p. 5 | Hongkong and Canton by R. C. Porter

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 13, 1916

Hongkong and Canton

By R. C. Porter

AFTER arriving at Hongkong from Swatow, I learned that the steamer on which I was to take passage had gone into dry dock, so the time I desired to spend at the Swatow general meeting I was obliged to spend in awaiting the movements of my steamer. While waiting,

I divided the time between Hongkong and Canton.

Hongkong, being the chief British port in the Far East, naturally attracts an English-speaking class of Chinese who have come to the city to engage in business. This makes it an important place for a strong English work to be carried on in connection with the work for the Cantonese. There is great need of a good English-speaking worker to connect with the city work in Hongkong, taking the oversight of the work in the city, and devoting himself to the English work. With proper effort a strong English-speaking church might be developed in this city, which would be a strength in moral influence as well as a financial aid to the cause.

The committee of the South China Mission has arranged for Elder B. A. Meeker and his wife and Brother P. V. Thomas and his wife to attend the Cantonese language school the coming year. This has made it necessary for Brother and Sister A. L. Ham and Sister Wilbur to remove to Canton, Sister Wilbur to connect with the girls' training school and Brother Ham to oversee the school and city work in connection with the directorship of the Cantonese field. This leaves only Brother and Sister Mountain, who have come to take charge of the canvassing work and the tract society depository in South China, to supervise the Hongkong work until some one is provided for that field.

Going to Canton to advise with reference to the remodeling of the boys' school building in that city, we found that with a slight expense the building could be put in shape to meet the immediate demands of the school, but it will later need to be entirely remodeled if permanent school work is to be conducted in it.

There is an excellent outlook for the development of a good, strong boys' school, which will qualify many workers for service in the great Cantonese field who otherwise would never be able to do efficient work. The girls' school is developing splendidly. A bright, intelligent class of young women are in attendance, and the school is already filled to its capacity. Experience has taught our workers that their teaching and evangelical forces may be greatly augmented by local training schools, which will reach a large class of our young people who otherwise would not come in touch with our training school work.

On reaching the railway station for our return journey to Hongkong, we were informed that the river was rising, and that a bridge had just been washed out between Canton and Hongkong, which prevented the running of trains. We were obliged to make a hasty run to the steamer landing and return to Hongkong by steamer. The rise in the river continued until it reached a point eight feet higher than the floods of last year. This made it by far, the highest flood that has been known on the Canton River. Thousands of people are said to have lost their lives in Canton during this flood. The foreign section of the city was flooded to the depth of between five and six feet, while other portions were covered to a much greater depth.

Just following the terrible floods in South China came one of the worst typhoons known in the history of Shanghai. Vessels in the harbor were broken from their moorings and rushed over one another, the smaller boats being overridden and crushed by the larger ones. Many people were killed. Scores of telephone poles were blown down, trees were uprooted, and large buildings unroofed. These terrific floods and storms are fresh reminders that the coming of Christ is at hand. Our time to work is short. The opportunities before us are great. What is done must be done quickly. More facilities and missionaries are greatly needed for the speedy finishing of the work. R. C. PORTER.