To Students Preparing for Work in China by W. H. Miller

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 4, 1907

To Students Preparing for Work in China

By W. H. Miller

While all our schools are giving the best missionary course ever offered, still a few hints may not be out of place as a guide to students in selecting work that will enable them quickly and efficiently to prepare for work in this extensive field. In most cases where students are of mature years, we would recommend securing this preparation in the shortest possible time, since the more important preparation must be obtained on the field, and we would not advise any one to spend time trying to learn the language at home, for experience has shown that time thus spent has not only been in vain, but has delayed them here.

It must be remembered that China, while just emerging from her long state of conservatism into modern civilization, is still many years behind in her movement, and will remain so for some time in the future. Civilization has only touched the outskirts of China, and a foreigner in the interior cities and villages is still a subject of great curiosity.

In every occupation the most obsolete and crude instruments are still in use, — the hand sickle for reaping the grain; the wheelbarrows, and donkey carts without springs, for transportation; two wooden rollers approximating each other for seeding cotton, with which one man can seed two pounds a day, etc. General improvements are also greatly deficient, the public highway often answering for ditches in wet weather, and the ferry answering for a bridge. All cities and large villages have the ancient walls, which are still kept in repair, and during this year were resorted to as places of safety during the local disturbances in the empire.

By far the larger percentage of the people are agriculturists, the coolie class (that is, those engaged in transportation) coming next, and nearly all the other occupations are represented—blacksmiths, carpenters, masons, doctors, teachers, coppersmiths, carvers, tailors, etc. These can seldom be induced to use any modern method unless it can be demonstrated before them, since they can not understand by being told, but only by having it done before them. However, those who have the ability of sketching their idea on paper may succeed if their drawing is clear and plain. We have found carpenters who could take a good diagram of an object, and make it with but very little help. Drawing and making illustrations to explain our ideas is one of the most useful methods in teaching this people, since the large percentage are illiterate, and can grasp an idea in no other way. This method can be recommended none too highly, nor studied too diligently by the student coming to this or other foreign lands. Study how to illustrate gospel truths by such means as the kindergarten methods; the use of the magnet to illustrate the drawing power of God in such texts as John 12:32; the use of iodin and sodium hyposulphate to illustrate the cleansing power of Christ’s blood. Just as the hyposulphate causes the dirty iodin color to become transparent, so Christ’s blood will clear all that is impure and unclean in our hearts. The more these illustrations can be multiplied, the more effective will one be in making the gospel truths plain to the heathen. We find it necessary to use these simple examples continually, even with the class of literati.

A good plan to follow in Bible study would be, with every illustration to couple as many texts as possible, as well as to try to find some illustration for every important truth of the gospel. It has been the method of teaching among the Chinese to explain everything by finding a comparison. Now, as foreign things can not be used for comparison here without first explaining them, one who has prepared himself with this method of teaching can soon adapt his illustrations to things Chinese. This was Christ’s great method of making the gospel plain. His comparisons drawn from nature were many. The example or comparison should be written down and connected with the text at once, and all necessary illustrations procured, so that when the call comes to proceed to the field, all is in readiness. Bible atlases, scrolls, pictures, and picture cards, and kindergarten supplies are all of exceptional value here.

Music, vocal and instrumental, being an important aid in any land, is of special value as a help here. The instruments that are most appreciated are the organ, accordian, guitar, and mandolin. Wind instruments, such as the cornet, flute, and clarinet, as well as the violin, are somewhat looked down upon in the interior, since the Chinese flute and wind-instrument players are considered the lowest class, and neither they nor their sons were formerly permitted to take examination for literary degrees. A word about bringing instruments: few have found that they could use large organs brought from the home land in the interior. If they are not spoiled in transportation, they soon spoil in this climate, in the houses where missionaries have to live. It is also difficult to move a heavy organ here, owing to the very crude conveyances, and the expense as well. The small folding organs are almost universally used here, since they cost but little for transportation, and can be readily moved from chapel to house in the mission compound. Most organ companies make what is called the acclimatized organ, having brass and copper mountings, so that the parts will not rust and spoil in the damp climates. The acclimatized folding organ should be secured for the interior. Regarding the smaller instruments, such as the mandolin, guitar, and accordian, see that the parts are not held together with glue, as that will not last in these climates; also that all breakable parts, such as strings, are amply supplied.

W. H. MILLER, M. D.

Sin Yang Cheo, Honan, China.

(To be concluded)