Canton, China by E. H. Wilbur

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 27, 1911

Canton, China

By E. H. Wilbur

E. H. WILBUR

AFTER about one year's absence in America, my family and I arrived in Canton, China, March 22, 1911. On our return trip we visited the Stuart (Iowa) Academy, Union College, and the Loma Linda (Cal.) Sanitarium. We were very kindly received at all these institutions, and rejoiced to see so many young people preparing for the Lord's work. Union College already has several efficient workers in China, and still others will no doubt come to this field. It was China's great need that led us to take up work here about nine years ago, and it was China's need that caused us to return.

Although the past year has been a trying one for our European workers in this field, we can see that the message has advanced. One year ago we had but one church organization in this province (Kwang-tung), but now we have four. The new church recently organized by Elder George Harlow at Pakhoi has forty-one members. Two months ago Elders W. C. Hankins and N. P. Keh organized a new church at Swatow (in this province), with twenty-one charter members. Our church at Fatshan has twelve members, the Canton church about forty. This makes a total Chinese membership in this province of about one hundred fourteen.

On May 14 the writer had the privilege of baptizing two dear souls at Canton. One, who recently accepted the truth, is an intelligent man about thirty years of age, a school-teacher, and a graduate of the Chinese Normal School. The other is the wife of our evangelist, Brother Cheung. She practically accepted the truth about four years ago, but at that time had very little knowledge of the gospel. Neither of these persons was ever a member of any other church.

In a recent visit to Kongmoon, where we formerly labored, I was much impressed by the change in public sentiment there in favor of the gospel. One of our young women from that place, who has been a student in the girls' school at Canton the past two years, remained in Kongmoon this year, and at her own expense opened an Adventist mission school for girls. In talking to us she said she felt that the coming of the Lord is so near that she could no longer delay to do something for her own people. She has a fine class of young women, most of whom have never before been permitted either to attend school or to hear the gospel. She has no school on Sabbath, but conducts a Sabbath service in the schoolroom; often the neighbors crowd around just outside the school door to listen to the message.