Workers’ Institutes in Central China by R. F. Cottrell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jun 18, 1914

Workers’ Institutes in Central China

By R. F. Cottrell

R. F. COTTRELL

The workers’ institute for Hunan Province convened in Changsha, March 4-14, in our new chapel. This compound (group of buildings surrounded by a high wall) was purchased last December, and during January and February we repaired it to meet our needs as chapel, intermediate school, and headquarters for our native workers.

On the first Sabbath of the institute, the dedicatory services were held, followed by a prayer and testimony meeting, at which nearly every believer present rededicated his life and strength to God.

The evening services were conducted for the benefit of the public. Such large crowds attended that after the second night we divided our audience into three. The women met in the school chapel, special inquirers and those preparing for baptism met in the guest room, while the meetings in the main chapel were held the same as usual. In this way from three to five hundred people were given the opportunity of listening to the gospel each night. About two hundred persons entered their names as inquirers. Special arrangements were made to continue the evening meetings each night during the next few weeks, at least. The new inquirers will receive careful attention by visits to their homes. To this end, it was necessary to considerably strengthen the force of workers in the city of Changsha.

Forty-five native evangelists and canvassers attended this gathering. The foreign workers taking part were Elder and Mrs. C. P. Lillic, Mrs. Cottrell, and the writer.

The second institute in the series was held at Hankow, March 19-29. Last autumn a very suitable place located on one of the principal streets of the native city was rented at a cost of about $700 (United States gold) a year. The meeting was held in this building, and was attended by all the native Hupeh workers, and by Elder Frederick Lee, Dr. A. G. Larson, Brethren S. G. White and J. O. Ryd, and the writer.

Most encouraging reports came from the outstations. The Thirteenth Sabbath Offering in Hupeh amounted to about thirty dollars Mexican, which we considered most excellent. A number of new places sent in strong appeals to the mission to send men who could teach them this closing gospel message, and at the close of the meeting we made arrangements to answer these calls in the near future.

INTERIOR OF NEW CHAPEL RECENTLY PURCHASED AND DEDICATED AT CHANGSHA, HUNAN. A NATIVE BROTHER IS PREACHING

From Hankow we went to Yen-cheng, Honan. At this place Elder J. J. Westrup has conducted a Bible school during the winter months, at which the students have been thoroughly instructed in the great fundamentals of present truth. The Honan workers’ institute was held during the first week of April, and with this the Bible school was brought to a close.

Brother and Sister O. J. Gibson and Sister F. Lee, who are to be located there (Brother Lee joining them later), arrived in Yen-cheng just in time to participate in the labors and blessings of this gathering. Although this province has been passing through times of drought and general lawlessness, the third angel’s message has not stood still. It has continued to spread to some of the remote parts of Honan, and has even crossed into the province of Shen-si, where a little company is reaching forth for the light of life.

At each of the institutes, the keynote of the messages presented was the coming of Christ and the needful preparation in view of that event. Talks on true religion, the design of which was to elevate the standard of Christian attainment for the workers themselves as well as for those among whom they labor, were given. We also gave instruction upon methods of preaching to the heathen, how to conduct the work at outstations, and especial thought was given to the proper organization and work of our Sabbath schools throughout this mission.

The Holy Spirit came very near to us in all these general gatherings. At the close of each, a baptismal service was held, the total number thus received into church membership being sixty. We praise our Heavenly Father for the many tokens of his good hand upon us in all this work. For the next two months the foreign workers will devote much of their time to itineration, and hope to visit nearly all our forty-five outstations and companies.