A Great Missionary Gathering in China
By John E. Fulton
Over one hundred and twenty delegates from Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, and ten of the provinces of China, and a few members of the General Conference Committee came together at Shanghai, May 1-15, for an institute and council meeting. There were two Japanese, two Koreans, one Filipino, and a much larger number of Chinese workers and evangelists listed among the delegates who attended this important meeting; but the greater number present were the foreign missionaries, making altogether the largest company of Seventh-day Adventist workers ever gathered in the Orient. Pastor R. C. Porter, president of the Asiatic Division, presided at the meeting. The presence of Pastor Daniells greatly cheered our missionaries. For years they had hoped he might visit them. During this meeting Brother Daniells labored incessantly for the good of the workers, presenting to the missionaries their high calling and ministry, the devotion and consecration needed, and how all can unite in the finishing of the work. The benefits of proper organization to meet the needs of an expanding work in this great Eastern field was also a topic of interest and importance. Pastor Daniells’s long experience with the development of the world-wide work gave added force to his words in the presentation of this timely instruction. Doubtless the presentation of these principles will prove of great value to the young men in these fields, upon whom circumstances have quickly thrust the burdens of a mighty work. Lessons on the work of the Holy Spirit in connection with missionary effort were also given. The greatness of the work in these lands, and the many apparently insurmountable obstacles, make manifest to all the great need of this promised blessing which gives power and efficiency to all our work. The Sabbath morning heart-to-heart talks and devotional services conducted by Brother Daniells will long be remembered. God blessed the word and drew near to his servants. A more perfect organization of the work in the Far East, and a more authoritative body of advisers close at hand would, it was felt, greatly facilitate the work. The cause is growing rapidly, and problems to be met only in this field can better be decided here than by brethren far away. The greatness of the work to be done, and the extreme lateness of the hour, deeply impressed those present at this meeting with the necessity of planning for a mighty forward movement. This is the hour of opportunity. The door is swung wide open, bidding us enter now. Peace reigns at present in this part of the world, but now and then ominous clouds arise upon the horizon, warning us that our time is short, and that we must hasten while the day lasts. For the strength of the work and for facility in carrying it forward, it was felt that our brethren in the homelands should place a larger number of aggressive young people in the Far East to learn languages and enter new fields, and also some men of experience to help in counsel, so as to have in the East a responsible body of advisers who can administer and direct to the satisfaction of both those at home and those on the field. Such a great work, it was felt, can no longer be so well directed at so long a range. This feeling grew upon the missionaries assembled at the Shanghai meeting to such an extent that they were constrained to draw up an appeal to our American brethren, setting forth this important question. When the vast area within the boundaries of the Asiatic field is taken into account; when we realize the need of constant and careful supervision, and remember the terrible barriers of racial differences, caste, and the babel of difficult languages and dialects; when we realize that here live nearly two thirds of the human race,—it must appeal to all that this is the battle ground of the greatest missionary conflict ever yet fought; and as this battle is now being waged, we must send forward without delay adequate forces and equipment, and place leaders upon the ground who can have authority to make strategic moves. In the Far East we shall ever of necessity be dependent on a strong home board, composed of our oldest, wisest, and most sympathetic leaders, to rally and train forces, raise funds, and dispatch the same. Without such co-operation we could not hope to win; but at the same time there must be more leaders at the battle front to do and to dare, to fill gaps quickly, to counsel and appeal. This was one of the matters which stirred the hearts of our workers in attendance at this great meeting, and which was no doubt the most important recommendation brought before the council of one hundred and twenty-six delegates. Simultaneously, the workers from India, the Far East, and other parts conceived the idea of a more perfect bond of union in order to insure the success of the work in the Asiatic field. With a cause so great, with the time so short, we must not delay. Now is our14time, “Forward” is our watchword, and union is our strength. All present agreed that to maintain the ground already taken, to facilitate movements for future aggressive work in all parts of the Far East, there must be always present on the field a strong body of responsible advisers and leaders. The missionaries plead for a plan of reorganization which shall give the field closer supervision and a more effective administration. To do this they request that a new Asiatic Division be organized, to include the following countries, and to be subdivided and named as follows:— 1. The Australasian Union Conference, with its six million people. 