Letters From the Fields
By J. N. Anderson
Urgent Call From a Province of China
CANTON, CHINA, Sept. 19, 1904. DEAR BRETHREN: In the providence of God an opening for work has been made at Amoy, a distance of about four hundred miles as we travel by water northeast of Canton, in the Fukim Province. The call for a worker for that field is so pressing that I shall lay the case before you quite fully, and beg that you take immediate action in order that we may have a man on the ground there before the new year. As you are doubtless aware, Brother Munson's Chinese helper, Timothy Tay, was sent in the month of March to Amoy to study the Fukim dialect, in order to carry on work among the Chinese in Sumatra, who are mostly immigrants from Fukim Province. Through his influence the message has taken root in Amoy. In August Brother Timothy returned to make us a visit, bringing with him an ordained minister of the English Presbyterian Mission, who had begun the observance of the Sabbath, and in this trip was taking advantage of his summer vacation to study the truth further, and to become acquainted with our company here in Canton as its representatives. Brother Timothy is not familiar with school and official phrasing, but described him as the leading native teacher in the English Presbyterian Theological Seminary at that place, and the chief of their consistory of seventy ministers. He could not explain to us their plan of organization, nor make us understand just what rank this position gives him; but it is quite evident that he is a man of very unusual ability and consecration. It was his zeal to reclaim Brother Timothy from Sunday desecration that led him to investigate the Sabbath question. It appears he made a hard fight, with all the scripture he could command, but when once he saw the light, the question of his position or reputation with the mission was nothing. After several days of Bible study, I baptized him, understanding that he would return to his former position in the school, where, under the guidance of the Spirit, which he testified he had received in new measure, he would endeavor to make the most of his influence to bring the truth to his fellow workers, and the students of his school; that when the mission should indicate a desire for him to resign, he would comply with their request, and consider himself free to disseminate the light he had received, in the name of the Seventh-day Adventist Mission. He is receiving a salary much above what he knows we could give, with the use of parsonage free, but the question of salary was never raised by him, although he has four or five children of his own, and is rearing and educating two orphans, and supporting his wife's mother in his home. The Chinese as a class are not apt to forget the financial part of their arrangements, but he expressed to Brother Timothy his belief that God could provide for his support wherever he should lead. He was born of Christian parents, who were among the early converts of that place; has apparently had the most careful training and the best education; and there can be no doubt that if he gets the right start, and continues faithful to the light as he receives it, he will be able to do a grand work among his fellow countrymen. A few days ago a letter received from them at Amoy, states that both he and Brother Timothy are out of the school, that another native preacher has accepted the truth and begun the observance of the Sabbath, and that a young preacher in the seminary had expressed himself as determined to be obedient. Brother Timothy is a young man of insufficient experience and judgment to be left in charge of such an opening. In fact, the experience of other missionaries for a half century proves that it is unwise and unsafe to leave work to the direction of natives. A man who can direct the labors of these men, and under God give mold and character to the work, is needed at once. As I understand, these men are from different missions, and no doubt their theology will need recasting in order to coalesce. Amoy is one of the oldest open ports in China, having a considerable foreign population and a prosperous foreign concession. The English Presbyterian, the London Mission, Reform Church in America, and Catholics have each strong mission stations at this place, which is one of importance, considered evangelically, since it is really the port of entry to the people of the Fukim dialect, which is one of the leading dialects of southern China, and is the language of millions. We were unable to converse with our new brother, Mr. Gae, as he has learned but a very few English words, and his dialect differs as widely from the Cantonese dialect, which we are engaged with, as the English differs from the French. This same difficulty prevents me from taking personal oversight of work there. The case is urgent, and demands speed as well as caution. The work is not one of our planning or beginning, but has sprung up spontaneously, and we certainly must recognize it as an indication that the field is already ripe. May God put it into the hearts of his people to act promptly and wisely in planning for this opening. J. N. ANDERSON.