In Northern China by W. A. Westworth

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 16, 1911

In Northern China

By W. A. Westworth

W. A. WESTWORTH

(Concluded)

From Peking we went to Tientsin. Here Dr. Miller left us to return to his school work, while we pressed farther north for two more days to Mukden, the capital of Manchuria. In China the trains do not run in the night, except on special occasions, so we had to stop continually at Chinese hotels. As we went to our rest upon beds of brick, or upon a few loose boards laid on wooden horses, with floors of dirt and with no heat, and as we did our best to eat some of the questionable viands which were set before us, we could hardly be blamed for thinking of the warmth and comforts of the homeland; but amid it all the great need of the poor souls about us made us glad we could be here.

Mukden is a bright and thriving city. The climate reminded us of that of New York State. A fertile country, business interests developing, up-to-date methods being introduced, and a certain sprightliness in the manners of the people,—all seem to urge that our work shall be started soon in this important center. Already we have applications for workers to go to this place, and we only wait the arrival of men and means, when we shall gladly begin our work in Manchuria, the most northerly province of China.

Here the Japanese are pressing forward their business; here is seen a Japanese colony with modern homes and buildings being erected rapidly; here is the terminus of a short line connecting with the seaports and with Korea by a modern railroad. Here, alas, we also see large factories making cigarettes, and quite a modern display of rum-shops. But we are behind; there is no representative of the message here.

We now turned south toward the Korean border, this way home being by far the quickest route back to Shanghai; and after a ride of one hundred eighty-five miles, reached An-tung, a seaport town on the river Yalu. Crossing the river on small sleds,—for the ice was very thick,—we started the next day for Soonan, where the Korean brethren were gathered for their annual committee meeting, combined with a general meeting for their workers. Here we were glad to meet the greater part of the foreign workers of this mission field, and to see the hearty interest and zeal manifested. We visited their school, conducted by Dr. Riley Russell, and could not but long to see them provided with better facilities for their work. Elder Evans remained here, while I returned to Shanghai by way of Seoul, Moji, and Nagasaki.

A CONTRAST

The upper picture shows the Presbyterian China Mission Press. The cross indicates where our printing is done for the Chinese.

I feel I should not pass Seoul without speaking of the great need of better facilities with which to get out our life-giving literature. Our Korean brethren have a press similar to the ones used in George Washington's time,—a model of that on exhibition in the old Statehouse in Boston as “Benjamin Franklin's press;” and with this they are expected to reach twenty million souls. Think of it, brethren! you who sit down calmly week by week and read the REVIEW, printed by up-to-date machinery in a modern building, who enjoy the reports and the pictures from all over the world,—think of the kind of ammunition given to these brave soldiers, who are sent from home to carry forward the work of God.

After four more days' travel I reached home, where was found plenty of work waiting to be done. The press was running from early morning till late at night, trying to get out, not something to lay on the shelves as “stock,” but just our regular paper. Our New-year's edition calls for fifty thousand copies, and we dare not even think of the numerous tracts, pamphlets, and large books in preparation or ready for the press. Calls for our literature are coming from all parts of the country. Some of these calls are from men of learning and position, men in colleges and churches, who long for books and light. These calls we can not supply, because we have not the money to build and print. And here we must add that it is impossible for us to hire the work done, because of the fact that such work here is very uncertain, and the prices asked would prevent our handling the books except at a heavy loss.

[It is but just to state here that when this is read, about nine thousand dollars of the $300,000 Fund will be on the way to China, for them to use in establishing their printing-plant at Shanghai. Further than this, the Pacific Press Publishing Association, at its last meeting, voted to purchase with one tenth of its net profits a printing-press for the Orient, probably for Shanghai. This gift will supplement by about two thousand dollars the amount sent on from the Mission Board out of the $300,000 Fund, making eleven thousand dollars in all. This will give them a good start, to say the least, and will bring great joy to the hearts of the workers over there. Further, we have recently sent on to Korea about sixty selected cuts, suitable for use in their paper. These were kindly donated by the Review and Herald, the Pacific Press, and the International publishing associations. But they need their press right away. So far as we know, no provision has been made to supply Korea with its much-needed printing-press.—Ed.]

In this entire trip I traveled about four thousand miles. In all this territory we have but two stations where the truth is established,—and these two tell a plain and forcible story of need. We could travel three thousand miles straight west, and still be in our field. O, that men and means, consecrated to the service of the Master, would come! Brethren, those who have seen the pitiful conditions which here prevail; who have heard the cries of China's poor, benighted souls; who have been brought to know what Satan's rule for four thousand years can do,—these long for the time when it

shall all end. “How long, O Lord?” is our cry. The answer is not withheld: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Who will help hasten the coming of our Lord and Master?

Shanghai.