2. The India Union Mission, with 326,000,000 souls. 3. The Northeastern Union Mission, comprising Japan, Korea, and Manchuria, totaling 85,000,000 persons. 4. The North China Union Mission, embracing the provinces of Chi-li, Shan-si, and Mongolia, 36,000,000 persons. 5. The East China Union Mission, which includes the provinces of Shantung, Kiang-su, Anhuei, and Che-kiang, with 88,000,000 Chinese. 6. The Central China Union Mission, taking in the provinces of Honan, Shen-si, Kan-su, Hupeh, Hunan, and Kiang-si, 138,000,000 souls. 7. The West China Union Mission, made up of the provinces of Szechuan, Kweichow, Yun-nan, and Tibet, supporting a population of 95,000,000. 8. The South China Union Mission, with the provinces of Fukien, Kwang-tung, Kwang-si, the country known as Anam, south of China, and the islands of Formosa and Hainan, making altogether a population of 70,000,000. 9. The East Indian Union Mission, within the borders of which is to be found the Straits Settlements, the Federated Malay States, the Dutch East Indies, Siam, British North Borneo, and the Philippines, containing altogether a population of 60,000,000. It will be readily observed that each union represents large areas, difficult to travel and to administer, and many millions of persons to reach in each division. Against this plan it is impossible to urge that the field has been divided into too many parts. But what may our brethren in the homelands hope for from this field, and what encouragements now appear? It will give joy to our brethren across the waters to know that there has grown up a native constituency of over four thousand Sabbath keepers in the Asiatic Division mission, and from their ranks is fast developing a strong body of native evangelists and colporteurs, numbering three hundred strong. Just before our general meeting, with great joy the writer assisted at the ordination of two Korean ministers, and also a few days later at the ordination of two Chinese ministers in Central China. These native workers are loyal and efficient, and more and more confidence is reposed in them, and it is seen that they will not betray this confidence. Native evangelists and delegates sat in the council with us, while interpreters conveyed to their appreciative minds the subjects under discussion. The daily studies also were thus given them. Their hearts were touched, and they were often melted to tears by the same truths and by the same appeals. They were led by the same Spirit to make the same humble confessions as their white-skinned brethren, and to claim the same great pardon. They are also ready to volunteer with their western colaborers for hard and difficult places, and so, standing together before the stupendous task that confronts us, we all felt that we were one. God’s truth is adapted to every country and to every climate and to every people, breaks down every wall of opposition, and makes of diverse races a common brotherhood. Literature was a mighty factor in the establishment and dissemination of the truth of God during Reformation days, and has contributed enormously in Western lands in the spread of the third angel’s message during the past few decades especially, and we feel sure that the printed page must play a most telling part also in the finishing of the work in the Far East. Already China, so long the seat of an ancient literature, reads now in her own characters a new message. The Chinese Signs of the Times has the largest circulation of any paper in the denomination, and the greatest circulation of any religious paper in the East. Steps were taken at this council to inaugurate a subscription book business, looking forward to putting five hundred native canvassers into the field upon a self-supporting basis. Printing plants in China, Japan, and the Philippines are being enlarged, more fully equipped, and better manned. Ten thousand dollars is requested for a printing office and equipment in the Philippines, where native canvassers are meeting with phenomenal success with our books translated into the vernaculars. Experienced evangelistic canvassers from Australia were called for at this meeting, to train and lead out in the great forward movement. While Christianity is repulsive to millions of the people, yet the facts of the prophetic word will appeal to the native curiosity of the Oriental mind, and many through this means will be won to Christ. To meet these many missionaries on the field was a great pleasure and inspiration, and to attend their meeting a great blessing. They are serious, earnest, capable men and women, upon whom God has laid great responsibilities, and who sense the seriousness of the situation. Brother Johanson and the writer bear back to our home field the record of the proceedings, and the requests made of the brethren in Australasia for men and means, believing that our constituency will not disappoint the brethren out on the firing line, who look so longingly for help in prosecuting a work that staggers the imagination, and calls for the consecrated effort of every one who believes that the message is to go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people in this generation.