E. H. WILBUR by E. H. Wilbur

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 11, 1909

E. H. WILBUR

By E. H. Wilbur

China

E. H. WILBUR

Kongmoon and Ngoi Hoi

By our removal to Canton with our evangelist, it seemed that the work in Kongmoon and Ngoi Hoi would suffer much. We sent two of our Chinese brethren down there, and they have sold literature, and kept up the interest of an intelligent class of inquirers, several of whom are teachers. Among those especially interested in the truth in this district (Sun Wooi), nine new students attended our schools in Canton the first half of the year, and made splendid growth in Christian experience. Since their return home for the summer vacation, they have been a great help to the local work. One young lady has made trips to a small near-by village, telling the gospel story. Her father accompanies her as escort and also talks to the people.

Canton

On account of the removal of several of the Hakka brethren and Brother J. P. Anderson from Canton, we closed the Hakka chapel in the northern part of the city, and also closed the building occupied as a boys’ school last year. The boarding boys and the school were transferred to the old chapel, just back of our main chapel. It seemed like retrenching, but proved beneficial to the school healthwise, as well as spiritually.

You have already learned of the large attendance and good spiritual interest in the girls’ school, under the supervision of Sister Vanscoy. The work has been very heavy for her, with the boarding school and the East Gate girls’ day-school, but the Lord has graciously sustained her.

Brother Cheung has carried on regular night meetings at the chapel. The new bund is now finished in front of our door, and has become a popular walk in the cool of the evening. Hundreds of passers-by come in and listen to the words of eternal life. Some have become deeply interested, and daily visit our evangelist for Bible study.

Fat Shan

The work at Fat Shan has been badly hampered for want of a suitable building and facilities for the medical missionary work. But Dr. Law Keem and wife have been able to reach a fine class of people, and the work there is broadening and deepening. There should be several ready for baptism before the year closes.

Hakka Work

With the release of Brother J. P. Anderson from Canton, the Hakka work has taken on new life. He has opened two new out-stations in places not yet entered by other missions. And in each of these places an evangelist and his wife are located, and a school is started, thus giving the people to understand that we are interested in their welfare, and that we have come to stay. Brother Anderson has made his headquarters in Wai Chou, one hundred twenty miles east of Canton, where he also has an evangelist located and a small chapel opened. Besides this he has three regular

canvassers in the field, who are traveling all the time from city to city and market-town to market-town. They are selling altogether about one thousand copies of the Chinese Gospel Herald monthly, besides getting annual subscriptions. Thus the message is going.

Brother Hung, at Chou Chou Fu, near Swatow, is still faithful, and is doing a good work. There is no reason why, with the arrival of a new foreign worker for that place, the message should not quickly go forth from that center.

Our little company of foreign workers in this province are now taking a much-needed rest at Macan. We have a quiet place by the seaside where we can enjoy the beauties of nature. All have greatly improved in health since coming here. While not actively engaged in missionary work, we have held a Chinese Sabbath-school in our house, which a Chinese pastor from Canton and an evangelist from Macan, with a few other native Christians, have attended. One of these Chinese brethren has been convinced of the Sabbath truth for over two years. His church is trying to hold him by having increased his salary, but he will surely take his stand for the truth soon. He is an able and worthy man.

Elder W. C. Hankins, superintendent of the South China mission field, made us a visit in July, attending a meeting of our provincial committee in Macan. We appreciated his presence and counsel very much. It was voted that we hold a general workers’ meeting in Canton, October 1-10, for which a good program was prepared. After our council Elder Hankins accompanied the writer to Ngoi Hoi, Kongmoon, Canton, and Fat Shan, where he preached to large and attentive audiences. His theme was the importance of having a real knowledge of God, and of being born again.

We are all well, and looking forward to the arrival of Elder I. H. Evans and other new workers for this field.