OUR mission work in this great province, with its 68,000,000 people, is moving along slowly but surely. We do not find this an easy field, for Satan has securely bound the people in chains of sin that are not easily broken. There is more drunkenness and smoking and immorality here than in other parts of China where we have worked. Since our chapel was opened, a little over a year and a half ago, more than five hundred robbers have been executed just outside the Tung Yuan gate. Executions have also taken place in other parts of the city, but of these we have no record. Similar conditions prevail in all the large cities of Szechuan, and one would think that the robbers would soon be exterminated; but rather they seem to multiply, terrorizing the villages and market towns.
However, in spite of these difficulties, God’s Spirit is gathering out from the darkness of heathenism persons who, we think, are going through to the kingdom of God; and a church is being built up which will, we believe, stand the “test of fire.” Our present church membership is fourteen. This number could have been much larger had we baptized all who were desirous of baptism, but we have tried to receive into the church only those who manifest that the Spirit of God is working upon their hearts and changing their lives. Another class will shortly go forward in baptism, perhaps six or seven. None of these have been members in any other church, but are those who formerly bowed down to heathen idols.
We have recently secured a new chapel, in the center of Chungking, on a very busy street. Day by day the hall has been crowded to its utmost capacity with interested listeners. As we have appealed to them to give their hearts to God, and receive salvation through Christ’s atoning sacrifice, many have given in their names, stating that they were desirous of studying further the gospel message. We hope to see some become true, loyal Christians. We have chapels in two other towns where good interests are being developed.
THE CHUNGKING BOYS' SCHOOL
We are operating this year three day schools, with an enrolment of seventy three. In Chungking we have one boys’ school with thirty-one students and a girls’ school with twenty-five. We have another school at a near-by town, opened after repeated requests from the parents. We are earnestly praying that through these schools many of these bright Chinese children shall be led to give their hearts to Jesus, before they become hardened by the sin and wickedness around them. Mrs. Allum, in addition to the care of her own three boys, is carrying a burden on her heart to make these schools soul-saving agencies. We should receive help soon, and we trust that some consecrated single woman or women will come here and devote their lives to this important work.
Brother M. C. Warren has reported the splendid success of our canvassing work, which is self-supporting. We now have three colporteurs in the field, and hope soon to have a fourth. Two of these have just started for the city of Hochau. This city, only a few days ago, was in the hands of brigands, who burned part of it. However, our devoted workers, fearing none of these things, are on their way to this city with our truth-laden literature. Later they will canvass all the cities which are situated on the three rivers that enter the Kialing River at or near Hochau.
We earnestly request all to pray for the work in these far-off fields, first, that our workers, both native and foreign, may have added consecration in their work; and second, that God will soon give us additional workers, that we may be able quickly to spread the message of a soon-coming Saviour to the remotest parts of Szechuan, and even to the borders of Tibet.
