China by WM. A. WESTWORTH

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 9, 1910

China

By WM. A. WESTWORTH

WM. A. WESTWORTH

Had not past experience shown us the necessity of being ready for any call that might come, we would have to confess to some degree of surprise at the request of the General Conference Committee that we make China our field of labor. But having determined to be ready to make any necessary sacrifice of personal desires essential to the progress of God’s work, we heartily responded to the call to this dark country. Although the experiences have thus far been different from anything in the past, we can not but testify to the goodness of our Heavenly Father in caring for us since we left the home land, and praise him for the privilege of working here in the land of Sinim, for the message on every hand.

Leaving the United States the latter part of December, we had a very good voyage, considering the time of year. After short stops at Yokohama, Kobe, and Nagasaki, at which places we were entertained by the brethren there stationed, we reached Shanghai just in time for the annual council meeting, which had been arranged for the date of our arrival.

We were soon busy in the study of the situation in this vast mission field, which presents the greatest of all missionary problems. Day by day the magnitude of the work in China has grown upon us, until we are overwhelmed with the situation confronting us. Were we not confident that God will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness, we would have to give up in despair; for, from a human view-point, the task is greater than we as a people can ever hope to accomplish.

Still on every hand we can see how the Master is opening up the way, and evidences abound that nothing but victory awaits each honest effort to spread the light of this message, which will bring, as nothing else possibly can, relief to the people here. They are calling for the message on every hand. As we pass through the land from station to station, our hearts ache to hear the calls for help and for light about Jesus and his love. How sad to be compelled to tell them that we can not answer the cry! Had we a thousand workers where now we have one, or had we ten thousand where now we have one who is master of the language, we still could give every worker ten thousand souls to labor for, and yet have tens of millions unwarned. Does this mean anything to you? Brethren, it means something to us who are here, with this unspeakable need staring us in the face day after day; and we can not but wonder when the tension will be lessened.

Our workers, though few, are working the best they can. We are still trying to divide our forces, and press out, so that centers for the training of native workers can be established. This year we open up work in three more provinces,—Szechuen, with a population of over sixty-eight million; Hupeh, with over thirty-five million; and Chekiang, with ten million. Think of it!—one hundred thirteen million heathen to five workers! Surely our ways are not “equal,” when the demands of humanity on us in relation to this message are considered. But we thank God that even this small start can be made to begin to “throw a line” to these who are sinking to eternal despair.

At the council meeting already referred to, plans were made to strengthen every branch of the work. With confidence that our brethren and sisters at home would stand by us and God’s work, we have taken steps to open up these new fields, and expect much of the blessing of God, who is everywhere giving us evidence that he stands at the helm.

The Southern Division was divided into two distinct missions, to be known as the Southern and Southeastern China missions, with populations of about thirty-seven million and twenty-five million respectively. This was necessary on account of the distances to travel, the variance in language, and the inaccessibility from a central headquarters. J. N. Anderson takes the Southern China Mission, and W. C. Hankins the Southeastern, as superintendents. R. F. Cottrell was asked to take the Eastern Division, which has a population of fifty million; and J. J. Westrup the Central Division, with one hundred million. In a few weeks F. A. Allum expects to enter the Western Division, with its population of eighty million. Dr. A. C. Selmon will come to Shanghai to labor as editor of the paper; and N. P. Keh was called from Amoy to act as Chinese editor, and is now at work in that capacity.

Progress has been made as far as funds would allow in establishing the press work on our own land, and till this can be accomplished, our hands are practically tied. Calls for literature abound. Every little while we hear of souls who are coming into the truth through reading, and the demands for our papers, tracts, etc., are far in excess of what we can supply. To hire the work done means great expense, and at the same

time this very work might be given to our own believers, who, with hearts in love with the message, would render far better service than is possible by those who know not the truth.