p. 12 | China by Edwin H. Wilbur

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 27, 1903

China

By Edwin H. Wilbur

Canton.—My wife and I spent the month of November with Elder Anderson and the workers in Hongkong. We appreciated the privilege of learning from them what they have observed of the language and customs of the people with whom we are to labor. Although our workers there are few in number, and greatly in need of help, yet it was thought best that we should locate in Canton, ninety miles up the Pearl River. Accordingly, we moved here December 1. Our house fronts on the river, and is about three miles below the foreign concession. The nearest mission station is about one half of a mile away.

With thousands of Chinese all around us, none of whom speak English, we hope by the help of the Lord to learn to speak to these people in their own tongue. Thus far we have been kindly received. We have a Christian Chinese boy to help us. When we go into the city, he acts as guide; and when we buy food, he tells the shopkeeper what we want, and sees that we are not compelled to pay two or three times what it is worth. This boy's faithfulness in Bible study would put to shame many Christians in America.

We have a Chinese teacher during the first part of the day, and expect to spend each afternoon in canvassing among the foreigners for our English books and papers. We praise the Lord for good health and the privilege of being in this field. This city has a population nearly equal to that of Chicago, and this province (Kwangtung) has 29,706,249 inhabitants, or about as many people as live in the United States west of Chicago. These people must hear the last message. What are two workers among so many millions? “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.”

Edwin H. Wilbur.