China by Edwin H. Wilbur

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jul 14, 1904

China

By Edwin H. Wilbur

HONGKONG.—Our company in Hongkong is small, but we are of good courage. We esteem it a blessed privilege to be here, and our daily prayer is that we may be the means in the hands of God of leading others to a knowledge of the truth. This is a great shipping center, and people are constantly coming and going. For this reason, when persons accept the truth here, they do not long remain in Hongkong. But we are not discouraged at this; for though we miss their association and help here, we know that as they go to other parts of the world, they will carry the truth with them.

About two weeks ago an engineer from Belfast, Ireland, attended our Friday evening prayer-meeting. He said he had accepted the Sabbath through reading “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,” “Great Controversy,” and tracts which he had previously purchased of us. He has also given up tobacco. He believes the coming of the Lord is very near, and said he should plan to go home and give his entire time to the Lord’s work as soon as he completes his contract on the merchant vessel where he is now engaged. In February a young man in the British navy returned to England, taking with him over one dozen of our standard denominational books. He has accepted the Sabbath and other truths held by us as a people. After he

arrived at Ceylon, he sent us a letter full of courage and love of the truth, and expressing his desire to have a part in the Lord’s work. A short time ago I sold two copies of “Great Controversy” to an officer in the American navy, and he will doubtless have returned to his home in Washington, D. C., by the time this letter reaches the Review Office. Thus God makes the little that we do go a long way.

During recent months, we have at different times felt compelled to open our home to destitute Europeans. In every case they had come to want through drink, yet we could not see them starve to death, so we took them in, fed them, and gave them a place to sleep, one man at a time. Several of these afterward secured good positions, and have written grateful letters. One man wrote from Shanghai, saying we had saved him from suicide.

Mrs. Wilbur and I are keeping up our Chinese study, and hope some one will soon come to Hongkong to take up the English work, so that we can go to Canton and give our entire attention to Chinese. EDWIN H. WILBUR.