p. 14 | Will It Pay? by Ida E. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Mar 24, 1904

Will It Pay?

By Ida E. Thompson

IDA E. THOMPSON

WILL it pay? is the question we ask ourselves as often as we propose a new undertaking. This question in its relation to gospel work among women in China was forcibly impressed upon my mind a few evenings ago, as I listened to a woman relate her neighbor's experience in the school for Chinese blind girls in Kowloon, just across the bay from Hongkong.

What led to the opening of the school?—an expenditure of which many good financial calculators would have said, “What a pity! We just sank that money we invested in her.” “Who?” “Why, that Miss ——, whom we sent to China. She was there only a few months, and now has returned, wrecked in health. Had she remained at home, she might have done a good work; but as it is, both the money invested and a bright woman's life have been wasted.

Was it wasted? Did it pay to send her? During her brief stay in China, her life was fired by what she saw and heard, and she determined to bring relief to a class who, up to that time, had received little or no attention from missionaries—the Chinese blind girls.

If she herself could not remain in the field, she would stir others to activity. So she wrote a book, giving expression to her convictions, and it was through the influence of this book that the founders and present managers opened the school for blind girls in Kowloon. In this school these little girls are taught to read, write, do all kinds of housework, sewing, and fancy work, and, above all, learn of Him who said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me.”

The fact that a child is born a girl in many native homes is considered a calamity. Adding blindness to this, it becomes almost unbearable. The picture drawn by Joel—“They have . . . sold a girl for wine, that they might drink”—finds its living counterpart in daily life in China. Girls, and the blind in particular, are not infrequently sold for a trifling sum—bound into slavery, and that of a most shameful type. Poor child! just because she is a girl.

Just a brief account of some of these little ones' treatment in their homes may give you a slight idea of their estimated value there. One born into a family not far from here, when less than six years of age was betrothed to a little boy; but before the marriage, the little boy died. The girl was charged with his death. They said she must have done some great wrong, which brought this sadness into the home. She was beaten, her eyes burned out, and her whole body dreadfully bruised and burned. Now, matters were worse than ever, so she was cast into the river. But again and again the little body came to the surface, and was as often thrust back, until death came to her relief.

Another mother was just about to throw her little girl into the sea, when a missionary spied her, and told her of this school where her little blind girl would be welcomed and taught to become useful. Others thus unfortunate are laid near homes of missionaries, who it is supposed will care for them. Naked, covered with sores, and loaded with vermin, they are brought. But after a little attention has been given them, they change into merry-hearted children.

There were many such stories told, which are facts. Was it a waste of money? Was it a pity that young lady came to China? How many lives have been and shall be blessed as a result, heaven alone will reveal. But is it sufficient to begin or end here? The life of the oak is in the acorn; so the nature of the child is an inheritance from its parents. We can not change all now, but there is opportunity to help some. When shall we begin?

“The do-nothing system is the greatest curse that has befallen our race.” The Chinese women in the so-called “best” homes are brought up in idleness. Servants are provided for all duties, and very few are the children who have a mother able to read at all. It can not be said of these, as of Timothy, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice.” They have not been taught by a mother from youth.

You can not well imagine the emptiness of most Chinese women's lives. Is it because they can not be taught?—No, it is because they are not. It is considered useless to expend money on a woman's education—she is to sit in some little dark room, only a housewife. This being the case not merely for a decade, but for generations, will it pay to try to remedy matters now? Are these women at all religiously inclined? Just here is where the inclination to religion, if such it may be called, lies. These hearts are aching and reaching out for help. Day after day and night after night is spent with hands uplifted to Joss, pleading for deliverance from this awful wretchedness. To be sure, it is not Christianity they are seeking; and yet it is, for this is their only remedy. It will require time, means, patience, and, above all, a heart that can beat in sympathy with theirs, to accomplish anything. But read Isa. 49:24, 25: “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.” Whose children? Verse 22 of this same chapter tells: “Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.” Has God not promised to gather from Sinim? Moses charged Joshua, when about to take the leadership of God's people, to gather men, women, and children who had not known anything, and teach them to fear God. This is our present privilege. Here in China these very conditions are met. Shall we teach them? Shall we have schools? Shall we teach them in their homes and wherever we can find entrance? God's creatures, bound by the adversary of souls, are hurrying on to destruction.

At present there are many open doors. Again and again you have read Isa. 44:17. We see it daily practised here in China. We are studying the language of this people; and while we study, we pray God to give us wisdom to set before them, in an intelligent manner, the crucified and risen Saviour who saves to the uttermost. If God says to any of you, “Ye have compassed this mountain long enough; away to regions beyond!” do not fear to heed; for his presence shall go with you, and you will find rest and joy.

Hongkong.