E. H. GATES by E. H. Gates

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 25, 1907

E. H. GATES

By E. H. Gates

China

AFTER the Shanghai council I spent a few days at Hongkong, and at Canton and its vicinity. In the latter place I learned more fully about the Hakkas, a people living inland from Canton about one hundred and fifty miles.

They number about ten million, and as a rule are quiet, and seem susceptible to the influence of the truth. They first learned the truth in this way: One of their young men was attending school in Singapore, and in some way came into contact with Brother Timothy. Learning from him the Sabbath truth, this young man went to his people and told them what he had learned. Sometime during the past year, several young men from this tribe came to Canton to be taught the truth more fully. The result was that five of them received baptism, and united with the Canton church. I met one of these, who is living with Dr. Law Keem, at Fat Shan, ten miles from Canton.

It is now expected that a mission will be opened soon among these Hakkas. Brother J. P. Anderson, a young man who lately arrived in China from America, has been chosen to open this new field.

I spent two days at Fat Shan, which is a moderate-sized village of five hundred thousand people. What would our American people think of calling that place a village? Forty or fifty miles from Canton is another village of one million inhabitants. At Fat Shan, Dr. Law Keem, our Chinese brother, has lately opened a medical mission. He is

located in a central part of the town, and has pleasant and well-fitted-up treatment rooms and a chapel. Though the mission was opened but a few weeks before my visit, there are evidences of good already seen.

One intelligent heathen family is already interested. A young man of this family has volunteered his services in Dr. Law Keem's family, and seems a faithful, devoted servant. The mother and daughter often come and offer their services to the doctor's wife, and are interested in Christian truths.

A young Hakka minister called upon me. He believes in the Sabbath, and is studying the different points of present truth. So the message goes forward to the different nations.