The workers in Canton have enjoyed a double week of prayer season. From December 15 to 30 we had our Bible institute in Chinese, one hour each morning being devoted to prayer and social meeting, and three other meetings daily for Bible study. This was indeed a precious season for us all. Later we received the REVIEW AND HERALD containing the regular readings for the week of prayer, and from January 14 to 21 our workers met together each evening to listen to the precious instruction that the Lord had prepared for us, and to unite our voices in prayer and praise.
Beginning with the first day of the special prayer season (Sunday, January 14), our workers went out daily on the streets of Canton and sold our new Sabbath calendar. Though our workers were few, and the work was hard, the Lord richly blessed our efforts. After being jostled about for several hours in the crowded streets of Canton, we came together at night with thankful hearts for what the Lord had done for us. The people, as a rule, received us kindly, but compared with the great mass of people whom we met, the purchasers were few. However, in the seven days our workers sold nearly fifteen hundred calendars, at one cent each (one half of an American cent), which is a trifle above the cost. The work was carried out systematically, quite a thorough canvass being made on all the important streets of the city. This had never been done before with our literature.
SABBATH CALENDAR IN CHINESE
STUDENTS’ MILITARY DRILL, CANTON
This calendar is printed in the book language, and therefore can be understood in all China and Korea. The days of the European and Chinese months are printed in parallel columns, with the words “On Sik” (Sabbath) opposite the date of each Sabbath in the year. All other calendars now contain the words “Lai Bai” (Worship Day) for Sunday, though ten years ago, I am told, the words “Lai Bai” were not printed in the native calendars or almanacs of China. Our calendar also contains two pictures of Jesus (taken from “Christ Our Saviour,” and kindly loaned us by the brethren in Japan), one as he is giving the sermon on the mount, in connection with which is quoted Matt. 5: 1-19; 7: 21-23; and the other showing Jesus at twelve years of age, explained by Luke 2: 40-52.
Besides this, the calendar contains the ten commandments, the Lord’s prayer, an account of creation (Genesis 1 and 2: 1-3), and twelve references on “Faith and Works.” In connection with the quotation from Genesis we used four large ancient characters meaning, “You ought to know the Creator.” The Chinese have great reverence for their characters, either written or printed, and that is in our favor.
The people are beginning to discover that the Sabbath day of our calendar is not the same day as the “worship day” indicated on other calendars, and we are receiving many inquiries as to the reason. We shall follow the interest with what tracts we have, but O, how much we need funds for establishing the publishing work in southern China! Our press in central China is nearly fifteen hundred miles away by water route, and their local Mandarin literature can not well be understood here.12
Our hearts are full of courage as we enter upon the work of the new year, and we are thankful to know that we have the prayers and co-operation of the dear brethren and sisters in other lands. The changes in China in 1905 were equal to those of ten years previously. One of the most important of these was with reference to the system of education. The old plan of private instruction and public examinations has been superseded by the establishment of free intermediate schools. Every one of these schools will give military training, and thus China, like other nations, is preparing for the last great battle.
A significant event occurred a few weeks ago, when the students of the various schools of the city met on the parade grounds in the eastern suburb for a general military drill. Thousands of people witnessed this new movement. Now while Satan is stirring up his forces to prepare war, we must work mightily to prepare a people for the soon coming of the Saviour. China is ripe for the message. Who will come to help gather in the sheaves?
