and of the home that is clean and pure which Jesus will give us if we will repent and give up our sins.

The blessing of God came into my own heart; and while I believe some other heart was touched, in my own was born a greater inspiration to work now, and to use the language I have, while I still strive day by day to add to its store. I am thankful that God showed me that I could begin, and for the love of the dear women that grew larger in my heart as I came in touch with their need. I am glad, too, that God sent me to China's waiting women.