China by Emma A. Laird

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 14, 1907

China

By Emma A. Laird

CHANG-SHA.—We had hoped to be more permanently located ere this. It is quite difficult for a foreigner to rent a good house in the city, owing, first, to the scarcity, and, second, to the fact that a foreigner wishes to rent. However, we have one in view now which we hope to get. It is located in a good part of the city, and is near the gate leading to the principal colleges outside the city wall.

It is rumored that there are about two hundred schools and colleges here. Young men from all over the province come to the capital city to finish their education. One military academy has about three thousand students. We visited one school the other day of three hundred students. They are fine buildings, modern, with all the modern appliances. Their schools are modeled somewhat after the Japanese, and they spare no money in having them thoroughly equipped.

Our rooms here are so small and unsuitable that we are not trying to push the medical work much until the Lord gives us better quarters, which we are confident he will do. So I am putting in the most of my time at the language, which is surely difficult.

Our teacher is a Christian, and has been studying the Sabbath question with my husband for some weeks. About ten days ago he decided that he must keep the Lord’s Sabbath, if he is going to obey the Lord’s commandments. He told his friends of his decision, and they told him that was very well, as long as Mr. Laird stayed here, but if he went away, what then? He answered that then he “must keep the Sabbath alone,” that he would trust the Lord. He is now studying other points of the truth.

Three other young Christian men, who came and asked for Bible study on this question, have acknowledged that the Lord’s commandments must be kept; but unless he helps them, I fear they will not have the courage to obey. When the native Christians heard that we were Seventh-day Adventists, they began to make inquiries. We have had only a few tracts to loan them on present truth. Another man—a missionary—is interested, and is reading our books, and we are hoping he will take his stand for the truth.

We did not intend to stay here. But the Lord detained us by causing our freight to be delayed (some has not come yet), as he had some work for us to do here. More and more we see the need for our work to be established here. We feel now that we must stay at least until laborers are sent to relieve or assist us.

Chang-sha would be an important center for our work in central China, and an excellent place for evangelistic, medical missionary, and health-food work, and especially for a school in rational medicine, also a hospital. This is certainly a progressive city in many ways.

Mr. Laird is holding meetings for the people in a little room next the street, every evening. Some are now coming regularly, and listen very attentively. All he has to do is to open the doors, and the audience soon comes. There is an attendance of from twenty to sixty each evening, most of the people standing. They crowd around Mr. Laird, some looking over his shoulder as he reads from the Bible. We are praying that some of these may soon begin to ask for a closer study of God’s Word.

The workers in Honan and we here are praying that the Lord will send fifty laborers to China this year (September to September). Already we are seeing the answer to our prayers, and we believe the others will be forthcoming. We praise him for this.

Since the steamers have stopped coming up the river, on account of low water, we feel quite remote from the world. We do not get much news from outside, so that events do not disturb us. Yet we know that Satan is busy, trying to tear down God’s work given to us, and we know that the conflict must be fierce where the work is strongest. But God is stronger than Satan, and will cause his work to come out victorious.

We are wondering who of the General Conference workers will visit China next spring. We are hoping to see them, as they must come inland, else they would get no idea of things Chinese. Even Hankow gives one but a faint idea of a Chinese city as it really is.

We sincerely hope that the Mission Board will seriously consider sending a strong force of workers to this strategic point very soon, either to relieve us to go farther inland, or to assist, if the Lord would have us stay.

Mr. Laird is translating some of our literature for tracts, which he hopes to get out as rapidly as possible. We ask your prayers for this needy field, that it may be occupied while the people are willing to listen. Very soon, I fear, the way may be hedged up so that it will be difficult for our people to occupy this field. EMMA A. LAIRD.