MRS. J. N. ANDERSON by Mrs. J. N. Anderson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Apr 22, 1902

MRS. J. N. ANDERSON

By Mrs. J. N. Anderson

China

HONGKONG.— Hongkong is a peculiar city. The European population is made up almost exclusively of men. There are few European women in the city. You see men everywhere, and the large majority of them are in uniforms. Great Britain has many thousands of soldiers here. In fact, a large section of the city is made up of soldiers’ barracks and quarters. Immense buildings, as large as two Battle Creek Sanitariums, are in process of erection for hospital purposes; these are in addition to a number already in operation. The government buildings are being enlarged constantly, and one must get the impression that it will be the headquarters for troops for years to come.

Besides land troops, there are eight or ten war vessels always in the harbor. The vessel on which our brethren work carries a crew of eight or nine hundred men, and the others carry as many. Besides these, there are men-of-war of all nations always in waiting. Now, these men are all away from home environments, and almost without Christian influence. Still many of them are responsive to the gospel teaching. It really seems to us that we cannot leave this place until some one comes to carry forward the ship-mission work.

We are quite interested in the Chinese brother here, about whom you have no doubt heard from Brother La Rue. He is a capable business man, connected with a large firm at present, where he commands a good salary. He speaks English intelligently; was for a number of years a translator, or interpreter, in the supreme court. It was he who translated several tracts for Brother La Rue. At present he has allowed his worldly interests to stifle his spiritual life, but we hope he may be led to devote himself fully to the Lord’s work. He is a thorough Seventh-day Adventist in principle, if not fully in practice. Last evening he paid seventy-five dollars tithe (colonial money, equal to forty-four cents on the gold dollar). Our sailor boys have just paid their tithe for the month, almost forty dollars (colonial). Only five of them are paying tithe. Two who had backslidden, seem to be encouraged by our coming, and their comrades think they may be led to take a new stand. One of these gave my husband ten dollars as an offering the other day. One brother, who has recently been removed to Singapore, awaits baptism.

We have Bible readings every evening at Brother La Rue’s home. Our own faithful sailor boys, and occasionally others, attend. We have some genuine Christian sailor boys, and it does us good to meet them.

MRS. J. N. ANDERSON

Feb. 16, 1902.