The Evangelists’ Institutes in Central China by A. C. Selmon, M. D.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 8, 1916

The Evangelists’ Institutes in Central China

By A. C. Selmon, M. D.

A. C. SELMON, M. D.

THIS spring we have held our first ministerial institutes in China, but having so few ordained men, we call these gatherings evangelists’ institutes, rather than ministerial institutes.

In January Brother Fred Lee and I held an institute in Yen-cheng, Honan. Every evangelist from the two provinces of Honan and Hupeh was present. One of our Kiang-si evangelists was in attendance, and also an evangelist from Shen-si. Following this institute, Brother S. G. White and I held one in Changsha for the Hunan evangelists.

At these institutes we took up definite studies on pastoral training and the management of mission stations, and also prepared full sermon outlines for use in series of meetings for nonbelievers. It was a great encouragement to us to see the keen interest that was taken by the evangelists in these institutes. Only a short time has elapsed since the close of the institutes, yet to our personal knowledge many of the evangelists are showing a marked improvement in their methods of work. The spiritual help received at the institutes has also brought more power into the lives of many of them.

In the midst of our Changsha institute there was a revolutionary outbreak in the city. Bombs were thrown into the general’s yamen (court), into the police headquarters, and at the electric light works. The center of the trouble was only a short distance from our chapel. We heard the discharge of bombs, and the rifle firing that followed. The whole city was at once placed under very strict military rule. The immediate section of the general’s yamen included our chapel, and the surveillance was so rigid that no one from the outside was allowed to enter the district. Brother White and I made an effort to get some of our people back to the chapel who happened to be away from it at the time of the trouble, but we were not successful. Later the guard was relaxed somewhat, but wild rumors of more trouble kept the people in a state of excitement. Under the circumstances, it was very difficult to get the evangelists to do good work in the institute. It was found later that among the adherents of one or two of the missions in Hunan were some who were taking an active part in the revolutionary propaganda. On account of this, the authorities suspicioned all the missions more or less. We felt that it was hazardous to leave all our companies throughout the province without their leaders, and so we were compelled to dismiss the institute after only two weeks’ work.

Troublous times are not limited to poor old Europe, but they have fallen on every country in the world. While we have peace in most parts of China today, yet there are few who are rash enough to predict that it will last a long time. Today is the day of opportunity in China. Let us improve it before forces become active that would hedge up the way.