Wonderful News From China by A. T. Robinson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 11, 1907

Wonderful News From China

By A. T. Robinson

A. T. ROBINSON

“The home secretary of the American Board, Dr. Cornelius H. Patton, in the Quarterly News Bulletin sends out this wonderful statement of the progress of the work in China:— “‘China is turning from idolatry. The astonishing news comes that the native press is attacking idolatry. Will won ders never cease? The progressive Chinese officials continue to organize schools. Five thousand have already been started in the capital province of Chi-li. In two cities we have heard that the officers of Yuan Shih Kai removed the gods from idol temples, and burned them in the market-place. In another place he had the gods dumped into the river; and as they floated toward the sea, the people lined the banks and cheered. The change of sentiment on the part of the Chinese, which makes such news possible only seven years after the Boxer uprising, is the wonder of the world. Yet why should we wonder in view of one hundred years of leavening influence on the part of missionaries of many Boards? Their time has come at last.’”

“The awakening has also reached India, and one may soon see the time when it shall be literally true that ‘a nation is born in a day.’”

Opportunity of Christian Laymen

“Secretary Patton also tells what one Christian layman is doing, and what he is doing thousands of men may do and will, when they get the larger vision of opportunity which this man from the West holds:—

“‘A man in the West has just made a most extraordinary offer. He will assume the entire support of a missionary and his wife in China, including salary, outfit, traveling expenses, and, if necessary, building a house. The offer calls for twenty-two hundred dollars this year, and possibly even more during the second year. ‘He assumed this obligation for thirty years, and is considering providing in his will for its continuance when he is gone. He says: ‘When I realized that men of the character and ability of your missionaries were willing to go to China or other foreign fields for such a small sum, I began to think seriously that I wanted to have a part in that work. Of course, I am not the man to do it myself, for more reasons than one. However, if I furnish the means for a man to go to some field to make it his life-work, a man who would not otherwise have gone, had I not stepped forward and provided the means, under such circumstances I could look at his work as my own work.’ Two other men have made similar offers recently, and it is evident that more and more individuals will be assuming the entire support of missionary families.’

“‘There is in this a distinct call to men of wealth to invest money in this work of hastening the coming of the kingdom of God, and there is no better-paying investment for men’s money to-day.’—Nebraska State Journal.

There are a good many Seventh-day Adventists whom the Lord has blessed with sufficient means to enable them to devote a sufficient sum each year to send and support a missionary and his family in some foreign field. What a splendid investment it would be! What an inspiration it would be to some soul upon whom God has laid the responsibility to go to China, India, or to some other dark corner of the Master’s vineyard!